This afternoon on seMissourian.com

Motive sought for shooting of two Ameren workers in Jackson

Jackson police are searching for a motive in the shooting of two Ameren utility workers this morning, said chief James Humphreys.The shooting occurred around 10 a.m., at the Ameren substation near Center Junction in Jackson, where Interstate 55 intersects Jackson Boulevard.The shooter opened fire on Ameren employees working at the substation, then fled the scene in a small maroon Chevrolet truck, Humpreys said.Two Ameren employees were injured in the shooting and transported to a nearby hospital, Humphreys said.Police believe some Jackson sanitation workers spotted the truck and alerted police of its location, allowing them to stop the vehicle at Ridge Road.Before police could make an arrest, the suspected shooter took his own life with what is believed to be the same 12-gauge shotgun used in the shooting, Humpreys said.Not much is known at this time about the deceased shooter, but he appeared to be in his mid-20s, Humphreys said.Look for more on this story later on semissourian.com and in Saturday's edition of the Southeast Missourian.

State extends payment deadline for some tax collections

Businesses that missed state deadlines for some tax payments due to the late January ice storm will not be penalized, the director of the Missouri Department of Revenue said today.

During the ice storm, some areas of Southeast Missouri were without power for two weeks or longer, shutting down businesses and leaving important tax information locked in computers that could not be accessed, said Karen Mitchell, director of the state tax agency.

During that time, payments for taxes on general sales, fuel and tobacco products were due from retailers. Businesses may also have missed deadlines for corporate income and franchise tax payments as well as payment of income taxes withheld from employee paychecks, she noted. Because businesses missed deadlines due to weather and not neglect, King said the state is accepting late payment of the taxes and waiving interest and penalties.For more on this story click here.

Habitat to break ground on two-week project involving Southeast students

Habitat for Humanity leaders will break ground Saturday for a home that will be built mostly by Southeast Missouri State University students on its campus, all within a two-week time frame.Construction is expected to begin on the parking lot near 920 Broadway on March 7 and end March 21 when the entire house is loaded on a trailer enroute to its new address at 1640 Main St. Ground breaking will take place at 11:30 a.m.The home will be built for Cape Girardeau residents John and Ashley Sterling and their four children.

Tomorrow on semissourian.com

Look for more in Saturday on the shooting in Jackson, Rudi Keller's recap of Doug Leslie's last day as city manager of Cape Girardeau, Peg McNichol's story on Perry County's earthquake awareness seminar and Brian Blackwell's blog about an existing franchise opening Tuesday in Cape Girardeau.