Overheard

Springfield-Branson National Airport has redesigned and renamed its Web site – now www.flyspringfield.com. The former address, www.sgf-branson-airport.com, takes users to the new site, which features a national map with the location of inbound and outbound flights, including flight numbers and times; an in-depth look at the Midfield Terminal under construction; and daily arrival and departure information, including loading gate assignments. Airport officials say the flight data comes directly from airlines’ corporate computers.

There also is a “flight blog,” where officials respond to travelers’ questions. One of the first posts was, “Where is Southwest Airlines?” The short answer: Not in Springfield, because the low-cost carrier only enters markets of more than 1 million people. The Springfield market comprises about 400,000. “We don’t have the customer base,” the reply says.

Good Start for FY08

The first month of Missouri’s new fiscal year saw net general revenue collections rise 6.4 percent, or $29.1 million, compared to collections a year ago. Collections in July, the first month of fiscal 2008, were $482.3 million, according to the state’s monthly revenue report. Here’s the July breakdown: Sales and use tax collections climbed to $147 million, up 10.7 percent from July 2006. Individual income tax collections grew 3.9 percent to $322.7 million. Corporate income and corporate franchise tax collections were $27.5 million, up 32.3 percent. All other collections increased 5 percent to $25.2 million. Refunds were up as well, by 14.4 percent, to $40.1 million, compared to $35.1 million last year. The state says only 2.6 percent growth is needed to reach the revenue estimate that is the basis for the state’s fiscal 2008 budget.

AT&T Dials into Missouri

AT&T will invest more than $26 million in its Missouri wireless network this year. By the end of 2007, AT&T’s three-year investment in Missouri will total $283 million, including network upgrades. The company will have built 153 cell sites in Missouri in that time. Coverage has been enhanced in Anderson, Rolla and Fort Leonard Wood, and third-generation service – a DSL-speed service for laptops that provides access anywhere in the network – will be launched in Columbia and Jefferson City this year. The service already is in Independence, Kansas City and St. Louis; there are no plans to introduce 3G in Springfield at this time, according to an AT&T spokeswoman.

Slice of Nice

The Kitchen reports that its 5k Fun Run/Walk in May raised a record $17,702 to benefit the nonprofit’s children’s programs. More than 750 participated. In 16 years of putting on the 5k Fun Run/Walk, more than $117,000 has been raised to fund The Kitchen’s shelter, food, medical care, counseling and job training programs for the economically disadvantaged. In 2006, 785 children were housed or benefited directly by The Kitchen. The 17th annual Kitchen 5k Fun Run/Walk is scheduled for May 10.