Michael Politte walked out of prison, paroled after nearly two decades behind bars for a crime he says he didn’t commit — the killing of his mother. Politte was released Friday from the Jefferson City Correctional Center, two months after he was granted parole. Now 38, he was just 14 when Rita Politte died in a fire at the family home in the eastern Missouri town of Hopewell in 1998. The Midwest Innocence Project and the MacArthur Justice Center, which both work to overturn wrongful convictions, have sought to exonerate Politte, saying he was convicted based on debunked science and a biased investigation. more

On March 28, US president Joe Biden unveiled his 2023 budget proposal. It totals $5.8 trillion, which would bring federal spending and deficits back below their pandemic-era heights (although not … more

c Ozark County dispatch this week received a call of a stolen UTV from a residence near Haskins Ford.  According to the Ozark County Sheriff’s Office, owners stated to a deputy they … more

SONNY SMITH, right, West Plains, received the Community Member of the Year Support Award at the “Grizzlies Gala: Promoting Excellence in Athletics” event April 8 hosted by Missouri State … more

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt recently announced that the Attorney General’s Office has worked with 169 law enforcement agencies to clear their backlogs of untested, report sexual … more

Mitchell Harris, store manager of G&W Foods, is proud to present a $600 donation to Terri Elmore of YMCA. This donation will support the 20th Annual YMCA and G&W Foods Spring Scramble, which … more

The Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) is happy to announce that their signature event, EPIC 22, will feature keynote speaker Sarah Hill, the CEO and Chief Storyteller at Healium, the … more

The Howell County Sheriff’s Office recovered a stolen motorcycle over the weekend. According to the sheriff’s office deputies received information of a suspicious vehicle on State … more

Texas County Memorial Hospital has selected April Crites, RN, ASN of Bucyrus to be the new quality assurance/risk management director. Crites began her career with TCMH in 2012 as an RN in … more

The Missouri Department of Transportation plans to improve Route 160 in Howell and Oregon Counties. The proposed project includes the following: Widening two box culverts located east of Allen … more

The Cystic Fibrosis Association of West Plains held its 37th annual Cystic Fibrosis Benefit Bass Tournament on Norfork Lake at the Norfork Lake Marina in Henderson, Arkansas, on April … more

The West Plains City Council met for their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday and approved a final version of the city’s Integrated Management Plan. Public Works Director Jeff Hanshaw … more

Having grown up on a farm in the foothills of the Missouri Ozarks, Jerry Richards was prepared for droughts, snowstorms and torrential rains. He wasn’t prepared for feral … more

Students at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) come from all walks of life and represent a variety of cultures and regions. Area residents are invited to help the campus community … more

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft announced Thursday that the Judicial Redistricting Commission has filed Missouri State Senate redistricting maps with his office.  Ashcroft, who is … more

Every 10 years, following the U.S. Census, legislative district maps are redrawn to reflect shifting populations. A lot of attention has been paid to new boundaries for Missouri’s eight … more

Ozarks Healthcare At Home: Hospice recently honored Richard “Dick” Dold of West Plains for his military service with a “We Honor Veterans” ceremony. Dold began his military … more

The University of Missouri Extension in Howell County's programs are ramping back up after classes and programs were postponed due to the pandemic.  Stephanie Johnson, county engagement … more

West Plains native and long-time educator Dr. Gary Bates will be the keynote speaker at the Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) “Grizzlies Gala: Promoting Excellence in … more