Local News

High Street Station's owners are opening a pop-up shop in Cape Girardeau's Indie House next month, just in time for Mother's Day, but that won't detract from their shop in uptown Jackson -- if anything, the new shop will be an additional draw. The boutique at 106 S. High St. in Jackson will remain open, said owners and sisters Lisa Walker and Lynette Strange, and will continue to provide gifts, fashion, jewelry and decor...

Informed Delivery is a free service of the United States Postal Service -- now available -- aimed at providing residential customers options to digitally preview and manage their incoming letter-sized mail and packages on a computer or mobile device...

Passenger boardings are trending higher at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport, a move that one day could secure sizable federal funding for the city, airport manager Bruce Loy said. Cape Girardeau's new commuter airline, which officially began providing round-trip service from Cape Girardeau to Chicago in December, has experienced higher boardings for the first three months of this year than its predecessor, Loy said Wednesday...

A Union soldier statue tops the fountain in Cape Girardeau’s Ivers Square. A monument to Confederate solders stands nearby. But there is no statue or monument commemorating the sacrifices of former slaves who enlisted in the Union Army colored regiments during the Civil War...

Jackson Deli and BBQ closed Saturday, but a new restaurant is on the horizon thanks to the efforts of owner Cynthia “Lou” Truska, who decided to make that location the new home of her Oak Ridge-based diner, Sassy’s. “It’s going to be a couple weeks for the transition and getting stuff in there before we will actually open,” Truska said. “We’re shooting for two weeks, but in all reality it’s probably going to be three weeks.”...

The Humane Society of Southeast Missouri will offer free vouchers for Spay Day, an event allowing people who already own a female cat or dog to get them altered for free. Spay Day is set to begin at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the Salvation Army, 701 Good Hope St. in Cape Girardeau, and will go until vouchers run out...

HAYTI, Mo. – The Missouri Department of Conservation is seeking the public’s assistance to solve a wildlife crime in Southeast Missouri. Hayti Fire Department personnel reported illegal poaching activity to Missouri Conservation agent Brian Shelton on Thursday after discovering a dump site of dead turtles while fighting a wildfire...

SIKESTON, Mo. — Many Sikeston residents remember seeing ABC News’ Diane Sawyer and her film crew in town in January. On Friday, Sawyer’s visit to the area was featured in a “special report” that aired at 9 p.m. on ABC’s “20/20.” In a promotion of the episode posted on ABC News’ website, Sawyer said in the episode, “My Reality: A Hidden America,” she asked women to share their experiences with sexual harassment or abuse while on the job. She said she received responses from all over the country...

A Jackson man has been charged with four felony counts of statutory sodomy with a child under 12 years of age and one felony count of possession of child pornography, Jackson police said Tuesday. John Edward Miller, 56, was arrested after a park ranger at Trail of Tears State Park on Monday noticed a “suspicious vehicle and made contact with the driver,” Jackson police said in a news release...

Cape Girardeau resident Rick Miller laughs after unearthing a piece of a beer can while searching Capaha Park with a metal detector Tuesday in Cape Girardeau. “That’s just part of it,” Miller said.

For some students at Cape Girardeau Central schools, questions such as “Where will I sleep tonight?” and “What’s for dinner?” don’t always have easy answers. That’s where Deena Ring, assistant superintendent of special services, and her office’s programs step in, when they can...

Former Cape Girardeau Councilman Melvin Gateley was remembered Monday as a tireless civic leader who helped beautify the city, spearheading an organization that planted thousands of rose bushes and daffodils, many with his own hands. Gateley died Monday at the Ratliff Care Center in Cape Girardeau at the age of 91...

Julie Koch worries about her two sons with autism. The Cape Girardeau mother wonders what their future will be like if proposed state budget cuts eliminate some of their therapy services. She said she is not alone in her concerns. Other parents are just as worried, she said...

The Jackson Police Department is reminding residents to lock their vehicles after several break-ins were reported over the weekend. “Do not keep your keys or anything in your vehicle that you wouldn’t want taken,” a recent Facebook post stated. The public is asked to keep an eye out for each other, and if anyone sees anything suspicious at any time of day or night, to call the department at (573) 243-3151...

Kason Wissman, 5, watches as his sister, Leona Jean Wissman, 3, fishes Monday on the dock of Cape County Park South in Cape Girardeau.

It isn’t every institution that can boast more than50 years of processing and computing courses, but this year, the Computer Science Department at Southeast Missouri State University is marking that very occasion. The program first launched as an associate degree in 1966, and, according to a university news release, was among the earliest computer science programs to appear in United States universities...

A chilly and rainy afternoon didn’t stop the celebration of Walk MS: Cape Girardeau on Sunday. “We’re going to be here rain or shine because MS is here rain or shine,” said Meghan Freeman, development specialist at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society-Gateway Chapter...

Thousands turned out once again this weekend for Cape Girardeau’s annual celebration of pop culture, now in its 13th year. A crowd of nearly 5,000 and more than 150 vendors filled the Osage Centre for the event, according to organizers. Ken Murphy, co-organizer of the event with his wife, Deneke’, said the idea of Cape Comic Con originated back to when he owned a local comic book store and on its 10th anniversary, he decided to start an event for the community...

Approval of minutes n Minutes of April 19 meeting Communications/ reports -- other elected officials n None at this time Public comments n Items listed on the agenda Routine business...

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill announced Friday $8.7 million — part of a $25.5 million grant from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — is being awarded to the state-run Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau for renovation and construction projects...

The operators of a Cape Girardeau County, faith-based homeless shelter want to expand their services to provide a transitional facility for parolees and others released from Missouri prisons. The Missouri Department of Corrections offers compensation to organizations providing “restoration facilities,” according to the Amen Center in Delta, which hopes to enter into a contract with the agency. ...

It was just days after Rick Walter had reopened the Mischelle Lawless murder case, when, he said, Kevin Williams walked into the sheriff's office. Josh Kezer was still in prison for the murder that a judge would rule later he did not commit. At that point in 2006, it was not widely known that Walter, then the sheriff, had reopened the case. He had only told those in his department. He now knows someone must have leaked information from his office...

Local viewers may want to tune into Animal Planet's "Jeremy Wade's Mighty Rivers" at 8 p.m. Sunday to see Missouri Department of Conservation fisheries regional supervisor Christopher Kennedy featured in a segment on alligator gar. The part addresses restocking of the long-snouted, sharp-toothed fish and why it is important and beneficial for Missouri...

While GOP leaders in the Missouri House and Senate have called on scandal-ridden Gov. Eric Greitens to resign, state Sen. Wayne Wallingford said he is not ready to "rush to judgment." Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau, said he is not ready to call for the governor to resign while a criminal charge against Greitens has yet to go to trial...

After 10 years at Southeast Missouri State University, Frank Barrios announced his resignation as dean of the College of Liberal Arts. The announcement came during the annual COLA Recognition Ceremony, held for outstanding students, on Tuesday at the University Center...

A section of westbound Broadway between Lorimier and Middle streets will be closed to traffic for about a week, starting Monday, Cape Girardeau city officials said. Traffic will be detoured north on Lorimier Street, west on Bellevue Street and then south on Middle Street to connect back to Broadway, according to public works officials...

On the night Mischelle Lawless was killed in 1992 along Interstate 55 near Benton, a man named Dallas Butler said he arrived at the murder scene, before police arrived. He was riding his motorcycle, he said, toward his mother's house in Mississippi County, crossing over on Highway 77 when he saw a car pulled over on the northbound exit ramp near the overpass. He turned his motorcycle toward the car, illuminating the car with his headlight...

In the spirit of opening arms and homes to foster children, the Tours for Hope featuring five homes in Southeast Missouri to benefit Hope for One More will make its debut April 28. Realtor Lori Fowler said she and realtor Becky Harding reached out to the five homeowners and they were "gracious enough" to volunteer their homes and partner with Area Properties Real Estate -- River Region for the cause, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m...

Cape Girardeau's annual Friends of the Park/Great Cape Clean Up Day will start at 9 a.m. Saturday with projects all over the city, but centered in Capaha Park, said Brock Davis, parks division manager with the city of Cape Girardeau. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. at Shelter 3 in Capaha Park...

Loretta Prater has turned her grief into words. The former Southeast Missouri State University dean has written a book about her son's death at the hands of Chattanooga, Tennessee, police officers. Prater's book, "Excessive Use of Force: One Mother's Struggle Against Police Brutality and Misconduct," focuses on the death of 37-year-old Leslie Prater, who suffocated after police officers wrestled him to the ground Jan. 4, 2004...

The National Weather Service at Paducah, Kentucky, reported Wednesday its Doppler radar system will be out of service until approximately mid-May. Rachel Trevino, meteorologist with NWS at Paducah, said service will not be affected. "When these systems were set up, they had the forethought to have radars that will overlap," Trevino said, adding systems this size need backup for the inevitable times they'll go down...

One church in Jackson is requesting the city close a section of a street between the church and school, citing safety and continuity concerns. Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at 208 S. Hope St. is planning to build a new church, said the Rev. John Harth, pastor/rector of Immaculate Conception, when he spoke to the board of aldermen during Monday night’s study session...

Cape Girardeau Central High School has named its next principal: Nancy Scheller, effective July 1. Scheller is director of Central Academy, formerly the Alternative Education Center, and, according to a district news release, has proved herself to be an extraordinary school leader...

Two Cape Girardeau County projects are moving ahead after action by the county commission Monday. For a road-paving project set for this year, Apex Paving Co. of Cape Girardeau submitted the lowest and best bid. Commissioner Paul Koeper said the $46.80 per ton was “a very good price,” as the bids ranged from $46.80 to $64 per ton...

Former Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter believes he solved Mischelle Lawless’ murder, and had enough evidence to prove it. DNA tests proved, he said, that one of the suspects was lying about his version of events on Nov. 8, 1992, the night Lawless was found bludgeoned and shot to death in her car at the Benton exit on Interstate 55. ...

The Angela Mischelle Lawless murder case from Nov. 8, 1992, is complicated with many wrongdoings and missteps. Here is a list of 9 reasons where the original investigation went askew, and why the wrong man, Joshua Kezer, was sent to prison. (Compiled by Mark Bliss and Bob Miller from new reporting, court records and previous reporting)...

The events below come from pretrial depositions in the Mischelle Lawless murder. In some cases, information changed from original interviews and police. The events below are essentially what Josh Kezer's defense knew before trial. Evening, Nov. 7, 1992...

Scott County Prosecutor Paul Boyd and former sheriff Rick Walter remain at odds over how the grand jury system was used in the Mischelle Lawless murder case. Walter said, as sheriff, he sought a grand jury in 2015 and again in 2016 after new evidence came to light but both times he was rebuffed by the prosecutor...

Cape Girardeau residents in Ward 5 may apply through April 30 to fill a vacancy on the city council, city officials said. Council members decided during a study session Monday to take applications for two weeks and then fill the vacancy at the May 7 council meeting...

The Cape Girardeau City Council has gone to bat for the community’s newest baseball team. The council gave initial approval to proceed with planning for major improvements to Capaha Field. The entire project, including construction, is expected to cost about $1.5 million, city manager Scott Meyer said before Monday’s council meeting...

Families gather for a performance by child entertainer Jack Hartmann on Monday at St. Paul Lutheran School in Jackson.

A contractor wants a judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed against it by the City of Cape Girardeau and compel the city to participate in binding arbitration. In the alternative, the contractor has countersued for a maximum amount of $1.5 million, according to court records...

A public hearing was set, and several city projects received approval Monday night at Jackson Board of Aldermen regular meeting. n A public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. May 21 regarding a request from residents of Broadridge Subdivision to change Chapter 65 of the Code of Ordinances relating to the removal of certain residential uses from the professional office district category...

The City of Cape Girardeau issued a precautionary boil-water order advisory Monday for about 20 households on North Water Street because of a water-main break. The boil-water advisory applies to households in the 1300 and 1400 blocks of North Water Street, according to a new release from city hall...

County Road 217 in Cape Girardeau County will be closed as Missouri Department of Transportation crews replace a pipe under the roadway near the intersection of Route AB. According to a MoDOT news release, the entrance to County Road 217 off of Route AB will be closed to traffic. The work will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 24...

More than 1,000 students, program graduates and supporters were in attendance for what James Bolin, director of Teen Challenge of Mid-America, called a “night of miracles” — the annual banquet Saturday night at the Show Me Center. Since 1970, Cape Girardeau’s branch of Adult and Teen Challenge has served as a faith-based haven for recovery from addiction. ...

The Cape Girardeau City Council is expected to fill a vacancy on the board by June 5 with that appointee serving until voters as early as August elect someone to fill the remainder of the unexpired term, officials said. Council members will vote Monday to set the election for Aug. 7, the same date as the state primary election, which is already scheduled...

Education is key to stopping the abuse of people with disabilities, according to a seminar held Saturday morning. The Heartland Down Syndrome Association hosted the free seminar at the Cape Girardeau Public Library, which addressed the importance of detecting and reporting the victimization of disabled individuals within the community...

The 6,300-horsepower motor vessel Mississippi docks Sunday at Riverfront Park in Cape Girardeau. After a few days on the Cape Girardeau riverfront, the vessel was scheduled to leave Sunday night.

Items for discussion n Planning and Zoning Commission report n Recognition of employee exceptional performance -- John Fuller n Discussion regarding appointment of a council member to represent Ward 5 until seat is filled by election...