Stories from Thursday, August 30, 2018

Cape Girardeau's National Public Radio affiliate, KRCU, has joined forces with Southeast Missouri State Unversity's student-run newspaper, The Arrow, and so far this semester the work is going smoothly, said Tamara Zellars Buck, faculty advisor for the publication and multimedia journalism coordinator...

A new scholarship program at Southeast Missouri State University aims to help more students with the rising cost associated with earning a degree, officials said. The Copper Dome Scholarship Program is a comprehensive approach and offers stackable awards that grow in value from year to year -- with straightforward renewal criteria for students...

All of my family and friends are anywhere from two to five hours away. So, it's a rarity to have visitors making the trek toward the Bootheel. When we do get guests to entertain it seems we have to go show them the finer things of the area. The first two things that have to happen are to go to any of the several watermelon stands, and to Bader Farm Inc. ...

Today is Thursday, Aug. 30, the 242nd day of 2018. There are 123 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On August 30, 1963, the "Hot Line" communications link between Washington and Moscow went into operation. On this date: In 1862, Confederate forces won victories against the Union at the Second Battle of Bull Run in Manassas, Virginia, and the Battle of Richmond in Kentucky...

The Cape Girardeau SportsPlex keeps churning out events and tournaments, and improving the competition, too. As recently reported in B Magazine by Jon K. Rust, the SportsPlex closed out its first full fiscal year ahead of plan by $123,807, according to city data. The original budget called for the facility to lose $377,247 in year one, but actual loss came in at $253,440...

Senator John McCain was taken from us this past week end by glioblastoma. His death was not a surprise since he was diagnosed with glioblastoma a virulent and incurable brain cancer. Most patients survive for up to 14 months. While the patient can receive treatments to help them survive, the survivors suffer strain of watching their loved one deteriorate towards the inevitable end. ...

MADISON, Wis. -- An 11-year-old boy sucked into a flooded Wisconsin storm sewer was saved when an eagle-eyed firefighter saw the boy's fingers pop through an opening in a manhole cover. The astonishing rescue Tuesday evening came as storms pounded the southern half of the state and southeastern Minnesota...

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Racism immediately became an issue in the Florida governor's race Wednesday as both nominees made predictions: The Democrat said voters aren't looking for a misogynist, racist or bigot, while the Republican said voters shouldn't "monkey this up" by choosing his African-American opponent...

WASHINGTON -- White House Counsel Don McGahn, a consequential insider in President Donald Trump's legal storms and successes and a key figure in the administration's handling of the Russia investigation, will be leaving in the fall, the president announced Wednesday...

PHOENIX -- Hundreds of people paid their respects Wednesday to U.S. Sen. John McCain, standing for hours in the broiling Arizona sun before filing past the flag-draped casket his tearful wife, Cindy, lovingly pressed her face against after a ceremony for the former North Vietnam prisoner of war who represented Arizona for decades...

PARIS -- It won't be remembered as one of the great naval encounters between France and England but, unlike at the Battle of Trafalgar, this time French mariners felt they won. Fishermen from rival French and British fleets banged their boats in ill-tempered skirmishes this week over access to the scallop-rich waters off France's northern coast...

VATICAN CITY -- The author of the bombshell accusation of sex abuse cover-up against Pope Francis denied Wednesday he acted out of revenge or anger, breaking his silence as his claims continued to divide a Catholic Church already polarized under Francis' reformist agenda...

WASHINGTON -- Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort asked Wednesday to move his upcoming trial out of the nation's capital and to Roanoke, Virginia, with his lawyers citing "intensely negative news coverage" and potential juror bias against him...

PHOENIX -- For all the worries about Russian hackers and other cyber-vandals, voting problems this week in Arizona served as a reminder one of the biggest threats to fair elections is plain old human error. That appeared to be the case during Tuesday's primary, when dozens of polling places in the state's most populous county opened late because the voter verification machinery had not been set up...

MEXICO CITY -- A United Nations report released Wednesday on four months of unrest in Nicaragua describes a comprehensive effort of repression by the government extending from the streets to the courts. The report by the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights calls on the government of President Daniel Ortega to immediately halt the persecution of protesters and disarm the masked civilians who have been responsible for many of the killings and arbitrary detentions...

BAGHDAD -- Seven people were killed Wednesday in a suicide car bombing claimed by the Islamic State group in a former stronghold of the jihadists in western Iraq, a security official said. The attacker detonated his explosives-laden vehicle at a joint security checkpoint managed by the Iraqi army and the Popular Mobilization Forces at the southern entrance to the town of al-Qaim, about 20 miles from the Syrian border, Maj. Gen Qasem al-Dulaimi said...

MOSCOW -- Facing protests and a noticeable dip in his approval ratings, President Vladimir Putin made rare concessions Wednesday to an unpopular pension reform package increasing the retirement age for Russians. The televised address marked an extraordinary occasion when Putin apparently felt compelled to explain a major policy decision to the public, reflecting the contentious nature of the retirement reforms...

A new process that evaluates Cape Girardeau city employees based on their performances goes into effect Wednesday; the new procedure is intended to improve worker performance, the delivery of city services and communication between supervisors and workers...

The U.S. Senate has confirmed former Cape Girardeau County sheriff John Jordan as federal marshal for the eastern district of Missouri. U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., praised Jordan after the Senate action Tuesday. Blunt said in a news release "John Jordan's decades-long career in law enforcement has helped make our communities safer and stronger."...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The U.S. Coast Guard has found probable cause the sinking of a tourist boat on a Missouri lake last month killing 17 people "resulted from the misconduct, negligence, or inattention to the duties" by the captain of the boat, according to a court motion filed Wednesday by federal prosecutors...

Cairo Heritage Foundation will be hosting its fifth annual Blues & Gospel Festival on Sept. 7, 8 and 9 in downtown Cairo, Illinois, with food, bands, choirs and giveaways. Vendor coordinator for the event Marsha Cook said each year between 300 and 400 people attend the free, three-day event...

Cape Girardeau County Commission 1 Barton Square, Jackson 9 a.m. today Approval of minutes n Minutes of Aug. 27 meetings Communications/reports -- other elected officials n None at this time Public comments n Items listed on the agenda Routine business...

TORONTO -- It started with President Donald Trump's attacks on Canadian dairy farmers. Then Washington slapped tariffs on Canadian steel, citing national security. There was that contentious G-7 summit in Quebec. Now it's a new North American free trade agreement that excludes America's northern neighbor...

We are so excited to watch our favorite team play on the new turf at The Pit in Jackson. We're a football town! So, if I understand you correctly, Mike Jensen, the seeds of our current discontent with the convicts in the worsened Washington swamp, were planted by Barack Obama? Wow. Just wow!...

O Heavenly Father, thank you that we have victory through Jesus our Lord. Amen.

MARYVILLE, Mo. -- Authorities said lightning bolt struck and killed a northwest Missouri man as he was fishing. Maryville Public Safety said authorities found 35-year-old Ryen Browning, of Maryville, dead around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday when they responded to a call at the City Reservoir. Browning was struck while fishing from the bank of the reservoir...

CAPE GIRARDEAU The Cape Girardeau Police Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. DWI n Terrence Brown, 26, of Cape Girardeau was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated. Arrests n Cortney Woodson, 39, of Tamms, Illinois, was arrested on a Cape Girardeau warrant...

Milani Marie McIntosh, infant daughter of Darryl Lamarr McIntosh Jr. and Fredreka Green of Cape Girardeau, died Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018, at St. Louis Children's Hospital in Saint Louis. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Cape County Memorial Park...

COMMERCE, Mo. -- Alta Laster, 87, of Commerce died Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2018, at her home. Arrangements are incomplete at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Scott City.

Missouri's auditor's office found Scott County's financial operations in "good" standing, according to a news release. It found some flaws, however, citing questionable or improper disbursements including the purchase of solar eclipse glasses and the failure to have proper financial controls in some areas of county government over the past two years...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A dog that disappeared from his southern California home and mysteriously wound up in Missouri has been reunited with his owner with the help of a chain of volunteers. The Kansas City Star reported the Bernese mountain dog, named Topper, was brought into the city shelter in July after a Kansas City police officer suffered a "minor bite" during an arrest. Topper's microchip led staff to his owner, Tom Huffman of El Cajon, California...

Guardian Angel School in Oran, MO held their first Jr. Beta Club meeting on Thursday, August 30. Included in the order of business at this meeting was the election of officers. The new officers for the 2018-2019 year are: Sophie Priggel (8th)-President; Owen Forehand (7th)-Vice President; Logan Dame (8th)-Treasurer; Taylor Hobbs (8th)-Secretary; Nathanial Woods (8th)-Chaplain; & Riley Schlosser (8th)-Noise Police. ...

1st place in their division, father and son team!