Latest news with #Neas
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'We want to keep Ernie Biggs alive': Owner talks future plans
SPRINGFIELD — The former downtown Springfield attraction has eyes on the future as the owner is getting creative to keep the 'Ernie Biggs' brand alive. After closing its longtime location in downtown Springfield in January, Ernie Biggs is teaming up with The Riff at 1900 W. Sunset for a one-night show this Saturday, May 10. It is a one-night show, and not scheduled as a permanent partnership for now. However, it's a way for Ernie Biggs and co-owner Ryan Neas to try keeping the brand relevant in Springfield. 'Obviously, with the closure of downtown with Ernie Biggs, we wanted to keep Ernie Biggs alive and be able to bring it to a venue that I've loved for a long time,' say Neas, who took over ownership in late 2023. He says some of his favorite memories are in the building that still sits unoccupied at 312 South Avenue. It was the home of Ernie Biggs for 22 years, and Neas says it is bringing back the familiar show people remember to the stage at The Riff. 'We want to continue the dueling pianos side of it that you had at the original location. You'll still be able to request your songs, and keep it rolling,' says Neas. Since the closure of the downtown location, Ernie Biggs has taken its show on the road playing special events. 'We've got about 60 piano players that I have gotten to work with on our road shows, and when we had Ernie Biggs downtown as a whole,' says Neas. 'They really make it happen, and if you haven't been to a dueling pianos show, the talent. They aren't just playing the piano, they're working with whatever you give them. They're improvising, and they're making it fun for you.' Being graduation weekend for Missouri State University and Drury University, Neas says both he and the owners of The Riff are expecting a big crowd. Neas says he reached out to owners Cameron and Caleb Schwien earlier this year, interested in the location and venue being a good fit. Cameron, 37, and Caleb, 32, are brothers who are about a year into ownership at Classic's Complex. The business brings The Riff, Classic Rock Coffee, and Classic's Yard all under one roof. 'We were more than grateful to partner up with him because it's a very recognizable name here in town,' says Cameron. Younger brother Caleb says it's a fun new light for them to help another local business make a comeback. 'Being born in Springfield, and (going to) Ernie Biggs, it's cool to now partner with them and bring it back to life.' It's an opportunity Neas says he is grateful for while Ernie Biggs figures some things out. When Ernie Biggs made the announcement that they were closing, owners cited financial issues. He says things have not been easy since the COVID-19 pandemic. 'It's been a challenge since COVID. There's a lot of the downtown area – bars and businesses have been struggling to just really get back on their feet. And I know that's five years ago, but those have lasting effects. So just a shout out to downtown if you can support it,' Neas explains. We asked what it is about downtown that has made it more difficult to do business. 'Yeah, you know, there's there's some downtown challenges. You know, a lot of it is the location of it. Sometimes people, you know, they see a lack of parking, sometimes the 'riff raff' that people talk about,' says Neas, referring to crime. 'I think that is a little bit overexaggerated just in the media, to be honest, because, you know, I have been down there almost every other day for the last several years, and I feel fairly safe.' With several buildings in prime locations for sale along South Street and other parts of downtown, Neas says he hopes people will support whatever businesses are still there and any future ones. The Ernie Biggs building at 312 South Avenue is among those for sale/lease. 'I would love to keep the building, perhaps, but I'm not going to get too much into that. Who knows? You know, Ernie Biggs makes a comeback downtown,' Neas says. 'I will confidently say Ernie Biggs isn't done around here. That's for sure.' The event this Saturday starts at 7:30 p.m. with tickets for sale here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR -
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump wants to dismantle the Department of Education. Here are 6 services that could vanish
With the U.S. Department of Education on the chopping block, the agency is getting more scrutiny than usual. But what does the Department of Education do? Experts lament the impact the Department's demise will have on some of its lesser-known roles. 'For instance, the DOE provides important federal oversight for implementation of legal mandates impacting immigrant students, and especially immigrant students who are English Learners,' says Brooke Kandel, dean and professor in the College of Education at Butler University. 'Additionally, the DOE collects and analyzes large scale data sets across states and sub-groups providing insights on academic achievement and program quality,' Kandel says, also noting that the DOE initiates funding sources and vets proposals for teacher training, including training specific to teachers of the English learner. Here are some more lesser-known roles of the DOE. Katy Neas, CEO of The Arc of the United States, is a former top Department of Education official, having served as Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting Assistant Secretary in the Office of Special Education under President Biden. Neas emphasizes the often overlooked role the Department takes in serving children with special needs. ' It funds high-quality training for special education teachers, drives innovation in how we educate students with disabilities, supports parents, and enforces disability rights laws,' Neas says, adding that the Department also ensures that when students with disabilities are not able to access appropriate special education services, families have a way to fight back. 'In fact, the largest category of complaints filed with the Department of Education are from parents of students with disabilities who believe their children are being denied the education they need and deserve,' Neas says, noting that in many cases, the Department of Education works directly with school districts to resolve these issues and improve services. The Department of Education provides literacy research and initiatives, supporting reading skill growth for students. The Institute of Education Sciences, an arm of the DOE, provides guidance on best practices for improving literacy among K-12 students 'With recent data showing that approximately 70% of 4th and 8th graders are not reading proficiently, this is more needed now than ever. The importance of teaching our nation's children to read is something we should all agree on, across any party lines,' says Louise Baigelman, founder and CEO of Storyshares, which focuses on developing literacy skills in adolescents. Joseph South, Chief Innovation Officer at ISTE+ASCD, says the Department of Education's Office of Educational Technology has played a crucial role in technology adoption in schools, ensuring access for all, and coordinating responses to urgent issues like broadband expansion and cybersecurity. 'Without this centralized guidance, states and districts risk inconsistent access to high-quality educational technology and face greater challenges in navigating emerging technologies like AI in education,' South says. The Department of Education tracks student achievement over time through the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), commonly referred to as the 'Nation's Report Card.' 'This is essentially the yardstick that measures student achievement in subjects like math, science, and reading,' says Dan Ulin, founder and CEO of Elite Student Coach in Los Angeles, California. He mentors exceptional college-bound teens to gain admission to top-tier schools and laments the potential loss of that 'report card.' Elise Miller McNeely, senior education manager at Ithaka, a nonprofit organization devoted to improving higher education access, says the Department collects information about colleges and makes the data available on the College Navigator and College Scorecard websites, so that families can compare different colleges and universities. 'Even if you have never been to those websites, you've likely consulted the data because the Department makes the data available to be used by private colleges guides and states as well,' McNeely says. For those who have daughters that play sports, the Department of Education ensures equal access to opportunities. If there is a boys basketball team, then there has to be a girls basketball team. If the boys have a bowling team, then girls have to be included too. Although recently the Department of Education has been using XI to curtail transgender inclusion in sports. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
