Stories from Monday, June 13, 2016

More than 80 Boy Scouts from across the Greater St. Louis Area Council gathered at Southeast Missouri State University for STEM onCAMPUS from June 5 through 8. Through a series of 26 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) merit badges and other programs, Scouts worked with university faculty, staff and counselors as they learned about a variety of topics including Robotics, Public Health, Architecture, Mining in Society and Welding...

A variety of vendors converge on the parking lot of West Park Mall for the Cape Farmers Market, but few offer produce that is certified organic. Countrysprout Organics, based in Illinois, has been certified organic since 2012. Owners Bruce and Maryanne Chrisman are committed to the organic movement and are quick to sing the praises of local farmers' markets and their effects on the local economy...

ORLANDO, Fla. -- It had been an evening of drinking, dancing and drag shows. After hours of revelry, the partygoers crowding the gay nightclub known as the Pulse took their last sips before the place closed. That's when authorities said Omar Mateen emerged, carrying an AR-15 and spraying the helpless crowd with bullets...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon is considering whether to sign a bill that would let those convicted of certain crimes in Missouri to have their records sealed if they aren't convicted of breaking the law again for several years after completing their sentences...

Though the concert is still nearly a year away, some local history buffs are urging residents to buy tickets early if they want to attend Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus 10th anniversary celebration. Part of the celebration on March 7, 2017, will honor the St. Vincent's Seminary, one of the first institutions of higher learning west of the Mississippi River upon whose grounds the River Campus stands...

Missourians who frequently struggle with insurance to receive their prescribed medication may have some relief in sight. Last week, Gov. Jay Nixon signed a step therapy reform bill into law. Step therapy is a cost-saving measure put forth by insurance companies that requires patients to demonstrate the ineffectiveness of lower-cost drugs before authorizing coverage for higher-cost drugs...

Today is Monday, June 13, the 165th day of 2016. There are 201 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On June 13, 1966, the Supreme Court ruled in Miranda v. Arizona that criminal suspects had to be informed of their constitutional right to consult with an attorney and to remain silent...

O Lord Jesus, may your name be exalted among the nations. Amen.

Senior proms have come and gone, final exams have been aced and graduation caps and gowns have been stored -- wherever it is people store them. Each summer, the Southeast Missourian presents the area's valedictorians on its Thursday neXt page. We honor those who went a little further than most, dug a little deeper, studied a little harder and were rewarded with a lifetime of bragging rights for earning the elusive valedictorian distinction...

A day or so before the Memorial Day holiday weekend, gas prices in Cape Girardeau jumped up over 10 cents per gallon. This is a common occurrence, and we have no recourse but to simply not drive, thus not paying their increased prices over holidays. Thank goodness our grocery stores don't raise the price of food every holiday -- in fact they have sales -- but that shows the difference between greed and offering consumers a good deal...

Cape Girardeau County Commission 1 Barton Square, Jackson 9 a.m. today Approval of minutes n Minutes of the June 6 meeting Communications/reports -- other elected officials n None at this time Public comments n Items listed on agenda Routine business...

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Former Republican U.S. senator George Voinovich, a two-term Ohio governor who preached frugality in his personal and public life and occasionally bucked the GOP establishment, died Sunday. He was 79. Voinovich, considered a moderate who opposed the size of former president George W. Bush's tax cuts and later questioned Bush's war strategy in Iraq, died peacefully in his sleep, his wife, Janet, confirmed...

NEW YORK -- The gay, lesbian and transgender community has seen violence before, from Harvey Milk to Matthew Shepard, and a lengthening list of transgender women. But never anything like this. Sunday's massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, grimly changed the equation, stirring communal fears and prompted tighter security at gay pride events. The gunman, identified as Omar Mateen of Fort Pierce, Florida, told his father he had been disturbed by seeing two men kissing in Miami...

WASHINGTON -- Millions of people who pay the full cost of their health insurance will face the sting of rising premiums next year, with no financial help from government subsidies. Renewal notices bearing the bad news will go out this fall, just as the presidential election is in the homestretch...

PALO ALTO, Calif. -- Stanford University graduating students and women's-rights advocates used the school's commencement ceremony to express their anger over the six-month jail sentence given to a former student for sexually assaulting an unconscious woman...

Adrian Hooper Jr.'s parents hoped to secure a bright future for their son when they sent him to boarding school at age 11. It was the early 1960s, and the Fessenden School in Massachusetts had an impeccable reputation, having educated Roosevelts and Kennedys...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The University of Missouri has denied a request from a student group that wants to put a marijuana leaf on a T-shirt next to the university's name. Leaders for the campus chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws are fighting the decision, saying it's about First Amendment rights and fairness...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- An 18-year-old Kansas City woman faces charges accusing her of forcing two underage teens into prostitution, according to the Jackson County prosecutor's office. Jessi C. Larkie faces two counts of sexual trafficking of a child under 18 in connection with incidents that occurred between late March and mid-May...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Two giants -- the U.S. government and FedEx -- are set to do battle in a federal court over the claim the shipping company knowingly delivered illegal prescription drugs such as Ambien from pill mills to dealers and addicts, some of whom died...

HAVANA -- Six airlines won permission Friday to resume scheduled commercial air service from the U.S. to Cuba for the first time in more than five decades. It was another milestone in President Barack Obama's campaign to normalize relations between Cold War foes...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Apple's Siri made a big splash when the wisecracking digital assistant debuted on the iPhone five years ago. But as other tech giants jockey to build intelligent "chat bots" and voice-controlled home systems capable of more challenging artificial-intelligence feats, Siri at times no longer seems cutting edge...

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri baseball coach Tim Jamieson has resigned after 698 victories in 22 seasons. Jamieson coached eight All-Americans and 10 freshman All-Americans, and 75 players were drafted with 10 playing in the major leagues. The list includes Max Scherzer, Ian Kinsler, Aaron Crow and Kyle Gibson...

The Burger King Capahas remain perfect on the season after picking up an 11-1 win Sunday over the host Cahokia, Illinois, Red Sox. The Capahas (4-0), who combined for 17 hits in the game, scored seven runs in the top of the seventh inning to break the game open...

PITTSBURGH -- Several players who have given the Pirates trouble for years helped the St. Louis Cardinals finish a rare sweep in Pittsburgh. Mike Leake pitched seven effective innings, Matt Holliday homered and the Cardinals cruised to an 8-3 victory Sunday...

NEW YORK -- The recent slump of sequels at the box office finally caught a break with "The Conjuring 2," a horror sequel that topped weekend theaters with an estimated $40.4 million. The Warner Bros. film, in which Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson play married paranormal investigators, opened nearly on par with the 2013 original, which also was directed by James Wan...

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Christina Grimmie was a vivacious, outgoing singer whose career was born on social media and propelled toward the big time by television. She didn't consider herself a famous person -- not like the judges on "The Voice," where she competed -- but she had a following that was as enthusiastic about her music as she was...

The Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission last night recommended a proposal to rezone a large tract of William Street as commercial be rejected; several commissioners said they previously were convinced the street should be rezoned from residential to commercial between Sprigg Street and Sheridan Drive, but widespread objection to the plan changed their minds...

NEW YORK -- "Hamilton," the hip-hop stage biography of Alexander Hamilton, won the 2016 Tony Award for best new musical, capping an emotional night in which many in the Broadway community rallied to embrace the LGBT community after a shooting at a gay Florida nightclub...

KELSO, Mo. -- Jon Lynch is plenty familiar with the Kelso Klassic, and he's pretty familiar with performing well at it. So Sunday evening was a little different for the Notre Dame alumnus. Lynch helped his Bloomington, Illinois, Stix back to another title game but couldn't help it win a third straight tournament title, as the Topeka, Kansas, Toros took out the two-time defending champions in impressive fashion -- 11-3 in five innings in the championship of the 32nd Annual Kelso Klassic fastpitch softball tournament at Kelso City Park.. ...

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- A turnaround season for the Pittsburgh Penguins ended with Sidney Crosby once again holding the Stanley Cup. Crosby set up Kris Letang's go-ahead goal midway through the second period and the Pittsburgh Penguins won the fourth Stanley Cup in franchise history by beating the San Jose Sharks 3-1 in Game 6 of the final Sunday night...

Emily Galloway has been appointed patient-care manager of Saint Francis Healthcare System's Family BirthPlace and Children's Center. She is responsible for the delivery of care, development of policies and procedures and standards of care and protocols within the Center...

LAS VEGAS -- A World Series of Poker player said he hit an "emotional jackpot," thanks to an Uber driver who returned his $7,000 ante. Jacob Brundage of Lakeland, Florida, said he lost a tote filled with cash and playing chips. Brundage realized the bag was in an Uber car he rode. Brundage failed to reach the driver through the app and enlisted a group of Uber drivers to help. The driver, who wants to remain anonymous, called Brundage and returned the bag. Brundage gave him $200 as a reward...

CAPE GIRARDEAU The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. Arrests n Chasity R. Harris, 37, of Scott City was arrested on a Bollinger County, Missouri, warrant for no seat belt. n A suspect was in custody pending formal charges of assault on medical personnal at 1701 Lacey St...

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Polly J. McCormick, 52, of Marble Hill died Sunday, June 12, 2016, at her home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete at Hutchings Funeral Chapel in Marble Hill.

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- Jimmy Leroy Brown, 73, of Marble Hill died Sunday, June 12, 2016, at his home near Marble Hill. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at Hutchings Funeral Home. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home...

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- Shirley Leroy Pittman, 81, of Perryville died June 12, 2016, at his residence. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 6:30 to 9 a.m. Thursday at Young and Sons Funeral Home. The funeral will be at 9 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with Pastor Jeff Hawks officiating. Burial will be in Cedar Fork Cemetery...

FROHNA, Mo. -- Harry W. Oberndorfer, 88, of Frohna died June 11, 2016, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Young and Sons East Perry Funeral Home. Funeral service and burial will be private...

Senior proms have come and gone, final exams have been aced and graduation caps and gowns have been stored -- wherever it is people store them. Each summer, the Southeast Missourian presents the area's valedictorians on its Thursday neXt page. We honor those who went a little further than most, dug a little deeper, studied a little harder and were rewarded with a lifetime of bragging rights for earning the elusive valedictorian distinction...

Gas price spike A day or so before the Memorial Day holiday weekend, gas prices in Cape Girardeau jumped up over 10 cents per gallon. This is a common occurrence, and we have no recourse but to simply not drive, thus not paying their increased prices over holidays. Thank goodness our grocery stores don't raise the price of food every holiday -- in fact they have sales -- but that's shows the difference between greed and offering consumers a good deal...

O Lord Jesus, may your name be exalted among the nations. Amen.