Stories from Monday, January 18, 2016

CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Turning up the temperature, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders tangled repeatedly in Sunday night's presidential debate over who's tougher on gun control and Wall Street and how to steer the future of health care in America. It was the last Democratic matchup before voting begins in two weeks, and both sides were eager to rumble as polls showed the race tightening in the leadoff states of Iowa and New Hampshire...

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s iconic "I Have a Dream" speech played over the sound system as congregants filled the St. James A.M.E. Church for the 26th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Celebration. Organizer Debra Mitchell-Braxton took to the microphone as the opening hymn, "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," began...

About 18 months ago, Southeast Missouri State University formed a task force to assess diversity issues and propose ways to bridge divides between groups and people at the university. That would have been a hefty undertaking in itself, but as the events of the past 1 1/2 years have unfolded, it seems the task force hardly could have picked a more relevant time to work...

In recent years, more pet-focused businesses have been appearing in the area. Locally owned pet stores offer products such as holistic pet foods, freshly-baked treats and self-service grooming areas. Mobile pet salons will bring grooming services right to pet owners' doors, and doggy day cares will keep your pet entertained while you're away for the day...

In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we interviewed African-Americans in the community who work hard to give of their time, talents and hearts to help make the city and region a better place. Space has prevented us from featuring every deserving person in the area, but we hope readers take something special from the conversations below. ...

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team step out of the Ohio Valley Conference for the final time this season when it hosts NAIA Hannibal-LaGrange tonight. The Redhawks and Trojans (3-12) tip off at 7 p.m. from the Show Me Center. Admission, hot dogs, small soda and small popcorn are all $2 as part of Southeast's $2 Tuesday promotion...

ORAN, Mo. -- It had only been 11 days since the Saxony Lutheran and Oran girls basketball teams last met on the hardwood. The script remained the same with the Crusaders building up a first-quarter lead that the Eagles never overcame as Saxony won 49-35 on Monday night...

Today in History Today is Monday, Jan. 18, the 18th day of 2016. There are 348 days left in the year. This is the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Today's Highlight in History: On Jan. 18, 1911, the first landing of an aircraft on a ship took place as pilot Eugene B. Ely brought his Curtiss biplane in for a safe landing on the deck of the armored cruiser USS Pennsylvania in San Francisco Harbor...

This year marks 30 years since Martin Luther King Jr. Day became a federal holiday after President Ronald Reagan signed it into law three years prior. Every third Monday of January since, the nation turns its eyes to Dr. King, and we again reflect on the man, his message and his legacy...

WASHINGTON -- Last week's plunge in U.S. stocks -- fueled by economic fears about China and plummeting oil prices -- left investors anxious and alarmed. Some wondered whether it signaled an approaching recession in the United States. The answer, most analysts say, is no...

U.S. airlines are doing better at staying on schedule than a year ago, but more passengers are filing complaints against the carriers. Hawaiian Airlines and Delta Air Lines topped the on-time rankings for November, which were released Friday by the U.S. Department of Transportation...

NEW YORK -- Wal-Mart is doing some rare pruning. The world's largest retailer is closing 269 stores, including 154 in the U.S. that includes all its locations under its smallest-format concept store, called Wal-Mart Express. The other big chunk is in its challenging Brazilian market...

NEW YORK -- Fast food is becoming a dirty term. As smaller players challenge fast-food chains like McDonald's and Burger King, they're fighting to set themselves apart by describing their food as "fast-casual," "fine casual," "fast crafted" and even "fan food."...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri lawmakers pushing to change the state's loose ethics laws next will turn to ways to clamp down on the flow of unlimited gifts from lobbyists to lawmakers. Lobbyist gifts "are probably going to be the biggest meat" of upcoming discussions, Republican House Speaker Todd Richardson said after four other ethics-related bills passed last week. One of the chamber's committees will review an outright ban on gifts Tuesday...

GRANTWOOD VILLAGE, Mo. -- In the 34 years they've been married, Ed and Sheri Brimer have lived in three homes. Each was in Grantwood Village, because the couple couldn't bring themselves to leave what they see as a treasure in their own backyard: Grant's Farm...

Here's a look at how area members of Congress voted over the last week. Along with roll call votes, the House also passed the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act (S. 142), to require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to adopt a rule requiring child safety packaging for liquid nicotine containers; and passed the Presidential Library Donation Reform Act (H.R. 1069), to require the disclosure of information about contributors to presidential library fundraising organizations...

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Dennis Glenn Lacey, 54, of Olive Branch passed away at 1:38 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Dennis was born Jan. 14, 1962, in St. Louis, son of the late Freddie Glenn Lacey Sr. and Carol Marie (Rock) Lacey...

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. -- Mildred Kruckeberg, 89, of Edwardsville died Thursday, Jan. 14, 2016, at Liberty Village in Maryville, Illinois. She was born March 23, 1926, in Wood River, Illinois, the daughter of the late Robert and Caroline Huebner Kohlmiller...

BAGHDAD -- The U.S. Embassy confirmed Sunday "several" Americans have gone missing in Iraq, after local media reported three Americans had been kidnapped in the Iraqi capital. U.S. Embassy spokesman Scott Bolz said, "We are working in full cooperation with Iraqi authorities to locate the missing Americans."...

War in the Persian Gulf has bolstered security at the Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport and put Cape Girardeau police officers on heightened alert. The heightened security is being taken to guard against possible terrorist activities against government facilities...

ROME -- Pope Francis denounced all religiously inspired violence during a visit to Rome's main synagogue Sunday, joining the oldest Jewish community in the diaspora in a sign of interfaith friendship at a time of Islamic extremist attacks around the globe...

HONOLULU -- The ongoing search for 12 Marines who are missing after two helicopters crashed off Hawaii entered the third day with no plans Sunday to call off or suspend the massive effort, the Coast Guard said. While high surf complicated the mission for rescuers on the water, a green laser off Haleiwa Beach Park on Saturday night struck a Coast Guard plane, forcing crew members to alter search patterns...

CARTHAGE, Mo. -- Authorities said a southwest Missouri man apparently killed his two children and then killed himself. The Jasper County Sheriff's Department said in a release Tony Kernel shot his 9-year-old son, Wesley, and 7-year-old daughter, Timber, before fatally shooting himself. ...

LONDON -- British police are seeking a burglar who may have a heavy conscience -- or pockets -- after stealing 15,000 pounds, or $21,500, in 1-pound coins. Greater Manchester Police said Friday three houses in a street were robbed Jan. 1. The culprits stole designer handbags, jewelry, a Range Rover and the trove of coins. It wasn't clear why the coins were kept in the house. Constable Dinesh Mistry said the haul weighed "the same as two average-sized women, or almost 10 cases of wine."...

ST. LOUIS -- Bill DeWitt says it's been a very productive offseason for the St. Louis Cardinals, even though they missed out on David Price and lost Jason Heyward. Crowds have been typically heavy at the annual three-day Winter Warmup, with fans snaking through long lines to pay triple-digit sums for an autograph from Adam Wainwright, Yadier Molina or 2006 World Series star David Eckstein...

William L. "Bill" Winkler, 89, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, at Saint Francis Medical Center. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau. Memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the church, with the Rev. Douglas Breite officiating...

Mary Morton-Wilkinson, 83, of Jackson died Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Brian Anderson officiating...

CAPE GIRARDEAU The Cape Girardeau Fire Department responded to the following calls Saturday. n Medical calls were made at 12:53 a.m. on South Pacific Street; 4:57 a.m. on South Broadview Street; 8:23 a.m. on South West End Boulevard; 12:24 p.m. on Broadway; 2:37 p.m. on North Benton Street; 2:41 p.m. on Albert Street; 3:03 p.m. on O'Connell Drive; and 3:54 p.m. on Pine Hill Spur...

Retail outlets have only themselves to blame for their slumps in sales. On Tuesday morning at 10:30 I went to the mall; I shopped in J.C. Penney, Macy's and six stores in between. I was well-groomed, dress nicely in business casual dress, and carrying an expensive designer bag. ...

Retail outlets have only themselves to blame for their slumps in sales. On Tuesday morning at 10:30 I went to the mall; I shopped in J.C. Penney, Macy's and six stores in between. I was well-groomed, dress nicely in business casual dress, and carrying an expensive designer bag. ...

O Lord Jesus, may we make an effort to show kindness to others every day. Amen.

Mark Schultz has been named the director of physician practices at Saint Francis Medical Center. In this role, Schultz will be responsible for the planning, development, implementation, operation, coordination and performance improvement of all activities within Hospitalist Services. This is in addition to his role as director of Occupational Health services. Schultz has been with Saint Francis since 1996...

Dr. Michael Givens of Givens Family Chiropractic in Cape Girardeau is a certified medical examiner, a certified insurance consultant and a whiplash specialist. He has more than 17 years of experience diagnosing and treating motor vehicle accident-related injuries, and specializes in drug and alcohol testing, acupuncture, DNA testing, workmans' compensation testing and more. ...

Although the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration requires workplaces to provide safe, healthy environments for their employees, not all do. And it's not necessarily because they aren't trying. One of the biggest obstacles in avoiding workplace injuries, says Rob Bunger, a trainer and therapist in the outpatient rehabilitation department at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, often lies with employees themselves...

A growing number of deskbound office workers are choosing to stand at their workstations, hoping to reap the health benefits associated with working while upright. Yet millions of Americans, such as nurses, waitresses, factory workers and more, don't have a choice about standing on their feet all day. For many of them, working on their feet has the potential to negatively affect their bodies, their mental well-being and even their productivity...

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure -- especially for small businesses grappling with the high costs of worker absenteeism. Employee time lost to health issues costs American businesses $84 billion a year. For U.S. businesses, helping workers stay healthy costs far less than the financial impact of having them miss work for illness or injury...