This afternoon on seMissourian.com

State identifies 34 highway projects ready to go

The Missouri Department of Transportation's director said today that the agency has 34 highway projects ready to go, including projects on Interstate 55. We're waiting for the Associated Press to identify exactly what the projects are, and we'll update the story when we get that information.

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Fire does major damage to Chaffee home

A morning fire did major damage to a home in Chaffee, Mo., today, but luckily no one was hurt. The fire was discovered by an attentive neighbor, who alerted the family in the home.

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Locals tapped to help Nixon transition

Gov.-elect Jay Nixon announced a team of 100 people that will help recruit workers for his administration today, including some notable names from Southeast Missouri like Rebecca Cook and Jerry Ford.

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Dexter drug death case put on hold, for now

Last month we reported on a Dexter, Mo., man's drug overdose that landed one of his friends in jail on suspicion that he sold the dead man the drugs that killed him.

Now the case has temporarily been put on hold while authorities await toxicology reports on the deceased.

Click here for more on this story from the Daily Statesman newspaper.

The weekend on seMissourian.com

Check seMissourian.com on Saturday for stories on funding cuts for some senior programs in Cape Girardeau County and a look at tonight's Downtown Open House.

Come back on Sunday and Monday for more on the Kezer trial, the march on South Hanover, the Jackson and Cape Girardeau Christmas parades and a closer look at public employees' salaries in Cape Girardeau.