Springfield

I want to start by saying that I'd like to add my own non-scientific addendum to this new ranking that shows Missouri has taken a deep dive to almost the bottom of states when it comes to public safety and crime.

I think alligators are amazing creatures. I'd like to see one, but there's the whole "it might bite your arm off" problem. There is new video of an alligator that really is in Missouri, but it's probably fine.

My kids refuse to believe it, but I used to be a runner. That's one reason why I appreciate the fact that one 5K run in Missouri was just voted one of the best races in America. That matters because it was the people who participate that vote.

Already this year, I've had the sad task of sharing a lot of stores that are closing their doors for one reason or another. In this case, it's the opposite. It appears there are at least two new Target stores that will open in Missouri soon.

The fact that Missouri really does have 1.4 billion pounds of cheese hidden in caves is remarkable, but the urban legends that have ground out of this cheddar reality are even better. Let's try to separate Missouri cheese fact from dairy fiction.

I'm confused. Either my two favorite food worlds have collided or I'm delusional (although admittedly both might be true). The internet 'experts' say the best taco in Missouri requires some form of kung fu. I feel like I should break a board right now.

As the son of a former postal worker, it pains me to pass along this news, but a proposed change in Illinois by the United States Postal Service will almost certainly slow down mail in a big, big way.

Stop me if you've heard this before. The worst place for crime in Missouri is St. Louis or Kansas City. For some types of crime, yes that's accurate, but not for this one. The worst place for property crime in the Show Me State isn't either of those metros. Oh, and it's not Springfield either in case you guessed that, too.

Spring is a time of cleaning for many. Hopefully some of those "many" are in 3 Missouri cities that were just listed among the 100 most filthy places in America.

Everyone has an opinion about Missouri places, but I tend to trust the opinions of those that actually live there instead of any old random internet person's perspective. That's why I trust what locals say are the absolutely worst 8 towns in the state of Missouri.