Text from our SGF Sunday email newsletter, written by Reporter Rance Burger
The first time I visited Springfield as a prospective member of its workforce, I was struck by how many restaurants I saw, and the variety. “People must love to eat out here,” I thought to myself. Indeed, I was correct. We’ve got the stats to prove it this week, as our most-read story was about “fast-casual” restaurants finding strong footholds in Springfield.
Reporter Jack McGee explains how chains meet Springfield franchisees, and how those entrepreneurs bring chain establishments like Craft Sushi, Huey Magoo’s and Beef-a-Roo into Springfield. If you’re a dine-local-at-all-costs-because-I-don’t-like-corporate-chains kind of person like me, well, smile and try it anyway. Some of the entrepreneurs Jack interviewed make fair points about why fast-casual has its place here.
I’m no stranger to eating in a hurry, but setup and teardown with the speed and precision of a NASCAR pit crew is another matter. Education reporter Cory Matteson takes us inside the “cafegymatorium” at Reed Academy, where teachers, administrators and student leaders have eight minutes to take up the lunch tables, clean the floor and clear the room for physical education classes.
In basketball bracketology news, I’d like to point out my alma mater, Mizzou, actually won an NCAA tournament game for the first time in 13 years. Here in Springfield, college basketball teams at three different levels are thinking ahead to next winter. It’s never too early to start watching the transfer portal (What did we do before the transfer portal? Track how the athletes were doing with their degree coursework? Boring.) Forecaster Lyndal Scranton fearlessly offers insights into the Bears, Lady Bears, Drury Panthers and Evangel Valor.
Don’t forget about municipal elections and school board elections April 4. See where Springfield City Council candidates stand on development and growth in this piece, and read about them “in their own words” in the Voices section of our website.
IN-DEPTH
‘Welcome to the jungle': The case for more space at Springfield's oldest schools
What does Proposition S actually mean for Springfield Public Schools? At Reed Academy, it means lunch wouldn’t have to be a rushed, noisy affair spilling […]
Care about Springfield’s growth and development? Find out which City Council candidates you align with
The personnel who make up the Springfield City Council will change in April, just as Springfield is likely to grow, develop and change over the […]
MOST READ THIS WEEK
New chain restaurants boom in Springfield as fast-casual trend accelerates
“Fast-casual” restaurants started becoming increasingly common and popular well before the pandemic, but between COVID-19 and the evolving labor market, they have proliferated in Springfield […]
STEVE POKIN
Pokin Around: DirecTV giving price reductions to customers upset KOLR-10 was dropped
After five months without KOLR-10, you would think DirecTV customers would be thinking about a […]
Answer Man: Reader asks for help finding Springfield home built with a Sears kit
Answer Man: We’ve gone down a rabbit hole trying to find Sears homes still standing […]
SPORTS
It was an interesting season for Springfield's college basketball teams. Take a look ahead to next season
It was an interesting college basketball season for Springfield schools. Here’s a look back at the season that was, and what lies ahead.
Here's how ESPN helped Nick Rodriguez find Missouri State — and gave the Bears their new leadoff hitter
Sometimes coaches have to go out and find the players. In the case of Nick Rodriguez and Missouri State, he found them.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
In their own words: Council Zone 1 candidate Monica Horton
My values, my family and in-depth commitment to serving Springfield are why I’m running for city council.
Support our newsroom
Great journalism brings communities together – show your love for Springfield by powering authoritative, in-depth reporting about our community. Subscribe today.