As another school year dawns, COVID-19 is sinking its viral tentacles into seemingly every aspect of life -- including the need for notebooks, pens, erasers and other items as students return to classes this month. The United Way of Southeast Missouri promoted a virtual Stuff the Bus school supplies campaign to coincide with the state's Aug. 7 to 9 tax-free weekend...

A new course offered by Southeast Missouri State University's Continuing Education aims to give practical experience and instruction to potential contact tracers to aid in the fight against COVID-19's spread. John Kraemer, professor in Southeast's biology department and director of the Center for Environmental Analysis, said the course expands on training modules available online for free from institutions such as Johns Hopkins University...

Cape Girardeau County has taken another step toward adding texting capability to its 911 emergency system. The County Commission on Thursday approved a resolution to accept a $9,140 grant from the Missouri 911 Service Board. That money will be added to $13,710 already awarded to the county as part of a $22,850 60/40 Next Generation (NG) 911 matching grant from the Missouri Department of Public Safety and administered through the Department of Homeland Security...

In March, when Cape Girardeau's public schools closed due to the COVID-19 threat, all instruction went from in-person to online in a matter of days. Now, there's a solid plan in place. James Russell, technology instruction specialist, and Tina Schuessler, assistive and instructional technology coach, have worked this summer to build that plan, and work with teachers to familiarize them with online learning tools...

Saxony Lutheran High School is using the familiar sight of signalized traffic intersections in its coronavirus-driven back-to-school plan this fall. The private school affiliated with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod will use the colors green, yellow and red as an alert system for teachers, staff and families about the spread of COVID-19...

Officials in Perry County, Missouri, have alerted area residents to possible COVID-19 exposure at a restaurant. The county's health department posted the alert Thursday, noting anyone who had been at Mary Jane Burgers and Brew from 6 to 7 p.m. Aug. 5 may have been exposed to coronavirus and should monitor for symptoms for 14 days. The alert did not say whether the possible exposure involved a staff member or patron...

Jim Stricker has had a lifelong fascination with jigsaw puzzles and his hobby has turned into a gift for a Cape Girardeau not-for-profit. Stricker, 92, has taken seven completed jigsaw puzzles, carefully glued the pieces together and placed them into frames...

Nearly 60 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the region Wednesday, but no new deaths were attributed to the disease. Scott County again saw the highest number of new cases — 19 — after it also led the area with the most cases Tuesday (12). The county has recorded 430 cases of the disease associated with coronavirus. Of those, 297 patients have recovered. Thirteen deaths of county residents have been attributed to the virus...

Jury trials will remain suspended until at least Oct. 31, according to a court order issued Wednesday by Presiding Judge Benjamin F. Lewis. The court order extended the Phase Two operational directives for all circuit, associate circuit and municipal divisions of the 32nd Judicial Circuit. The directives may be extended again unless the incidence of COVID-19 decreases significantly from the current level...

MISSION, Kan. -- As parents nationwide prepare to help their children with more distance learning, a small but quickly growing number are deciding to take matters entirely into their own hands and begin homeschooling. Some are worried their districts are unable to offer a strong virtual learning program. ...

WASHINGTON -- Americans counting on emergency coronavirus aid from Washington may have to wait until fall. Negotiations over a new virus relief package have all but ended, with the White House and congressional leaders far apart on the size, scope and approach for shoring up households, re-opening schools and launching a national strategy to contain the virus...

WILMINGTON, Del. -- Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his newly chosen running mate Kamala Harris campaigned together for the first time Wednesday, as the former primary rivals sought to solidify their advantage over President Donald Trump and secure their place in American history...

I am writing this letter on Aug 9. As of this date the United States has had 161,921 people die from COVID-19. This is almost double the 86,782 the country suffered as combat deaths in Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and both wars in Iraq. Along with this sad statistic, the United States has seen its medical system stretched to the limit by the more than 5 million cases of COVID-19...

Associated Press WILMINGTON, Del. -- Joe Biden is making his first appearance with newly chosen running mate Kamala Harris on Wednesday, betting that the California senator's historic profile and confrontational style against President Donald Trump will boost Democrats' efforts to oust the Republican president amid cascading national crises...

Much has changed in Missouri and the nation since Nicole Galloway announced her bid to unseat Gov. Mike Parson on Aug. 12, 2019, exactly a year ago. “When I launched this campaign, I never could have imagined where we would be today, but I knew then Missouri’s working families needed change and I am even more certain of it now,” said the Democratic state auditor during a socially-distanced and masked campaign stop Tuesday in Cape Girardeau...

SIKESTON, Mo. — Gov. Mike Parson traveled to Southeast Missouri on Tuesday afternoon, attending a broadband development event at SEMO Electric Cooperative. During his visit, Parson announced 16 projects from eight providers will be getting $3 million toward their respective projects. SEMO Electric was one of those...

Students may begin to move into Southeast Missouri State University’s 18 residence facilities as early as Saturday. Many of Southeast’s students commute but at least 2,350 are scheduled to live on campus when classes resume Aug. 24 for the 2020-2021 academic year, according to the university...