Springfield

I cannot recall meeting any coffee that I didn't like. That being said, there are some Missouri places that apparently brew the java better than others. There's a recent ranking of the top 26 specialty coffee places in Missouri.

I'm not sure I would brag about this if I were the state of Missouri. I've done some intense TV show math and have learned that almost no state has been featured on the TV show "COPS" more than Missouri.

Tammy Zywicki was a college girl who had an exciting future ahead of her. It should have been a routine trip back to the campus she was attending, but it was anything but that. Now, the FBI wants to solve a nearly 32 year mystery of who killed Tammy Zywicki in Missouri.

I remember my elementary school years like they were yesterday even though they very much weren't. That's probably because I didn't complete much school after it, but that's a different story for a different day. If you're looking for the best elementary school in Illinois, there are many to choose from.

If you told me that a Missouri city would appear in the top 20 most dangerous cities list for 2024, I would have guessed Saint Louis or Kansas City since they commonly appear in crime lists unfortunately. It's neither of those places that has suddenly soared into the worst city list in America.

It should not be surprising to know that I was given one 'D' grade when I was in high school. I blame physics since I don't understand them. But, that's one reason why I feel qualified to be the messenger about a newly updating ranking of Illinois hospitals that now shows 15 have the lowest 'D' rating.

I predicted this would happen. Ever wanted to call the Ghostbusters, but thought they were just a movie memory now? Fear not. Missouri really does have its own version of the Ghostbusters - sort of.

I am without words. OK, so I have a few, but my point is I'm still recovering from the shock of seeing a Missouri place named a top 5 emerging housing market when it's rare to hear anything positive said about it at all.

If you're seeking the most frightening places in Missouri, you'll often hear about a theater in Springfield where numerous stories say it's one of the most haunted places in the state. One worker at that theater didn't believe in ghosts until something strange happened late one night.

The downtown area of cities used to be the fastest-growing places. Not so much anymore. That's definitely true of 3 Illinois downtown areas that were just ranked among the fastest shrinking places in America.