There’s a new buzzword these days among economic developers: quality of life. What amenities does a community have that contribute to a good quality of life: education, public safety, restaurants, entertainment, parks and recreation, church community. The list goes on...

So many industries are experiencing changes these days. And for many, it’s not incremental change. Some are seeing transformational changes on the good side. Others face challenges. For most, it’s a mix of both. The pandemic certainly changed things. Take, for example, recruitment...

It’s no secret that health care plays a key role in our economy, both at a national level and, more specifically, in Southeast Missouri. I wrote in these pages a year ago that health care is a leading industry for this region. Yes, the hospitals play a big role. But it’s also the tertiary care centers, long-term assisted living and other health related services that contribute to this economic activity...

As I’m writing this column in the third week of August, there’s a major baseball tournament being held one mile from our downtown Cape Girardeau offices. Fourteen teams are competing in the Babe Ruth World Series for 16- to 18-year-olds at Capaha Field and Central High School. ...

It's easy to be discouraged about today's America -- and for good reason. We're very much a divided country on many issues. America is challenged with historic inflation and rising debt. War continues between Russia and Ukraine, which impacts the United States. Crime continues to be an issue around the country. And the scourge of drugs plagues many individuals, families and communities. The list could go on...

When you hear the words Difference Maker, what comes to mind? For many of you it could be a former teacher or coach, someone who invested in you early in life. It could be a business mentor, pastor, an extended family member or someone else. We all define this term in a way that’s personal to us...

We are to the point now — and frankly, we’ve been here for a while — that people are tired of the COVID-19 comparisons. But there’s no question real estate was one segment of our economy that was affected by the pandemic in a big way. The federal government flooded the economy with cash. ...

Earlier this month in a small Kentucky town, a small group of college students met informally at a school chapel. It wasn't flashy. The music was simple. There wasn't high production level of video and lights. But something unusual happened -- or should I say didn't happen. The service, which began on Feb. 8, didn't stop for two weeks...

A few months ago, my pastor spoke about the importance of the broader Christian Church putting its faith into action to help young women facing crisis pregnancies. Espousing pro-life views is great, but it's vital for the Church to be the Church, putting Mathew Chapter 25 into practice...

It’s not uncommon for financial changes to be part of an individual’s New Year’s resolution. And with the market volatility and persistent challenges with inflation since mid-2021, you’d expect this to be among the most important issues heading into 2023...

There’s a phrase that’s been used a number of times in recent years in the technology and business space: Making work more human. The general idea is to use emerging technology for repetitive tasks, allowing humans to focus on work that requires more thought or advanced skill...

It was a Sept. 3 game at Busch Stadium between the Cardinals and Cubs, and I was seated in right field. The Cardinals were in the middle of a playoff push, and the Cubs were just trying to make it through what had been an otherwise disappointing season. Still, these games are always fun. It's a classic baseball rivalry -- maybe the best in professional sports...

The following column originally appeared in B Magazine, a regional publication covering business news in Southeast Missouri. You can pick up a copy outside Schnucks in Cape Girardeau or at the Southeast Missourian offices while supplies last. To have B Magazine mailed to your home or business six times each year, subscribe online at bmagazine.io or call (573) 388-3680. Stories also publish online at semissourian.com...

There are people who work a job, complete tasks and play important roles in day-to-day operations. They clock-in and clock-out, doing what needs to be done. Then there are others who go the extra mile. They’re passionate about what they do in business or community service. ...

The Hawley family played a key role in the recently overturned Roe v. Wade Supreme Court case. Though Missouri's junior senator, Josh Hawley, has been one of the strongest pro-life voices on Capitol Hill, it was his wife Erin Hawley whose legal work helped lay the groundwork in the landmark Dobbs v. Jackson case that ultimately sent abortion back to the states...

Health care is a major economic driver for our regional economy. According to city-data.com, health care and social assistance ranks as the top industry in Cape Girardeau County. Saint Francis Health Care and SoutheastHEALTH continue to be two of the top employers. Add in the new Southeast Behavioral Health Hospital, Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center and tertiary services, as well as Doctors' Park, and you can really see the employment impact...

Few people are more committed to Christian education than Carroll and Debbie Williams. The two have played important roles at Lynwood Christian Academy and Cape Christian Community School. As the school year wraps up, the couple will enter a new chapter: retirement...

This is our annual Progress Edition for B Magazine — a look at what’s working, what construction projects are popping up, profiles on visionary leaders and other business stories of advancement in Southeast Missouri. As I sit here in my hotel room in Orlando, Florida, where I’ve been the last few days for a newspaper conference, the fact is not lost on me that one bit of progress is business travel is beginning to return. ...

Lee Strobel was an award-winning investigative journalist for the Chicago Tribune. But in addition to his passion for good journalism with a focus on legal issues, he was also committed to something else: Strobel was an atheist. It was Leslie Strobel who would start the process of her husband's conversion — one built on extensive research of Scripture and interviews with many biblical scholars...

I have been to several Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Dinners at Southeast Missouri State University. The one held Jan. 26 was the best I have had the pleasure of attending. Dr. Carlos Vargas gave brief remarks, quoting Dr. King on choosing love and how hate is “too great a burden to bear.” He challenged the audience to seek kindness — in ways big and small. Vargas said groundbreaking actor Sidney Poitier, who died Jan. 6, marched with Dr. King on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 and witnessed the civil rights leader’s iconic speech. “One of the things I admire about Mr. Poitier was the approach he took during the civil rights movement in the 1960s,” Vargas said. “He was criticized by some for not being vocal enough or radical enough. I think the path he chose was very powerful and made an impact that we can still see today. His philosophy is encapsulated in his famous quote, ‘I have chosen to use my work as a reflection of my values.’ And that is exactly what he did. He refused to take the stereotypical roles of Black male actors. Instead, he took on groundbreaking roles in iconic films, like ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner’ and ‘The Heat of the Night and ‘To Sir, with Love.’ Sydney Poitier understood the power he had with his professional choices. The message he sent through the roles he played reached millions over decades. I really admire and respect that approach.” Vargas encouraged the crowd of several hundred attendees to find ways to make their community better and stronger, considering the example of the great Sidney Poitier and, of course, the namesake of the evening’s dinner Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Another highlight was soloist Peighton Robinson who, accompanied by her mother, Ramona Bailey, on piano, gave a stirring rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer.” Other musical performances included the Southeast Jazz Collective and Dr. Jonathan Bibbs — both excellent. The words of prayer offered by the Rev. Calvin Bird were heartfelt and inspiring. The evening’s keynote speaker gave a powerful message, one of hope and inspiration that captured the spirit of the late civil rights leader. Judge Brian S. Miller, a U.S. Navy veteran and federal judge on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas, spoke about growing up in Helena, Arkansas. His great-grandfather was born a slave in 1851, his grandfather became a doctor, and his father their hometown’s first Black mayor. While his family had great successes through education, they did not escape heartache. In 1919, four of Judge Miller’s great uncles were killed in the Elaine Massacre, where mobs of white-Americans murdered what has been reported to be upward of 200 Blacks. Judge Miller said his grandfather, Robert Miller, who was 13 at the time, was so troubled by the killing that his mother sent him to a boarding school in Boston. Following high school, he went to Howard University and then medical school and then back to his hometown. “Now think about it. In my family, one generation we went from plantation slavery to medical school,” he said, with the horror of the massacre in between. Judge Miller said his grandfather would go on to serve as a doctor for the 1952 Jamaican Olympic team. But despite all his accomplishments, he was never allowed to practice at the helm of the Regional Medical Center or the Helena Hospital because he was Black. Though never attaining great wealth as a physician, he would take care of those who couldn’t afford to pay for care. Judge Miller said growing up the elected officials in his hometown were all white. Today, they are all Black. It’s good equity of opportunity exists regardless of skin color, but many of the problems of poverty and crime have not been solved simply by this change. The poverty rate is 45% in his hometown. While there has been a rise in the Black middle class, he said there’s also been a persistent level of poverty. The challenges in this small Arkansas town do not stand alone. Judge Miller pointed to similar issues around the country. “Just read the newspaper or watch the evening news, and you’ll see that we have more billionaires Black and white, more millionaires Black and white and more diversity in politics than we’ve ever had. And despite this, as we sit here in our nice clothes eating good food and enjoying the company, our public schools are struggling. And many of our state universities appear to have lost their collective minds. Many of our neighborhoods are about as valid as you could ever imagine. A large number of our children are out of control. And in fact, many studies indicate that more children are depressed now than ever before. And y’all, our leadership has no clue what to do.” Judge Miller referenced the 1970 song “Ball Of Confusion” by the Temptations which talks about the problems of the day and politicians who say more taxes will solve the problems. “Here it is 50 years after that song came out, and you tell me what has changed. Is our leadership still telling us the same things? You tell me. Let me ask you this: Is it time for us to stop looking for some leader to solve our problems? Is it time for you, is it time for me to love somebody? Is it time for us to feed the hungry? Isn’t it time for me to clothe and make it myself? And I’m going to tell you something. It’s taken me a lifetime to come around to this point of view. But in doing so, I’ve come to the conclusion that there is no grand solution to the world’s problems. But I can personally help in the ways available to me.” The judge said he used to believe the plight of Black children could be improved if we only had more Black people in charge of education. Or if there was some public policy solution. And while he’s been involved with local education and community initiatives, he’s come to some additional conclusions. “First, historic racism has played a role in how we got here. When a community is divided, it’s not pulling together. And the effects are long lasting. At the same time. I do not believe that racism or existing present racism is preventing my community from solving its problems. That’s just not true. Too many of our friends and people I know in my community right here are excelling beyond belief for that to be true. Now many people disagree with me on things. And I think that’s OK. We all come to our conclusions based on our experiences. And if we’re ever going to make progress on these issues, we have to be able to honestly and forthrightly discuss these issues with each other and not call each other names and we have to talk about it and work through.” His second conclusion offered a very practical take-home message. What is the individual doing to love others? Judge Miller visits the individuals who he has put behind bars, checking up on them to make sure they are doing what needs to be done so they can be productive members of society when they get out of prison. “Every person I put in prison deserves to be there. I don’t put anybody in prison unless I know they deserve to be there. But that does not mean that I should send them there and throw them away.” Additionally, he purchases low-income housing for the working poor and hires individuals who need a hand-up in society to fix the property. These are individuals who have had alcohol or drug dependency issues or been in prison. For some of the individuals, it’s started them on a path where they can own their own rental property. He shared several smaller ways he tries to help his community and asked the audience to find their own opportunities to serve in ways big or small. It was a sobering and yet unifying message, one of historic pain, hope and equality of opportunity. Thank you to Dr. Vargas and all those at the university who organized this year’s event, an inspiring and unifying evening that celebrated and honored the life and legacy of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. May we all choose kindness and seek opportunities to help others individually. That’s the best way we can honor King’s life, even in the face of difficulties. Lucas Presson is assistant publisher of the Southeast Missourian.

Growing up in the area, my family would make weekend visits to see grandparents and other family in Southeast Missouri's bootheel — Mississippi County to be specific. Sundays typically started with church followed by the 45-minute drive south on I-55 where we would enjoy a home cooked meal followed by fun outdoor activities and usually some work in my grandparents' garden. ...

Growing up the son of two music teachers, I was bound to learn piano. Years later as an adult, I'm thankful that was the case. Part of my training as a youngster was participating in the National Federation of Junior Music Clubs Festival. Each year students perform two pieces of music by memory for judges and are rated based on their performance and musicality. ...

How do you handle the daily grind? Some people appear to have it all figured out, sans the trials and tribulations. The reality, however, is many individuals making the biggest difference have been through big challenges — but they’ve persevered and developed a resiliency vital to personal and professional success...

Rick Burgess is known for being half of "The Rick and Bubba Show," a popular morning program covering everything from current events to faith to sports. On Saturday, Burgess will be in Cape Girardeau as part of the Lynwood Baptist Church Catalyst Weekend...

It's not uncommon for me to experience a sinus infection or two each year. Eleven days before Christmas, I felt one coming on, or so I thought — and this time with chest congestion. Though not terribly concerned, I decided to go to a local urgent care facility for a round of antibiotics with the hope that I would feel better before Christmas...

Stories about health care over the past year have largely focused on the global pandemic and related elements like mask-wearing, government-imposed shutdowns, vaccines and treatments. Nearly every area of life was affected from schools to work to shopping. Even going to church changed for a time, many choosing to worship virtually using online platforms...

Matt Holliday wowed St. Louis Cardinals fans for seven-plus years as a right-handed-hitting slugger. Unlike some of today's superstars, he wasn't flashy. But he quietly put together All-Star performances on the field with equally all-star performances off the field through his charitable work and Christian testimony...

My father and his brother, Jim, were more than brothers. They were best friends. Separated by only four years in age, the two shared a room growing up and enjoyed wrestling with each other -- sometimes to the chagrin of their dad. "I felt like I'd really arrived when I put him in a full nelson and he couldn't break it," my dad, Donald Presson, told me recently...

There's a new podcast available through iHeart Radio hosted by James Golden, otherwise known as "Bo Snerdley" from the Rush Limbaugh Show. "Rush Limbaugh: The Man Behind the Golden EIB Microphone" is a behind-the-scenes look at the remarkable life and career of the conservative talker from Cape Girardeau. ...

After the year we’ve been through with the COVID-19 pandemic, how do you define progress? Most years when we publish the Progress edition of B Magazine, our thoughts go to new construction projects and areas of growth. We have had some exciting projects — a new behavioral health hospital finished, a veterans hospital on the way, new county courthouse in Jackson and construction of the new Cape Girardeau City Hall to name a few...

Do you have an entrepreneurial mindset? How about your employees? Take it a step further, maybe the most important question: Do your kids have an entrepreneurial mindset? There’s a TED Talk by Bill Roche called “The Power of an Entrepreneurial Mindset.” In his presentation, Roche documents his experiment with challenging young people to start a business. ...

Missouri appears to be heading in a good direction with COVID-19. In November the state's virus positivity rate was 22%, but this week the number dropped to 4%. More and more individuals are receiving the vaccine, and supply is on the uptick. The last 12 months have not been easy, but Missouri has navigated the pandemic without extended lockdowns or mask mandates. ...

Hours following the House vote that sent a $1.9 trillion spending bill to President Joe Biden's desk, U.S. Rep. Jason Smith was primed to issue his opposition on what he called the "wrong plan at the wrong time for all the wrong reasons." "First off, it's not a COVID relief bill. ...

The guitar riff from "My City Was Gone" by The Pretenders will forever hold a special memory for me -- not because of the band or song, but because for many years this anthem kicked off The Rush Limbaugh Show. This week we lost the conservative talker and Cape Girardeau native after his valiant, yearlong battle with stage IV lung cancer. ...

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." -- Rogers Hornsby, Major League Baseball Hall of Fame infielder The words of Rogers Hornsby rang true this week during an ice storm that blanketed much of Southeast Missouri. ...

In March 2020, as lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic began and individuals started taking virus-related precautions, I was in the camp more prone to play it safe. A Florida trip to watch the St. Louis Cardinals play in spring training was canceled. ...

Rush Limbaugh, Cape Girardeau native and conservative talk radio pioneer, turns 70 years old today. Limbaugh was the first to develop a prominent place for conservatives in media, and no one has been able to replicate his talents. Former Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder grew up in Cape with Rush -- referred to as Rusty to differentiate from his father and grandfather of the same name...

On Wednesday, Missouri lawmakers will be sworn in for the new legislative session. It will be the first time in eight years Kathy Swan will not take the oath of office in Jefferson City. The Cape Girardeau Republican was term-limited in 2020 after serving eight years in the State House. She lost her bid for State Senate in the August primary to Holly Rehder (R-Scott City). It was one of the more competitive races in the state with Swan losing by 139 votes...

The following column originally appeared in B Magazine, a regional publication covering business in Southeast Missouri. Stories from the magazine will publish on semissourian.com in the coming days. If you don't already receive B Magazine, you can pick up a copy outside Schnucks in Cape Girardeau or at the Southeast Missourian offices on Broadway while supplies last. ...

In 1998, Lanie Black did the impossible in Mississippi County. He won the contest for state representative as a Republican — the first to do so since Reconstruction. The four-term legislator, farmer and Navy veteran died recently. He was 73.

Sen. Roy Blunt says the United States has written two new chapters on how to respond to a pandemic, one on testing and another on vaccines. The senator spoke with me Friday afternoon on several topics, including the good news about multiple COVID-19 vaccines nearing approval...

Thanksgiving 1970 will always be a day to remember for one Kelso man. A year earlier, Fred Welter, in his early 20s, was only five weeks into a military assignment in Vietnam. A fellow serviceman behind him stepped on a "booby trap" fatally killing the man and seriously injuring Welter...

Growing up, I remember hearing Missouri was a political bellwether state, that sometimes it went blue and other times red in the presidential election. Though Missouri hasn't voted for a Democratic presidential ticket since Bill Clinton in 1996, many state offices remained with the party until 2016...

After her career in education, teaching students from kindergarten through college, Dolly Jewel has used much of her time for civic purposes. She volunteers at church, SoutheastHEALTH, Alzheimer's Association and Read to Succeed, among other activities. And for more than 25 years, she's been a poll worker for a Cape Girardeau precinct on Election Day...

Since March, life has looked much different than what we're accustomed. Remote learning. Canceled conferences. In-person events shifted to streaming solutions. And that's just the education component. Life moves on, and those who thrive will have a level of resiliency...

It's natural to wonder if we could do more with our lives or make a greater impact in our spheres of influence. The recent death of local dentist Dr. Mike Bennett and the renaming of the Terry W. Kitchen Central Junior High School after the late coach are two examples of individuals who made a difference in their own specific ways, leaving behind legacies worth our admiration...

The nomination of Amy Coney Barrett is why many people voted for Donald Trump in 2016. With about 300 Trump judicial appointees confirmed by the U.S. Senate in his first term, including two Supreme Court nominees, putting judges on the federal bench is one of the president's greatest accomplishments. It's also one that will have the longest impact...

It's been a hectic few months for Max Lederer, the publisher of Stars and Stripes newspaper. In February, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told Congress he intended to defund the independent military newspaper. About 50% of the publication's funds come through federal subsidy, which equates to approximately $15 million a year. Wednesday, the day I spoke with Lederer for this column, was supposed to be the final day of publication based on the original timeline. Thankfully, it wasn't...

Our nation needs prayer. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only cost thousands of lives, but it's left many in fear and kept others in isolation. The country has dealt with numerous examples of unrest in the streets with law enforcement facing dangerous situations...

There are few people who can speak as eloquently about U.S. history and, more specifically, the Constitution than former federal judge Stephen Limbaugh Sr. Limbaugh retired from his judgeship in 2008 when his son Stephen Limbaugh Jr. was sworn in as the first judge to preside over the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau. Limbaugh Sr., now in his 90s, returned to private practice first in St. Louis and now back in his native Cape Girardeau...

Few Cardinals baseball players have been more beloved than Lou Brock, the legendary outfielder who accumulated more than 3,000 hits and 938 stolen bases in his illustrious career. That love and admiration has been on display this week since the Hall of Famer died last weekend...

Rosalina Vasquez was on her way to work Aug. 13 when a driver under the influence ran a red light, causing a multi-vehicle crash that sent the 16-year-old Vasquez to the hospital with numerous injuries. According to a story by Ben Matthews in the Southeast Missourian, the driver, Christina H. ...

For nearly 40 years, the member of Congress representing Southeast Missouri's congressional district has toured area farms in the summer. It's a tradition that started under the late Bill Emerson and was carried on by Jo Ann Emerson and now Jason Smith...

The following is a column I wrote for the latest edition of B Magazine, a regional magazine covering business in Southeast Missouri. The Difference Makers edition is one of my favorites. Twelve individuals and one organization were highlighted, plus there's additional business content you'll want to read. ...

Nate Gautier doesn't consider himself a star or a dancer, but next week he'll participate in Dancing with the Show Me Stars, a philanthropic event benefiting the Community Partnership of Southeast Missouri. The show, which gets its name from "Dancing with the Stars," features local community "stars" partnered with dance instructors. ...

If you believe in judicial originalism, the idea that our Constitution should be interpreted as written and not at the whim of a judicial activist, Sen. Josh Hawley is your hero these days. Missouri's junior senator made two significant speeches in recent weeks following big Supreme Court cases. These also come ahead of the 2020 presidential election, one, like the 2016 election, in which judicial appointments will be a prominent issue...

One of the top races in Missouri politics -- certainly in Southeast Missouri -- is the primary between Holly Rehder and Kathy Swan, two Republican state representatives vying for the 27th District Senate seat. Both women own small businesses and profess some of the same basic views on top issues for GOP voters, ranging from pro-life views on abortion, to support for the Second Amendment and a general philosophy of limited government. ...

This is part 3 of an interview with Cape Girardeau Police Chief Wes Blair. Following the case in Minneapolis where a police officer put his knee on the neck of George Floyd, the conversation regarding police training and reform has resurfaced. In some areas, municipalities have given in to "defund the police" demands by shifting money away from law enforcement to other social services. ...

This is Part 2 of an interview with Cape Girardeau Police Chief Wes Blair. At the center of the George Floyd death in Minnesota was a police officer with multiple red flags on his record, a system where officers could get lost in the paperwork, and a union that traditionally makes it more difficult to terminate the employment of an officer...

Despite national upheaval around law enforcement, there's a more positive story to be told in Cape Girardeau where officers have developed good relationships in the community. Wes Blair, the city's police chief since 2013, spoke with me this week in a wide-ranging interview. A two-part column begins today with the second half to publish later this week...

Nestled behind Academic Hall and facing Memorial Hall at Southeast Missouri State University is the new Veterans' Plaza, a tribute to military members -- past, present and future. While significant in tribute, it's also a reminder of the university's commitment to America's returning veterans...

Fathers too often get the short end of the stick. You can chalk it up, at least in part, to a culture that too often paints dads to be ignorant, incompetent or worse. But the reality is fathers play a vital role in society. Last week, President Trump held a roundtable discussion at a Texas church. ...

This feels like 1994 -- and I'm not thrilled about it. Let me explain. My historical frame of reference is in the form of baseball. Name the year (within my baseball-watching years) and I'll tell you who won the World Series and maybe an anecdote about where I was at the time or something memorable about that season...

One of the things I enjoy about the Semoball Awards is seeing how athletes from different schools and sports interact with each other at the River Campus. It's become almost a league of its own. The best athletes in Southeast Missouri who know each other but rarely -- or in some cases, one time per year at the Semoball Awards -- talk with each other about their shared experiences. There is a healthy and shared respect...

Most local Memorial Day services were canceled this year due to the coronavirus. That didn’t stop Jackson resident Steve Sebaugh from paying his respects to America’s fallen heroes. I drove through the Avenue of Flags at Cape County Park on Monday where 727 flags waved in the air. After stopping at Veterans Memorial Plaza where a granite wall honors Cape Girardeau County’s military veterans, I noticed Sebaugh walking up with his trumpet. ...

I've been mostly impressed with Missouri Gov. Mike Parson's leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. It's certainly been a big improvement over some blue state governors, like Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, whose actions make little sense in some cases and are a significant government overreach in others...

Dr. Keith Graham is a living miracle. On Tuesday afternoon, just days after being released from Saint Francis Medical Center, Dr. Graham and his wife, Tammy, spoke with me via video chat from their home. Keith was hospitalized for nearly two months due to complications resulting from COVID-19. A pulmonologist, he said it was ironic to be on the other side of the doctor-patient relationship...

After speaking with Mark and Scott Rhodes Thursday morning at Plaza Tire in Cape Girardeau, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson was greeted by a customer who said he appreciated Parson's performance on the job. "And I'm not even a Republican," the man quipped. The governor, press gaggle and handful of community leaders behind him, chuckled. It was lighter moment in what's clearly been a stressful period of time for Missouri's 57th governor...

Two local medical professionals have recovered or made significant strides in recovery following battles with the coronavirus. Amber Morgan is the respiratory therapist from Jackson who spent 14 days in New York helping patients in one of the nation's COVID-19 hot spots...

The "Shark Tank" initiative put forward by U.S. Senators Roy Blunt and Lamar Alexander is underway, and if the plan goes as intended it could play a significant role in the fight against the novel coronavirus. Blunt (R-Mo.), who chairs the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor/HHS), spoke with me Friday about the effort to couple private sector ingenuity with federal government backing...

County governments in Missouri are receiving significant CARES Act funding to be used on coronavirus-related expenses. Nearly $521 million is being distributed collectively to most Missouri counties, with an additional $173 million-plus going to St. Louis County and more than $122 million going to Jackson County...

Rob Mehner is a familiar face to many in the area. He was on staff at LaCroix Church before pursuing a call to international missions with his wife Kristy. For the last three years, the couple has served in Guatemala through New Life Advance International, a Christian missionary organization...

The B Magazine Progress Edition is included in today's print edition of the Southeast Missourian. Individual stories from the magazine will be published on semissourian.com in the coming days. You'll find profiles of area businesses, stories about how companies are responding to COVID-19, and other business news...

Amber Morgan is exhausted -- physically and mentally. The Jackson resident has been working in New York for the last two weeks as a respiratory therapist, providing life-saving treatment for COVID-19 patients in one of the country's biggest coronavirus hot spots...

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley says we can either continue funding unemployment benefits during the coronavirus pandemic to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars a month or we can take a different approach, one that protects workers and provides employers with the talent they need as America's economy begins to reopen...

Ron Watts, Mark Anderson and Gary Brothers pastor three of Cape Girardeau's largest churches, representing thousands of members and regular churchgoers. The three have also developed a unique friendship. But this week, the pastors are making a specific request: A day of prayer and fasting on Wednesday...

There are numerous angles to the chaos of COVID-19, ranging from health to financial to education. But there's also an emotional toll that each of us copes with in different ways. Consider children, now home and missing time at school with their friends. How does a child cope?...

Jackson resident Christy Brey said it was a video on social media platform TikTok and a desire to engage in ministry outside the "four walls of church" that led her to organize two prayer events this week at local hospitals. Brey, a customer service representative at The Bank of Missouri, told me she saw a video from a Georgia hospital of people in their cars, lights flashing and prayers being lifted up for patients and health care workers...

Since January, I planned a trip with a friend to Jupiter, Florida, for St. Louis Cardinals spring training. We mapped out the weekend to see the Redbirds play the Astros, Red Sox and Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium. Covid-19 had other plans. The day of my scheduled flight to Palm Beach International, Major League Baseball suspended its season. My first Cardinals spring training will have to wait...

Add churches to the list of entities affected by the novel coronavirus pandemic. With guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), White House and Missouri Governor's Office, many local churches have made the decision to postpone services for the next two or three weeks as we practice social distancing aimed at slowing the spread of the virus...

How do you grow a church? Not just in weekend service attendance but in overall ministry impact. It's not an easy question. But listening to Pastor Gary Brothers, senior pastor of Cape First Church, you start to get an idea of how one of the area's largest places of worship drives growth and ministry significance...

While in elementary school three years ago, Jackson students Layla Pobst and Kate Lipke set out to create a club that would encourage fellow students to be more inclusive. But instead of a small club, the Shine Club became more about changing the culture at their school -- one of inclusiveness and kindness...

On Feb. 19, 1945, American forces invaded the Pacific island of Iwo Jima for what became an important five-week battle during World War II. But on Tuesday -- the day we spoke for this interview -- there was another anniversary on the mind of 93-year-old Walter James Wright. It was Feb. 25, 1945, when he was wounded during the Battle of Iwo Jima...

President Donald Trump may have no better friend in Congress than U.S. Rep. Jason Smith. The 39-year-old congressman who represents Missouri's Eighth District plays a key legislative role, serving on the seven-member House GOP leadership team as Republican Conference secretary. A member of the Ways and Means Committee, one of the more powerful congressional assignments, Smith said tax reform and trade have been priorities...

Drive by the Osage Centre early on Sunday mornings and you will see a small army of volunteers putting up feather signage near the Kingshighway entrance and hauling equipment from two trailers inside the facility. It's not easy work, but each week this group gets up early, rain or shine, to setup one of the area's newest places of worship -- The Bridge Church...

The son of two music educators, I benefited greatly from the spoken word as a child. Whether it was a trip to visit family in Charleston, Missouri or a quick errand around town, my parents sang in the car, played music and listened to some guy on the radio. His name: Rush Limbaugh...

Hannah Talley is a miracle. She is bright and engaging -- full of life and youthful exuberance. It's a life that would have been cut short had her birth mother chosen abortion over adoption. Last Friday, the high school junior was among 30 Notre Dame Regional High school students to attend the March for Life in Washington, D.C. Talley held a sign that read: "I march because my birth mom chose adoption."...

To borrow a quote from the great Yogi Berra: "Baseball is 90% mental. The other half is physical." America's pastime has always been a thinking man's game, but with the influx of modern technology and new analytics it's become more analytical than anecdotal. Major League front offices are staffed with more people who have Ivy League degrees but who've never played in the Big Leagues...

"What I'm always fond of saying is, 'The one thing that will never ever change is everything changes,'" said Mike Kohlfeld in a video announcing Kohlfeld Distributing as the Jackson Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year. Kohlfeld was one of several local businesses honored last weekend at the chamber's annual dinner and banquet. A sold out crowd of 575 people packed the Jackson Civic Center to celebrate a thriving community, growing chamber and visionary business leaders...

On Oct. 11, 2012, Jackson native Maj. Garrett Knowlan died in an Air Force training exercise in Pensacola, Florida. At the time of this tragic accident, his father and local attorney Jack Knowlan told the Southeast Missourian the family was focused on how Garrett's life could inspire others...

"Everyone's got an opinion; be an example," author and speaker Bob Goff wrote in a tweet. Those words came to mind this week when I read a story in the Charleston Post and Courier about Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney. The uber-successful coach finds himself back in the BCS National Championship again this year. ...

Much of what President Donald Trump gets criticized for publicly is his style. His opponents dislike the tweets and his counter-punch approach to politics. Does he make politically incorrect or even ill-advised comments? Sure. But it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. Voters knew this before they elected him...

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." Messiah Oratorio, by George Friedrich Händel (1742)...

A former U.S. Senator once shared a wise axiom that has stuck with me: Sometimes you win, sometimes you get experience. That statement came to mind Saturday evening as I watched the Jackson Indians football team lose in overtime to the Carthage Tigers at the University of Missouri's Faurot Field...

The SEMO Humane Society received strong support in its recent fundraiser for a new adoption center. JSE Surplus and Purina combined for a $35,000 match as part of the shelter's #GivingTuesday campaign. Every dollar donated through Dec. 3 was doubled...

"Good evening, Lord." Those were the words Jack Mehner spoke during his invocation at the Cape Chamber's annual dinner. It stuck with me, partly because you hear so few people begin prayer this way. But if you know Mehner and what he endured 13 months ago, it makes perfect sense. Prayer has been his source of strength...

Inside Connection Point Church's new location in Jackson there is a sense you're standing on holy ground. In 2007, as the church planned to expand, then-pastor Luther Rhodes and the church's elders considered 10 acres of land near what is now the Jackson Civic Center. They opted to pass on the property, but Rhodes made a prophetic statement: One day someone would build a church on that ground...

Think back to your childhood. What was it like opening gifts on Christmas morning? Maybe you woke up early, banged on your door to your parents' room to hurry them up with the anticipation of opening gifts under the Christmas tree. In my home, it started with reading the Christmas story -- as in the biblical Christmas story told in the Gospel of Luke. It refocused our minds on the true meaning of the holiday -- the birth of our Savior, Jesus...

David Limbaugh doesn’t pull punches. His latest book, “Guilty by Reason of Insanity: Why the Democrats Must Not Win,” is a hard-hitting exposé on how the Democratic Party has been taken over by the hard left, from gender and racial extremism to abortion, immigration and a full embrace of socialism...

There is something poetic about baseball. Teams with the highest payrolls, most home run hitters or hardest-throwing pitchers don't always come out the victor. A photo of New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge (6 feet, 7 inches tall and 282 pounds) standing next to Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (5 feet, 6 inches tall and 162 pounds) is a good illustration. ...

The best stories oftentimes come from unexpected places -- places such as Scopus and Sedgewickville, Missouri. In 2013, Randy and Brenda Johnson were visiting with a group of friends at Bollinger County Country Club. The couple, who at that time resided in Scopus, suggested they would like to host a one-day event at their home with food, raffles, music and vendors -- a fun social event. ...

Six million dollars. That's the amount of medical debt that will be forgiven thanks to the generous outreach of Cape First Church, a multi-site church with locations in Cape Girardeau, Sikeston and Marble Hill, Missouri. The church raised $61,388 last Sunday -- approximately three times its goal of $24,000...

The sign on her kennel said, "Take me home today." That was my first introduction to Missey, my childhood Schnauzer of 14 years. I was 15 years old when my family started looking to adopt a dog. We called the Southeast Missouri Humane Society and asked if they had a dog that was hypo-allergenic, house broken and somewhat of a guard dog -- at least not one afraid to bark. After the person on the line finished laughing at this fairly specific request, the she said, "Well, we do have one."...

At only 27 years of age, Madison Gesiotto's resume is impressive. Attorney, Miss Ohio USA winner, political columnist and Fox News contributor. She can now add National Women for Trump co-chair to her vitae. Gesiotto was in town Thursday to speak at a fundraiser benefiting state Rep. Holly Rehder, a Republican candidate for Missouri Senate. She spoke with me prior to taking the stage about how she got involved in politics and why President Trump's agenda matters -- especially to women...

Fred Burgard is a self-described utility man. No, he’s not a doctor, lawyer or Indian chief — but he’s not far off. The longtime pastor and his wife Sharon, former advisor to student athletes at Southeast Missouri State University, have lived in Cape Girardeau for 26 years.

Some may remember Jackson Junior High School principal Cory Crosnoe for his baseball success. The Cape Girardeau Central and Southeast Missouri State University standout had an impressive career on the field. So much so that he spent a couple seasons in the '90s playing minor league baseball for the Atlanta Braves organization. ...

It's a few minutes after 8 on Friday morning and the gym at Jefferson Elementary is full of excited students. Upbeat music with a heavy beat plays, and principal Leigh Ragsdale serves as the emcee for the school's second annual fashion show. Students and teachers walk the paper "red carpet" and pose for photos. The energy is undeniable. But what is even more impressive is the immediate change once the music stops and the fashion show ends...

Every high school student should visit Washington, D.C. at least once before they graduate. No matter how much you read and study, there's something special about visiting our nation's capital and seeing the monuments, museums and halls of government...

If you’re a Major League Baseball fan, this is the time of year things get really interesting. Fans, along with players and coaches, are watching the scoreboard every night to see if their team gained ground in the standings. The St. Louis Cardinals’ comeback should make for a fun September of meaningful games. ...

David Cantrell's life forever changed on June 9. The Navy captain and local businessman was struck by a vehicle while riding his motorcycle. His leg bled profusely. An off-duty EMT started a tourniquet to control the blood loss. Cantrell could hardly breathe as he was airlifted to a St. Louis hospital, but he uttered the words: "God. Let. Me. Live." With each word he grasped for breath...

You won’t find many people of note more unassuming, yet fascinating, than Stephen N. Limbaugh Sr. Limbaugh, 91, moved back to his hometown of Cape Girardeau on June 1 after four decades as a federal judge and attorney in St. Louis. In 1983, Limbaugh was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the U.S. District Court for both the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri ...

On Thursday and Friday, leaders from around the globe gathered for the 25th annual Global Leadership Summit. The summit takes place at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago, but it's simulcast to host sites to reach a global audience of church leaders, business executives, civic leaders, volunteers and even inmates at 81 prisons, including the one in Charleston, Missouri. In Cape Girardeau, the summit is hosted by LaCroix Church...

It's been an exciting summer at Capaha Field as the Cape Catfish competed in their inaugural season. I took in a few games throughout the summer and each one made for an entertaining evening. For some, it was about the baseball. For many, it was a night enjoying friends and food with baseball happening in the background. ...

I recently started reading the book "Alienated America: Why Some Places Thrive While Others Collapse" by Timothy P. Carney of the Washington Examiner. An early observation by the author points to a trend between struggling communities and the decline in church attendance, marriage and general community and civic engagement. They're facing life's challenges alone. Even when economic upswings occur, happiness does not necessarily follow...

This area is blessed with many churches and faith-based ministries. They do important work feeding the hungry (with both food and the Gospel), providing clothes, shelter and other needed items and services. They stand in the gap, showing God's love...

There are the beginnings of something special in Cape Girardeau's South side. And one of the figures who could find himself in the middle of it is the Rev. Adrian Taylor Jr., pastor of LighthouseCape. You might know LighthouseCape by its previous location, the former B'Nai Israel synagogue at 126 S. ...

Thursday evening's Fourth of July program in Cape Girardeau was a touching tribute to America filled with patriotic tunes from the municipal band, recognition of our local veterans and the Southeast Missourian's Spirit of America award presentation...

This summer we will celebrate more than 150 athletes and coaches at the Semoball Awards. It’s an incredible evening that makes for lifelong memories for the athletes, their parents and coaches, and many others. Throughout the year, I speak with individuals throughout Southeast Missouri about the event. Invariably I bring up certain stories from previous years...

You might know Bloomfield, Missouri as the small town with a Purina factory. Or for its Christmas high school basketball tournament. One of Missouri's cemeteries for veterans is located in Bloomfield. But did you know that this rural Missouri town of less than 2,000 people is home to the Stars and Stripes Museum and Library?...

Last weekend President Donald Trump made an unannounced visit to Mclean Bible Church, a nondenominational megachurch in Northern Virginian. The Sunday service followed the Virginia Beach mass shooting and was also previously designated -- unrelatedly -- as a day of prayer for the president and other government leaders...

"If you build it, they will come." That, of course, is a line from the classic baseball movie "Field of Dreams," featuring Kevin Costner as a farmer who dedicates his corn field to build a baseball stadium that attracts ballplayers of days gone by. You could, however, use that famous line to describe the Missouri National Veterans Memorial in Perryville, Missouri. Except in this case, it's not a game and the people are real...

Last summer as Raymond Buhs prepared to accept the Southeast Missourian's Spirit of America Award, he told reporter Joshua Hartwig about serving in World War II fresh out of high school and again at age 26 in the Korean War. As a working professional, Buhs made contributions to the community through business leadership and civic involvement. He said that "everybody owes something to the community, just like you owe something to your church."...

Mid-day Tuesday Chick-fil-A owner and operator Brian House gets everyone's attention at his Cape Girardeau store. "Today we want to recognize our officers who put their lives on the line for us," House said. On this day law enforcement officers get a free meal and a portion of sales to benefit Curt Fox, a local highway patrol officer battling cancer...

Congratulations to the Southeast Missouri State University graduates this weekend as they celebrate at commencement. It's a special time for these students. It certainly was for me in 2008 and then again in 2010 when I walked across the stage at the Show Me Center. (One of my fondest memories of 2008's commencement was hearing the keynote from Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr.) The path to graduation is not easy, from deciding what field to study to paying for college...

This week I was asked to serve as one of four judges for the Notre Dame Regional High School Dawg Fight. The Dawg Fight is like the TV show “Shark Tank” where five venture capitalists hear from entrepreneurs with business ideas and then compete with each other when there is a business worth pursuing...

Bill Springer was one of my favorite teachers whose class I never took. The former Cape Girardeau Central High School history and creative writing instructor died Wednesday afternoon. Friends, colleagues and former students shared their memories following the news of this affable and talented educator who possessed a quirky sense of humor and innate ability to educate others...

"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." -- 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 (NIV) Billy Keys is the music man at Central High School. ...

Last weekend, several hundred Rotarians, guests and community members gathered for the Cape Girardeau Rotary Club’s centennial gala. Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. brought a level of excitement to the event as he recognized several dignitaries. Abbie Crites-Leoni, Mary Bennett and Robert Gifford also played important roles...

There's a running joke among the Southeast Missourian editorial board when we discuss editorial topics. "Spring flowers," someone will suggest. It's a nod to former editor Joe Sullivan who would put forward this hard-hitting piece of journalism. This time of year spring flowers is a perfectly good topic. ...

Candidate Josh Hawley campaigned on the dysfunction in Washington. Now U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley is getting a firsthand look. "It's every bit as bad as it looks. It really is," the senator shared with me in an interview before the annual Cape County Lincoln Day...

Layton Lipke is probably one of the more well mannered teenagers around. Ask any question and he will give you an answer followed by "sir" or "ma'am" -- refreshing and not something you hear often. The Jackson High School freshman, son of Scott and Ashley Lipke, has made his mark locally through music and drama, including as an actor in "All Night Skate" which was partially filmed in Jackson. ...

The Cape Chamber kicked off its annual Leadership Cape program Wednesday evening with a new class reception for this year's participants and Leadership Cape alums. This year marks the 30th class to go through the program, a seven-month excursion that combines leadership curriculum, group activities and visits to some of the leading businesses, government entities and schools in Cape Girardeau. You not only learn what's happening, but why it's happening...

Each year we look for three things in our keynote speaker for the Semoball Awards: 1) name recognition; 2) connection to the audience (athletes and adults); and 3) a good message. The Semoball Awards is about recognizing the top athletes and coaches for their performance on the field and in the classroom. The speaker is the opportunity to inspire...

What a difference one year can make. In April 2018 Cape Christian School was told that after 42 years the school would be closing. The church that support the school with both dollars and a location was not be able to continue backing it financially...

The efforts in New York, Virginia, Illinois and other states to expand abortion is downright sickening. How did we become a country that not only allows but celebrates abortion up to the point of birth? And now, allowing a child born after a failed abortion to die without receiving life-preserving care. Heart-breaking...

There's a positive story developing in South Cape Girardeau. One City, a not-for-profit organization with a community center located in the old Salvation Army Thrift Store on Independence, is making strides to bring people together and help with specific needs like job training...

Last spring I played phone tag with Coach Terry Kitchen, the longtime Cape Girardeau Central High School athletic director, teacher and coach. Kitchen had been selected as the 2018 Semoball Awards Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Though not part of the selection committee, I had the honor of

The recent New York legislation signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo is nothing short of evil. I can't understand why anyone could support this extreme position. If you missed Adrienne Ross' column in Tuesday's Southeast Missourian, I encourage you to give it a read. She outlined several of the components that have now become a Constitutional right in the Empire State...

A national baseball writer once said he doesn't root for specific teams, just good stories. Me on the other hand, I root for the Cardinals and good stories. Stories like the remarkable comeback of Daniel Ponce de Leon. The pitcher was in Cape Girardeau Monday as part of the Cardinal Caravan. Before heading out to the Osage Centre gym where Cardinal fans awaited, he talked with me about a head injury that could have ended more than his baseball career...

The first Sunday morning service of 2019 was not the normal lineup at Bethany Baptist Church. Instead of congregational singing and a message from the pulpit, the service featured the five-member Berry family singing Southern Gospel favorites. It was an inspiring way to worship God and honor the music group's father and grandfather, Ken Morgan, for his 90th birthday...

It's one of the most iconic pieces of music ever written. Even those who attend church less regularly may know portions of Handel's "Messiah". This weekend and next, a group of local musicians spanning several denominations and churches will gather to perform selections of the 277-year-old oratorio...

Some stories stick with me longer than others. A 2015 feature about Cape Girardeau Central High School student Carley House is one. House, who has Down syndrome, was crowned prom queen that year. Leading up to the big night, Central High students encouraged friends to nominate House for prom queen. Her mom told her one girl would be named queen and the others princesses. Either way, it would be great news...

When people recognize Frank Ellis but can't recall how they know him, he goes down a list: Attends church at St. Mary's; works at St. Augustine School in Kelso, Missouri; retired after 29 years from public education with Cape Girardeau and Charleston, Missouri and Meridian, Illinois. He mentions his wife's name. And if none of the above connect, he'll add, "I announce the Christmas Tournament." That footnote makes a big connection -- and for all the right reasons...

This time of year you'll probably read a lot of lists -- including favorite books from 2018. In keeping with this trend, here are a few I enjoyed in 2018. n "Trumponomics: Inside the America First Plan to Revive Our Economy" by Stephen Moore and Arthur B. Laffer...

There's something special about a warm meal at Christmas shared with friends and family. It's one of the things I cherish about the season as we celebrate the birthday of Jesus. Sitting at the table with family and remembering childhood traditions with loved ones. It's meaningful. It's also probably something too many of us take for granted...

Jay Knudtson has been a park board member, mayor, Southeast Missouri State regent, professional hockey referee and successful businessman. Next weekend he'll add college graduate to the list. The man, who has many political and professionall accomplishments, dropped out of college during his sophomore year...

America lost a hero Friday night when former President George H.W. Bush died at the age of 94. His son and former President George W. Bush wrote a touching book several years ago titled "41: A Portrait of My Father," and I'm listening to the audio book Bush Sr. ...

I have vivid memories of Christmastime from my childhood. There was church and plenty of Christmas music. Live Nativity scenes. Going to West Park Mall to see Santa and the enormous mechanical bear that would talk to you. And there was the ringing of Salvation Army bells...

By now you've had your fill of Thanksgiving turkey, stuffing and pie and moved on to Christmas preparations. Truth be told, I've been listening to Christmas music for a few weeks already. Too often we fly through the fourth Thursday in November without pausing much to truly reflect on being thankful...

A wise politician once said something to the effect: Sometimes you win, sometimes you get experience. The implication being even a loss can have its benefits in the form of experience. The same maxim applies to business. “Fail fast, fail cheaply.” It’s practical advice and something the winners of the Southeast Innovation Challenge learned with their winning entry into this year’s competition...

It’s been a patriotic whirlwind this week with a presidential visit to Cape Girardeau, the midterm elections Tuesday, and, this weekend, special events in honor of Veterans Day. The line of people at the Show Me Center on Monday to see President Donald Trump was not unexpected, but still incredible. ...

I was not quite 3 years old when President Ronald Reagan, one of my favorite Presidents in American history, visited Cape Girardeau on Sept. 14, 1988. I don't remember specifics, but I've heard the stories from my parents about sitting along the motorcade route waiting for Reagan to arrive. ...

President Dwight D. Eisenhower is arguably one of the top five presidents of all time. A military man with no political experience before the office, Eisenhower came to the office with a unique position and during a pivotal time in history. Dr. Pam Parry, chair of the Department of Mass Media at Southeast Missouri State University and media history scholar, told me in an interview this week he was a transformational president on many levels...

Missouri Attorney General and U.S. Senate candidate Josh Hawley may be the strongest defender of conservatism to appear on the statewide ballot. The 38-year-old Constitutional lawyer represented Hobby Lobby at the Supreme Court when the Christian, family owned company objected to Obamacare's mandate that health insurance plans cover abortifacients...

It's easy to focus on results, particularly in sports. It's not to say winning isn't important, because it is. We root for our favorite team to score the most points or make a big defensive play. But winning is the result, not the driver. Last week the Southeast Missouri State football team faced conference foe Tennessee Tech and scored a school record 70 points in their lopsided win. ...

Julian Watkins did what he thought he should do after college. The Cairo, Illinois native went to law school and started his career in corporate law. This path, paved with expectations of success and financial enrichment, failed to fulfill him. He later took a job as a janitor, opened up his own legal practice, coached basketball and then became a prosecutor...

I was saddened to read the obituary of Dr. John Koch in Monday's newspaper. Koch served as the veterinarian for several of my pets over the years. He was a top professional in the field, always caring and accessible. He explained the complex in straight-forward terms...

There's a reverent and humble tone to David Limbaugh's voice when he talks about his faith. He's not a preacher and doesn't plan to be one. But he has a brilliant legal mind, zeal for sharing the Gospel and, maybe most importantly, he's willing to use his platform to talk about faith in Jesus Christ...

The Kansas City Star said Attorney General Josh Hawley was shilling for votes when he was recorded at a Family Research Council event saying the Johnson Amendment is "absolutely unconstitutional." The St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote, "The Johnson Amendment has endured for more than six decades ... to keep the tax man's hand out of the church's coffers, in exchange for keeping religion out of our politics -- both of which are constitutionally valid and laudable goals."...

During the summer of 2014, Rachel and Trae Bertrand met with their physician regarding Rachel's pregnancy with Frank Charles Bertrand V. The news would forever shape their lives -- and the lives of many of families they had yet to meet. Baby Frank had a heart defect called tetralogy of fallot, a congenital condition where "oxygen-poor blood" flows from the heart to the rest of the body, according to the Mayo Clinic. ...

For Jamie Barnwell Phillips the Alzheimer's Association is more than a good cause. It's about educating those in the fight against dementia -- patients, family and caregivers -- about the resources available. Resources she wishes she and her father would have known more about years ago as their mother and wife battled the disease...

Most years, this space is used to talk about the origins of Labor Day. How the first Labor Day celebration was held in New York City in 1882. How progress has been made in labor laws, such as implementing a five-day, 40-hour work week. But are we looking at labor the wrong way? While it’s certainly important to champion labor laws that prevent bad actors from taking advantage of employees, there’s an intrinsic value in work that is to be celebrated...

One comment I hear consistently from Southeast Missourian readers is how much they enjoy the photos that appear in the newspaper and semissourian.com photo galleries. Like painting a beautiful portrait, playing a musical instrument or writing compelling narratives, good photography is an art perfected with practice...

Dr. Trevor Blattner is a thinker. Methodical. Thoughtful. A diagnostician in both dentistry and questions like: What's life about? The dentistry part might not surprise readers. After all, he is well educated as a endodontist. A graduate of the University of Kansas, Blattner went to dental school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and attended the University of Maryland in Baltimore to earn a Master of Science degree in Oral Biology with a certificate in endodontics. ...

What does it take to be a leader worth following? Or ask it another way. What areas in a one's life need to improve to be a better leader? Your answer to this question may depend on if you are the leader or the person being led. On Thursday morning more than 400,000 people globally participated in the simulcast of the Global Leadership Summit at Willow Creek Community Church based in South Barrington, Illinois. LaCroix Church was the host site for Cape Girardeau...

Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer has a new book out titled "The Briefing: Politics, the Press and the President." The book is a memoir, but shares Spicer's approach of communicating to the media. Spicer operated differently than many of his predecessors. In the book he shared several examples of how he shook up the daily press briefing...

This weekend the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame will induct new members into its club of top players, managers and broadcasters. So it would seem an appropriate time to look at the state of baseball -- at all levels. Working my way through college, I spent many summer nights umpiring youth baseball. Everything from 10-year-olds to Babe Ruth and American Legion games...

Some people know Jane Cooper Stacy as the former First Lady of Southeast Missouri State University. To others it's her connection to sister Betty Hearnes (wife of the late Gov. Warren Hearnes). But most know her as the longtime alumni director at Southeast Missouri State, a position she held for 35 years...

It's 10:30 Tuesday morning at Cape Girardeau Central High School and more than 130 students from fifth through eighth grades are at the three-day Fellowship of Christian Athletes Power Camp. High school students volunteer their time to lead campers in team-building activities. ...

American patriotism filled the grandstand of Arena Park in Cape Girardeau Wednesday evening. Following the Cape Girardeau Municipal Band's performance of patriotic music the Southeast Missourian recognized Raymond G. Buhs as the 16th recipient of the Spirit of America Award...

The latest edition of B Magazine was published this week and took a look at development topics such as historic property redevelopment, housing options designed primarily for college students, workforce development and many issues real estate developers are faced with when they start a new project...

By now you've probably read the story or watched the video of Minnesota high school pitcher Ty Koehn who struck out his friend Jack Kocon in the Class 4A, Section 5 baseball game. The pitcher and hitter have been friends for years and the strike out ended the game, sending Koehn's team to the state tournament...

Kids need a mom and dad actively involved in their lives. Years ago that would have been a given. But in today's culture, it's an important reminder. The role each parent plays in child rearing not only affects youngsters in their formative years, but it makes a difference in our culture for generations...

Governor Mike Parson is only a week into his new role after the resignation of Eric Greitens. Parson so far has retained Greitens' cabinet members. He has made hires of several staff members, including naming Cape Girardeau County prosecuting attorney Christopher K. Limbaugh as his general counsel...

What character traits do you believe embody the Spirit of America? That's the question this newspaper has sought to answer for the last 15 years when we encourage readers to nominate individuals for the Southeast Missourian Spirit of America award. Patriotism is certainly at the top of the list. ...

While some consider this weekend as the unofficial kickoff to summer, it's important we not overlook the real meaning of the holiday: Remembering our fallen military heroes. This Saturday morning a group of volunteers will gather at the Broadway entrance to the river flood wall for the start of a 5-mile walk to Cape County Park North. The group, Carry the Load-Cape Girardeau, is part of a larger movement to memorialize fallen veterans...

This time of year is full of graduation ceremonies. Southeast Missouri State University held its two commencement ceremonies last weekend and area high schools have conferred diplomas to their graduates. Most commencement speeches include some version of the same message: Congratulations on the accomplishment. ...

A touching story made the rounds this week involving Oakland Athletics' baseball player Stephen Piscotty. On Sunday evening ESPN released a short film documenting how the former St. Louis Cardinals outfielder learned of his mother's diagnosis with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease...

Today we will learn the name of Cape Girardeau's new minor league baseball team. The wood-bat Prospect League team is preparing for its inaugural season in summer 2019. The team is expected to play a 60-game schedule, and the home location will be Capaha Field. Team owner Andy Patel deserves credit for his investment along with management group Jim Limbaugh and Mark Hogan. This is a labor of love, and I'm looking forward to the experience of watching minor league baseball in my hometown...

I'm always a bit hesitant of public-private partnerships. Not to say they are all bad. However, when you consider a proposal, whether it's tax credits to rehab an older building or sales tax for new facilities, it's important to consider the entire package...

It's inspiring to listen to John "J.P." Schuchardt and Jonathan "J.T." Meinke talk about their future plans. The two Cape Girardeau County students were nominated by U.S. Rep. Jason Smith to attend the Navy and Army service academies. Just a few minutes talking with each one, you come to understand why...

In today's politically correct environment I should not be surprised, but when I read a story about the "Christian privilege" seminar at George Washington University, it was a level of ridiculousness that stood out. The seminar was titled "Christian Privilege: But Our Founding Fathers Were All Christian, Right?!"...

April 6, 1977, was to be the day Gianna Jessen's life ended. But for the abortion survivor, her story was only beginning. At seven-and-a-half months pregnant, Jessen's biological mother visited an abortion clinic to end her pregnancy. The saline abortion failed, and Jessen survived. Because the abortionist was running late, Jessen was given a chance to live when the nurse took her to a local hospital...

This is Easter weekend, a time when Christians around the world pause and reflect on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It's the ultimate story of love and redemption. How God sent His only Son to pay our debt on the cross. The redemption and forgiveness of our sins...

Marcus Capone is everything you would expect in a Navy SEAL. Physically fit, standing 6-foot, 4-inches. Mentally tough. Smart. He answers questions -- the nonclassified variety -- with clarity and focus. But for the former Southern Illinois University quarterback -- who was a teammate of Cape Girardeau banker Jeff Brune while playing for the Salukis -- it was the movie "GI Jane" that inspired him to join this elite group of the military...

Longtime Southeast Missouri State University coach Caroll Williams has plenty of things he could do in retirement. Golf, one of the sports he coached at Southeast, is one. But at 80 years of age, Williams spends his days doing what he does best -- teaching, coaching and leading students at Cape Christian School...

It's not hyperbole when Dr. Chelsea Grigery says things like: "We're going to change two students' lives tonight." Grigery, a Sikeston native and local physician, is proof of this statement. On Wednesday, 650-plus students participated in the 62nd annual Southeast Missouri Regional Science Fair held at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau...

Days after returning from a trip to Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia to give a speech at the business school, writer and businessman Stan Crader came to the office for an interview with B Magazine. Crader is a humble man, and though he was happy to talk about his new book "STIHL American: Exemplary People -- Extraordinary Times" the Jackson man wanted to make sure this would not be a story that gave him more credit than he deserved. ...

"Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don't you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God." -- The Rev. Billy Graham The tributes continue to come in for the Rev. Billy Graham, 99, who died Wednesday...

Christians around the globe participated in the start of the Lenten season Wednesday, kicking off 46 days leading to Easter Sunday. Lent is a time when many Christians participate in a fast, giving up something of value in observance of Christ's sacrifice on the cross and using that time to pray or read the Bible. It's less legalism and more of an opportunity to practice one's faith and grow in relationship with Christ...

Few days of the year are more inspiring than the President’s Prayer Breakfast. The breakfast began in 1953 during the Eisenhower administration. Now 66, years later, more than 3,000 people attended the annual breakfast on Thursday morning in Washington, D.C...

It was November 1978 and the legendary broadcaster Paul Harvey spoke in front of the Future Farmers of America in Kansas City, Missouri. His remarks became content for one of the more touching Super Bowl commercials years later with his speech “So God Made a Farmer.” ...

Who inspired you growing up? I’m not talking about your parents, though certainly many can point to examples of family inspiration. But there are others — mentors, educators, coaches — who at one time or another made an imprint on our lives. That was a theme for Beth Davey, a Cape Girardeau native who teaches at Iveland Elementary in St. Louis...

Pro-life advocates gathered in Washington D.C. last week for the annual March for Life. The two-day event featured rallies with various speeches provided by politicos and activists. Last year Vice President Mike Pence spoke at the march. It was the first time in the then-44-year history for a VP to speak...

If you would have asked me as a kid my favorite subject in school, I definitely would not have said reading. Getting glasses around the first grade made reading more manageable; nevertheless, I was not one to sit down and enjoy it. That is until my parents bought me a subscription to Baseball Weekly...

Nearly every day, the Southeast Missourian has positive stories about this community. In the Weekend edition Good Times section, we highlight many who donate their time and resources to good causes. Maybe it’s the time of the year or just the recent number of stories, but I’ve been inspired by all those doing charitable work. The acts of kindness reflect well on the area. Here are a few examples:...

Today, Major League Baseball will close its regular season. It's bittersweet. Bitter because it's the end of the eight-month journey that begins with spring training in February, but sweet because the playoffs start this week with the Fall Classic coming up at the end of the month...

It was his junior year at Southeast Missouri State University, and Charles Stamp Jr. was contemplating a question many college students face at that time in their lives: What's the next step? Stamp, who grew up in Piedmont, Mo., Cape Girardeau and Sikeston, Mo., knew part of the answer to that question. ...

Bekki Cook is a mom, lawyer, former secretary of state and education advocate. And like many individuals wearing multiple hats, efficiency has been key to her success. Recently she sat down for an interview and talked about why she pursued a career in law, her road to the secretary of state's office, politics and policy, and her passion to help children read...

Neal E. Boyd is living a dream. Or as his mother puts it: He's always had delusions of grandeur, now he's just living out his delusions. The Sikeston, Mo., native -- called by some "The voice of Missouri" -- wowed the world three years ago winning the NBC show "America's Got Talent."...