Springfield News-Leader

The start of the new school year for Springfield students is mere weeks away. Ahead of the new term's commencement, Springfield Public Schools Superintendent Grenita Lathan reflected on the prior year's successes, set priorities for the upcoming year and launched a new initiative aimed at improving literacy. Lathan gave her annual State of the Schools address Thursday, Aug. 6 at the brand new Pipkin Middle School, which will open to serve more than 500 students on Aug. 25.

Fit & Fresh Cool Coolers Soft Ice Packs are currently on sale for $9.99 on Amazon. The flexible, non-toxic ice packs are designed to keep lunches and beverages cold for hours. These multi-purpose ice packs are ideal for school lunches, picnics, and even minor injuries. The product is featured as part of USA TODAY Shopping's Fall Reset, which focuses on back-to-school routines. With school back in session, parents everywhere are on the hunt for the ultimate lunch-packing secrets.

Voluspa has released a new Tomato Trellis candle collection for summer. The scent features notes of roma tomato, garden mint, rosemary, and white musk. The collection includes candles and diffusers designed to neutralize odors. Move over, volcano candle — there's a new summer scent in town, and it comes in the form of a Voluspa candle that pays homage to the season's most beloved produce.

Stasher's new paper sandwich bags offer a plastic-free alternative for packing school lunches. The bags are made from recyclable, wax-free kraft paper and feature a sealable closure. Designed with expandable sides and kid-friendly dinosaur prints, they are available on Amazon. A 50-count pack of the Stasher paper sandwich bags currently costs $7.99. As the kiddos head back to school across the country, we're all looking for the best ways to pack a wholesome lunch.

Democrats called the move an "immensely historic step" that would ultimately erode congressional oversight powers. Updated Aug. 6, 2026, 2:14 p.m. CT WASHINGTON – A Republican-led Senate committee voted Thursday, Aug. 6, to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci, the federal official who led the government's coronavirus response in 2020, in contempt of Congress for refusing to answer questions during a hearing last week.

A celestial "parade" is set to put on a show for spectators looking up to catch a glimpse. Usually, people can look up at the sky and spot at least one planet. Two or three planets are also commonly hanging out in the night sky, according to NASA. But what about when four, five or even six planets are visible? When that happens, it can be referred to as a "planetary parade," or the technical term, planetary alignment. The planets can appear to be marching across the sky in a straight line.

The Powerball jackpot rises again to an estimated $856 million after no one won the drawing that occurred on Wednesday, Aug. 5. When someone does win the jackpot, which has an estimated cash value of $372 million, they’ll have two options: take home a one-time, lump-sum cash payment or receive an immediate payment followed by annual checks, each 5% larger than the previous year. Here's what to know about the current Powerball jackpot. What are the winning numbers for the Aug. 5 Powerball?

USA TODAY provided by Sanctuary Aug. 6, 2026, 3:34 a.m. CT Here are the horoscopes for today, Thursday, August 6, 2026. For full daily and monthly horoscopes as well as expert readings, see our full Horoscopes experience. What is your zodiac sign? A guide to what astrology can tell you about yourself Get to know Leo: Personality traits and more on this Zodiac sign Leo (July 23 - August 22) Making new connections? Venus’ entrance to Libra is an excellent excuse to flex your networking skills.

Whether you're a fitness enthusiast looking for a side hustle, a professional considering a career change, or someone approaching retirement who wants to stay active and earn extra income, becoming a certified personal trainer can open the door to a flexible and rewarding career. For a lot of people though, fitness starts as a hobby. Maybe it's the early morning gym sessions that help clear your head before work.

Aug. 5, 2026, 8:22 p.m. CT LAS VEGAS – President Donald Trump returned to Las Vegas on Wednesday, Aug. 5, to make a familiar pitch: that his economic policies are lowering costs for Americans and putting more money back in workers' pockets.