Author to hold book signing at Hastings

Hardy Billington, who led a petition drive to bring President George W. Bush to Poplar Bluff, Mo., in 2004, will hold a signing for his book "The Election by Faith in '04" from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 5 p.m. today at Hastings Books, Music & Video, 2136 William St. in Cape Girardeau. Billington's self-published book recounts his experience with the petition drive and his religious conviction that Bush would save the country.

Former Cape Girardeau County lawyer dies

A former Cape Girardeau County assistant prosecuting attorney has died. Dave Eblen, 42, of Columbia, Mo., died Monday at his home, according to Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle. Eblen worked at Swingle's office in 1993 before taking a job as an assistant prosecutor in Boone County. After several years, he later became a partner of a private law practice. "He was the kind of person that could brighten your day, he was so entertaining," Swingle said. Eblen was so skilled at cross examining expert witnesses that Swingle said he photocopied one of Eblen's cross examinations to hand to new assistant prosecutors. "He really was a good young lawyer," Swingle said.

Wal-Mart critics rally in St. Louis for better pay

ST. LOUIS -- The crowd at a downtown rally Friday didn't call for a Wal-Mart boycott, but the event's organizer, WakeupWalMart.com, does want people to join its movement to force Wal-Mart to offer higher pay and better health benefits and end all use of child labor. The event drew a couple of hundred people. WakeupWalMart.com is staging a 35-city, 19-state bus tour that began Aug. 1 in New York and will end in Seattle.

-- From staff reports