We just received a news release from the City of Sikeston, saying the city council has declared October "Neal E. Boyd month," literally hours before the tenor and Sikeston native takes the stage for his "America's Got Talent" finals performance. Boyd went to school in Sikeston and his mother still lives there. The Boyd family will be at October's first city council meeting for the presentation of the proclamation.

Boyd is one of five remaining contestants who will appear on NBC's talent show starting at 8 p.m.

It was June when Boyd made his first national television appearance on the NBC competition show "America's Got Talent." Boyd's was the final performance on the season's first show, and the judges immediately declared him the competition's front-runner. Since then, many other acts have been named "front-runner," including some that Boyd is now fighting for $1 million.

Last week we found out that Boyd was indeed one of the five finalists on "America's Got Talent." Tonight we'll see his first, and likely only, performance as a member of the final five when the show airs at 8 p.m. local time.

Of course, I'll be watching, as I have each week, and leading a live chat during the show, examining Boyd's performance and performances by his competitors, on our "America's Voice" website dedicated to Boyd and his "Talent" run. There you can watch video clips of all Boyd's performances, vote in a poll asking you who your choice is to take the $1 million prize, get information on how to vote for Boyd and leave comments about Boyd and the show.

And if you miss tonight's performance, check back at "America's Voice" early Thursday to get the scoop on how Boyd, and his competition, did.

Voting tonight starts at 8:55 p.m. and continues into early morning. To vote by phone watch for the number that's shown after each contestant's performance (it's different for each contestant). Internet voting also starts at 8:55 p.m. on the "America's Got Talent" website.

Emerson's feelings on the bailout

In heavier news, Rep. Jo Ann Emerson has weighed in with her opinion on the proposed $700 billion financial bailout package going through Congress.

From the news release sent by Emerson's office today:

"U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) today said she has a long list, and some major concerns, about the size, scope and details of a proposed $700 billion bailout for the financial sector to be administered by the U.S. Treasury. Specifics of the legislation have yet to be released."

Here are some statements attributed to Emerson in the release:

"There is no doubt that what is happening in the financial sector is deeply concerning, but I have a lot of questions about whether this $700 billion proposal is the best way out of the crisis or the only way out of it," Emerson said. "Taxpayers are being asked to have blind faith in a system which depends on an enormous amount of their money and their children's money. I just think we have to be thoughtful before we commit this much debt to a problem no one seems to be able to describe.

"In Southern Missouri, the health of our economy - of pensions and savings accounts and retirement funds, as well as the availability of credit - is directly tied to this crisis. Any solution has to be guaranteed to stabilize these markets and not just bail irresponsible Wall Street executives out of a problem of their own making."

AG candidates coming to Poplar Bluff

We just published a story today out of Poplar Bluff saying the state attorney general candidates — Chris Koster and Michael Gibbons, will make a speaking appearance at Three Rivers Community College in October.

True state political junkies will probably make the trip. But, honestly, how many Missourians know about, or care about, the attorney general's race? Unfortunately, I don't think many. Let's hope there aren't too many empty seats.