Missouri
Missouri State announces new Libraries dean – News – Missouri State University

On July 14, David Richards will become the new dean of Missouri State University Libraries.
He replaces former longtime dean Tom Peters, who retired in December 2024.
“We’re thrilled to welcome David back to Missouri State. His student-centered approach, multidimensional experience and commitment to the community will be great assets as we continue to nurture and strengthen our library services,” said Dr. Tamera Jahnke, interim provost.
More about Richards

Richards previously worked at Missouri State Libraries, joining in 1997. He served as head of Meyer Library’s Special Collections and Archives until 2016, when he joined the Criss Library at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) as dean of library services.
Richards’ career highlights include the implementation of UNO Libraries’ Open Educational Resources initiative in concert with Open Nebraska, a move that resulted in student savings of more than $2 million over a six-year period. During his leadership of the Criss Library, fundraising milestones include the library’s largest in-kind gift and one of its largest support gifts.
Members of the Springfield community will recall his work to develop and launch Missouri State’s “Rare Wine, Rare Books” event, which has become a beloved summer tradition. He brings great expertise to this role, along with enthusiasm for Missouri State’s mission and our libraries’ place in the cultural life of the Ozarks.
Richards holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a Master of Arts in European History from Western Illinois University. He also has a Master of Library and Information Science from Louisiana State University.
“It’s a rare and humbling privilege to return to an institution where one’s early career thrived. I’m honored by this opportunity to give back and serve an institution that enabled my career to flourish for almost 20 years,” Richards said.
“I’m thrilled to reunite with the Meyer Library team, Missouri State students, faculty and staff, and with Springfield!”
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Missouri
Humane Society of Missouri hands out 4,000+ pounds of pet food, water after STL tornado

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) – In the aftermath of the deadly tornado that swept through parts of the St. Louis region, one organization is taking a unique approach to recovery, helping both people and their pets.
The Humane Society of Missouri (HSMO) has deployed a fleet of supply-packed vehicles, delivering pet food, water and offering temporary boarding for animals impacted by the severe weather.
For Damian Webb, a North City resident, the storm was a first for both him and his seven-month-old puppy, Juju.
“She was under the bed shaking,” Webb said. “It was her first storm.”
Webb lives in the Greater Ville neighborhood, one of the areas hardest hit by the storms. His home remains standing, but the storm left busted windows, a leaking ceiling and a roof in need of repair.
“You can never prepare for it until you’re actually going through it,” he said.
With money tight and repairs looming, Webb is doing what he can to keep things together, including feeding Juju. That’s where HSMO comes in.
“This is our home, this is where we’re at, so we’re ready to go above and beyond,” said Ella Frank, HSMO Director of the Animal Cruelty Task Force.
Inside HSMO’s downtown shelter, shelves that were once packed with pet food now sit nearly empty. More than 4,000 pounds of food have already been distributed since the storm seven days ago, all donated by Purina.
“In a disaster, in a crisis, being able to keep your pet near you can be such a comfort,” Frank said.
That comfort is exactly what Juju has been for Webb.
“She did good for her first storm,” he said.
And while the damage is overwhelming, Webb says the community response has been just as powerful.
“Neighborhoods and community came out and started helping, that was a wonderful thing to witness.”
The Humane Society of Missouri is currently at capacity and is strongly encouraging fostering to make room for incoming animals. To learn more, click here.
Copyright 2025 KMOV. All rights reserved.
Missouri
Highway Patrol reports 7 arrests in north Missouri May 20–22, 2025

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The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a total of seven arrests in north Missouri between May 20 and May 22, 2025. Charges ranged from traffic-related offenses to violent felonies.
It is important to note that, while all the individuals listed below have been reported as arrested, they may not have been physically transported to a detention center. Depending on the circumstances, an individual may be issued a summons, which includes a court date. When the Missouri State Highway Patrol issues a summons with a court date, it is considered an arrest, even if the individual is not physically transported to a detention center.
Jon P. Worrell, a 57-year-old man from Maryville, Missouri, was arrested at 10:15 a.m. on May 20 in Nodaway County. Worrell was taken into custody on multiple felony warrants issued by Coffee County, Georgia. The charges include felony murder, malice murder, aggravated battery involving a firearm, and conspiracy to commit a crime. He was held at the Nodaway County Sheriff’s Department with no bond. These charges are accusations and do not constitute evidence of guilt. Legal proceedings will determine the outcome of the case.
Preston J. Cornelius, age 34, of Country Club, Missouri, was arrested at 4:30 p.m. on May 20 in Daviess County. Cornelius was taken into custody on a misdemeanor warrant related to a traffic violation in Andrew County. He was booked into the Daviess DeKalb Regional Jail and is bondable.
Dewayne M. Taylor, a 55-year-old man from Liberty, Missouri, was arrested at 9:14 p.m. on May 20 in Livingston County. Taylor faced two charges: operating a motor vehicle without a valid operator’s license and failure to register the motor vehicle. He was later released from the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department.
Brandin L. Robinson, 42, of Columbia, Missouri, was arrested at 10:09 a.m. on May 21 in Randolph County. Robinson was charged with felony driving while revoked and also had an active Boone County misdemeanor warrant for the same offense. He was held at the Randolph County Jail and is bondable.
Ezekiel M. Bowen, an 18-year-old man from Monroe City, Missouri, was arrested at 11:32 a.m. on May 21 in Monroe County. Bowen was taken into custody on a felony warrant for failure to register as a sex offender. He was held at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and is eligible for bond.
Brent M. Wilson, 33, of Brashear, Missouri, was arrested at 9:28 p.m. on May 21 in Adair County. Wilson faced multiple charges: driving while intoxicated with alcohol, driving while intoxicated with a person under the age of 17 in the vehicle, and possession of a controlled substance. He was held at the Adair County Jail and was later released.
Mark K. Luntsford, a 53-year-old man from Moberly, Missouri, was arrested at 2:49 p.m. on May 22 in Randolph County. Luntsford was charged with felony DWI involving alcohol and physical injury, as well as driving in the wrong direction on a highway. He was held at the Randolph County Jail and has since been released.
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Missouri
College Football Playoff Format Change is Good News for Missouri, SEC

It only took one season until major changes were made to the 12-team College Football Playoff format.
Thursday, the CFP committee agreed to change to a straight seeding format, the comitee announced in a press release Thursday.
This change won’t lead to any different qualifications to make the playoffs. The five highest-ranked conference champions will still earn automatic bids. But, instead of the conference champions being guaranteed a top-five seed, and a first-round bye for the top four of those, the seeding will be determined by ranking only.
However, the change is beneficial to both the Southeastern Conference and the Big 10, who had a combined seven teams qualify for the 2024-2025 CFP. The new format wouldn’t have made it easier for teams on the border like South Carolina and Alabama last year to qualify, but it would mean that all of the at-large qualifiers from both the SEC and Big 10 would have earned higher seeds.
Team |
Actual Seed |
Hypothetical Straight Seed |
---|---|---|
Oregon (Big 10 champions) |
1 |
1 |
Georgia (SEC champions) |
2 |
2 |
Boise State (Mountain West champions) |
3 |
9 (-6) |
Arizona State (Big 12 Champions) |
4 |
11 (-7) |
Texas |
5 |
3 (+2) |
Penn State |
6 |
4 (+2) |
Notre Dame |
7 |
5 (+2) |
Ohio State |
8 |
6 (+2) |
Tennessee |
9 |
7 (+2) |
Indiana |
10 |
8 (+2) |
SMU |
11 |
10 (+1) |
Clemson |
12 |
12 |
For the Missouri Tigers, the path to making the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history remains the same.
However, the door is now open for more than just one school from each conference to earn a first-round bye, and more space created to host a Round 1 game. For the Tigers to do either, they’d have to rank higher than the other highest-ranked conference champions, just like the SEC’s two at-large qualifiers did last season.
Additionally, the committee is moving closer toward expanding the playoff field. For the 2026-2027 CFP, the field will expand to 14 or 16 teams, sources told Brett McMurphy of The Action Network. An expansion would make it even easier for the two heavy-hitter conferences.
The straight seeding, and possible upcoming expansion, adds more fuel to the fire for the conversation of whether or not teams in the SEC or BIg 10 should care about conference championship games.
With straight seeding in place, the only reward to Texas or Georgia in last year’s SEC championship game would’ve been the difference of one seed. Both teams would earn a first-round bye under the new seeding format.
For head coach Eli Drinkwitz and the Tigers, the 2025 season might be their best chance yet to qualify for the Playoff. Drinkwitz believes this team is the best he’s ever coached in his time with Missouri.
“Whether we’re talking about offense, special teams or defense, I think there’s a level of excitement because of the level of depth and competition that we’ve created,” Drinkwitz said April 29. “It’s going to be about establishing an identity early and really playing to that identity.”
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