West Plains Daily Digest Monday, May 04, 2026
Ty's Take
You don't have to look far around Howell County to see what college athletics has become—a money game where tennis rackets get shelved so somebody else can chase a scholarship check. Missouri State-West Plains sits in a town that understands hard choices, where every dollar gets counted twice, but there's something worth grieving when a sport that costs next to nothing to run gets axed so the big programs can stay fed. The Zizzers have always been about opportunity for kids who wouldn't get a second look from bigger schools, and cutting tennis doesn't free up money for much—it just means fewer ways for a young person to earn their way forward.
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West Plains Daily Quill
Colleges continue cutting tennis programs to fund other sports and athlete payments
Division I colleges are eliminating tennis programs at an accelerating rate to fund other sports and athlete compensation packages. The trend has cast a shadow over this week's NCAA tennis tournaments, with multiple schools announcing cuts simultaneously.
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Ozark Radio News
Swift Water Rescue in Carter County
A coordinated rescue operation in Carter County saved a person in medical distress along the Current River early Monday morning. Sheriff's deputies responded quickly when the individual entered the water, bringing the emergency to a safe conclusion.
18-Year-Old Licking Man Injured in Motorcycle Accident
An 18-year-old Licking resident suffered serious injuries Sunday when his motorcycle crashed on Highway 32 near Success while attempting to avoid an oncoming vehicle. The State Highway Patrol reports the rider was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.
Crash in Van Buren Injures Three
Three people were hospitalized Sunday afternoon following a collision at the U.S. 60 and Business 60 intersection in Van Buren. The crash occurred when a GMC Yukon failed to yield and struck a Toyota Camry, with the impact displacing the Camry across the roadway.
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