Region briefs 2/7/08

Half-cent sales tax will be topic for First Friday

The proposal to increase sales taxes in Cape Girardeau by a half-cent will be the subject of this month's First Friday coffee. Postponed due to the snowstorm last week, members and guests of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce will meet at 7 a.m. Friday at the Show Me Center. The program on the tax proposal will begin about 7:40 a.m. The city is asking voters to increase the total sales tax rate within city limits to 7.975 percent to provide $25 million in new revenue. Of that amount, $20 million would be used for parks improvements, $2 million would be used for new vehicles and $3 million would be used for storm-water abatement. Voters will pass judgment on the tax measure April 8.

'The Vagina Monologues' presented tonight

The Southeast Missouri State University communications student club COMMrades and the university's Dollars for Innovative Campus Events program will sponsor a performance of Eve Ensler's play "The Vagina Monologues" at 7:30 p.m. today at Rose Theatre on the Southeast campus. The performance is part of the national V-Day campaign, formed by Ensler to raise awareness and money to combat violence against women. This is the sixth year the play is being produced in Cape Girardeau. "The Vagina Monologues" is a series of monologues that tells women's stories from different time periods and places. This year's performance includes a new monologue called "Welcome to the Wetlands," which highlights the women of New Orleans. Tickets are free for students, $3 for university faculty and $5 for others. Ninety percent of the proceeds go to benefit the Southeast Missouri Network Against Sexual Violence, with the other 10 percent going to benefit charities in New Orleans. Donations are also welcome, specifically nonperishable food and toiletries for the Safe House for Women. For more information, call 986-4908.

-- From staff reports