Ed Martin runs for Senate

Fresh on the heels of his failed bid for U.S. Congress, St. Louis Republican Ed Martin has announced his candidacy for Senate. Martin made the announcement via YouTube video on Monday. So far Martin and former-Missouri Treasurer Sarah Steelman have announced their intent to run, and there is speculation that others may join the race. Martin says he feels that primaries are a healthy process and need not hurt the Republican Party. "I think it will be great," Martin said. "I mean, the hard part is when competition damages people and gives people false impressions. But, I’m confident that we can talk about the central issue—size, scope and cost of the federal government." In a statement, Martin highlighted Senator Claire McCaskill’s support of the bank bailouts and President Obama’s healthcare...

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Road crews brace for massive winter storm

Road crews across Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois are on stand-by, in anticipation of the massive winter storm that is expected to cover much of the Midwest in snow and ice. In Perryville, the city's three salt trucks and eight plows are fueled up and ready to treat the city's 52 miles of road. Superintendent of public works Dave Clements says that his crew of 35 people can plow the city streets in 12 to 15 hours. Dealing with the ice is a treacherous task, but Clements also warns that snow is a difficult challenge for his road crews. "Where do you put 10 or 12 inches of snow?" Clements rhetorically asks. "Plowing a street is one...

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The Arrow to celebrate 100th anniversary

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Southeast Missouri State University’s student newspaper, The Arrow, will celebrate its 100thanniversary tomorrow.The Arrow published its first issue on February 1, 1911, after students voiced their need to have a campus paper during an assembly led by Clyde Harbison, who would become the first editor. The Arrow has always been run by students, something current editor Dan Fox believes is vital. "I think having a student perspective on news, national or local is incredibly important," Fox says. "The fact that we are not beholden to any department besides ourselves I think is important."The Arrow has a long tradition of covering not only campus and world news, but also being a forum for students to discuss their concerns about the university.In...

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Coalition asking EPA for more time to evaluate cleanup options for Carter Carburetor Superfund Site

ST. LOUIS, MO (KWMU) - A coalition of St. Louis City residents is asking the Environmental Protection Agency for more time to evaluate cleanup options for the Carter Carburetor Superfund Site on the city's north side. The former gasoline and diesel carburetor manufacturing plant once owned by ACF Industries has dangerous levels of several toxic contaminants, including PCBs and asbestos. Environmental justice advocate Romona Taylor Williams says she and other north side residents have asked EPA to provide an independent contractor to help them interpret the more than 600 page technical report about the site. "The independent contractor would provide the community with the scientific technical assistance that we need in order to evaluate, and to empower ourselves with the proper information...

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Missouri has highest black homicide victim rate in U.S.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Missouri has the highest black homicide victim rate in the country, according to an annual study conducted by the Violence Policy Center. Missouri had 40 black victims per 100,000 blacks. Pennsylvania came in second with 31 per 100,000.  St. Louis had 156 black homicides, 54 percent of the black homicides committed in Missouri.  In Missouri, 75 percent of the people knew their killer and 80 percent of the dead had had an argument with their killer. The VPC study found that firearms, especially handguns, were a large factor in the homicides. According to Josh Sugar​mann, executive director of the VPC and co-author of the study, Missouri ranked so high because individual cities cannot pass laws that are stricter...

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Fruitland quarry decision may come on February 7

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - The Missouri Land Reclamation Commission will meet in a closed session on February 7 to decide if two mining company can operate quarries in Fruitland.Residents of Fruitland have reacted strongly against the quarries, which would be located near Saxony Lutheran School. Over 30 citizens spoke in front the commission last week at a hearing in Jefferson City. Representatives from Heartland Materials and Strack Excavating outlined their proposals.State Representative Donna Lichtenegger has been actively campaigning to keep the quarries out of Fruitland. She says that residents of the small Cape Girardeau county community have been longing for a chance to speak openly with the mine operators."So far, from what I understand, the folks of Fruitland have not had...

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Land Reclamation Commission postpones decision on Fruitland quarries

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - The Missouri Land Reclamation Commission reached a no decision on Thursday regarding the fate of two quarries proposed for Fruitland. The Commission heard an entire day of testimony from nearly 30 people concerning the quarries. Testimony was heard from both sides regarding concerns about the two quarries and their proximity to Saxony Lutheran High School and residential areas in Fruitland. Citizens from the area brought up health concerns regarding dust from the quarries and the potential impact it would have on the high school and community. The Commission will reconvene today in a closed session in order to decide whether or not to grant formal hearings regarding the two quarry permit proposals. A formal hearing would mean more in-depth testimony in front of...

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Forty-six Kentucky elk to be relocated to eastern Ozarks

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - The Missouri Department of Conservation has captured forty-six Kentucky elk that will be used as the initial population of a restoration project in the eastern Ozarks. The Department of Conservation's Joe Jerek says that the group consists entirely of cows and immature males. "We didn't want to capture mature bull elk," Jerek explains. "They are far too strong to work with safely, and they would need to be sedated and whenever you sedate a big bull like that it really adds stress and risk to the animal." The elk will be in quarantine in Kentucky for 90 days. They will be treated for parasites and tested for diseases...

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Senators McCaskill and Blunt respond to State of the Union

Senator Claire McCaskill reacted to the President's State of the Union address by stating that she will be willing to work with Republicans towards a more accessible health care plan for those in the private sector. She predicts that by bringing more people into the health care pool, health care costs will go down without adding to the nation's defecit. "I am perfectly willing to change anything in the bill that will accomplish the goal, which is maintaining a private sector insurance market in this country, not a government program, making sure that insurance is accessible and affordable and that we can bring down healthcare costs, and not increase the deficit," McCaskill says. She states that ceasing to spend federal dollars on earmarks will allow for wiser spending in the future. McCaskill,...

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Riverdance wows crowd at Show-Me Center

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Irish songs and dances were put on display Tuesday night at Southeast Missouri State University's Show Me Center. Riverdance culminated in an explosion of beautiful vocals, excellent musicianship, and intricate Irish movement. Melissa Lincoln and her daughter Beth were in attendance. Beth enjoyed the dancing and Melissa appreciated the culture.  "My favorite part was when the girl in the orange dress was dancing around by the sun. It was really cool," Beth says. "It was a very nice experience seeing how the culture changed over time," her mother Melissa says. "The dances that they brought...

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Willie Nelson to return to Cape Girardeau

County singer Willie Nelson will return to the Show-Me Center on March 15. Nelson last played at the venue in 2006 in front of 2800 loyal fans. Show-Me Center marketing director Shannon Buford says that he is personally excited about the Nelson show because he is one of his all-time favorite artists. "He's one of those people that his name has become the standard," Buford says. "If you're talking any kind of music,  and somebody just brings up 'Willie,' they don't even have to finish his name. Everybody knows its Willie Nelson." 3900 seats will be available for the concert.  Photo courtesy of willienelson.c...

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Community college presidents vow to keep tuition hikes below $5 per hour

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Community college presidents came to an agreement to ask their boards of trustees to keep tuition increases at $5 or below per credit hour for the upcoming academic year. The boards of trustees make the final decision regarding tuition increases. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Mineral Area College board of trustees had held back some money in anticipation of the reduction to keep the cost affordable for their students. Mineral Area College president Steven Kurtz says that the agreement will not affect his school's plans to make ends meet in the upcoming academic year.  “Even before the Missouri community colleges {agreement}, we weren’t looking at more than a $5 increase anyway," Kurtz...

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Cape Council accepts Isle of Capri project plan, recommends Cape Air

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - The Cape Girardeau City Council voted unanimously yesterday to accept Phase I of Isle of Capri Casino’s final development plan. Phase I will include the construction of the casino and the relocation of Main Street, which will now connect with Spanish Street. Foundations for a hotel will also be built, but the hotel, which will be built on top of the casino, will not come along until the casino owners decide it is needed. The council also voted to transfer control of six city blocks to the casino. In other business, the city council passed a motion to allow city officials to begin contract negotiations...

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Mountain lion sightings on the rise in Missouri

MARYVILLE, MO (KXCV) - The weekend shooting of a mountain lion near La Plata in northeast Missouri is the fourth confirmed sighting in the state since November. Joe Jerek with the Missouri Department of Conservation says there have only been 14 confirmed sightings in Missouri in the last 16 years. But he says it’s not surprising the rash of recent reports are coming this winter."These all appear to be young males. So young male mountain lions tend to go in search of new territories at about 18 months of age. Now that happens usually during their second fall and winter, which is this time of year," Jerek says."So that’s one reason we may be seeing this. Another reason is we’ve had a number of recent sightings really along and stemming out from the Missouri River so it’s very...

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Dickerson no longer CEO of Hometown Innovation Team

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Hometown Innovation Team's new CEO says that the proposed Watch Me Smile dental and vision center will continue as planned. Angie Kapp took over as CEO following the departure of Weaver Dickerson on December 29, who created a maelstrom of controversy after if was discovered that he was on probation for writing bad checks. Despite this speed bump, Kapp says the company intends to continue with plans. "It has a lot of great benefits for Cape Girardeau and the surrounding areas. So we do move plan to move forward," Kapp says.   It is not clear if Dickerson resigned or was fired. Dickerson lied on application materials for Community Development Block Program loans and Quality Job Tax Credits from the state. He falsely stated that nobody...

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Habitat for Humanity breaks ground for new Cape Girardeau home

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - The Cape Girardeau chapter of Habitat for Humanity held a groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday for the construction of a house for a local family. Several volunteers, students, and members of Habitat for Humanity were in attendance at the event. Jessica Cooper, the president of Habitat For Humanity's Cape Girardeau chapter, says that "Habitat For Humanity helps families who probably wouldn't be able to get a loan from a bank. We build a house at a more affordable cost for them, and they don't get the house for free, a lot of people get that confused. Their saying is 'It's not a hand out, it's a hand up.'" The amount of time it takes to complete the house depends on the number of volunteers willing to help out. Habitat for Humanity will continue to accept those...

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Southeast HEALTH continues electronic records integration, expects changes to federal law

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Southeast HEALTH CEO Debbie Linnes says that legislative action to repeal the healthcare overhaul law complicates long-term planning for health care providers.  However, she believes that there is not enough support at the federal level for a full repeal.     "But I would anticipate that we will see changes possibly in how certain components of the program are structured, or funded, or administered," Linnes says.  "At the end of the day we still have to better integrate our clinical services at a lower cost platform and improve the quality outcomes for our health care consumer nationally."     Linnes says that Southeast HEALTH will continue plans to increase electronic medical records...

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"The Mikado" tells bizarre and witty love tale

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Gilbert and Sullivan specialist Frederick Reeder put on a wacky spectacle this weekend in the form of the comic opera The Mikado. The show opened on Saturday night in front of a packed house at Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus. The Mikado is a 19th century British satire set within Japanese culture. It was updated to include modern humor within the traditional musical scores. Ryan Janik from Festus checked out the operetta. He says it was an entertaining way to spend the evening. "I​ think that if the number would have been left as they were written in 1865, perhaps we wouldn't have understand...

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