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FILE - Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders speaks, Feb. 7, 2023, in Little Rock, Ark. Arkansas lawmakers have voted to restrict the public's access to records about Gov. Huckabee Sanders' travel and security. They backed away from a more far-reaching proposal to shield her administration's records from release. The Senate on Wednesday Sept. 13 2023 approved a bill that would allow the state to wall off details about the security provided to Sanders and other constitutional officers. (Al Drago/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Arkansas lawmakers advance plan to shield Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' travel, security records

Arkansas lawmakers have voted to restrict the public's access to records about Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' travel and security. They backed away from a more far-reaching proposal to shield her … more

By ANDREW DeMILLO | 9/13/23

The Missouri Capitol, which is home to the state House and Senate, is shown on Aug. 31, 2023 in Jefferson City. A Missouri judge upheld the constitutionality of the state's Senate districts in a ruling issued Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. (AP Photo/David A. Lieb)

A Missouri court upholds state Senate districts in the first test of revised redistricting rules

A Missouri judge has upheld the constitutionality of the state's Senate districts. Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem rejected claims that the districts drawn by a judicial panel after the 2020 … more

By DAVID A. LIEB | 9/13/23

Arkansas governor seeks exemption on travel and security records, backs off other changes

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Republicans in the Legislature have backed off widespread limits to the state's open records law, but they are still seeking limits on what can be released … more

By ANDREW DeMILLO | 9/12/23

BREAKING NEWS: Ozarks Healthcare lays off 100 workers

Ozarks Healthcare officials announced today that the 64-year old healthcare organization has reduced its workforce by about 130 “full-time equivalent positions due to inflation.” more

9/12/23 | 1 comment

A garden spider, scientific name Argiope auranti, is a relatively common sight during the summer and fall, the females being both large and colorful as they spin webs to catch insect prey. This individual captured two flying insects within a few seconds of one another and scurried to quickly wrap them in silk strands for later consumption. The sharp-eyed may notice a large praying mantis with brown wings in the upper left corner of the scene, observing in camouflage, probably while also waiting to catch a meal. Both the spider and the insect are likely female, given their large size.

Garden spider, harmless to humans, is more friend than foe

An Argiope auranti, commonly known in the Ozarks as a garden spider or black-and-yellow garden spider, rests in the center of her web, spotted just off the walking trail at Galloway Creek. Females of this species are the only ones to spin webs, which are often quite large, in order to trap insects it wraps and eats. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 9/12/23

A month after the Jan. 2020 death of his sister, Doug Martin addressed the West Plains City Council. He asked them what could be done about the U.S. 63 intersection with CC Highway and Gibson Avenue, and with the bypass in general, to make it safer for traffic. Martin’s sister, Anna Hambelton, suffered fatal injuries when a semitruck ran a red light on U.S. 63 bypass at Gibson Avenue in West Plains, striking the car in which she rode.

Semitruck driver in 2020 crash that killed Dora resident sentenced to 10 years in prison

A Summersville semitruck driver who was involved in a fatal 2020 crash in West Plains has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after being found guilty of first-degree involuntary manslaughter. The crash had resulted in the death of a woman from Dora, Anna Hambelton. more

BY KIMBERLYLANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 9/12/23

Additional assault, escape charges filed against downtown WP chase suspect

A South Dakota resident arrested by the Oregon County Sheriff's Department Aug. 24 after a police pursuit that began near downtown West Plains now faces additional charges following the alleged assault of a Howell County Sheriff's Office jailer, resulting in serious injuries to the jailer. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 9/12/23

Missouri governor appoints appeals court judge to the state Supreme Court

Republican Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has appointed Kelly C. Broniec to the Missouri Supreme Court. The appointment was announced Tuesday. Broniec is current chief judge of the state appeals court … more

By JIM SALTER | 9/12/23

Deep South News Digest, 1pm update

Here's a look at how AP's general news coverage is shaping up for select Deep South stories. For up-to-the minute information on AP's complete coverage of Deep South and the rest of the world, visit … more

9/12/23

Missouri clinic halts transgender care for minors in wake of new state law

A Missouri clinic will stop prescribing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to minors for purposes of gender transition, citing a new state law that the clinic says “creates unsustainable … more

By JIM SALTER and SUMMER BALLENTINE | 9/12/23

Several injured in area crashes this week

A Mississippi man suffered serious injuries when his motorcycle skidded through a stop sign and overturned, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The crash happened at 6:20 p.m. Wednesday on V Highway at the intersection of Highway 142 in Oregon County. more

9/12/23

Editorial Roundup: Kansas

Wichita Eagle and Kansas City Star. September 6, 2023. Editorial: Raid on Kansas newspaper is an intolerable overreach by police Marion city police and the Marion County sheriff’s office … more

By The Associated Press | 9/12/23

Editorial Roundup:

Kansas City Star. September 7, 2023. Editorial: Missouri finally banned texting and driving. That’s not the only deadly tech in cars Missouri lawmakers took an important step toward safer … more

By The Associated Press | 9/12/23

FILE - President Bill Clinton speaks during a meeting at the White House, Washington, Jan. 25, 1993 with members of the president's Task Force on National Health Reform. The president named his wife, first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, seated center, to chair the group. At left beside Mrs. Clinton is Senior Policy Adviser Ira Magazine. (AP Photo/Greg Gibson, File)

Hillary Clinton is stepping over the White House threshold in yet another role

Hillary Clinton is stepping over the White House threshold in yet another role. Over the decades, she's been there as a gubernatorial spouse, as a first lady, as a senator and as a Cabinet member — … more

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE | 9/12/23

Effort to restrict public's access to Arkansas records stumbles at start of legislative session

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders' effort to restrict the public's access to records about her administration, travel and security has stumbled at the start of a special legislative session. The … more

By ANDREW DeMILLO | 9/11/23

MO--Missouri Digest, 3pm update, MO

Here's a look at how AP's general news coverage is shaping up for select Missouri stories. For up-to-the minute information on AP's complete coverage of Missouri and the rest of the world, visit … more

9/11/23

FILE - People rally in support of abortion rights, July 2, 2022, in Kansas City, Mo. On Monday, Sept. 11, 2023, abortion advocates asked a judge to rewrite what they call misleading descriptions of several constitutional amendments on abortion rights that voters could see on Missouri’s 2024 ballot. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

Challengers seek rewrite of Missouri abortion-rights ballot measures, calling them misleading

Advocates are asking a Missouri judge to rewrite what they say are misleading descriptions of abortion-rights constitutional amendments. Lawyers on Monday argued over Republican Secretary of State … more

By SUMMER BALLENTINE | 9/11/23

Junction Hill School Board meets Tues.

The Junction Hill School board will hold its September meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the school library. more

9/11/23

Mtn. View City Council to consider leasing baseball field

The Mtn. View City Council will meet in regular session at 6 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers of city hall, 120 N. Oak St. more

BY QUILL STAFF, NEWS@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 9/11/23

Bonnie Sullivant, left, is a dementia patient and resident of Brooke Haven Healthcare in West Plains. She holds a children's book about dementia, "Sometimes Grandma Calls Me Jean," written by her daughter, Jill Pietroburgo, right, and illustrated by Heidi Jean. Pietroburgo was inspired to create the resource after Bonnie's diagnosis, both as a method of coping and to help other families with children who might not understand the behaviors of loved ones suffering from dementia and other memory disorders. This photo was taken at a book launch party held recently at Brooke Haven in Bonnie's honor. It is available at Amazon.com in hardcover, and Pietroburgo will have copies available for sale at the upcoming Dementia Resource Event, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church, 202 Walnut St. in West Plains; the Downtown Fall Block Party, from 4 to 9 p.m. Oct. 14 on Court Square in West Plains; and the Mistletoe Market at Pine Meadows Venue, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 11, 1449 Highway 76, in Willow Springs.

’Sometimes Grandma Calls Me Jean’: Local writer pens children’s book about dementia

Local author Jill Pietroburgo has written a children's book about dementia, "Sometimes Grandma Calls Me Jean," inspired after the 2019 diagnosis of her mother Bonnie Sullivant. Pietroburgo penned the book, she said, with the hope she could help explain the disease to children with family members who have been diagnosed with dementia. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 9/11/23