CAPE WOMAN SUES PAPER

Cape Girardeau resident Helen Sterling filed a lawsuit against the Southeast Missourian on Nov. 20, alleging in the petition that the newspaper damaged her "reputation, character and standing in the community."

It was filed two years after the Missourian began a series of articles about Community Sweat Equity Housing Corp., a not-for-profit organization for helping low- and moderate-income families become homeowners.

The series stated that Helen Sterling's son and daughter-in-law operated the program, and Sterling was a tenant in one of the homes.

"We stand by our stories," said Wally Lage, the newspaper's publisher.