A Lifetime of Teaching & Preserving History

By John Sellars This month’s 50 for 50 honoree has been a great help to the museum and the community.Gwen Marshall grew up in Jackson, Mississippi and then Memphis, Tennessee where she graduated from Hamilton High School in 1966.An only child, both of her parents worked for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Her father […]
Expanding Statewide: Introducing the Show-Me Network

By Nicki Donnelson Thanks to nearly $3 million in federal State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) funding administered through the Missouri Department of Economic Development Missouri Technical Assistance (MOTA) Grant, Missouri State University’s efactory and long-time partner codefi are scaling up their innovative approach to economic development. The result? A new statewide initiative called the Show-Me […]
When Seeing is No Longer Believing

By Tyler Drenon The machines aren’t just writing text now. They’re painting pictures and rolling film. Image generation has moved from glitchy weirdness to photorealism over the last year or so, with particularly notable advancements made over the last few months. Video generation too: from ten-second clips that used to look like a strange nightmare, […]
School Choice in Public Education

By Dr. Ben Hackenwerth School choice has been a hotly debated topic since the 1990s. Simply put, school choice allows parents to select an educational setting outside of their assigned public school district. Proponents argue that school choice options such as school voucher programs, charter schools, and education savings accounts, promote educational equity, foster innovation, […]
The Ghost of Mr. McPhee

As told by Yvette Jenkins McDaniel, Edited by Samuel Knox My name is Yvette Jenkins McDaniel. I was born and raised here in Springfield, Missouri. My mother, Shirley Blakely, and her sister, Hester Thomas, told me this story one Halloween night — I want to say back in 1975.My mother, my aunt, and my grandparents […]
From Teen Dad to Ringside Mentor: Developing a Champion Beyond The Ring

By Juviar Fewell, Edited by Samuel Knox I’m a Springfield, Missouri native, and I’ve lived here pretty much my whole life. I went to Kickapoo High School.Growing up, I never really felt like I fit into the typical mold when it came to football, basketball, and things like that. Instead, I gravitated toward boxing and […]
Beyond the Pink Ribbon: Protecting Black and Brown Women from Breast Cancer

When Sadie, a 52-year-old mother of three, found a small lump in her breast, she almost ignored it due to her busy life caring for her aged parents and her family. After finally scheduling a mammogram, she learned that she had breast cancer. Thankfully, it was caught early, and after treatment, she is now cancer-free.Sadie’s […]
Accidental Firearm Injuries And Deaths Prevention Resources

By Francine Pratt Firearms are the leading cause of death for children ages 1 -19 and adults under age 25. CoxHealth’s data shows they cared for an average of 36 accidental injuries mainly caused by hunting accidents and children playing with firearms. They provided care for an average of three (3) cases a year that […]
10th Annual Unity on Division

By Samuel KnoxThe 10th Annual Unity on Division St. celebration is scheduled for Saturday, October 4, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.at 1900 W. Nichols St. in Nichols Park. This free, family-friendly event is open to the public.Event organizer Steve Williams says this year’s theme is: “Uniting all people under the direction of the Holy Spirit.”A […]
SGF Business Lab Helps Entrepreneurs Turn Their Ideas into Reality

By Katherine Proctor Helping small business owners and entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses locally is the focus of the second annual SGF Business Lab on October 15 at the efactory’s Jay Wasson Idea Loft. This half day workshop-style event helps entrepreneurs turn their idea into reality by providing practical guidance on how to do […]