Stories from May 2013

Northbound Interstate 55 in Perry County, from mile marker 135.4 to mile marker 135.8, will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs. Weather permitting, the work will be done today through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Federal agents say they asked three times for a list of Missouri concealed gun permit holders but never analyzed the data for a potential investigation of disability fraud. Personnel from the inspector general's office of the Social Security Administration testified under oath Wednesday before a Missouri Senate committee looking into the sharing of the concealed gun list...

Make and model: 1949 Chevrolet 3600 Pickup Owner(s): Tim Thompson Owner's hometown: Oak Ridge, Mo 73,000 original miles. Frame off restoration back to original. 216 straight-6 engine with a three speed transmission, 7.00-15 Nylon tires with split ring wheels...

Traffic briefly slowed at about 4:30 p.m. on Highway 74 after the two-vehicle crash that ended with the van on its roof on the roadside near Mockingbird Lane, two miles east of Dutchtown. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol's preliminary crash report, the accident happened when the van crossed the ...

Some Jackson schools were locked down briefly Tuesday afternoon. Wade Bartels, chief financial officer and security coordinator for Jackson R-2 School District, said a few schools on the west side of town were locked down at the behest of police officers, who called back a short time later to give the district the all-clear....

SIKESTON, Mo. -- A Southeast Missouri man has been charged with first-degree murder after allegedly driving into a crowd of relatives at a family barbecue, killing a man and injuring five others, including three children. Joseph Thornton, 25, of Sikeston, also was charged with armed criminal action, endangering the welfare of a child and five counts of first-degree assault, a spokesman for the Scott County prosecutor's office said Tuesday. ...

Money is a big motivator for teenagers, according to a Scott City High School teacher. "Money talks. Kids understand money," said history teacher Seth Ward, who uses the prospect of free college tuition to encourage his students to excel. Thanks to a recent expansion of the A+ Schools program, students at 99 percent of Missouri's public high schools have the opportunity to earn two years' worth of tuition to any public community college in the state, Gov. Jay Nixon told students Tuesday during an assembly at Scott City High School, which was among 118 recent additions to the program. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- After coping through several lean years, Missouri's Republican legislative leaders are at odds about whether to save or spend an apparent excess of money. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Kurt Schaefer said he expects Missouri will end its fiscal year June 30 with about $400 million more than had been projected. He wants to spend more than $200 million of that to replace an aging state mental hospital in Fulton, Mo...

It's been quite a season for the Jackson High School baseball team so far. The good times kept rolling for the Indians Tuesday night as they captured their first SEMO Conference tournament title since 2009. "It feels amazing," senior left fielder Trent Wills said...

Southeast Hospital was presented with the 2013 Outstanding Patient Experience award Tuesday night at the Show Me Center, site of the hospital's annual dinner to recognize organizations and individuals who have made significant contributions. Curtis Munlin, senior director with Enterprise Solutions at CPM HealthGrades, the company that rates all 5,000 hospitals across the country based on Medicare data, presented the award. He praised Southeast for continuing to lead the way in satisfactory patient experience. ...

A community coalition will address the health implications of behaviors such as smoking, poor diet and lack of exercise after an assessment by Saint Francis Medical Center and Southeast Hospital of the top health needs of people living in Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, Scott and Stoddard counties. ...

T-N-T Fitness is offering a results guarantee to the residents of Cape Girardeau and Jackson area: if the participant or participants do not achieve his or her predetermined weight loss or fitness goals within three months, a 100% refund will be issued. "What most people want is a weight loss and fitness solution that finally works for them," explains Tyler Blessing, Owner of T-N-T Fitness. "Three essential components are necessary to obtain the desired results:...

A sinkhole has formed along South Sprigg Street, leading the city government to close one lane in the 2300 block. The sinkhole is on the west side of the street, and caused the closure of the southbound lane in the 2300 block of South Sprigg Street, according to city spokeswoman Nicolette Brennan. Signs placed nearby warned motorists of the closed lane. The lane will be blocked until further notice, and city crews will continue to monitor the sinkhole, Brennan said....

Today is Wednesday, May 1, the 121st day of 2013. There are 244 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On May 1, 1963, James W. Whittaker became the first American to conquer Mount Everest as he and Sherpa guide Nawang Gombu reached the summit...

Elfrink turned in an iron-man performance last week against Oak Ridge, pitching all nine innings and striking out 15 batters in the Wildcats' 4-3 extra-inning road victory against Oak Ridge.

NEW YORK -- Matthew Morrison has a guy crush, and it's someone more than twice his age: Smokey Robinson. "I love women, but just looking into his green eyes, he can melt you," the 34-year-old "Glee" star said with a laugh. "He's just an amazing, beautiful man. I love him so much."...

Son to Derek and Jane Deck of Doddsville, Miss., Bolivar Medical Center in Cleveland, Miss., 7:44 a.m. Thursday, April 4, 2013. Name, Brewer Mills. Weight, 9 pounds, 3 ounces. Mrs. Deck is the daughter of Mandy Adams of Blaine, Miss., and Barry Adams of Indianola, Miss. Deck is the son of David and Patcie Deck of Tillatoba, Miss., and the late Millie Painton of Cape Girardeau. Deck is formerly of Cape Girardeau...

PESHAWAR, Pakistan -- A Pakistani court on Tuesday banned former military ruler Pervez Musharraf from running for public office for the rest of his life, the latest blow since he returned from exile last month to make a political comeback. The ban came as Pakistan's powerful army chief pledged in a rare speech that the military would do everything in its power to ensure the parliamentary election goes on as scheduled May 11, despite the Taliban's attempt to disrupt the vote by attacking candidates.. ...

JERUSALEM -- The Arab League's decision to sweeten its decade-old proposal offering comprehensive peace with Israel has placed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a bind and swiftly exposed fissures in his new government. Netanyahu's chief peace negotiator Tuesday welcomed the modified Arab proposal, while the prime minister remained silent, reflecting the internal divisions that lie ahead as the U.S. tries to restart long-frozen peace talks with the Palestinians...

AMSTERDAM -- Millions of Dutch people dressed in orange flocked to celebrations Tuesday throughout the Netherlands in honor of a once-in-a-generation milestone for the country's ruling House of Orange-Nassau: After a 33-year reign, Queen Beatrix abdicated in favor of her eldest son, Willem-Alexander...

BEIRUT -- The leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah militant group on Tuesday said Syrian rebels will not be able to defeat President Bashar Assad's regime militarily, warning that Syria's "real friends," including his Iranian-backed militant group, were ready to intervene on the government's side...

LOS ANGELES -- Jurors in the civil case between Michael Jackson's mother and concert giant AEG Live got another glimpse of the singer's private life Tuesday through the eyes of a paramedic who described the singer's bedroom and the frantic efforts to revive the King of Pop on the day he died...

PHILADELPHIA -- A Philadelphia jury began weighing murder charges Tuesday against a doctor charged with killing five people, including four viable babies allegedly born alive in what authorities describe as illegal, late-term abortions routinely performed at his clinic...

CHICAGO -- A 2-year-old girl born without a windpipe now has a new one grown from her own stem cells, the youngest patient in the world to benefit from the experimental treatment. Hannah Warren has been unable to breathe, eat, drink or swallow on her own since she was born in South Korea in 2010. Until the operation at a central Illinois hospital, she had spent her entire life in a hospital in Seoul. Doctors there told her parents there was no hope and they expected her to die...

SANFORD, Fla. -- The former neighborhood watch leader charged with fatally shooting a Florida teenager told a judge Tuesday that he agrees with his defense attorneys' decision not to seek an immunity hearing under the state's "Stand Your Ground" self-defense law...

LULING, Texas -- Tom Brown "Tommy" Webb III, 53, of Luling joined the band of angels as he passed from this life into the eternal Sunday, April 28, 2013. A loving husband, caring father, faithful friend and talented guitar player, Tommy's legacy will long be remembered by a host of family and friends...

Anthony R. "Tony" Sandusky, 50, formerly of Sikeston, Mo., passed away Sunday, April 28, 2013, at his home in Jackson. He was born June 17, 1962, in Advance, Mo., to Bob and Faye Ross Sandusky. He and Alicia "Lisa" Sims were married Sept. 8, 1979, at First Pentecostal Church in Sikeston...

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford can't seem to escape attacks on the extramarital affair that derailed his political career, which he hopes to revive in the special congressional election that is now a week away. For months, his Democratic opponent, Elizabeth Colbert Busch, refused to criticize Sanford's affair -- which was uncovered when he visited his mistress in Argentina under the guise of hiking the Appalachian Trail. ...

WASHINGTON -- Americans are more optimistic the job market is healing and will deliver higher pay later this year. That brighter outlook, along with rising home prices, cheaper gasoline and a surging stock market, could offset some of the drag from the recent tax increases and government spending cuts...

WASHINGTON -- The government is moving the morning-after pill over the counter but only those 15 and older can buy it -- an attempt to find middle ground just days before a court-imposed deadline to lift all age restrictions on the emergency contraceptive...

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama on Tuesday said his counterterrorism bureaucracy "did what it was supposed to be doing" before the Boston Marathon bombing as his top intelligence official began a review into whether sensitive information was adequately shared and whether the U.S. government could have disrupted the attack...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Norman "Mike" Pobst Sr., 79, of Chaffee passed away Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, at Chaffee Nursing Center. He was born Sept. 17, 1933, at Caney, Mo., to the late Matthew and Eleanora Susan Gosche Pobst. He and Wanda Evans were married May 26, 1960. She preceded him in death May 4, 1981...

MOUND CITY, Ill. -- James Sammual Kizer, 63, of St. Louis, formerly of Mound City, died Thursday, April 25, 2013, at Normandy Nursing Center where he resided. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time Friday at First Missionary Baptist Church in Mound City...

Jon Holman, 64, of Cape Girardeau died Tuesday, March 19, 2013, at his home. He was born Sept. 18, 1948, in Detroit to R.L. and Philomena Bowen Holman. Jon was a Vietnam War veteran, having served with the 82nd Airborne Division and later the 101st Airborne. During his service, Jon received numerous commendations including the Bronze Star...

Audry Ernest Eldridge, 77, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, April 28, 2013, at Parc Provence in Creve Coeur, Mo. He was born Oct. 18, 1935, in Pomp, Ky., to Lynn Boyd and Virgie Keeton Eldridge. He and Wanda R. Harrell were married Aug. 31, 1957, in Emporia, Kan...

A forum to discuss new education assessment standards for kindergarten through high school students will take place Thursday at the Career and Technology Center in Cape Girardeau. Common Core State Standards was adopted by the Missouri Board of Education in 2010. ...

That should tell you something. The Republican-controlled Missouri House wants to reduce corporate income taxes by 50 percent but individual income taxes by only 2/3 of 1 percent. The lost revenue will be made up by a regressive sales tax, a tax which will hit Missouri's ever-shrinking middle class the hardest and, no doubt, will cause it to shrink even more...

In his weekly radio address Saturday, President Obama promised more "pain" for the American people unless Congress approved his budget. This is the same president who was offered the option by Congress to make budget cuts in the wake of the sequester that would have minimal negative impact. But he declined that offer outright...

Ray D. Donner, 72, of Jackson passed away Monday, April 29, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. He was born Feb. 9, 1941, in Manila, Ark., son of Raymond and Laura Runyon Donner. He and Sheryl Ann Ramage were married Oct. 9, 1962, in Holcomb, Mo. She passed away Sept. 23, 2011...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Addie Lee Barks, 84, of Marble Hill went to be with the Lord on Monday, April 29, 2013. She was born Aug. 21, 1928, at Glennon, Mo., to Jeff and Jewell Newcomer Winchester. She and Gilbert Buel Thiele were married Sept. 19, 1945. He passed away Oct. 22, 1985. She later married Basil Barks on Aug. 26, 1988. He passed away Jan. 6, 1995...

CHARTER OAK, Mo. -- Rebecca Sue Baldwin, 75, of Charter Oak, rural Catron, Mo., passed away Sunday, April 28, 2013, at her home surrounded by loved ones. She was born March 27, 1938, in Center Ridge, Ark., to William Avery and Martha Elizabeth Ethridge Stobaugh. She was the oldest of four children, and from a very early age she and her sisters helped their parents work the farm and harvest a huge garden...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Monday:...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri House has passed a bill that would allow county sheriffs to issue concealed weapons permits instead of the Revenue Department. Missouri sheriffs already have the responsibility of receiving concealed-carry applications, reviewing applicants' backgrounds and issuing paper permits. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Firearms manufacturers looking to relocate to Missouri could collect a tax credit under a bill given first-round approval by the Missouri House. The tax incentive endorsed Tuesday would expire in six years and be capped at $3 million annually. Gun and ammunition manufacturers would be able to claim the credit on withholding taxes from creating new jobs...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Senate again has passed legislation curbing tax breaks for developers while creating incentives for exporters and high-tech industries. A bill approved 22-11 Tuesday eases off a Senate version of a tax credit overhaul passed earlier this year but leaves a large gap to be resolved with House members...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri House gave first-round approval Monday to the first overhaul of the state's criminal code since 1979 but with time running out in the legislative session, its chances of passing are slim. The plan, a product of a Missouri Bar committee, would create new classes of felonies and misdemeanors...

ST. LOUIS -- A solar-powered plane making its initial cross-country voyage sometime in May will be stopping in St. Louis, Lambert Airport officials said Tuesday. The exact date of takeoff for the Solar Impulse will depend on the weather: The plane is so light and delicate it can't fly through clouds or bad weather...

WASHINGTON, Mo. -- It's not hard to catch the employees at Hodges Badge Company smiling on the job. It's a happy place to work, filled with bright colors and cheery products -- custom ribbons, rosettes, medals, silver, trophies and other awards -- things that will become prized possessions by whomever receives them at their equestrian competition, gymnastics meet, dog show, school science fair, spelling bee, hung or set in places of prominence to convey the winner's pride...

Central golfer Travis Simmons continued his strong junior season by earning the medalist honor at the Class 4 District 1 tournament Tuesday at Aberdeen Golf Club in Eureka, Mo. Simmons, who also was the medalist at the SEMO Conference meet last week and the Notre Dame Invitational early in the season, shot a 1-over 73 to edge Lindbergh's Cristopher Ferris by a shot...

Southeast scored two runs in the ninth for a 9-7 win in the first meeting between the schools since 2006

Former Southeast Missouri State long snapper Brandon Gabbard has been invited to a mini-camp tryout with the New York Giants set for May 10 through 12 at the Timex Performance Center in East Rutherford, N.J. Gabbard will attempt to show the Giants enough to be invited to their training camp this summer...

ST. LOUIS -- Jonathan Quick got the Los Angeles Kings to overtime. Then last year's Stanley Cup MVP gave it away. Alex Steen stole the puck from the unsuspecting goalie behind the net and scored a short-handed goal to give the St. Louis Blues a 2-1 victory over the defending Cup champions on Tuesday...

The Cape Girardeau County Republican Women will host prosecuting attorney Chris Limbaugh at its monthly meeting at noon Friday at Dexter Bar-B-Que, 236 S. Broadview St. in Cape Girardeau. Limbaugh was appointed after Morley Swingle vacated the position and is a third generation of his family to hold the office. He previously worked with the Limbaugh Law Firm on civil and criminal law. Limbaugh is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Law...

TUPELO, Miss. -- Ricin was found in the former martial arts studio of the man suspected of sending poison letters to President Barack Obama and other public officials, and also was discovered on a dust mask and other items he threw in the trash, federal prosecutors said in a court document made public Tuesday...

BOSTON -- One lawyer won acquittal for a Saudi man charged with carrying three firecracker-like devices on a plane, arguing he was a victim of hysteria about airport security after the Sept. 11 attacks. Another has managed to avert death sentences for some of the highest-profile criminals of our time, including the Unabomber and the gunman whose rampage injured former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department will crack down on drunken driving May 2 through 13 according to a release sent by the department. Missouri has a zero-tolerance law for underage drunken driving. Anyone under 21 years old caught driving with any alcohol in their system will will have their license suspended and can face legal consequences as jail time, loss of license, ignition interlocks and financial consequences. ...

Two Cape Girardeau properties have been nominated for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. The J. Maple and Grace Senne Wilson House at 344 N. Ellis St., and a boundary increase for the Broadway-Middle Commercial Historic District at the 400 block of Broadway are under consideration. ...

Northbound Interstate 55 in Perry County, from mile marker 135.4 to mile marker 135.8, will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs. The work will be done from noon to 3 p.m. today...

The purchase of hunting and fishing permits will be unavailable for computer system maintenance from 9 p.m. Tuesday through 7 a.m. May 8, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation. System maintenance will include online permit purchases and purchases through permit vendors. For more information, visit mdc.mo.gov...

Catholic Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts from throughout Southeast Missouri are awarded medals at an afternoon ceremony at St. Mary's Cathedral, with Bishop John J. Leibrecht making the presentations. The congregation of First Baptist Church of Scott City holds a groundbreaking ceremony and note burning in the evening; the site is 15 acres on County Road 312, south of the present building at 401 Oak St...

O Father God, thank you that we may lay our burdens at your feet. Amen.

Collin Herzog has pitched some strong games for the Jackson High School baseball team this season. He said Tuesday's performance at Capaha Field tops the list...

Marganthaler closed his recruiting class with two transfer players

~The left-hander threw eight innings in St. Louis' 2-1 victory ST. LOUIS -- Jaime Garcia seems to save his best for the Cincinnati Reds. The St. Louis left-hander dominated Cincinnati again with eight strong innings, Matt Holliday hit a two-run homer and the Cardinals snapped a three-game losing streak with a 2-1 win over the Reds on Tuesday night...

Poplar Bluff blanked the Bulldogs 4-0 to reach the title game

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Missouri Senate has passed a bill that would allow designated school personnel to carry concealed weapons in school buildings. The Senate voted 26-6 Thursday to pass the measure. It now heads back to the House for further consideration...

Candidates for Missouri's 8th Congressional District are racking up endorsements just a month shy of the June special election. Democratic state Rep. Steve Hodges' campaign announced endorsements by three statewide officeholders Wednesday -- Attorney General Chris Koster, Secretary of State Jason Kander and Treasurer Clint Zweifel -- all of whom also are Democrats. ...

BOSTON -- Three college friends of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev were arrested and accused Wednesday of trying to protect him by going into his dorm room and getting rid of a backpack filled with hollowed-out fireworks three days after the deadly attack. The three 19-year-olds were not accused of any role in the bombings. But in a footnote in the court papers outlining the charges, the FBI said that about a month before the tragedy, Tsarnaev told two of them he knew how to make a bomb....

ST. LOUIS -- Fast starts are becoming routine for Lance Lynn and the St. Louis Cardinals. Lynn won his 10th straight decision, allowing one run and five hits in seven innings Wednesday to lead the Cardinals over the Cincinnati Reds 4-2. Lynn (5-0) struck out five and walked two, improving to 10-0 in 10 starts and one relief appearance since losing to Milwaukee on Sept. 7. He became the NL's first five-game winner...

The Notre Dame Regional High School baseball team's offense has been in a serious funk the past two days. Notre Dame coach Jeff Graviett and his players are quick to credit opposing pitchers, but senior catcher Chase Simmons said some of the blame lies with the Bulldogs...

ST. LOUIS -- Alexander Steen's overtime goal could be a lot more than a game-changer for the St. Louis Blues. However fluky the finish, they know they can beat the Los Angeles Kings. Now, they'll try to keep the upper hand against the defending Stanley Cup champions...

On the eve of the two-year anniversary of the detonation of the Birds Point levee by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, stakeholders who want to have input in future strategies to alleviate flooding spoke with U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., Wednesday during a tour of the three blast sites. Blunt was urged to continue to pressure federal agencies to move forward with the St. Johns Bayou and New Madrid Floodway project. ...

Five-year-old Graham Hasheider of Jackson brought his "ailing" white teddy bear named "Snowie" to the doctor's office. Classmate Wyatt Schuessler, 5, of Fruitland, Mo., brought his cuddly "Bumpy Bump" dog to be treated for a leg injury. For the 21 kids from the Big Stuff Preschool in Fruitland, the Teddy Bear Clinic at SoutheastHEALTH's West Campus on Tuesday proved to be a big hit...

Prosecutors have dropped charges against a man accused of murder in connection with a fatal shooting last year at a now-defunct Cape Girardeau nightclub. Malcolm U. Harris had been charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action after the Dec. 16 slaying of Nicholas Gilbert at The Spot nightclub, 433 S. Sprigg St. ..

The annual Fourth of July fireworks display in Arena Park, which was shelved in February because of a lack of funds, may yet light up the summer sky in 2013. The Cape Girardeau-based Headquarters chapter of USA Veterans is organizing an effort to fund the display, considered to be the high point of the city's Fourth of July observances...

A toddler's voice rang out across the courthouse atrium: "Mama!" Alexandra Tannous, 2, was too little to grasp the significance of the moment, but she was excited to see her mother, Syrian-born Pilar Nabil Eid, stand up during a naturalization ceremony at the federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau. Eid, who moved to the United States to be with her husband, Nicholas Tannous, was one of 29 people from 11 countries who became U.S. citizens Wednesday morning...

Just put out the oranges and grape jelly, and they will come!!

Welcome home to my brother-in-law Roger Bodenschatz. He just returned home today from a year long tour in Kuwait. We missed you!!

Valentino is a 9 year old Bichon Frise. He is neutered and housebroken. Valentino is available for adoption at The Humane Society, 573-334-5837. See more pets available at www.semopets.org.

Mother Goose and her family go for a swim at Cape County park.

Miss Brooklynn Blackwell and Grandma Carol Blackwell are planting flowers at Carl & Mary Tripp's new home in Jackson. (The Tripps are Brooklynn's Great Grandparents)

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Republican lawmakers are raising new questions about whether Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon's administration has tried to comply with the federal Real ID Act. Senators on Wednesday released a copy of a letter sent in March 2010 by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to Nixon thanking him for his efforts to comply with Real ID...

The Jackson track and field program enjoyed a big day Wednesday. Jackson romped to titles in both the boys and girls divisions at the SEMO North Conference meet in Sikeston. Jackson's boys recorded nine first-place performances while the girls were first in 11 events...

Jared Siemers, Emma Garrett and Margaret O'Neal all distinguished themselves as impressive Southeast Missouri State athletes over the past four years. The trio also distinguished themselves in the classroom, which was recognized earlier this week when they earned top honors during Southeast's annual scholar-athlete reception...

Southeast Missouri State senior sprinter Jerika Lewis and junior thrower Courtney Gapelu received recognition from the Ohio Valley Conference for their performances over the weekend. Lewis was named OVC female track athlete of the week while Gapelu earned OVC female field athlete of the week honors...

Three people suffered moderate injuries in a single-vehicle rollover crash Wednesday morning on Interstate 55 in Scott County. Patrick C. Marion, 22, of Milwaukee, Wis., was driving a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt north on I-55 near mile marker 84.6 when the vehicle ran off the left side of the road, overcorrected, ran off the right side of the road and overturned, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported....

Today is Thursday, May 2, the 122nd day of 2013. There are 243 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On May 2, 1963, the Children's Crusade began in Birmingham, Ala., as more than 1,000 black schoolchildren skipped classes and marched downtown to protest racial segregation; hundreds were arrested. (During another march the following day, authorities unleashed police dogs and fire hoses on the young protesters.)...

Members of the Oak Ridge senior class can add an interesting title to their college resumes: author. Inspired by an English class assignment, 19 seniors wrote a modern-day telling of Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" that was brought to publishing company Publish America. Now, the students are autographing the collection of stories they typed and edited just a few months ago titled "Can't Bury Our Voices."...

Did you know by using science, you can get a Ping-Pong ball from one cup to another by only using your breath? Materials Instructions Step 1: Place the two identical glasses next to each other. Step 2: Put the Ping-Pong ball in one of the glasses...

The following students have been awarded Scholarships to attend Southeast Missouri State University for the 2013-2014 academic year: The following students earned honors at Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis for the fall 2012 semester n Jon Morrow of Oran, Mo., was named to the honor roll...

A new prepay at the pump policy for fuel was implemented Wednesday by Cape Girardeau gas stations. The change was made at the request of the city's police department and is an effort to prevent drive-offs and the corresponding time police spend following up on nonpaying customers...

I watched a movie recently about the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah warned the King of Judah to turn back to the Lord or Judah would be destroyed. The king said that he would trust in his army and his allies. (Sound familiar?) Read 2 Chronicles, chapter 36 and verse 11 and following...

Son to Rance E. and Jessi Danielle Braswell of Advance, Mo., Southeast Hospital, 10:41 a.m. Friday, April 19, 2013. Name, Jett Sterling. Weight, 8 pounds, 12 ounces. Third child, second son. Mrs. Braswell is the former Jessi Hicks, daughter of Kay Hicks and Derry Hicks of Bloomfield, Mo. She is a registered nurse at Advance Nursing Center. Braswell is the son of Brenda Porter of Advance and Randy and Rita Braswell of Dexter, Mo. He is employed by Union Pacific Railroad...

Southeast Missouri Hospital holds a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the morning to open its new facility, "The Work Place"; it features an instructional area with equipment to simulate on-the-job tasks for injured workers. Work begins on the removal of the Wilson Road Bridge over Cape LaCroix Creek at the entrance to Shawnee Park; those using the south end of the park will have to make a lengthy detour and double back over a gravel road to reach the park; removal of the bridge is part of a privately-funded flood-control project of the Cape LaCroix-Walker Creek Levee and Flood Protection District.. ...

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- A jury on Wednesday awarded $240 million to 32 mentally disabled men for what government lawyers say was years of abuse by a Texas company that arranged for them to work at an Iowa turkey processing plant and oversaw their care, work and lodging...

BOSTON -- A Vermont woman revealed her new face Wednesday, six years after her ex-husband disfigured her by dousing her with industrial-strength lye, and said she went through "what some may call hell" but has found a way to be happy. Carmen Blandin Tarleton of Thetford had face transplant surgery at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital in February and spoke publicly for the first time at a news conference at the hospital Wednesday...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Republican state senators reacted with outrage Wednesday as federal fraud investigators testified that three times they had sought to obtain a list of Missouri's concealed gun permit holders, which the lawmakers denounced as an unjustified invasion of privacy...

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Reserve cautioned America's political leaders Wednesday that their policies are hurting the economy. The Fed stood by its aggressive efforts to stimulate the economy and reduce unemployment. But it sent its clearest signal to date that tax increases and spending cuts that kicked in this year are slowing the economy...

WASHINGTON -- Despite President Barack Obama's new vow, closing the Guantánamo Bay prison remains a tough sell in Congress. So the White House may look instead toward smaller steps such as transferring some terror suspects back overseas. Shutting down the prison at the U.S. ...

WASHINGTON -- The Justice Department announced Wednesday an appeal of a judge's decision lifting all age limits on the Plan B morning-afer birth-control pill and a cheaper generic. The government said the judge who issued the ruling had exceeded his authority...

Background checks for gun purchases failed. Could background checks for pressure cookers be next on the president's agenda? More Band Aids rather than deal with the human beings responsible. Energy department Many wonder how our government agencies have gotten out of control. ...

The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Summonses...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Tuesday:...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests...

Norman E. Zwosta, 77, of New Wells passed away Wednesday, May 1, 2013, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau, where he was a resident the past nine months. He was born June 30, 1935, in New Wells, son of Albert E. and Alma Koch Zwosta. He and Myrtha Soehl were married Sept. 10, 1960, at Grace Lutheran Church in Uniontown, Mo...

Verta Lee Oller, 95, of Jackson, Tenn., died Friday, April 26, 2013, in Jackson, Tenn. She was born Oct. 10, 1917, in Miller City, Ill., daughter of Roy A. and Ersa Morningstar Willis. Verta was a bookkeeper at Piggly Wiggly Corp. more than 30 years. She was a member of West Jackson Baptist Church since 1946...

McCLURE, Ill. -- Rita Boettcher, 78, of McClure died Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at Fountainbleau Lodge in Cape Girardeau. A graveside service will be at 11:30 a.m. Sunday at Lindsey Cemetery. Ford and Sons Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau is in charge of arrangements...

JURAIN, Bangladesh -- Dozens of Bangladeshi garment workers, their bodies too battered or decomposed to be identified, were buried Wednesday in a mass funeral, a week after the eight-story building they worked in toppled, killing at least 410 people and injuring thousands...

LOS ANGELES -- Demonstrators demanded an overhaul of immigration laws Wednesday in an annual, nationwide ritual that carried a special sense of urgency as Congress considers sweeping legislation that would bring many of the estimated 11 million people living in the U.S. illegally out of the shadows...

Cape Girardeau County sheriff's deputies have arrested a fugitive who prompted a brief lockdown Tuesday at several Jackson schools. Sheriff's department Lt. David James said officers had a warrant to arrest a theft suspect who also was accused of violating his probation. The suspect tried to ...

1 Barton Square, Jackson 9 a.m. today Open session Communications/reports Public comments Routine business Action items Discussion and possible action items Discussion and possible action...

Five Southeast Missouri State University alumni will receive Young Alumni Merit Awards from the alumni association, according to a news release sent Wednesday. The award is given to alumni younger than 37 years old who have brought distinction to Southeast through professional growth, service and individual character. ...

TODAY NEW MOVIES EVENTS FRIDAY Saturday Sunday Next week New Movies CDs DVDs Games...

Northbound Interstate 55 in Perry County, from mile marker 135.4 to mile marker 135.8, will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs. Work will take place from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, today through Friday...

O Lord Jesus, our Messiah, in you our souls find rest. Amen.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) -- A small patch of prairie sits largely unnoticed off a desolate road in southwestern South Dakota, tucked amid gently rolling hills and surrounded by dilapidated structures and hundreds of gravesites -- many belonging to Native Americans massacred more than a century earlier...

DONIPHAN, Mo. (AP) - Officials with ExxonMobil have repaired an oil pipeline in southeast Missouri, where a leak was discovered earlier this week. A resident near Doniphan, Mo., found oil leaking in his yard Tuesday. All told, about one barrel - roughly 42 gallons of crude oil - leaked from the Pegasus pipeline. The cause remains under investigation...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- A Missouri House computer was used in an unsuccessful effort to access a secure website that contained the list of Missourians with concealed weapons permits, Gov. Jay Nixon's administration said Friday. State Office of Administration spokeswoman Misti Preston said the user tried to access the website 23 times around 10 a.m. ...

ADVANCE, Mo. -- The short-lived Advance dog ordinance that limited ownership to two dogs per household officially has been repealed by the city's board of aldermen. The ordinance went into effect March 18, but enforcement was suspended by Mayor Carl "Pete" Ritter less than a week later after numerous complaints from the city's dog owners....

ST. LOUIS -- Defenseman Barret Jackman scored his first career playoff goal with 50.4 seconds remaining, lifting the St. Louis Blues to a 2-1 win over the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings for the second straight time Thursday night...

ST. LOUIS -- Bickering between Missouri and Illinois about how to fund the sorely needed Mississippi River bridge at St. Louis stalled the $670 million project for years. With construction in full swing, the states are differing again, debating what the span should be named -- and who has the prevailing authority...

The members of the Leadership Cape Class of 2013 will present group projects at the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce First Friday Coffee. Participants have developed ideas during monthly daylong workshops that began in January. The program will continue through July...

STE. GENEVIEVE, Mo. -- A motorcyclist sustained serious injuries Wednesday afternoon in a crash on Highway 32 in Ste. Genevieve County. Dale Newman, 45, of Ste. Genevieve, Mo., was eastbound on Highway 32 on a 2008 Harley Davidson when he stopped to make a left turn into a private drive, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported...

Southeast Missouri State University will confer degrees to 1,333 students at spring commencement on May 11. The graduating class consists of 1,048 undergraduates, 283 graduate and specialist students and two cooperative doctoral students. Gary Downing, Southeast alumnus and chief executive officer of Insight Pharmaceuticals, will deliver the commencement address. ...

North Main Street will be closed from Broadway to Themis Street from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today for Fashion Friday. The event is "a collaborative effort to celebrate fashion, support shopping and highlight local businesses," according to a news release...

The SEMO Pachyderms will host Bill Federer, speaker and best-selling author. The program will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Dexter Bar-B-Que in Cape Girardeau. Federer will be presenting "Change to Chains, the 6,000 year quest for control." Federer will examine how power concentrates into the hands of one individual, and he will look at what makes the American experiment stand out in the course of history, according to a club news release. ...

Heavy rains could combine with high river levels to cause more flooding along the Mississippi River and its tributaries during the next few days, according to the National Weather Service. The weather service's hazardous weather outlook for the region warns of heavy rains moving into the area late Thursday, with up to two inches of rainfall possible throughout Southeast Missouri. Severe storms, however, aren't likely....

LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com Ellen Haskell picks out a dozen Dutch irises Thursday afternoon at the Cape Girardeau Farmers Market in the Town Plaza parking lot. The Cape Riverfront Market kicks off its season at 8 a.m. Saturday....

ST. LOUIS -- ExxonMobil officials and regulators on Thursday were investigating the cause of a small oil leak from the Pegasus pipeline in Southeast Missouri -- the second leak from the 850-mile pipeline in a month. The latest leak was discovered Tuesday near Doniphan, Mo. About 42 gallons of crude oil -- or roughly one barrel -- spilled into retiree Robert Cooley's yard...

A Saturday concert at the River Campus of Southeast Missouri State University is expected to delight children and grown-ups alike. "The Percussion Pops Family Concert," scheduled for 10:30 a.m. in Bedell Performance Hall, is free to the public. "Percussion Pops," presented by the Earl and Margie Holland School of Visual and Performing Arts, will feature rhythmic sounds of the Percussion Ensemble and Steel Drum Band conducted by Dr. Shane Mizicko, director of percussion studies at Southeast...

People were camping out Thursday in front of the Show Me Center, not for concert tickets -- for free dental care. "I'm a little hot, but I'm doing all right," said Troy Kidwell from his foldout chair, where he sits as the first person in line for the Missouri Mission of Mercy free dental clinic, which begins at 5 a.m. today at the Show Me Center. The clinic offers free services like cleaning, extractions and fillings to all ages. ...

In response to questions and requests for more information about the Common Core State Standards in education, about 125 people, including parents, school administrators and state education officials, were in attendance Thursday night at a public meeting at the Career and Technology Center...

A specially-equipped patrol cruiser on the streets of Cape Girardeau has the city's police department taking a step forward in using technology to solve crimes. But in some places where it's been used, the new gadget has led to concerns about degrading civil liberties...

An opportunity for small Cape Girardeau County communities to gain early warning sirens through a federal grant once thought dead in the water may get a chance after all. Associate Commissioner Paul Koeper during a commission meeting Thursday said a contract for a $290,000 federal grant to buy and install sirens in towns throughout the county appears to be on its way. Officials don't yet know all the details and requirements of the grant, but they expect to receive the contract next week...

A Scott City man is suing a furniture company and one of its drivers in connection with an April 5 crash that killed his daughter. Amelia Fisher, 17, of Grassy, Mo., was riding in a Toyota 4Runner on Highway 34 near Route U in Cape Girardeau County when a Slumberland Furniture truck crossed the centerline and collided with the SUV...

This was a week later after Taylor, the Turtle Dove, hatched. She left the nest this week and moved out into the real world. We hope she's doing good!

Taylor the turtle dove baby arrived safely! It was hard to get this shot because Mama didn't want to leave. I even petted her on her back & breast trying to coax her to leave. What a thrill that was because I thought she would attack me! I got this pic the next day...

Koehler decided to build her nest in my neighbor's, Gusta, bird feeder. She had 3 eggs but 2 of them disappeared.

Forrest Copeland sign's with Lindenwood Belleville to play baseball at the next level.

BRIDGING AN AFTERNOON OF FUN Saxony Village Retirement Community to host Bridge Party May 23 The game of bridge has been called elegant. Part science, part math. Part logic and reason. Based on strategy but also reliant human nuance -- and some 25 million Americans regularly play, according to the American Contract Bridge League...

Today is Friday, May 3, the 123rd day of 2013. There are 242 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On May 3, 1973, Chicago's 110-story Sears Tower (now the Willis Tower) was topped out after two years of construction, becoming the world's tallest building for the next 25 years...

McCLURE, Ill. -- Rita Boettcher, 78, of McClure died Tuesday, April 30, 2013, at Fountainbleau Lodge in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 27, 1934, in Germany to Konrad and Barbara Schmitt Brunner. She and Fred Boettcher Sr. were married in Germany...

The cities of Cape Girardeau and Jackson have agreed to provide a total of $45,000 to help fund a feasibility study of a proposed 8,500-acre recreational lake in parts of Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties; Cape Girardeau will furnish $25,000 toward the $98,687 study, while Jackson will contribute $20,000...

The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Wednesday:...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt...

One of the joys of spring is the return of farmers markets. Last month the Cape Farmers Market kicked off its season at the Plaza Galleria parking lot. The weekly market is open from 1 to 6 p.m. Thursdays. A second farmers market for Cape Girardeau began last year. ...

Editor's note: The following letter to the editor was sent in response to the April 30 letter "Contrasting view on taxes." Consider the following: Life plus liberty equals property. The proper role of government is to protect equal rights, not provide equal things...

Some Missouri legislators continue to be hellbent about sending absurd messages to Washington. The latest is a law that would make it a crime to enforce federal statutes -- as yet not passed -- regarding firearms. How paranoid is that? Anticipating that the public fever is high right now regarding efforts on the national level to curb certain arms and those who would use them, Missouri's Republican legislators have pushed laws that would turn federal agents and prosecutors into criminals.. ...

On any given weekend, live music can be found in several locations in Cape Girardeau's nightlife scene. Stand-up comedy, though, is rare. Tonight, a stand-up show hosted by Vanessa Fraction, who has appeared on HBO's Def Comedy Jam and Nick Jr.'s "Mom Night Out," will be at Arena Park. Other comics performing are Damn Fool and Jovan Bibbs. The cost is $10 per person. The show begins at 9 p.m. at the 4-H Building...

STONY BROOK, N.Y. -- Among the procedures Army surgeon Hawkeye Pierce performed on "M.A.S.H." was an end-to-end anastomosis. Most of the viewers, actor Alan Alda concedes, had no idea he was talking about removing a damaged piece of intestine and reconnecting the healthy pieces...

It is very irresponsible for the Obama administration to cut the budget on domestic bombing prevention by 45 percent, which he did according to the former director of Homeland Security. This was done several months back and you see what happened. More bathrooms...

All the local high school events reported Thursday to the Southeast Missourian.

The 27th annual Eighth Congressional District High School Art Competition will feature student work from Southeast Missouri. Ten finalists will be named during the reception and the grand prize winner will earn the opportunity to compete in the National Congressional Art Competition in Washington, D.C. Work will be displayed through May 25...

Chamber Music Sundays at Three will present "Where East Meets West" at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Shuck Music Recital Hall at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus. Jennifer Judd will join Southeast violin professor Brandon Christensen in works for violin and piano by Chinese, Taiwanese and American composers. ...

I-55 ramp in Scott County reduced for pavement repairs A southbound Interstate 55 ramp in Scott County will be reduced to one lane with a 10-foot width restriction as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform pavement repairs. This is the ramp coming from U.S. 62 to I-55 south at Sikeston, Mo. The work will begin at 7 a.m. Monday and will continue through 5 p.m. Wednesday...

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- A Stoddard County Sheriff's Department employee is in custody at what has been his place of employment for the past 22 years after a discrepancy was discovered this week in a business account he managed. The office manager at the Sheriff's Office, Johnny Michael Robey, 58, of Bloomfield was jailed after being charged with felony stealing...

NAIROBI, Kenya -- A decision by extremist Islamic militants to ban delivery of food aid and a "normalization of crisis" that numbed international donors to unfolding disaster made south-central Somalia the most dangerous place in the world to be a child in 2011...

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. called Thursday for North Korea to grant amnesty and immediately release a Korean-American sentenced to 15 years' hard labor for "hostile acts" against the state. Kenneth Bae, 44, a Washington state man described by friends as a devout Christian and a tour operator, is at least the sixth American detained in North Korea since 2009. ...

MEXICO CITY -- Acknowledging uncertainty ahead, President Barack Obama said Thursday the U.S. will cooperate with Mexico in fighting drug-trafficking and organized crime in any way Mexico's government deems appropriate. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto emphasized that the security relationship must be expanded to focus on trade and commerce...

VATICAN CITY -- Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI came home to the Vatican on Thursday for the first time since he resigned Feb. 28, beginning an unprecedented era for the Catholic Church of having a retired pontiff living alongside a reigning one. Pope Francis welcomed Benedict outside his new retirement home -- a converted monastery on the edge of the Vatican gardens -- and the two immediately went into the adjoining chapel to pray together, the Vatican said...

AUSTIN, Texas -- The National Rifle Association has spent much of the last year under siege, ardently defending gun rights after mass shootings in Colorado and Connecticut and fighting back against mounting pressure for stricter laws in Washington and state capitols across the country...

PHOENIX -- The prosecutor pounded his hand on the table to make his point and alternated between a loud demeanor and a soft-spoken, cordial tone as he called Jodi Arias a manipulative liar and displayed bloody crime-scene photos in the courtroom...

BOSTON -- The body of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev was set to be claimed Thursday. Department of Public Safety spokesman Terrel Harris said authorities were informed someone would be claiming the 26-year-old's remains Thursday night. He had no more information...

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The teenage daughter of a woman who just revealed she abandoned her family 11 years ago on Thursday said the disclosure has angered her and she is not eager to restart their relationship. Morgan Heist, who learned last week Brenda Heist had surfaced in the Florida Keys, said the news has made her recall with bitterness the years of mourning she endured when she assumed her mother was dead and feared she'd been murdered...

Crain Funeral Home is collecting old cellphones for Cellphones for Soldiers, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday at its locations in Cape Girardeau, Anna, Ill., and Tamms, Ill. The phones will be collected and recycled by Veterans & Family Memorial Care. Proceeds will be used to purchase prepaid calling cards for soldiers overseas...

O Lord Jesus, glorious Savior, thank you for hearing all our prayers. Amen.

Murray State has lost 12 consecutive conference games entering this weekend's series

Southeast thrower wins award for big outdoor season as a sophomore

Associated Press MILWAUKEE -- Jake Westbrook reached a coveted milestone, finally. Westbrook allowed one run over six innings for his 100th career win and the St. Louis Cardinals held off the Milwaukee Brewers, 6-5 on Thursday night. "It's always been a goal of mine to get to 100, and it's good to get it done," he said...

Gordon Feeney of Jackson recently carded his third career hole-in-one at Kimbeland Country Club. Feeney used an 8-iron to ace No. 4, a par 3 playing 115 yards. Witnesses were Ray Boren and Wayne Steffens. Lachelle Cook and Virgil Schreckenberg took first place at the SEMO Horseshoe Association event Saturday at the Oran Jaycees...

Visual art pieces from nearly 100 students across Missouri's 8th Congressional District will be on display in the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri galleries as part of the 27th annual Eighth Congressional District High School Art Competition. The juried exhibition was created as a way to encourage artistic talent among students while presenting an opportunity to have their work displayed on a local and national level. ...

The season opener at Benton Raceway Park is set for Saturday, May 4. Hot laps begin at 5:30 p.m. with racing slated for 6 p.m. There will be racing in five categories: Crate Lates, UMP Mods, Limited Mods, Street Stocks and Pro4. Gates open at 4 p.m. Tickets are $8 for fans 15 and over, $4 for youths ages 10-14. Kids 9 and under are free.

The Saxony Lutheran High School Varsity Scholar Bowl Team competed in the Class 2 Scholar Bowl State Tournament on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia on May 3. The eight schools advancing to the State Tournament from Sectional competition competed in three preliminary matches in the morning to determine advancement to Missouri's Final Four Teams...

My favorite butterfly, the Tiger Swallowtail, resting on some Sweet William in our yard.

Today is Saturday, May 4, the 124th day of 2013. There are 241 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On May 4, 1776, Rhode Island declared its freedom from England, two months before the Declaration of Independence was adopted...

Union Electric has filed a $100,000 lawsuit against the city of Jackson in a battle over who may provide a city residence with electrical service; both entities want to provide electricity to the house at 3104 Bainbridge Road, at the edge of the city limits...

ST. LOUIS -- More heavy rain and late-season snow are creating new flood concerns for Midwest river towns still cleaning up from April flooding, though forecasters say the waters won't rise as high as last month. Precipitation pelted the heartland Thursday and Friday and was expected to continue through today...

Katie Koonce likes the ride she's on, and she doesn't want it to end. The senior discus thrower from Kelly is headed back to the Class 2 sectional track and field meet, this time as a district champion after winning the event at the Class 2 District 1 meet Saturday at Central High School. She's hoping the trip is just the second leg of a journey that culminates at the state meet in Jefferson City, Mo...

ADAM VOGLER ~ avogler@semissourian.com ABOVE: Derek and Katie Miller walk with their children Danica and Drake during the 2013 March for Babies on Saturday in downtown Cape Girardeau. ...

Cape Splash raised its first shade "funbrella" Friday as part of the water park's "Countdown to Summer." An umbrella will be opened each day until the park opens for the season at 11 a.m. May 25. The park has amenities including a 700-foot "lazy river" for floating, flume rides, a swirl pool, leisure pool and spray pad....

The Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's office is searching for a suspect in connection with a Friday robbery at Amerimart in Old Appleton. According to Lt. David James, the robbery occurred at about 1:20 p.m. Sheriff's deputies arrived at the business and learned a male suspect had brandished a handgun during the robbery and fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of money. The suspect was wearing a hoodie and blue jeans, James said....

Any eligible person who wishes to vote in the upcoming June 4 special election for the 8th Congressional District must register to vote by Wednesday. Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander's office sent a voter registration reminder Friday. "As Missouri's Secretary of State, I want to ensure that every eligible Missourian has the opportunity to cast a ballot on Election Day," Kander said ...

A need for more rental hangars has been seen at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport. The council plans to vote during its 7 p.m. meeting on an ordinance that would authorize the city to seek design services for 10 new T-hangars. If constructed, the hangars would bring the total number at the airport to 70. ...

A group of students from the Cape Girardeau Central senior and junior high schools attended a meeting Thursday to provide input on what type of personal computer the Cape Girardeau School District should be purchasing. Madeline Poole, a sophomore at Central High School, said she was concerned about a computer's power supply...

Despite inclement weather, the Missouri Mission of Mercy free dental clinic met its high expectations for patient and volunteer attendance. Event officials estimated volunteer turnout to be around 1,100, right on target with the clinic's needs for efficient operation. Officials and volunteers estimated they served about 1,775 people by the end of Saturday...

The Cape County Republican Women's Club's monthly meeting Friday featured Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Christopher Limbaugh, who spoke about his first months in office and why he decided to take on the role. Limbaugh also answered questions from the audience about crime in the area and the caseload of the prosecutor's office...

ADAM VOGLER ~ avogler@semissourian.com ABOVE: Father Daniel Morton leads during the Orthos of Great and Holy Saturday Lamentations Service on Friday at St. ...

Madi belongs to Janet and Larry Gluesing. Madi enjoyed watching the KY Derby and, by way of a bit of editing, she had her own flowery hat to wear.

River City Players next production "Rumors" will be running one week only. The dates are May 16 show only and May 17 and 18 the dinner shows. This is a Neil Simon play so get your reservations now by calling Port Cape @573-334-0954. The show only cost is $15. The dinner shows are a buffet created by Chef James . The cost is $35. All performances are at Port Cape in the Yacht Club...

An ice rink and volleyball court at Osage Centre, electronic warning sirens, a riverfront boardwalk, renovation of the Broadway Theater and a speakers bureau were ideas for enhancing the community conceived by this year's class of Leadership Cape. The professional development program holds monthly daylong workshops from January to July. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A Missouri House computer was used in an unsuccessful effort to access a secure website that contained the list of Missourians with concealed weapons permits, Gov. Jay Nixon's administration said Friday. State Office of Administration spokeswoman Misti Preston said the user tried to access the website 23 times about 10 a.m. ...

Today is Sunday, May 5, the 125th day of 2013. There are 240 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On May 5, 1813, Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, considered the father of existentialism, was born in Copenhagen. On this date:...

Stephanie Nicole Roden and Jeffrey Michael Daniels were married March 9, 2013, at First United Methodist Church in St. Charles, Mo. The Rev. Debbie Bartly performed the ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Steve and Karen Roden of St. Peters, Mo. The groom is the son of Kimberly Daniels of Scott City, and the late Mike Daniels...

KELSO, Mo. -- Tim and Annita Layton of Kelso announce the engagement of their daughter, Brittany Ann Layton, to Ricky Seth Carpenter, both of Springfield, Mo. He is the son of Lester and Pamela Carpenter of Doniphan, Mo. Layton is a 2008 graduate of Notre Dame Regional High School. ...

Cindi Norris and Doug and Lee Ann Norris of Cape Girardeau announce the engagement of their daughter, Kelsey Norris, to Christopher Salmon. He is the son of Jeri and Clyde Wallis of Holland, Texas, and Dr. Paul and Denise Salmon of Cape Girardeau. Norris is a 2005 graduate of Central High School. ...

Rodger and Vicki Amelunke of Jackson announce the engagement of their daughter, Lyndsey Sorbello, to Shane Lee Milam. He is the son of Paula Milam of Tamms, Ill., and the late Blaine "Bub" Milam Sr. Sorbello is a 2010 graduate of Jackson High School. She is an optometrist's assistant at Doctor's ValuVision...

Ray and Kim Allgier of Fredericktown, Mo., announce the engagement of their daughter, Amber Allgier, to Jimmy McCormack, both of Jackson. He is the son of Dennis and Shirley McCormack of Jackson. Allgier is a 2002 graduate of Fredericktown High School. She received an associate of science degree from Mineral Area College School of Radiologic Technology in 2006. She is a special procedures radiologic technologist at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau...

Drs. Anatolly and Olga Goychuk of Kiev, Ukraine, announce the engagement of their daughter, Kateryna Anatolievna Goychuk, to Walter Alexander Schroeder III, both of Columbia, Mo. He is the son of Dr. Walter and Cathy Schroeder of Cape Girardeau. Goychuk is a graduate of Novosilky High School in Kiev. ...

Brenda S. Seyer of Cape Girardeau was awarded Teacher of the Year by the American Legion. Seyer has taught art at Saxony Lutheran High School in Fruitland, since 2000. She is a member of the visual artists co-op for the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri. Her students have won numerous awards for their art...

The Furry 5K and one-mile Fun Walk, benefiting Saint Francis Medical Center's Inpatient Rehabilitation pet therapy program, is scheduled for 8 a.m. June 15 at Missouri Running Company in Cape Girardeau. Dogs are welcome to run with participants. Dogs must be up to date on immunizations, be kept on leashes at all times and must be cleaned up after. Cost to register is $20 before June 1 and $25 after. For more information, call 331-5312...

Judy Heisserer was named the Saint Francis Medical Center 2013 Auxilian of the Year. Heisserer has volunteered since 1986 and served in the information desk, registration center, pastoral care and the surgery waiting room. Presenting are Sherron Alexander, Judy Heisserer and Debbie Gibson...

Dustin Nolan and Alec Hutson of Troop 16 of Cape Girardeau earned their Eagle Scout ranking at Court of Honor in April. Eagle is the highest rank in scouting. ...

The pawpaw is a small tree native to mid-west and east-central United States.  It's claim to fame is it produces the largest fruits of any tree indigenous to the US. The pawpaw tree is a slender tree whose trunk is seldom more than ten inches around.  It is an understory tree seldom growing more than 30 feet tall...

Editor's note: Sara Moulton was executive chef at Gourmet magazine for nearly 25 years, and spent a decade hosting several Food Network shows. She currently stars in public television's "Sara's Weeknight Meals" and has written three cookbooks, including "Sara Moulton's Everyday Family Dinners."...

My grandmother, Connie Hoyt Kinsey was born on this date in 1891. I have so many memories of her and her house, but most of my memories involve food. She made these out-of-this-world noodles which were a favorite of all the grandchildren. She used the egg yolks in the noodles, so with the egg whites, there was always a tall, fresh-baked angel food cake with maraschino cherry icing. It was absolutely wonderful...

Do you truly love yourself? Does loving you too much seem sinful to you? It may first appear to be so, but loving oneself is the first step in becoming a loving human being. The Scripture passage, "Love your neighbor as yourself," (Mark 12:28-31) is evidence of that truth. Even Jesus believed we need to love ourselves first--then love others the same. That commandment was one of the greatest commandments ever given...

One of the greatest challenges of my Christian faith has been trying to look at my relationships as God would. Asking, "What does God have to say about being a husband, a father and a friend?" It's tough to take an honest and hard look at who I am, who God is and what He expects...

MONDAY--Mozzarella cheesestick with sauce, candied carrots or cherry tomatoes or baby carrots, pears. TUESDAY--Oven roasted chicken & roll, au gratin potatoes or cherry tomatoes or baby carrots, peaches. WEDNESDAY--Penne pasta bake & breadstick, broccoli & cheese or cherry tomatoes or baby carrots...

Horseshoe pitching season is gearing up in the area and Lachelle Cook is no stranger to the sport. Cook, who was raised in Chaffee, has been around the sport since she was a child, began playing professionally in the 1990s and helps local organizations coordinate their tournaments...

By Gary Clothier Question: I was told an earthquake in Madrid was the strongest ever felt in North America. How is that possible? N.H., Bar Harbor, Maine Answer: I bet are you thinking of Madrid, Spain. The strongest earthquake in North America happened in New Madrid, Mo., in the 1800s...

The Nancy Hunter Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution met on April 24 at the Cape Girardeau Public Library. Regent Charlotte Slinkard opened the meeting with the DAR Ritual, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and the American's Creed...

High Honors 3rd grade: Quinlan Denson. 4th grade: Alyssa Bigham, Andrew Crossno, Omarion Edwards, Zander Kaufman, Aliza Smith. 5th grade: Alyda Hite, Katerra Jarrett, Mackenzie Kern, Kaycee Nichols, Simeon Overton, Clayton Spaulding, Sandi Woods. 6th grade: Kendrick Blake, Jordan Schoffner, Serena Shreves, Sydnie Walker...

Beck is a 4-month-old male of unknown breed and is super sweet. Call the Humane Society at 334-5837. ...

Wink is a 1-year-old cat who has a very outgoing personality and loves attention. Wink is missing her left eye but it doesn't stop her at all. She is a delightful cat. For more information, contact Safe Harbor Animal Sanctuary at 243-9823. For more information, contact Safe Harbor at 243-9823...

WASHINGTON -- For people seeking an energy boost, companies are increasing their offerings of foods with added caffeine. A new caffeinated gum may have gone too far. The Food and Drug Administration said Monday it will investigate the safety of added caffeine and its effects on children and adolescents. ...

There's a new church in town with a mission of ministering to people, particularly in downtown Cape Girardeau. Started by Matt McDonald and Greg Schwab, City Church is an Acts 29 church -- named for the book of the Bible. In this week's Ministry Focus, the founding pastors share their backgrounds, why they started the church and how they hope to minister to the downtown community and beyond...

BEIRUT -- With a second airstrike against Syria in four months, Israel enforced its own red line of not allowing game-changing weapons to reach Lebanon's Hezbollah, a heavily armed foe of the Jewish state and an ally of President Bashar Assad's regime, Israeli officials said Saturday...

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Manda Fine Meats' deli and specialty meat products are returning to store shelves this weekend. The Baton Rouge meat packing company said in a news release that it expects distribution to be near normal within a few weeks. Manda recalled nearly 490,000 pounds of products made at its Baker plant three weeks ago because of possible Listeria contamination, The U.S. Department of Agriculture said. The bacteria was found in roast beef at a retail establishment in Tennessee...

HOUSTON -- National Rifle Association leaders told members Saturday the fight against gun control legislation is far from over, with battles yet to come in Congress and next year's midterm elections, but they vowed none in the organization will ever have to surrender their weapons...

As a result of legislation passed last week by the Missouri General Assembly, Cape Girardeau County won't begin a five-year countdown toward first-class status this year; in fact, it will likely be at least five years before the county attains the $450 million assessed valuation level the new law establishes for first-class status...

DHAKA, Bangladesh -- In the aftermath of a building collapse that killed more than 530 people, Bangladesh's garment manufacturers may face a choice of reform or perish. Home to five factories that supplied clothing to retailers in Europe and the United States, the shoddily constructed building's collapse has put a focus on the high human price paid when Bangladeshi government ineptitude, Western consumer apathy and global retailing's drive for the lowest cost of production intersect...

PHILADELPHIA -- Double-amputee Jason Koger used to fly hundreds of miles to visit a clinician when he wanted to adjust the grips on his bionic hands. Now, he has an app. Koger came to Philadelphia this week to demonstrate the i-limb ultra revolution, a prosthetic developed by the British firm Touch Bionics. Using a stylus and an iPhone, Koger can choose any of 24 grip patterns that best suit his needs...

ISLAMABAD -- Gunmen on Friday killed the lead Pakistani prosecutor in two high-profile cases -- the assassination of former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and the brutal assault on civilians in Mumbai -- shocking a country reeling from Taliban attacks as it prepares for nationwide elections...

WASHINGTON -- Thousands of people with serious medical problems are in danger of losing coverage under President Barack Obama's health-care overhaul because of cost overruns, state officials say. At risk is the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan, a transition program that's become a lifeline for the so-called "uninsurables" -- people with serious medical conditions who can't get coverage elsewhere. ...

WASHINGTON -- The Homeland Security Department ordered border agents to verify every international student who arrives in the U.S. has a valid student visa, according to an internal memorandum obtained Friday by The Associated Press. The new procedure is the government's first security change directly related to the Boston bombings...

Son to Robert Stefan and Loretta Rose Lents of Jackson, Saint Francis Medical Center, 9:41 a.m. Thursday, March 14, 2013. Name, Ethan Thomas. Weight, 2 pounds, 14 ounces. Mrs. Lents is the former Loretta Holmes, daughter of Helen Holmes of Jackson. She is a pharmacist at Kmart. Lents is the son of Russell and Robyn Lents and Peggy Mandle of Jackson, Tenn. He is employed by Zimmer Holdings...

ATLANTA -- Reese Witherspoon pleaded no contest to a disorderly conduct charge and paid a $100 fine after berating a state trooper in Atlanta while her husband was given a sobriety test, an embarrassing exchange caught on a dashboard camera after the usually squeaky-clean Hollywood star had what she called "one too many" glasses of wine...

Marilyn Ann Morris, 69, of Cape Girardeau died Friday, May 3, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 9, 1943, in Cape Girardeau to Shelton L. and Hazel Coleen Wiley Snider. She was a 1961 graduate of Cape Girardeau Central High School...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Shelby Jean Hamm, 72, of Chaffee, formerly of Commerce, Mo., died Saturday, May 4, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 8, 1940, in Matthews, Mo., daughter of William Cape and Gertrude Tressie Duffell McVay,...

KABUL, Afghanistan -- Seven U.S. soldiers and a member of the NATO-led coalition were killed Saturday in one of the deadliest days for Americans and other foreign troops in Afghanistan in recent months, as the Taliban continued attacks as part of their spring offensive...

Former local girls high school basketball coach Randy White recently was inducted into the Missouri Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mo. White compiled a 467-231 record during stints at Scott City and Delta...

All the local high school sports reported to the Southeast Missourian.

Murray State ended a 12-game OVC losing streak and extended Southeast's to six games Southeast Missourian The Murray State baseball team snapped a 12-game Ohio Valley Conference losing streak Friday at the expense of visiting Southeast Missouri State, winning 4-0...

The Southeast Missouri State softball team belted five home runs Saturday, three by sophomore Lindsey Patterson and two by junior Alexis Anderson. Little else went right for the Redhawks, whose struggles continued as the season draws to a close. Visiting Tennessee-Martin swept the doubleheader 11-9 and 14-5 as the Skyhawks mashed four homers of their own and outhit Southeast 27-18 on the day...

Dru Haertling displayed promise in limited action as a freshman for the 2012-13 Southeast Missouri State women's basketball team. But the Jackson High School graduate recently decided to leave the Redhawks and transfer to Division II Truman State, where she will be eligible beginning with the 2013-14 season...

The Southeast Missouri State men's track and field team had an impressive Ohio Valley Conference outdoor meet, winning six events. But host Eastern Illinois again proved too strong, capturing its fifth straight OVC outdoor title during the meet held Friday and Saturday in Charleston, Ill...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Roberta A. Curneal, 77, of Chaffee died Thursday, May 2, 2013, at the family home. Friends may call from 11 a.m. until time of service Monday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Monday at the chapel, with the Rev. John Tolbert officiating. Burial will be in Bethlehem Cemetery in Wickliffe, Ky...

St. Louis edged Milwaukee 7-6 and can sweep the four-game series today

MILWAUKEE -- St. Louis right-hander Jason Motte will have season-ending Tommy John surgery this week. The Cardinals reliever was placed on the disabled list on March 29, and eventually diagnosed with a torn ligament in his right elbow. He had been rehabbing and playing catch in an effort to avoid surgery...

ST. LOUIS -- Roughly 300 gallons of crude oil spilled early Friday into the Mississippi River near St. Louis after a vessel on the rain-swollen waterway slammed into a fleet of docked barges, causing 14 of them to briefly break away, according to the Coast Guard...

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. economy showed last month why it remains the envy of industrialized nations: In the face of tax increases and federal spending cuts, employers added a solid 165,000 jobs in April -- and far more in February and March than anyone thought...

As a way to address a requirement by the Affordable Care Act of 2010, Cape Girardeau's two major hospitals teamed up with other health care entities to assess health issues facing Southeast Missouri and identify ways to improve the health of the region...

Recent assertions by a few Postal Service employees working at Cape Girardeau's Richard G. Wilson Processing & Distribution Facility ["Postal processing employees concerned about transparency," April 25] are grossly inaccurate. As consumers replace letters and cards with online bill-paying, tax-filing and socializing, First-Class Mail volume continues to decline exponentially. ...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Friday:...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Thursday...

Hats off and many thank yous to the National Guard and volunteers working to protect Dutchtown. I know the terrible feeling to lose everything you have to floodwaters. This is about the mother of the bombers. I don't know if her or her husband should be let in the country. I'm afraid she'll cause trouble if she comes here...

Lord Jesus, we lift up your name in praise, for you are our eternal God. Amen.

401 Independence St. Study session, 5 p.m. Monday Items for discussion Items for discussion Presentations New ordinances...

The Lazy L Safari Park is encouraging people of all ages to make their way through the Parakeet Jungle and down Monkey Row to get up close and personal with a few exotic animals. The local walk-through zoo has gone through some expansions recently, said zoo director Vicki Lantz, but that's only the beginning...

Southbound Interstate 55 in Scott County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform routine bridge repairs. The bridge is over Interstate 57, one mile south of U.S. 62. Work will performed from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday. For more information visit modot.org/southeast...

Associated Press KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) -- Two blasts in Pakistan's southern city of Karachi killed three people near the office of a political party critical of the Taliban, a police officer said, heightening tensions ahead of the country's historic May 11 election...

The small village of Commerce, Mo., has quite a history with the Mississippi River. The Commerce Museum has recorded that history and vows not to lose the battle this year, no matter how high the water gets. Expected to crest April 26, the river was predicted to approach 42 feet in Cape Girardeau, the 11th highest on record. Much of Commerce was inundated...

MANCHESTER, Mo. -- Discarded hubcaps are the driving force behind a special artwork project at Parkway South Middle School in Manchester. Twenty-six seventh-grade art students recently "up-cycled" discarded auto hubcaps, which were collected by art teacher Karen Silverman over 2-1/2 years. The students decorated and turned them into works of art that are now displayed in the school's main hallway...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A Missouri father is walking across the state to raise awareness about mental illness, accompanied by his son and a documentary film crew. The Columbia Daily Tribune reported that Eric Norwine just wanted to make a movie about his father's trip through the state, but along the way something happened that made the journey more meaningful. About 16 of his friends opened up to him and shared stories about their struggles with mental illness...

WENTZVILLE, Mo. -- An eastern Missouri woman is dead and her son is hospitalized after she apparently shot him before turning the gun on herself. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported the shooting in Wentzville was reported around 3:30 p.m. Saturday by the woman's son, who told police his mother had shot him and then shot herself...

DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Officials with ExxonMobil have repaired an oil pipeline near Doniphan, where a leak was discovered last week. A resident near Doniphan found oil leaking in his yard Tuesday. All told, about one barrel -- roughly 42 gallons of crude oil -- leaked from the Pegasus pipeline. The cause remains under investigation...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Corrie Mills doesn't usually run through the halls of Central High School waving a piece of paper over her head. But this wasn't a usual day. "I got a scholarship" she blurted, out of breath, to her college adviser. It didn't matter that the letter was from a university the 19-year-old senior isn't planning to attend. Just knowing that a college wanted to help pay her way was reason enough for elation, and for a race to the Missouri College Advising Corps office...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Amid the risk of losing millions of dollars in federal transportation funding, Missouri lawmakers are considering changes to rules for commercial driver's licenses. Legislation advancing at the Missouri Capitol seeks to comply with federal regulations dealing with learning permits for commercial driver's licenses and with restrictions on texting and the use of hand-held cellphones by people who are driving commercial vehicles...

BENTON, Mo. -- Joanie Fowler of Pemiscot County on Thursday was found guilty of first-degree child endangerment for knowingly failing to contact medical help for at least 30 minutes after learning her 2-year-old daughter had suffered a head injury, according to a news release from Attorney General Chris Koster...

Arena Park wasn't melting in the dark, but Jessica Rosati of Cape Girardeau ate enough cake out in the rain to end up with pink and white icing flowing down her cheeks at the finish line of the 2013 Cupcake Challenge. About 150 runners braved the cool, drizzly weather Sunday afternoon to participate in the 5-kilometer race in which they received credit not only for speed, but also for the number of cupcakes they ate during the competition. ...

Southeast beat the Thoroughbreds 7-4 to end its six-game losing skid in OVC play

When Lassie rescues Timmy from a well, she's a hero. But what happens to the courageous collie if her human companion robs a bank, is busted for running a meth lab or drinks too much and crashes his car? Fortunately for Lassie, she doesn't have to worry about being charged as an accessory to the crime or frog-marched to the pound in handcuffs -- and police in Southeast Missouri make sure she won't starve in her master's absence, either...

Officials continue to work to avoid Perry and Ste. Genevieve counties being designated as problem areas for ozone pollution, and hope their community response plan will be enough to prevent state and federal agencies from imposing heavy regulations. A system of flags at area schools may be one method used to raise awareness about air quality...

A break from the "duality of major party representation" is what 8th Congressional District candidate Bill Slantz, a Libertarian, said he wants to offer constituents. Slantz is among four candidates whose names will appear on the ballot in the June 4 special election. ...

A pair of rabbits nibbling on some lovely wet greens following recent rain.

Izzy and Miss Sniff often bump noses while checking to see what the other is doing, they play well together.

Beautiful sunset over Cape Girardeau on Sunday evening May 5, 2013.

Hummingbirds out in the rain

For the second year in a row a Cape Public Schools student has been awarded "Best in Show" at Southeast Missouri State University's High School Art Exhibition. In addition, twelve other Cape Public Schools District students won awards ranging from 1st Place to Honorable mention, and seven other students' works were selected for exhibition. ...

Katie Williams' volleyball skills will pay off next year when she enrolls for classes at Webster University on a volleyball scholarship! During the 67 games she played in her senior year at Cape Central High School, she accrued 30 matches, 149 kills, 2.22 kills per Game, 39 hitting errors, and 344 total hitting attempts. ...

MINNEAPOLIS (May 6, 2013) -- For the 19th consecutive year, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans was again named to FORTUNE magazine's FORTUNE 500 list. The organization now occupies the 325 spot on the annual ranking. The organization climbed seven spots from last year's position of 332, based on annual revenues, to become the 325th largest company in the United States. ...

WORCESTER, Mass. -- A Cambridge city official is urging the family of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev and the funeral director who has Tsarnaev's body not to request a burial permit in the city. Cambridge City Manager Robert Healy said in a statement Sunday there has been no formal application for a burial permit or purchase of a cemetery plot...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Denied twice by gubernatorial vetoes, Missouri lawmakers are hoping for success on their third attempt to reinstate local taxes on cars, trucks and boats bought from out-of-state dealers or through person-to-person sales...

Today is Monday, May 6, the 126th day of 2013. There are 239 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On May 6, 1863, the Civil War Battle of Chancellorsville in Virginia ended with a Confederate victory over Union forces. On this date:...

VIENNA, Ill. -- This is the Illinois that many people never see -- the sparsely populated southern tip where flat farmland gives way to rolling hills, rocky outcrops, thick forests and cypress swamps. Blacktopped county roads wend through no-stoplight towns. ...

DHAKA, Bangladesh -- More than 600 bodies have been recovered from the garment-factory building that collapsed more than a week ago, police said Sunday as the grim recovery work continued in one of the worst industrial accidents ever. Police said Sunday night the death toll had reached 622. ...

BEIRUT -- Israel rushed to beef up its rocket defenses on its northern border Sunday to shield against possible retaliation after carrying out two airstrikes in Syria over 48 hours -- an unprecedented escalation of Israeli involvement in the Syrian civil war...

NEW YORK -- Media critic Howard Kurtz used his CNN show on Sunday to point a finger at himself, apologizing for a story on gay basketball player Jason Collins that he said was riddled with errors and shouldn't have been written in the first place...

WASHINGTON -- Absent a magic potion or explosive economic growth, it was all but inevitable President Barack Obama would have to break some of his campaign promises to keep others. If there's one thing that distinguished them besides their ambition, it was their incompatibility...

Graduation ceremonies have already begun, and it's a time to celebrate those educational achievements. Getting that diploma took a lot of time and effort, and it's one of the milestones of leaving childhood behind and walking into the steps of adulthood...

The Missouri Chapter of March of Dimes is accepting nominations for Nurse of the Year today through June 30. Nurses employed in Missouri and in the Illinois counties of Jersey, Madison, St. Clair, Clinton, Monroe and Randolph are eligible. A selection committee of health-care professionals will review confidential nomination forms and about 20 nurses will be honored at an awards gala Nov. ...

The mother of the Boston bombers said she wished they had never come to America. That's exactly how I feel. I hear the roundabout at Kingsway and Lexington will stop accidents. I think a better way to stop accidents is to start issuing tickets for texting and driving. Start with $250 the first time and go up each time after that...

Ralph LeGrand finished 50 years at Sears. He reflected on a long, successful career. Q: How did you come to be employed by Sears 50 years ago? A: I worked at the Red Star shoe factory on Main Street until it closed in 1963. It was tough when it closed. ...

Speaking at the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce First Friday Coffee, Tom South, a representative of Air Midwest Inc., says Trans World Express expects to increase its passenger load out of Cape Girardeau, possibly to 300 passengers a month. Without increased revenue in coming years, the city of Cape Girardeau will be facing a financial crunch, says Assistant City Manager Al Stoverink; he discusses projected budget figures during the two-day city council retreat at the Black Forest conference facility.. ...

SAN FRANCISCO -- A limousine taking nine women to a bachelorette party erupted in flames, killing five of them, including the bride-to-be, authorities said Sunday. The limo caught fire at about 10 p.m. Saturday on one of the busiest bridges on San Francisco Bay, California Highway Patrol officer Art Montiel said...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Developers hope to wrap up work on a problem-plagued downtown Kansas City project on time, even after a deadly natural gas explosion at a popular restaurant caused millions of dollars in damage. The Plaza Vista Office Tower was well on its way to completion when the Feb. ...

ANNA, Ill. -- Bentley Scott Nolan, 16 days old, of Anna died Thursday, May 2, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at Crain Funeral Home in Anna, Ill. The funeral will be at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home...

ANNA, Ill. -- Nancy Jo Kendrick, 74, of Anna died Friday, May 3, 2013, at Hillview Health Care in Vienna, Ill. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at Crain Funeral Home in Anna, Ill. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial will be in Anna Cemetery...

Euline Phyllis Hamlin, 72, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, May 4, 2013, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She was born Jan. 29, 1941, at Brazeau, Mo., daughter of Phillip and Florence Murray Barber. She was married to William F. Hamlin. He preceded her in death in November 1992...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. — William R. "Bill" Bigham, 73, of Olive Branch died Sunday, May 5, 2013, at the home of his son at Cypress, Ill. Arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms, Ill.

COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa -- The first Chin Burmese student arrived at Wilma Sime Roundy Elementary School three years ago, a preschooler whose father often checked his progress. The school had long been accustomed to educating the children of Mexicans, Hondurans and Salvadorans who came to work at the sprawling Tyson Foods pork processing plant outside the town of 2,000. ...

As local high school baseball teams begin district tournament play this weekend or early next week, it's worth noting that the two biggest schools in the Southeast Missourian coverage area feature baseball coaches preparing for their final games with their current squads...

The Southeast Missouri State softball team had Sunday's scheduled season finale against visiting Tennessee-Martin rained out. It will not be made up. Southeast finished the year 15-33 overall and 6-18 in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Redhawks wound up 10th in the 12-team league. The top eight finishers qualified for the conference tournament...

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Three games into the Los Angeles Kings' tremendously tense playoff series with the St. Louis Blues, it's clear the scores are so low because the stakes are so high. Two elite Western Conference teams have combined for just seven goals, and nobody has led by more than one goal at any point...

MILWAUKEE -- Jaime Garcia put the Brewers and St. Louis' sweep of Milwaukee under wraps. He pitched eight innings and Allen Craig drove in four runs to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 10-1 win over Milwaukee and the franchise's first four-game sweep of the Brewers...

SAVANNAH, Ga. -- Less than two months after British forces captured Savannah in December 1778, patriot militiamen scored a rare Revolutionary War victory in Georgia after a short but violent gunbattle forced British loyalists to abandon a small fort built on a frontiersman's cattle farm...

Son to Andrew Dale Prater and Michele Dawn Sissom of Jackson, Southeast Hospital, 1:19 p.m. Monday, April 29, 2013. Name, Paeton Drew. Weight, 7 pounds, 3 ounces. Second child, first son. Ms. Sissom is the daughter of Tonia Sissom of Jackson and Kenny Sissom of Olive Branch, Ill. She is an administrative assistant at Technology and Networking Inc. Prater is the son of Steve Prater and Saundra Prater of Thebes, Ill...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Saturday:...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. The Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt...

O Father God, may our faith bear fruit by helping those in need. Amen.

The National Weather Service expects the Mississippi River at Cape Girardeau to crest Wednesday morning before starting a slow decline. The crest is forecast at 40.5 feet at Cape Girardeau. Flood stage is 32 feet. At 40.5 feet, Wednesday's crest should top out lower than last month's high mark that saw the river reach almost 42 feet on the Cape Girardeau gauge...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri budget negotiators pressed ahead Tuesday with retaliatory cuts for agencies caught up in a controversy involving driver's licenses and concealed gun permits but rewarded public education institutions with millions of additional state dollars...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Missouri Senate has passed a bill that would require a doctor to be physically present when an abortion-inducing drug is first administered. The legislation was passed with a 23-7 vote on Monday. It now heads back to the House...

Make and model: 2007 Heritage Softail Classic Owner(s): Margaret Sanders Owner's hometown: Cape Girardeau, MO Lots of shiny chrome and accessories to fit my personality. Saddle bags to keep my leathers in. A windshield to protect me from flying insects...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The leader of the Missouri House says an attempt to access a secure website listing Missouri's concealed gun permit holders was part of an investigation into whether the state had appropriately shielded the information. In an interview with The Associated Press, House Speaker Tim Jones declined Monday to identify the person who tried to access the information last Thursday. But Jones said it was an appropriate action...

The Central golf team advanced all three of its Class 4 Sectional 1 qualifiers to next week's state tournament. Junior Travis Simmons led the trio with a 5-over 75 on Monday at Crown Pointe Golf Club in Farmington, Mo. Sophomore Luke Kinder was a stroke behind at 76, while freshman Kobe Franklin finished on the cut line at 77...

The final six feet of Notre Dame golfer Brady Dixon's Class 3 Sectional 1 round spoke volumes Monday at Bent Creek. Dixon's aggressive 6-foot par attempt firmly struck the back of the hole and hopped up and to the right side of the cup, attesting to the adventures and perils that kept all but two of the 51 golfers in the qualifying field at 80 or above...

CARUTHERSVILLE, Mo. -- A woman was questioned after her husband told police she stabbed him. A 2:39 a.m. Monday, Caruthersville police officers were called to Pemiscot Memorial Hospital in reference to a stabbing. According to Caruthersville City Marshal Tony Jones, a 27-year-old Caruthersville man told officers he was stabbed by his 31-year-old wife. The woman was located at Taven Apartments and taken to the Caruthersville Police Department...

Jackson's annual clean-up/fix-up week is scheduled for July 8 through 12. During the week, residents who qualify for solid waste pickup will be able to place additional refuse to be collected by the sanitation department at no charge. Residents are asked to place extra refuse at the curb by 8 a.m. on their regularly scheduled pickup day...

A Cape Girardeau doctor indicted on federal fraud charges is awaiting a judge's ruling on several motions before the case can go to trial. Byron Glenn in February pleaded not guilty to felony charges of mail fraud and passing more than $1.7 million in fake money orders and checks between July and December...

ST. LOUIS -- The rising Mississippi River is again raising concerns in some Southeast Missouri communities, with another storm system in the forecast later this week. Since late last week, heavy rain has caused the river to spike again. The National Weather Service is projecting a crest of 41.5 feet Wednesday in Cape Girardeau -- nearly 10 feet above flood stage and just inches short of the crest during April flooding...

LOS ANGELES -- Anze Kopitar tied it with 12:46 to play, Justin Williams tipped home the go-ahead goal 76 seconds later, and the Los Angeles Kings evened their first-round series with the St. Louis Blues with a 4-3 victory Monday night. Jeff Carter and Dustin Penner also scored for the defending Stanley Cup champions. They erased an early two-goal deficit and a third-period deficit to earn their ninth consecutive home victory since March 23. Jonathan Quick made 19 saves...

WASHINGTON -- The Senate sided with traditional retailers and financially strapped state and local governments Monday by passing a bill that would widely subject online shopping -- for many a largely tax-free frontier -- to state sales taxes...

About 81 miles of drainage channels within the Little River Drainage District have been slated for maintenance and restoration by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers since historic flooding caused blockages in the system two years ago. The corps documented the damages. Emergency funding was allocated by Congress...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- The Perryville Lady Pirates have had a knack for playing from behind in recent games. This time, they spoiled a Senior Night in the process. The Lady Pirates came from behind twice and netted all of their goals in the second half for a 4-2 win at Poplar Bluff Monday evening...

A weekend discount for back-to-school shoppers that hasn't been seen in Cape Girardeau since 2008 could make a return this August if the city council decides to opt into participating in an annual statewide sales tax holiday. Mayor Harry Rediger first broached the subject April 26 at the council's annual retreat, where he said he would like to see reinstatement of the holiday. ...

Final totals revealed about 1,775 underserved adults and children received more than $961,580 worth of free dental care last week during the Missouri Mission of Mercy free dental clinic, according to a Mission of Mercy news release. The two-day clinic, sponsored by the Missouri Dental Association and the Missouri Dental Association Foundation, was in the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau and offered teeth cleaning, fillings and extractions to children and adults who might not otherwise have been able to afford the services.. ...

Anticipating that investigations into the Missouri Department of Revenue's scanning and sharing of concealed-weapons permits will need to go beyond the length of this year's legislative session, House Speaker Tim Jones on Monday announced he will form a special committee of legislators, prosecuting attorneys and sheriffs to evaluate if state law was broken during what Republicans call a breach in citizens' trust of state government...

Pictured signing her letter of intent to attend Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff on a basketball scholarship is Cape Central High School Senior Chelsea Vinson. Seated with her are her parents, Joy and Dennis Vinson. Standing, from the left, are AAU Travelling Coach Chuck Williams; Chelsea's brother, Dennis Vinson II; Chelsea's sister, Crystal Vinson; CHS Head Girls' Basketball Coach Sherri Shirrell and Three Rivers Head Women's Coach Jeff Walk...

White turkey seen on Old Sprigg

Full moon taken on 4/25/13.

Anthology Helps Grieving Mothers Cope During Mother's Day - Ironton, MO, May 7, 2013 The newly released Amazon Bestseller, Joy: Interrupted: An Anthology on Motherhood and Loss, helps grieving mothers cope during Mother's Day, according to editor Melissa Miles McCarter...

During the May 6 City Council meeting, Mayor Harry Rediger issued a proclamation stating that May is Building Safety Month in Cape Girardeau, raising awareness of building safety in our community. This year's Building Safety Month theme is "Code Officials Keep You Safe."...

Mayor Harry Rediger issued a proclamation during the May 6 City Council meeting honoring May as National Bike Month. At right, Dr. Mark Langenfeld, volunteer with the City's Bike Committee, accepted the National Bike Month proclamation. Sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists, National Bike Month is an opportunity to celebrate the unique power of the bicycle and the many reasons to ride. ...

To celebrate Historic Preservation Month, the Cape Girardeau Historic Preservation Commission will hold its free annual walking tour at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 10. Featured on the walking tour is a turn-of-the-century residential neighborhood located on Lorimier Street in downtown Cape Girardeau. ...

Every summer people are looking to get in-shape or tone up, and these people are usually doing some sort of cardio based exercise program (such as running, biking, walking, etc.). This can get them some results but, when this is paired up with resistance training and a healthy diet the results can be amplified. ...

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Amid tears of happiness, colorful banners and patriotic tunes from the Missouri Guard's 135th Army Band, approximately 125 Citizen-Soldiers from the 935th Aviation Support Battalion were welcomed home by friends and family at a ceremony in Springfield May 2...

For the second time in as many years, a teacher from Franklin Elementary School has been named Missouri Outstanding Beginning Teacher during the spring conference of the Missouri Association for Colleges of Teacher Education (MACTE). Pictured receiving an engraved plaque at Columbia, MO, is Elizabeth Speicher, a 4th-grade teacher concluding her first year of teaching at Franklin...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri lawmakers have until Friday to finalize the state's roughly $25 billion operating budget. The House and Senate each has passed its own budget and now must hammer out an agreement on the spending plan that will take effect July 1. Budget negotiators were scheduled to begin formal talks Monday, but delayed that until today...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Legislation changing the way mandatory minimum wage is calculated for public construction projects in rural Missouri counties has gone Gov. Jay Nixon. The so-called prevailing wage for a given trade in a county is calculated based on voluntary surveys collected and submitted by contractors on a public works project...

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- A 22-year-old eastern Missouri man is badly burned, and may face criminal charges, after a fire at his apartment was blamed on a methamphetamine lab. The Daily Journal reported the fire broke out last week in Farmington. A man in the apartment suffered serious burns to his face and arms...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri lawmakers have voted to name a new Mississippi River bridge for the late St. Louis Cardinals great Stan Musial and part of a highway for construction worker Andy Gammon, who died building the bridge. House members gave the legislation final approval 149-1 on Monday. It now goes to Gov. Jay Nixon...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A former Democratic lawmaker has been appointed as the new revenue collector in Pemiscot County. Gov. Jay Nixon on Monday said he had selected former representative Terry Swinger of Caruthersville, Mo., to take over the county collector position after the recent death of collector Keith Jean...

CLEVELAND -- Three women who went missing separately about a decade ago were found Monday in a home just south of downtown and likely had been tied up during years of captivity, said police, who arrested three brothers. One of the women said she had been abducted and told a 911 dispatcher, "I'm free now."...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri officials celebrated the centennial of the state Capitol's groundbreaking Monday while Senate budget writers advanced legislation that would provide millions of dollars for the building's maintenance and repairs...

PADUCAH, Ky. -- The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has announced it will hold two public meetings to discuss options for improving or replacing the U.S. 51 Ohio River Bridge -- also known as the Cairo Bridge -- between Wickliffe, Ky., and Cairo, Ill...

Today is Tuesday, May 7, the 127th day of 2013. There are 238 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On May 7, 1763, Pontiac, chief of the Ottawa Indians, attempted to lead a sneak attack on British-held Fort Detroit, but was foiled because the British had been tipped off in advance. (The Ottawa Indians and other tribes then launched an all-out war with the British that came to be known as Pontiac's War.)...

NEW YORK -- The suicide rate among middle-aged Americans climbed a startling 28 percent in a decade, a period that included the recession and the mortgage crisis, the government reported Thursday. The trend was most pronounced among white men and women in that age group. Their suicide rate jumped 40 percent between 1999 and 2010...

Federal health regulators research safety, effectiveness of chemical triclosan

Learning can take different forms. Sometimes the most effective tool is through active participation. That's the opportunity students from six area schools had last month thanks to the Optimist Youth In Government Day. The 28th annual event connected more than 50 students with local officials, giving them a look at aspects of city, county and federal government. The six schools included Central High School, Delta, Jackson, Notre Dame, Oak Ridge and Saxony...

Lord God, as your children, may we clothe ourselves with compassion and kindness. Amen.

May is another busy month in the city of Jackson. The farmers market is starting its season today. It will be open from 3 to 6 p.m. every Tuesday in the City Park by the band shell. There will be approximately 12 vendors selling craft items and produce...

NEW YORK -- The "bad boys" are on the move. The Saturday night television fixture "Cops" is leaving Fox after 25 years and will be shown on the Spike network. The cable network aimed at young male viewers said it will begin airing the action documentary series with the indelible theme song ["bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do when they come for you?"] in September...

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Newspaperwoman and community leader Blanche Bernice Boyd Wolpers of Poplar Bluff died Saturday, May 4, 2013, at her home. She was 98. She was born Sept. 25, 1914, in Owensville, Mo. She attended William Woods College her freshman year and graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism in 1937. ...

CHAFFEE, Mo. — Mary Rose Pobst, 81, of Chaffee died Monday, May 6, 2013, at the family home. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee.

Lillian Mae Kaempfer, 87, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, May 5, 2013, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. She was born Aug. 10, 1925, in Advance, Mo., to Luther and Gertrude Bass Swinford. She and Gerald Kaempfer were married in 1966 in Cape Girardeau...

Robert E. "Bob" Deneke, 84, of Jackson died Monday, May 6, 2013, at his home, surrounded by family. He was born March 28, 1929, in Cape Girardeau, to Elmer and Lillian Lufcy Deneke. Bob was a graduate of Sikeston High School, where he was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame. He graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he played football and also played in the Gator Bowl in 1949...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Joseph M. Blattel, 73, of Greenville, Mo., formerly of Chaffee, died unexpectedly Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Lebanon, Mo. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Morrison-Worley Funeral Chapel in Greenville. The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Gary Reed officiating. Interment will be in Greenville Cemetery...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- William R. "Bill" Bigham, 73, of Olive Branch died Sunday, May 5, 2013, at the home of a son in Cypress, Ill. He was born Oct. 7, 1939, in Alexander County, son of Joseph F. and Dorothy E. Rowling Bigham. He and Anna Faye Wilson Jackson were married July 15, 1963. She preceded him in death Sept. 7, 2002...

Redhawks baseball game cancelled Southeast Missouri State's nonconference home baseball game scheduled for today against Missouri-St. Louis has been cancelled. It will not be made up. According to Southeast officials, the contest was cancelled at the request of UMSL, which begins play Thursday in the Great Lakes Valley Conference tournament and would not have had many available pitchers...

Triplet son and daughters to Jose Louis Ramirez and Tonya Michelle Honkomp of Marquand, Mo., Saint Francis Medical Center, Thursday, April 18, 2013. Jose Louis Jr. was born at 10:44 a.m. and weighed 4 pounds, 1 ounce. Gracie Anne was born at 10:44 a.m. and weighed 3 pounds, 4 ounces. Isabella Felize was born at 10:45 a.m. and weighed 3 pounds, 1 ounce. Ms. Honkomp is the daughter of David Pratt and Debbie Pratt of Farmington, Mo...

Six hundred forty-nine undergraduates receive degrees during Southeast Missouri State University commencement exercises at the Show Me Center; among them is Florence Gilmore, who before turning 60 decided to reject normal retirement activities, and instead enrolled in college and enlisted in the Peace Corps; she'll leave soon for Africa...

Sunday is Mother's Day, and the start of National Women's Health Week. National Women's Health Week (May 12-18) encourages women of every age to make their health a priority and take simple steps to live a safer and healthier life. Celebrate your health with these tips...

MUMBAI, India -- Global clothing brands involved in Bangladesh's troubled garment industry responded in starkly different ways to the building collapse that killed more than 600 people. Some quickly acknowledged their links to the tragedy and promised compensation. Others denied they authorized work at factories in the building even when their labels were found in the rubble...

BEIRUT -- From Israel's perspective, its airstrikes near Damascus were more about Iran than Syria: Tehran's shipment of guided missiles destroyed in the weekend attacks would have posed a potent threat had the weapons reached Iranian proxy Hezbollah in Lebanon...

FORT MEADE, Md. -- Government secrecy reaches a new level this week in the court-martial of Army Pfc. Bradley Manning, an intelligence analyst who sent 700,000 classified U.S. documents to the WikiLeaks website. A military judge, Col. Denise Lind, has ordered what prosecutors say is an unprecedented, closed hearing Wednesday at Fort Meade to help her decide how much of Manning's upcoming trial should be closed to protect national security...

BOSTON -- A friend of the surviving suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings was released from federal custody Monday amid a swell of support from family and friends as a Massachusetts funeral director tried to find a place willing to bury a second suspect who was killed after a gun battle with police...

WASHINGTON -- A bipartisan Senate immigration bill would cost the government a net $6.3 trillion over the next 50 years to provide benefits for millions of people now living in the U.S. illegally, the Heritage Foundation said in a report Monday, setting off a fierce dispute with fellow conservatives who attacked the study as flawed and political...

*** JACKSON Firefighters responded to the following calls Monday: * A resident assist on North Bast Street. * A medical assist on East Main Street.

The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt...

Cape river bridge reduced for repairs Eastbound and westbound Highway 34/74 in Cape Girardeau County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews seal the deck of the Mississippi River bridge connecting Cape Girardeau and Illinois. The work will take place from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 15 and 16...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Sunday:...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests...

Barry Aycock asserts "anyone doing minimal due diligence" will oppose right-to-work legislation [Southeast Missourian, April 29]. Short on facts, though, Mr. Aycock's piece is limited to logical fallacy and shrill, emotional appeals. The logical fallacy is of the textbook variety: the appeal to authority [I'm a businessman; take my word for it.] From Mr. Aycock, who prefers anecdote, we get no facts, no statistics, no authoritative sources. Readers deserve some of these...

Jackson's annual E-cycle Day is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 29. Residents may bring old and obsolete electronic equipment, appliances and other items with recoverable metal to the Recycling Center at 509 Eastview Court at no charge. Residents will be charged a small fee for dropping off more than one television or computer monitor at the center...

We have been hearing from a few seniors who are concerned that their doctors may soon no longer accept Medicare because of the changes happening in the law. I thought the following article might offer some information in which you might be interested...

When did money get so complicated? From spending and charity to saving and investing, it's hard to know exactly what to do with your finances. Cut through the confusion and consider five smart ways you can use your money to your advantage today...

As the March breeze blew a single goose feather across the winter-brown yard, the wing remnant became her temporary fixation. Two-year old Abbie, a chocolate Lab, lurched forward and nipped at the primary feather, twisting her head at the same time. ...

They say that travel is about the journey, not the destination. While there's plenty of room to argue that destinations really do matter, there's no disputing that going on a journey is one of the most enriching experiences you can have. ...

Bill Dunn's garden is green in more way than one. His Scholarship Garden in downtown Cape grows vegetables and herbs, and the proceeds make "green" in scholarship dollars for students at Southeast Missouri State University. ...

A local woman is out to make her craft shop "one of the most interesting handcrafted businesses in Missouri." Dodie Eisenhauer, owner of Village Designs, has been creating wire art since 1985. She began with wire mesh, she explained, then began to experiment...

The flowers are blooming, the temperatures are rising - and Cape Girardeau is in a healthy mindset. Check out these local health events and resources geared toward boomers and beyond:

As I look outside the window on this rainy day, I am searching my mind for what to write. Usually, I have a subject in mind, and a portion of the total ensconced in my mind. Not this time -- until it occurred to me that one of my favorite ideas wanted to be out of my mind and onto paper. So if I have written these words before, it is because they remind me of sermons I have heard before, or words from church, or reading poetry, reading from the Bible, etc...

Bob and I have had our share of subscriptions to magazines tailored to households with little ones (Parents, Parenting, Cookie), but our favorite is Family Fun. Instead of focusing on the individuals in the family, it focuses on the whole family -- even grandparents! There is no space devoted to baby milestones. ...

"The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" was written by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. The story opens in 1946 London as England emerges from the shadow and destruction of World War II. The novel's protagonist, Juliet Ashton, is the author of a series of popular humorous articles who now longs for a serious subject she can write about...

The season of sneezing has made its annual return and that can only mean one thing for homeowners: preventative cleaning measures. Especially true for allergy and asthma sufferers, there is no better time to get a head start on prepping your home against unwanted allergens than the early weeks of spring...

These days, everyone is searching for ways to save money and stretch budgets. Consumer experts advise people to sniff out deeper discounts, saving opportunities and additional ways to cut costs. For pet owners, it can feel challenging to cut costs without compromising on care. Being vigilant is key, according to pet expert Charlotte Reed...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - State agencies could be required to notify Missourians if personal data such as concealed gun permits and credit card numbers are accessed by someone who is not authorized to have that information. The proposal comes from Republican House member Kurt Bahr, of St. ...

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri prosecutors advising police on undercover investigations or overseeing such stings now have greater legal protection that their conduct won't violate ethical rules. A July 2012 change to the Missouri Supreme Court's Rules of Professional Conduct explicitly allows government lawyers to collaborate on undercover operations without risking sanction for professional misconduct. Those ethics rules forbid "dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation."...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Missouri House is declining to give Gov. Jay Nixon's administration computer data related to an attempted access of the list of concealed weapons permit holders. House Clerk Adam Crumbliss sent a letter Tuesday to the Office of Administration that said the information would not be released. ...

Central's Jonah Roop lay flat on his back, his hands covering his face. The Central junior carried the weight of the Tigers' district championship hopes on his back -- literally -- in his No. 5 singles match Tuesday afternoon against Oakville...

Roupp and Roupp Dentistry, 1818 Broadway in Cape Girardeau, is holding free oral cancer screenings from 2:30 to 5 p.m. May 16 at its office. Screenings are open to the public. Registration is not required, but times can be reserved in advance by calling 334-8884. Ruopp and Ruopp is partnering with the Oral Cancer Foundation for Oral Cancer Awareness Month for the screenings and recommend adults get yearly screenings. For more information, visit oralcancer.org...

The Allenville Board of Trustees will hold a meeting to explain its flood plain ordinance at 6 p.m. May 28 at city hall. The board will review the ordinance and listen to the pros and cons. The flood plain ordinance was adopted Sept. 1, 2011, and requires an elevation certificate for new construction of houses or placement of mobile homes...

The discovery of three women in a Cleveland home who all had gone missing separately about a decade ago brings to mind cases of abductions elsewhere. A list of some prominent cases: Dugard was abducted in June 1991 on her way to school in South Lake Tahoe, California. ...

CLEVELAND -- One neighbor said a naked woman was seen crawling on her hands and knees in the backyard of the house a few years ago. Another heard pounding on the home's doors and noticed plastic bags over the windows. Both times, police showed up but never went inside, neighbors said. Police also paid a visit to the house in 2004, but no one answered the door...

FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com Katie Chesser, left, sells cupcakes to Laura Arthur and her daughter Dayna at the first Jackson farmers market of the season Tuesday at Jackson City Park. The market will continue from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays in the parking lot of the bandshell....

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will take comments through June 6 on a proposal to list the grotto sculpin, a small fish found in underground caves in Perry County, Mo., as endangered, and to protect habitat for the conservation of the species. Comments also will be accepted on a community conservation plan developed to address potential habitat threats. ...

Bill Federer, a nationally-known author, speaker and former Missouri congressional candidate, visited Cape Girardeau on Tuesday night to give the SEMO Pachyderm Club a historical lesson jam-packed with messages about politics in the United States in modern times...

The discovery Monday in Cleveland of three women who disappeared more than a decade ago has lent hope to families and investigators searching for missing people in Southeast Missouri. Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight were found alive in a house near downtown Cleveland, where police said they had been held captive since they were in their teens or early 20s...

ST. LOUIS -- John Reifsteck looks at his muddy 1,800-acre central Illinois farm and wonders when he'll be able to plant. Like so many other Midwest growers who were praying for rain during the recent drought, he's now pining for enough sunshine and heat to dry out his soggy fields as the deadline approaches for deciding what he can even plant this year...

Cape Central High School's Tyler Anderson, a 3-year varsity soccer starter, is pictured above signing a letter of intent to attend Union University, in Jackson, TN, on a soccer scholarship. Seated with him are his parents, Erica and Brian Anderson. Standing at left is CHS Head Soccer Coach Dan Martin, and at right, CHS Athletic Director Lance Tollison...

Plaza by Ray's was the site of the annual Cape Central High School All Sports Athletic Banquet last week where more than 300 athletes, parents and boosters gathered. Pictured above, left to right, are Bill Leighton, winner of the Lou Muegge Award for Male Athlete of the Year; Alayah Cooper-Johnson, recipient of the Darla Pannier Scholarship; and Chleo LeGrand, winner of the Darla Pannier Award for Female Athlete of the Year. ...

Austin Arnzen prepares to race his SoutheastHEALTH Super Stock car at the Cape Girardeau Rotary Club/Plaza Tire Soap Box Derby on Saturday, May 4. Austin is the son of Julie Arnzen of Southeast's accounting department.

I rolled out the welcome mat and this bluebird couple decided the home is just right for moving in!

Show of color From my garden

Southeast Missouri State University will confer 1,333 degrees Saturday during spring commencement exercises. The exercises are scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Show Me Center, and the commencement address will be given by Gary Downing, Southeast alumnus and chief executive officer of Insight Pharmaceuticals, producer of nationally-known brands such as Anacin pain reliever and Sucrets sore throat lozenges...

These kittens are 8 weeks old. They are available for adoption at The Humane Society 573-334-5837. See more available pets at www.semopets.org.

Local bicyclist, Matt Smith of Jackson, recently competed in the Cedar Cross endurance bicycle race which was held May 4th in Jefferson City. The Cedar Cross is a one day 113 mile endurance race on gravel roads and US Forest Service trails. The race started in Jefferson City and went to Fulton and back to Jefferson City. ...

Lee H. Park Martial Arts Pre-Hapkido Class took 7 Gold Medals and 3 Silver Medals in Olympic and Point Sparring at the AAU Ozark District Taekwondo Tournament on May 4th.

Broadway Prescription Shop in Cape Girardeau is the featured cover story on this month's America's Pharmacist magazine, a national publication distributed to every independent community pharmacy in the country, going to more than 23,000 locations. Not only does the article feature a Cape Girardeau business, it mentions Southeast Missouri State University and our local chamber of commerce. ...

Just three miles south of the Cape Girardeau airport, Ray's of Kelso officially launches "patio season" this weekend at their flagship location at 151 S. Messmer Street in Kelso, Mo. Just in time for Mother's Day and a weekend chock full of graduation activities, the recently renovated courtyard debuts with the popular band, Chimes of Freedom, and a Pig Roast Luau starring whole smoked pig, grilled chicken and ribs, mahi-mahi, and much more...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Attention was on Nashville, Tenn., for the funeral of George Jones on Thursday, and a local man believes he has an item fans should see: the first guitar Jones owned. Jones died at age 81 on April 26 in Nashville. The road that led to him eventually being hailed as the greatest living country singer began when Jones' father gave his 9-year-old son one of the "Cowboy Guitars" with Gene Autry's signature on the front sold by Sears and Roebuck...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri budget negotiators pressed ahead Tuesday with retaliatory cuts for agencies caught up in a controversy involving driver's licenses and concealed gun permits but rewarded public education institutions with millions of additional state dollars...

DEXTER, Mo. -- A Saturday night accident on U.S. 60 just inside Dexter city limits sent two to the hospital and has police looking for the driver they think is responsible. A vehicle driven by Anna Edwards of Bloomfield, Mo., was struck in the rear at about 9 p.m. as she was westbound on U.S. 60. The collision caused the vehicles to leave the road. Edwards managed to steer her vehicle back onto the highway where it overturned before coming to rest several hundred feet from where the collision took place....

The Scott City Fire Department received a $31,161 Assistance to Firefighters Grant. The grant will be used to purchase personal protective equipment such as helmets, boots, gloves, hoods, coats and pants. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program previously awarded grants to the Scott City Fire Department in 2002, 2003 and 2005 to purchase training and equipment...

Today is Wednesday, May 8, the 128th day of 2013. There are 237 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On May 8, 1945, President Harry S. Truman announced on radio that Nazi Germany's forces had surrendered, and that "the flags of freedom fly all over Europe."...

BEIRUT -- The Syrian regime on Tuesday dispatched an obscure proxy, a Damascus-based Palestinian militant group, to threaten retaliation for two Israeli airstrikes over the weekend. The relatively tepid response to Israel's breach of Syrian sovereignty highlighted Syrian President Bashar Assad's limited options as he, along with allies Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah, is bogged down at home in a fight for survival against armed rebels...

NEW YORK -- If you called Sarah Brightman a space cadet, it would probably make her smile. That's because she plans on becoming the first recording artist to venture into space en route to the International Space Station sometime in the next two years...

Shelee Marie Spangler, 41, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, May 5, 2013, at her home. A private memorial service will be held. Crain Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Joseph A. Seyer, 80, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, May 6, 2013, at his home. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday at Ford and Sons Sprigg Street Funeral Home. Parish prayers will be at 7 p.m. Funeral Mass will be at 9 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Cathedral, with the Rev. Tom Kiefer officiating...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Andrew Joseph Schlosser, 55, of Chaffee died Tuesday, May 7, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Friends may call after 5 p.m. Thursday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee. Burial will be at a later date...

Rosemary Boos Renner, 93, of Fayetteville, Ga., formerly of Cape Girardeau, died Saturday, May 4, 2013, in Georgia. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Roger D. and Ruth Renner; a daughter and son-in-law, Suzanne Renner Dell and Larry Dell; four grandchildren, Kim Dell Stewart and husband Lee, Tanya Dell Jones and husband Jimmy, Todd Renner and wife Vicki and Robin Dell Baker; and 12 great-grandchildren...

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- The good Lord our God only made one Mary Rose, and we're awfully glad he did. Mary Rose Pobst, 81, of Chaffee passed away Monday, May 6, 2013, at her home, surrounded by her loving and adoring family. She will be spending Mother's Day in the arms of her heavenly father, as requested by her children...

Eldor John Lorenz, 92, of Cape Girardeau passed away Monday, May 6, 2013, at the Missouri Veterans Home. He was born Feb. 21, 1921, in Farrar, Mo., son of John G. and Martha G. Mangels Lorenz. He and Verna Noennig were married June 15, 1946. She passed away May 22, 2006...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Harlan E. Lintner, 79, of St. Louis, formerly of Perry County, died Monday, May 6, 2013, at St. John's Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. Friends may call from 7 a.m. until time of service Thursday at Young and Sons Funeral Home...

FROHNA, Mo. -- Grace M. Haertling, 74, of Perryville, Mo., formerly of Frohna, died Tuesday, May 7, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, and from 6:30 to 8 a.m. Saturday at Young and Sons Funeral Home...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Ellein R. Haertling, 84, of Perryville died Tuesday, May 7, 2013, at Independence Care Center of Perry County. She was born Jan. 26, 1929, in Oak Ridge, daughter of Paul E. and Clara R. Bingenheimer Richter Sr. She and Norbert R. Haertling were married Aug. 22, 1948. He preceded her in death Nov. 6, 1995...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Stella Marie Clifton, 91, of Perryville passed away Tuesday, May 7, 2013, at DePeres Hospital in St. Louis. She was born Nov. 1, 1921, in McBride, Mo., daughter of Ira and Mary Kutz Hilderbrand. She and Frederick J. Clifton were married Aug. 7, 1943, in Fort Dix, N.J. He preceded her in death Jan. 7, 1998...

Missouri's A+ program will expand. That was the message shared by Gov. Jay Nixon last week at Scott City High School. The A+ program provides an opportunity for students to meet specific criteria and receive two years of free college tuition to any of the state's public community colleges. Ninety-nine percent of the state's public high schools are in the program, and Scott City was a recent addition...

Tornadoes, high winds and hail associated with a line of severe thunderstorms ravage parts of central and northern Missouri and Illinois late in the day; Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois escape the brunt of the storms. Eighteen registered voters of Cape Girardeau last week filed written letters of objection to the city's proposed annexation of right of way along Interstate 55; that means the city will have to attempt to annex that area through regular annexation proceedings by seeking a declaratory judgment in circuit court and then submitting the issue to voters.. ...

As the world knows by now, Jason Collins is a much-traveled, mediocre professional basketball player for the Washington Wizards -- his sixth team. Until last week, Collins was far from a household name, to put it mildly. But Collins -- with much fanfare -- announced he is a gay athlete, which marked a "first" in men's professional sports for an active player...

All the local high school events reported Tuesday to the Southeast Missourian.

Alexis Anderson had a monster rookie season with the Southeast Missouri State softball team this year. Anderson's performance was recognized Tuesday as she was named first-team all-Ohio Valley Conference based on voting by the league's coaches and sports information directors...

Chicago scored both its runs on a fourth-inning home run in its 2-1 win over St. Louis

St. Louis finds itself tied after losing the advantage in both Game 4 and series

WASHINGTON -- Seventeen-year-old Kelsey Raffaele's last words were over a cellphone to a friend: "I'm going to crash." The car she was driving had clipped a snow bank and spun into oncoming traffic, where it was T-boned by an SUV. She died at a hospital without regaining consciousness...

In light of the Boston bombings, Missouri's rush-to-judgment legislation prohibiting the use of drones for surveillance seems premature, if not downright dumb. Posturing In my dictionary of political terminology it now lists as the No. 1 example of "political posturing" the Missouri House of Representatives...

U.S. 61 in Scott Co. reduced for pavement resurfacing U.S. 61 in Scott County will be reduced to one lane with a 16-foot width restriction as contractor crews perform pavement repairs and an asphalt overlay. The work will be done at various locations between Highway 77 at Benton, Mo., and Interstate 55 at New Madrid, Mo. The work will take place from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from May 20 through Sept. 20...

The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI...

WARREN, Mich. -- Lester Stiggers has been a wanted man for 43 years, but he hasn't been hiding. He lives in a one-bedroom apartment, window blinds partly closed, along a busy road in a Detroit suburb. He gets by on $700 a month in Social Security benefits, usually making trips outside only to see a doctor. He needs an inhaler and 10 pills a day for his diabetes, high blood pressure and other ailments...

REHOVOT, Israel -- With a hand on her chest, 82-year-old Rivka Fringeru battled back tears as she reeled off a list of names she has rarely voiced in the past 70 years: her father, Moshe, then her mother, Hava, and finally her two older brothers, Michael and Yisrael...

WASHINGTON -- Sexual assaults in the military are a growing epidemic across the services and thousands of victims still are unwilling to come forward despite a slew of new oversight and assistance programs, according to a new Pentagon report. Troubling new numbers estimate up to 26,000 military members may have been sexually assaulted last year, according to survey results released against a backdrop of scandals including an ongoing investigation into more than 30 Air Force instructors for assaults on trainees at a Texas base.. ...

Lord Jesus, may we seek you through prayer and reading your Word. Amen.

BOSTON (AP) -- Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev has been buried in an undisclosed location outside the city of Worcester, police said Thursday after a frustrating weeklong search for a community willing to take the body. "As a result of our public appeal for help, a courageous and compassionate individual came forward to provide the assistance needed to properly bury the deceased," Worcester police said in a statement...

The Notre Dame Regional High School baseball team failed to break out of its offensive funk. But the Bulldogs did break their losing streak, which made for a happy Senior Day. Notre Dame scored all its runs over the first two innings and Justin Landewee fired a five-hit shutout to beat Chaffee 3-0 Wednesday in a well-played and well-pitched battle of area powers...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Cellphone toting farmers caught in dangerous tractor rollovers may soon be able to more easily signal for help thanks to a new smartphone application in development at the University of Missouri. The app uses GPS sensors to detect rollovers. The program then sends automatic email and phone alerts with the accident coordinates to an emergency contact...

FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. -- A Missouri man's freedom from jail didn't last beyond the squad car ride home, after he reportedly dropped a container of methamphetamine getting out of the patrol car. The Park Hills Daily Journal reported that 25-year-old William O'Brien of Fredericktown is back in jail on $30,000 cash-only bond. He is charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon warned on Wednesday that he will lay off employees and cut services in a vehicle licensing division in response to a legislative budget plan that provides the agency money to operate for only two-thirds of the next fiscal year...

LODI, Mo. -- A Perryville, Mo., woman was seriously injured in a crash early Tuesday morning on U.S. 67 near Lodi, Mo. At about 3 a.m., Heather R. Bailey, 26, of Perryville was driving a 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier south on U.S. 67 in Wayne County, about three miles north of Lodi, when she made a left-hand turn into the path of a 2011 International truck driven by David L. Lax, 50, of Mascoutah, Ill., according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol...

A free "clothing exchange" for children will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday in the commons area of Cape Girardeau Central High School. According to Carlynn Forst, art teacher at Central and organizer of the event, the clothing exchange is a way of re-using old clothes while benefiting local schools and charities. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The Missouri Legislature sent the governor a bill Wednesday that would expand gun rights and declare all federal gun regulations unenforceable, in a response to President Barack Obama's push for gun control legislation. The Republican-led Legislature passed the measure hoping to shield the state from federal proposals that would ban assault weapons and expand background checks. ...

Cape Girardeau police are seeking the public's help in finding a suspect in a Tuesday morning burglary. A homeowner in the 2000 block of West Cape Rock Drive told police someone entered their house shortly before 8 a.m. and took an undetermined number of items, said Darin Hickey, public information officer for the Cape Girardeau Police Department...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Former Ward 2 Alderman James Sear arrived with his wife Sharon at city hall last week expecting to be sworn in as mayor of Marble Hill. The meeting was called especially to appoint a mayor, but when Sear left about an hour later, he still was a former alderman and the city still did not have a mayor...

CHICAGO -- Starting pitching. Veteran hitters. Dependable relievers. The St. Louis Cardinals have it all, so all this success on the road is no accident. Carlos Beltran and Jon Jay drove in two runs apiece, and the Cardinals capped an impressive trip with a 5-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday...

After a probationary period of two years, the Department of Mass Media at Southeast Missouri State University has unanimously been deemed "reaccredited" by the Accrediting Council on Journalism and Mass Communication. "It's official," said Dr. Jack Zibluk, department chairman. "We've received the seal of approval."...

CLEVELAND -- A man suspected of keeping three women captive inside his decrepit house for a decade was charged Wednesday with kidnapping and rape, accused of holding them under conditions so oppressive they were allowed outside for only a few moments in disguise and never saw a chance to escape until this week...

ST. LOUIS -- Slava Voynov scored on an odd-man rush eight minutes into overtime and the Los Angeles Kings beat the St. Louis Blues for the third straight time, 3-2 Wednesday night. The win put the defending Stanley Cup champions on the verge of surviving the first round, leading 3-2 heading to Game 6 in Los Angeles on Friday night...

Tess Daniel didn't know her opportunity to win the biggest game of the Saxony Lutheran girls soccer team's season was about to come. She didn't know the ball was headed her way, and when it arrived at her feet she didn't know where it came from. "I actually wasn't expecting it at the time," Daniel said. "I just was standing there and all the sudden this ball comes toward me. I didn't even know who kicked it, honestly. It just came towards me."...

My daughter Madison having fun on her trike....in her tutu and cowboy boots!!

My sister-in-law who was wearing gray & pink shoes and my niece who was wearing colorful socks were determine to finish the race just like some of the other runners.

Finally the marathon started!

this picture was taken during the 45th Annual Dogwood-Azalea Festival at Charleston, Missouri last April 21, 2013.

My sister-in-law and our great niece were having fun while waiting for the marathon to start during the 45th Annual Dogwood-Azalea Festival @ Charleston, Missouri.

It was such a lovely day! Spectators were waiting patiently for the marathon to start. Taken during the 45th Annual Dogwood-Azalea Festival @ Charleston, Missouri last April 21,2013.

Here are some new neighbors who moved in next to us in Jackson. They seem easy to get along with.

Runners were waiting for the event to start @ Charleston, Missouri.

College-bound students benefit from A+ program College-bound students at Cape Central High School are defraying college expenses while the local community is benefiting from tutoring and mentoring the students provide at no charge, thanks to the innovative A+ Scholarship Program, which has grown dramatically at CHS. ...

Cape Girardeau Public Schools hosted a reception for retirees last week at the Central Administrative Office at 301 N. Clark. In attendance were principals, teachers, administrators, and retirees' friends and family members. Retirees included Richard Banville, Patisha Barnes, Joseph Bradshaw, Deborah Ebaugh, Barbara Egbert, Robin Hankinson, Catherine Huskey, Pat Johnson, Juanita (Bonnie) Kerr, Deborah McCann, Barry Pender, Debra Phillips, Pamela Richmond, Susan Riehl, Linda Robert, Steven Schaffner, Mary Shelton, Dale Smith, Lisa Smith, Lawrence Strattman, Karen Tarno, Harry Thompson, John Timothy Ward, Dean Whitlow, Steven Williams and Jane Womack.. ...

Nearly 1 in 5 women in the United States have been victims of sexual assault, according to a 2010 survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and local self-defense authorities are taking a new approach to fight the endemic. Lisa Simmons, a third-degree black belt and owner/instructor at Simmons Family Martial Arts in Cape Girardeau, designed a women's self-defense class after years of trying to learn "from a guy's point of view."...

Last week, the blue mail box Ron Hahs of Northwestern Mutual in Cape Girardeau uses to send business mail displayed a daily pickup time of 5 p.m. On Monday, when the time had changed to 1:30 p.m., he called the post office. Hahs was told by a Postal Service employee the new pickup time was the latest in the region and even mail dropped at the Richard G. Wilson Mail Processing and Distribution Facility would go out no later than 1:30 p.m...

After crossing the bridge into Illinois to take pictures of the moonrise, I was able to capture this shot when I turned around to head back to Missouri.

Today is Thursday, May 9, the 129th day of 2013. There are 236 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On May 9, 1754, a political cartoon in Benjamin Franklin's Pennsylvania Gazette depicted a snake cut into eight pieces, each section representing a part of the American colonies; the caption read, "JOIN, or DIE."...

LOS ANGELES -- Jeanne Cooper, the enduring soap opera star who played grande dame Katherine Chancellor for nearly four decades on "The Young and the Restless," has died. She was 84. Cooper died Wednesday morning in her sleep, her son, Corbin Bernsen, wrote on Facebook. The family confirmed the death to CBS, according to a network spokeswoman. The cause of death was not immediately available...

What happens when you put a chip bag in the microwave for five seconds? Materials Instructions Step 1: Place the empty Sun Chips bag in the microwave for five seconds. Step 2: Remove the bag from the microwave and observe...

The following student has been awarded scholarships to attend Southeast Missouri State University for the 2013-2014 academic year: Peters earns scholarship Jessica Peters of Jackson earned the Masonic Merit Scholarship. She is the daughter of Bill and Kathy Peters and will attend Murray State University and will major in education...

BOSTON -- The dispute over where to bury suspected Boston Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev escalated Wednesday as a Massachusetts police chief urged someone to step forward with a cemetery plot, saying: "We are not barbarians. We bury the dead."...

PHOENIX -- Jodi Arias said in a post-conviction interview with a TV station that she prefers the death penalty over life in prison. Arias talked to Fox affiliate KSAZ in the courthouse minutes after she was convicted of first-degree murder. With tears in her eyes, she said she feels overwhelmed and she was surprised because she didn't believe she committed first-degree murder...

UNITED NATIONS -- Congolese troops fleeing the M23 rebels last November raped at least 97 women and 33 girls, some as young as 6, a U.N. report released Wednesday said. The U.S. Africa Command trained one of the units involved, Commando Battalion 391, in 2010 to be "a model for future reforms within the Congolese armed forces," according to the AFRICOM website...

BEIRUT -- A problem with a fiber optics cable was responsible for an Internet outage that cut off civil war-ravaged Syria from the rest of the world for nearly 20 hours, state media said Wednesday. Internet service stopped abruptly Tuesday evening, prompting speculation that the regime had pulled the plug, possibly as a cover for military action. However, no large-scale military offensives were reported Wednesday and the opposition did not accuse the regime of sabotage...

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Just six months after Minnesota voters turned back an effort to ban gay weddings, lawmakers are poised to make the state the first in the Midwest to pass a law allowing them. The startling shift comes amid a rapid evolution of public opinion nationally in the debate over marriage. With Minnesota, and possibly Illinois, set to broaden the definition to include same-sex couples, coastal states may soon have some company in enacting changes...

WASHINGTON -- Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel demanded more information Wednesday after the Air Force removed 17 launch officers from duty at a nuclear missile base in North Dakota over what a commander called "rot" in the force. The Air Force struggled to explain, acknowledging concern about an "attitude problem" but telling Congress the weapons were secure...

WASHINGTON -- A former top diplomat in Libya on Wednesday delivered a riveting minute-by-minute account of the chaotic events during the deadly assault on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi last September, with a 2 a.m. call from Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and confusion about the fate of U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens...

WASHINGTON -- The Senate rejected an effort Wednesday to expand the use of firearms on some of the nation's most frequently visited federal lands, handing gun control advocates a modest success. The measure, backed by the National Rifle Association, represented one of two efforts Wednesday by gun rights supporters to take the offensive in Congress. Across the Capitol, a Republican-run House committee voted to make it easier for some veterans with mental difficulties to get firearms...

Two proposals for Arena Park receive nods from the Cape Girardeau Parks Board; Laura Keller receives permission to move the Cape La Croix Cross into Arena Park; the board also approves a repair and remodeling project proposed by the Breakfast Optimist League for softball fields 2 and 3...

ST. LOUIS -- The young man rescued in 2007 in Missouri after being held captive for four years is offering advice to three kidnapped women found this week inside a Cleveland home: Rely on your family for support. Shawn Hornbeck's rescue was dubbed the "Missouri Miracle." He was 11 years old when he disappeared while riding his bike near his home in rural Richwoods, Mo., in 2002...

PUXICO, Mo. -- A Puxico man was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident in connection to a Saturday night wreck in Dexter, Mo., that left two Bloomfield, Mo., residents hospitalized. According to Dexter police, an anonymous tip came in early Wednesday that led officers to a Puxico residence where they located Tommy Andrew West, 28...

The Arts Council of Southeast Missouri, 32 N. Main St. will host a meet-and-greet for two American Place Theatre master teacher actresses from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. today. Denise Wilbanks and Lisa Strum, both of New York, will speak about their experiences acting and conducting residencies across the nation. The event is free and open to the public. Wilbanks and Strum are conducting the third part of the artist-in-residence program at the Alternative Education Center...

With eyes to the future and memories of hard work and lessons learned in the past, Southeast Missouri State University students will celebrate commencement this weekend. The university will confer 1,333 degrees Saturday at the Show Me Center. Among those to be recognized are 1,048 undergraduates, 283 graduate and specialist candidates and two cooperative doctoral students...

The informational forum on Common Core Standards reminded me of the health-care debate, when Nancy Pelosi famously said, "We have to pass it to find out what's in it." The meeting started with a speaker and videos. Honestly, the sound quality was so bad, I felt like I was in an echo chamber with the bass turned up. Surely, with the money we spend on education, we could have found a room with good acoustics...

Korea, during the long centuries when it was a united monarchy, was known as the "shrimp among whales," hemmed in by the more powerful states of Japan, China and Russia. Relatively weak, it has been able to maintain at least its territorial integrity by relying on the protection of one of its stronger neighbors...

JERUSALEM -- Israeli police detained the top Muslim cleric in the Holy Land Wednesday in a rare crackdown on a leading religious figure, questioning him for several hours before releasing him without charge. Later in the day, in the Gaza Strip, an influential Muslim cleric from Qatar received a hero's welcome in a high-profile visit that deepened the bitter division between Gaza's hard-line Islamist rulers and the West Bank's Western-backed Palestinian leaders...

TRIPOLI, Libya -- A new law that excludes former officials of the Moammar Gadhafi era from public office is dividing Libya and deepening the turmoil plaguing the country since the 2011 civil war that ousted the erratic leader. Passed by parliament Sunday essentially at gunpoint -- heavily armed militias were parked outside government buildings and refused to leave until it was approved -- the law bans from politics not only those who held office, but clerics who glorified the dictator and researchers who worked on his notorious ideological tract, the Green Book.. ...

The Notre Dame boys tennis team made school history Wednesday. Notre Dame, in just its second season to field a boys tennis squad, won its first district title. The Bulldogs avenged two regular-season losses to Dexter by beating the host Bulldogs 5-2 for the Class 1 District 1 crown...

The Department of Health and Human Services announced recently it would pay public relations firm Weber Shandwick $8 million to promote enrollment in Obamacare's exchanges. When was the last time you remember a government agency paying a public relations agency millions of dollars to promote a government-sponsored program? Obviously, if this was such a good deal there would be people lined up to enroll, but thank goodness more and more people are seeing this a stupid program that needs to go away.. ...

The Jackson Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt...

Firefighters responded to the following calls Monday: Firefighters responded to the following calls Tuesday:...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt...

Son to Michael P. and Renee C. Dodd of Perryville, Mo., Saint Francis Medical Center, 2:04 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, 2013. Name, Michael Wayne. Weight, 8 pounds, 7 ounces. Fourth child, first son. Mrs. Dodd is the former Renee Beam, daughter of Cathy Beam of Perryville. Dodd is the son of Mary Dodd and Paul Dodd of Perryville...

CHAFFEE, MO. -- Sandra Ziegler, 62, of Chaffee died Wednesday, May 8, 2013, at the family home. Friends may call after 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the chapel. Burial will be at Casper Cemetery in Anna, Ill...

Joseph A. Seyer, 80, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, May 6, 2013, at his home. He was born July 23, 1932, in Cape Girardeau, to Joseph John and Pauline Josephine Dohogne Seyer. He and Frieda Barbara Brockmeyer were married Oct. 22, 1955, in Cape Girardeau...

Kay Eifert, 77, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, May 8, 2013, at Saint Francis Medical Center. She was born Dec. 17, 1935, in Marion, Ill., to John Paul and Louise Penrod Felts. She married Billy Dean Eifert. Kay was a member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church. She had worked for Drury Inns more than 15 years. She was the secretary of Central High School 1950s reunion committee. Kay loved to read...

WATERLOO, Ill. -- John William Dover, 81, of Waterloo, formerly of Mound City, Ill., died Tuesday, May 7, 2013, at Liberty Village of Maryville in Maryville, Ill. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 6:30 a.m. until time of service Monday at Young and Sons Funeral Home in Perryville, Mo...

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Thomas Swayne Byrd, 79, of Charleston passed away Sunday, May 5, 2013. He was born Dec. 14, 1933, in Cairo, Ill., to Thomas Albert and Helen Swayne Byrd of Charleston. Swayne attended St. Mark's School in Southborough, Mass., and went on to graduate from The Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tenn. He attended the University of Missouri and the University of Illinois before receiving a degree in architecture in 1958 from Washington University in St. Louis...

1 Barton Square, Jackson 9 a.m. today Open Session Communications/reports Public comments Routine business Action items Discussion and possible action items Discussion and possible action -- County advisory boards...

Dylan and Eric Mahnken are identical twins and soon-to-be high school graduates -- but from different schools. As they finish their last days of class and final exams, Dylan will prepare to graduate from Oak Ridge High School while his brother Eric will be tossing his cap with the senior class of Saxony Lutheran High School...

It was only a matter of time. That statement in itself is as frightening as the incident that precipitated it. Wednesday's news that a Utah teenager was charged with homicide by assault following the recent death of a soccer referee was met with stoic resignation by the nation's media, which briefly reported the news before reverting back to the latest on LeBron James and the Miami Heat or Phil Jackson's passivity on the Brooklyn Nets' coaching position...

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