West Plains Daily Quill

A tornado plowed through Little Rock and surrounding areas on Friday afternoon, reducing rooftops to splinters, toppling vehicles and tossing debris on roadways as people raced for shelter. (March 31)

Tornadoes kill at least 10 across US Midwest and South

Unrelenting tornadoes that tore through parts of the South and Midwest have killed at least 10 people. The storms shredded homes and shopping centers and collapsed a theater roof during a heavy metal … more

By ANDREW DeMILLO and ADRIAN SAINZ | 4/1/23

Man charged with murder in deaths of missing mom, girl

The man named as a person of interest in the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend and her 7-year-old daughter has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder. Washington state officials … more

3/31/23

A car is upturned in a Kroger parking lot after a severe storm swept through Little Rock, Ark., Friday, March 31, 2023. (AP Photo/Andrew DeMillo)

Tornado slams Little Rock, smashes rooftops, flips vehicles

A tornado has plowed through Arkansas’ capital and surrounding areas, reducing rooftops to splinters, toppling vehicles and tossing debris on roadways as people raced for shelter. The Little Rock … more

By ANDREW DeMILLO | 3/31/23

Hundreds of people gather on the lawn of the Vermont Statehouse in Montpelier, on Friday March 31, 2023 in support of transgender rights. The Vermont rally is one of many being held across the country on Friday. The rallies come at a time when Republicans in some state legislatures across the country are considering hundreds of separate bills that would limit transgender rights. (AP Photo/Wilson Ring)

Transgender Day of Visibility rallies held amid backlash

Transgender people and their allies gathered at at venues across the country Friday as part of an annual, international recognition of transgender resilience, an observation that this year comes amid … more

By WILSON RING | 3/31/23

Topher Malone, a 17-year-old trans high school student in Round Rock, Texas, talks about her experience for the documentary, “You’re Loved,” which premieres at Green Light Cinema in St. Petersburg, Fla. on March 31, 2023. Carys Mullins, a Florida teenager has documented how it feels to be young and transgender for a film set to debut at a festival as transgender people around the world celebrate visibility and lawmakers across the country look to restrict their rights and care. (AP Photo/Laura Bargfeld)

Florida teen debuts trans visibility film as bans spread

A Florida teenager has documented how it feels to be young and transgender for a film set to debut at a festival as transgender people around the world celebrate visibility and lawmakers across the … more

By LAURA BARGFELD | 3/31/23

3 of 5 candidates for R-7 School Board share concerns, ideas

Ahead of Tuesday’s election, the Quill reached out to five candidates vying for three seats on the West Plains R-7 School Board: current officeholders Lee Freeman, Reid Grigsby and Christena Silvey Coleman, and challengers Jodi Purgason and Scott Tuma. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUIL.NET | 3/31/23

Owners of big cat refuge from 'Tiger King' selling property

The owners of a Florida-based sanctuary made famous by the Netflix docuseries, “Tiger King,” say they plan to move most of their big cats to an Arkansas refuge and eventually sell their 67-acre … more

3/31/23

McClellan challenges Topliff in bid to retain mayor’s seat

Donnie Ray McClellan, 67, is running for West Plains mayor against incumbent Mike Topliff. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 3/31/23

Public invited to ASCEND open house Sunday

An open house will be hosted from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday for ASCEND (Autism Support Can Empower New Directions) at the MSU-WP Lybyer Technology Center, 605 W. Main St. more

3/31/23

Commissioners to discuss new K-9 Monday

The Howell County Commission will meet at 10 a.m. Monday in the conference room on the second floor of the county office building, 35 Court Square in West Plains. more

3/31/23

Planned Parenthood sues over transgender care investigation

A lawsuit filed by Missouri’s Planned Parenthood reveals that the state's Republican attorney general is investigating gender-affirming care provided at the organization's St. Louis clinic. … more

By SUMMER BALLENTINE | 3/31/23

Arkansas Gov. Sanders, lawmakers call for $124M tax cut plan

Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and legislative leaders are calling for $124 million in income tax cuts. Sanders and GOP leaders unveiled the tax cut plan on Thursday as they near the end of … more

By ANDREW DeMILLO | 3/30/23

FILE - President Bill Clinton looks on as Vice President Gore addresses members of congress outside the Oval Office after the House of Representatives voted to impeach the president, Dec. 19, 1998, in Washington. Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr concluded that Clinton had lied under oath and obstructed justice. That led to the House voting to impeach Clinton on Dec. 19, 1998. He was acquitted by the Senate, allowing Clinton to remain in office until his term ended in January 2001. (AP Photo/Doug Mills, File)

Among 160 years of presidential scandals, Trump stands alone

While he’s far from the only U.S. president to be dogged by legal and ethical scandals, Donald Trump now occupies a unique place in history as the first ever indicted on criminal charges. Two … more

By RUSS BYNUM | 3/30/23

FILE - Members of the Missouri House debate legislation on March 21, 2023, at the state Capitol in Jefferson City, Mo. State lawmakers on Thursday, March 30, 2023, voted along mostly party lines in favor of a proposed $45 billion state budget blocking funding for diversity, equity and inclusion. The restrictions also would apply to public colleges and universities. (AP Photo/David A. Lieb, File)

Missouri House bans diversity funding; Senate likely to undo

Missouri House Republicans have voted to ban diversity spending in state government. State lawmakers on Thursday voted along mostly party lines in favor of a proposed $45 billion state budget … more

By SUMMER BALLENTINE | 3/30/23

Dr. Joby Steele returns to R-7

The West Plains R-7 School District has announced Dr. Joby Steele has been hired as West Plains Elementary School assistant principal for the 2023-2024 school year, his duties beginning July 1. more

3/30/23

A quick look at city council candidates ahead of Tuesday's election

Tuesday is election day for West Plains and other city councils. Here is a rundown of candidates in the Howell County cities which are holding races, and one ballot initiative for the city of West Plains. more

BY KIMBERLY LANGSTON, KIMBERLYL@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 3/30/23

Father accused of strangling 11-year-old child

A Mtn. View resident has been charged with abuse or neglect of a child and first-degree child endangerment involving a substantial risk. Both are felonies. more

3/30/23

Missouri and northern Arkansas are at an enhanced risk for the possibility of severe weather developing today, as shown in this graphic from the Springfield office of the National Weather Service. An enhanced risk means numerous severe storms are possible.

Wind advisory issued for region ahead of severe weather potential

A wind advisory has been issued by the National Weather Service office in Springfield, effective from 1 p.m. today to 1 a.m. Saturday, for Howell and surrounding Missouri counties, plus Dent and Webster counties. The advisory is issued ahead of an enhanced risk of severe weather impacting the central and eastern parts of Missouri, as well as parts of northern Arkansas. In southern Missouri, the enhanced risk area is east of Springfield and Branson, with an elevated moderate risk status assigned to the Poplar Bluff and Bootheel areas. more

BY ABBY HESS, ABBYH@WPDAILYQUILL.NET | 3/30/23

DNA evidence solves 1984 homicide case in Lincoln County

After nearly four decades, a cold case killing in eastern Missouri has been solved, thanks to DNA evidence. Authorities in Lincoln County announced Wednesday that a DNA match identified the victim as … more

3/30/23

Missouri man found not guilty in deaths of five people

A St. Louis County man has been found not guilty in the deaths of five people who were shot at an apartment complex in 2019. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that a jury deliberated less than two … more

3/30/23