Small town losing its only hospital, creating concern for residents There’s not a whole lot to this quaint lakeside town in St. Clair County.  But, the 900-some souls living here are proud of what they do have. “I like it very much because it is a very rural community…people here are just really good genuine solid people,” stated Dr. Wayne Morton, a local physician. One of the biggest points of pride for this community is its hospital.  ...

Harmonicas for your health; a different kind of breathing therapy It's a new type of therapy that will get your toes tapping. Harmonica Therapy is now offered at the Wheeler Heart and Vascular Center to anyone with C-O-P-D, chronic lung conditions or patients with heart problems. Experts say playing the harmonica helps break up phlegm in the lungs, and strengthen the breathing routine. More than 20 people participated in the first class. Archie Jones, who has ...

Ribbon cutting for new affordable housing Linda Bratcher and her dog Cinder couldn't be more grateful. Linda was once homeless. She lived at the Missouri Hotel for 2 years, until last week, when she finally got her own apartment again. Linda's apartment and other homes at Beacon Village are the result of a collaborative project between government, charities, and private businesses all working together to help the poor and homeless in Springfield. The new ...

Return of the dinosaur. Stolen statue returned to mini golf course Dino the dinosaur is once again guarding hole six at Fun Acre mini golf. The iconic dinosaur was stolen in the middle of the night.  The owner noticed it missing this morning, along with a giant hole cut in the fence. But a break as big as the dinosaur came Wednesday evening when a man in a pickup pulling a trailer carrying Dino was pulled over by ...

Arkansas continues defending 12-week abortion ban Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel is continuing to defend the state's 12-week abortion ban to a federal appeals court, arguing the state has a legitimate interest in barring the procedure at that point in a woman's pregnancy.   McDaniel on Wednesday filed a reply brief with the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which is weighing whether to uphold a federal judge's decision that the 12-week ban ...

Arkansas granted $1 million for winter cleanup The U.S. Department of Labor is giving Arkansas $1 million to help continue cleanup operations following a December winter storm.   Federal officials declared 14 counties eligible for a public assistance program after the Dec. 5-6 storm. The National Emergency Grant announced Wednesday will go to the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services and will let the state agency keep on temporary workers who are helping the area ...

Suspected Nazi guard's death a blow to prosecutors
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — German efforts to prosecute aging war criminals suffered a setback this week with the death of a retired Philadelphia toolmaker who had long been in the crosshairs of Nazi hunters.

Family: Teen pilot who crashed in ocean knew risks
PLAINFIELD, Ind. (AP) — The family of an Indiana teenager who crashed in the Pacific Ocean during an around-the-world flight says he knew the risks and had prepared for them.

AP NewsAlert
NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian police say 13 children killed as train crashes into school bus at unmanned crossing.

JFK returns to old look in new collectors' coins
WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) — President John F. Kennedy is getting his old look back on new collectors' coins.

UN human development report faults inequality
TOKYO (AP) — Improvements in life spans, education and incomes are slowing due to natural disasters, misguided government policies and worsening inequality in a world where the 85 richest people have as much wealth as the 3.5 billion poorest people, the United Nations said Thursday in its annual human development report.