Local News Archives – Ozark Radio News

• Willow Springs Chamber of Commerce Holds Ribbon Cutting for New Beverage Business 08/30/2026
  Willow Springs, MO. – On Thursday, August 27th, the Willow Springs Chamber of Commerce and locals showed up for a ribbon cutting to help celebrate a new business. Found at 113 West First Street, The Place Drink Co. offers a vintage themed experience with their drive-thru/walk-up coffee trailer.  Standing where the Horton Hotel once stood, […]
  Daniel Williams
• Cabool Man Injured in Saturday Accident 08/30/2026
  A Cabool man was injured Saturday afternoon in a two‑vehicle crash on Highway 181, three miles south of Cabool. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports the crash occurred around 2:30 p.m. on August 29. Troopers say a southbound 2001 Chevrolet Silverado driven by a 43‑year‑old Cabool man struck a 2017 Nissan Pathfinder that had slowed […]
  James Hurtt
• Douglas County man indicted on firearm and stealing charges 08/30/2026
  DOUGLAS COUNTY, Mo. — A Douglas County grand jury has indicted Philip Michael Paul Murphy on felony firearm and stealing charges stemming from an alleged July incident. According to the indictment filed Aug. 17 in Douglas County Circuit Court, Murphy is charged with class C felony unlawful possession of a firearm and class D felony […]
  Quinn Ziliak
• Lisa Durnell Capitol Report 08/30/2026
  From State Representative Lisa Durnell: To the Wonderful Constituents of District 154, Summer is coming to an end – the primary election is over, family vacations have ceased, kids are back in school, ‘Friday night lights’ are gearing up, and walnut leaves are coming down. We are approaching my favorite time of the year. With […]
  James Hurtt
• Mandatory Testing Brings Missouri School Drug Program Statewide 08/30/2026
  (This article comes courtesy of MissouriNet.) Missouri’s school wastewater drug-testing program is expanding from a voluntary pilot effort to a statewide initiative after lawmakers approved legislation making participation mandatory. The program, administered through the Missouri Department of Public Safety, will eventually include school districts across the state and is expected to begin sampling in mid-September. Mike O’Connell, spokesman for the Department of Public Safety, said the expansion builds on a pilot program that drew participation from about 40 schools. “The legislature passed legislation now that says that this is going to be mandatory,” O’Connell said. “The contractor, they are out mapping the sewage systems for schools around the state. We think they’ll be able to get to 150 schools this year.” Under the program, wastewater samples are analyzed for fentanyl and other illegal drugs. Officials say the testing is designed to identify drug-use trends within school populations and provide districts with information that can support prevention and education efforts. The first year of testing uncovered the presence of nitazenes, a class of highly potent synthetic opioids that have raised concerns among public health and law enforcement officials. “We found nitazines, which are a specialized, highly lethal type of fentanyl,” O’Connell said. “They’re considered very dangerous, and that wound up being found in a lot of school districts around the state.” State officials say not every school will be tested at once. Instead, districts will be selected from rural, suburban and urban areas as officials work toward statewide coverage. “This will be divided up across the state to get rural, suburban, urban, and then those results are shared with the districts,” O’Connell said. “They’re testing for cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl.” The results will be posted online and shared with participating school districts. Officials expect sampling to begin in mid-September. Copyright © 2026 · Missourinet The post Mandatory […]
  Daniel Williams