Major General Walsh still undecided on Birds Point

SIKESTON, MO (KRCU) - The Army Corps of Engineers is facing an unprecedented decision – whether or not to blow up one of their own levees to lessen flooding pressure upstream. The decision comes in the face of near historic levels of flooding on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. A barge full of explosives is waiting near the Birds Point levee, located just south of the town of Cairo, Illinois which sits at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. The Corps has not yet made a decision. Detonation would flood 130,000 acres and displace 200 people. Colonel Vernie Reichling says that the Corps does not take this decision lightly. "You know, we don’t want to use the floodway. But if we have to, it has to be at the right time. It’s not about the condition at Cairo gauge. It’s...

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Judge Limbaugh rules in favor of Army Corps of Engineers

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - A federal judge gave the Army Corps of Engineers the go ahead to destroy a levee in rural Missouri. The man-made breach would ease flooding on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers Judge Steven Limbaugh ruled that the Army Corps of Engineers has legal authority to breach the Birds Point levee, just south of the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster filed a temporary restraining order against the Corps this week to block the detonation. Koster said in a press release that he would like to see the Eighth District Court review the decision. Corps spokesman Jim Pogue says there is still no decision on whether or not to go ahead with the plan. "If the leadership decides that we need to move forward, then that decision...

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While judge considers levee breach, Olive Branch threatened by rising water

OLIVE BRANCH, IL (KRCU) - As judge Stephen Limbaugh mulls a decision on the Army Corps of Engineer’s authority to open a hole in the Birds Point levee, residents in the small town of Olive Branch fill sandbags and try to salvage what’s left above water.  Many homes and businesses in Olive Branch are already submerged. The Alexander County community has been under a boil water order for a week. Electricity regularly cuts on and off. Olive Branch is threatened by water from both the Ohio and Mississippi River. About twenty people - young and old - gather at one home on Route 3, desperately filling sandbags to protect one of the most threatened...

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Governor Quinn considers mandatory evacuations

MARION, IL (WSIU) - Residents in several southern Illinois communities are voluntarily evacuating as flood waters continue to rise to potentially historic levels. During a visit to the State Command Center in Marion Thursday, Governor Pat Quinn says depending on how high the flood waters get, he would not rule out mandatory evacuations for severely flooded areas in southern Illinois. “We have to make sure that the levees hold if they are in any danger of breaching. And if water is coming towards people in a way that’s life threatening, we will have mandatory evacuation. That’s why we deployed more National Guard service members,” Quinn said. Quinn activated an additional 200 Illinois National Guard Troops on Thursday to help in the flood fight. That means over 320 guardsmen have been...

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Judge Limbaugh mulls ruling on Birds Point case

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - A federal judge in Cape Girardeau is expected to make a decision soon on the Army Corps of Engineers’ authority to destroy the Birds Point levee in Mississippi County. Construction of the Birds Point levee was completed in 1932, and was built to serve as an emergency button to relieve upstream communities from flooding on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Judge Stephen Limbaugh says that he needs more time to go over what he called the case’s complicated, technical, and esoteric details. He offered no indication of when he will offer a ruling. Limbaugh added that he was uncertain that he even has authority to rule on the matter, citing a previous decision in the 8th District Court of Appeals. The levee was only blown up once - in 1937. Record high river...

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McCaskill visits flooded Poplar Bluff

POPLAR BLUFF, MO (KRCU) - Senator Claire McCaskill travelled to flood-ravaged Poplar Bluff on Wednesday, where she met with evacuees and first responders at the Black River Coliseum. McCaskill praised the rescuers and volunteers who are assisting flood victims in the southern Missouri town. But she was concerned that Poplar Bluff’s levees have failed twice since 2008. "It’s hard for us to do more right now because we’re trying to spend less," McCaskill said. "But having said that, the federal government may end up spending a significant amount of money down here in terms of disaster recovery. So we always would rather spend the money at the front end than at the back end. And that’s the message I’m going back to Washington with." McCaskill suggested that the federal government provide...

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McCaskill asks President for alternatives to breaching Birds Point

The flooding along the Mississippi and Ohio rivers has placed the Army Corps of Engineers in difficult situation: the Corps is weighing a decision to flood thousands of acres of farmland, or try to save homes. The Army Corps says it’s going to wait until the weekend before deciding whether or not to intentionally blow up a levee and flood some 130,000 acres of Missouri Farmland. A law enacted in 1928 allows the Army Corps to blow up the levee at Birds Point to reduce flood risk for the nearby town Cairo, Illinois. The plan has raised the ire of folks on the Missouri-side of the river. Senator Clair McCaskill has sent a letter to the President asking for alternative measures, while also acknowledging that decision is difficult. “The Army Corps of Engineers has a very difficult choice...

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JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - A new Missouri congressional map goes to the governor's desk after it was passed in the House and Senate Wednesday. The new map would eliminate St. Louis Democratic Representative Russ Carnahan's district. St. Louis Democratic Senator Robin Wright-Jones refused to sign off on the new map because it only leaves Democrats with two districts. "I believe that Missouri has been a 50/50 state in its voting patterns and a 6-2 just was not reflective of our real mindset," Wright-Jones said. Republican Speaker of the House Steven Tilley says the map has enough republican support to override a veto from the governor. Danielle McCarthy, Missouri Digital N...

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Another round of storms hits Poplar Bluff

POPLAR BLUFF, MO (KRCU) - Residents of Poplar Bluff, Missouri hunkered down for another round of storms last night. An overnight storm dumped another two inches of rain on the saturated community, but the fragile levee protecting the town survived the downpour.  The Black River in Poplar Bluff has risen to dangerously high levels which prompted a mandatory evacuation. The teetering levee breached just south of town, pouring floodwater through rural Butler County. Lieutenant Brian Evans with Sheriff’s Department says that the Missouri National Guard has helped rescue over 150 people from the floodwaters. He describes the scene “surreal.”...

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Kinder's car set on fire

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - Missouri Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder's car went up in flames Monday after two men stole the unattended car and set it on fire. Kinder left the keys inside his car while he was speaking at an event in Cape Girardeau. The two men tried unsuccessfully to break into a nearby gun shop by ramming the car into its entrance. They abandoned the car on a county road and set fire to it, police say. The owner of the gun store says Kinder is actually a customer. Kinder stopped by to talk with employees the next day and explain what happened. The car was paid for by the "Friends of Peter Kinder" campaign in 2009. Police have arrested one of the men and are still looking for the oth...

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Levee ruptures in Butler County

POPLAR BLUFF, MO (KRCU) - Residents of rural Butler County, Missouri are fleeing to higher ground after a rupture on the Black River levee. The breakage occurred just south of the community of Poplar Bluff. The levee failure is spilling floodwater across agricultural lands and farm houses in this rural southern Missouri County. Missouri National Guard troops and the Butler County Sheriff’s Department are evacuating all residents in the floodwater’s path. Poplar Bluff deputy police chief Jeff Rolland says that rupture is easing tension on the fragile Black River levee that threatens the community. But he cautions that the town could still be in danger. "That levee is so saturated with water that it is still very unstable. Any more torrential downpours could cause it issues also," Rolland...

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Residents evacuate low-lying Poplar Bluff neighborhoods

POPLAR BLUFF, MO (KRCU) - Residents of Poplar Bluff fled to higher ground Monday as the city issued a mandatory evacuation of its low-lying southern neighborhoods. City officials decided that the Black River levee was bound to fail, and took action to remove residents from their houses. The Black River levee is leaking but it did not rupture overnight. The police department is reporting 59 water rescues Monday night. Most of the rescues were people who were trapped in their homes. Captain Don Trout says that there are currently 259 people in the Black River Coliseum, which is serving as an evacuation shelter. As many at 1500 residents fled their homes for higher ground, according to Jim Hoyt, a Poplar Bluff pastor. He says that he has seen homes with a foot or two of water. Any...

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Region pummeled by more severe weather

Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois communities braced for yet another round of torrential rain last night as thunderstorms rumbled across the region. The storms left more water on already saturated ground, increasing the risk of flash floods. River crest prediction were raised. Flooded streets were reported in Jackson, Cape Girardeau, and Anna, Illinois. Funnel clouds were spotted west of Marble Hill, where the roofs were blown off of barns, trees were splintered, and at least one trailer was snapped in half. Law enforcement agents also reported a funnel cloud near Doniphan in Ripley County. And a possible tornado was spotted west of Poplar Bluff, where more rain fell on the already flooded ci...

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Few evacuations reported in Cape

Cape Girardeau Emergency Management Director Mark Hasheider says that there have been few residential and commercial evacuations in Cape. Due to the buyouts following the 1993 flood, few residences are left unprotected by Cape’s river wall or levee. Hasheider says that most of those homes fall in Cape Girardeau’s Red Star district, north of the casino site. There are also some residences in the Meadowbrook area near the interstate. Roads near the river and creeks are the most susceptible to flooding, Hasheider says. Due to saturation, areas that do not normally flood could quickly become inundated. The biggest challenge for Cape Girardeau’s Emergency Management Team, he says, is to convince people to never drive through standing pools of water on roads and to use extreme caution when...

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Koster files suit against Army Corps of Engineers

Missouri’s attorney general is filing suit in federal court to prevent the U-S Army Corps of Engineers from detonating a levee. The Army Corps was to decide Tuesday afternoon whether it would blow the Birds Point levee near New Madrid. The Associated Press is reporting the Corps has chosen to delay that decision. Attorney General Chris Koster says he wants a federal court to review the Corps’ proposal to detonate the levee before it can move forward. "There are no good options at this point, I understand that, but before we create a manmade detonation that is going flood 130,000 acres of Missouri farmland, we want to make sure the Corps can legitimize in federal court its decision," Koster said. The Corps believes breaking the levee will take a significant amount of water out of the...

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More severe weather is on the way

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - More rain continued overnight, putting stress on storm drains and contributing more water to an already swollen Mississippi River. Meteorologist Kelly Hooper with the National Weather Service in Paducah, Kentucky says that there were no severe storms overnight, though flash flood warnings exist for much of the area. Most areas received another half inch of rainfall. And more severe weather could be on the way. Hooper says that another line of powerful storms will affect the area tonight … and the storms should be more severe than this weekend’s storms. “What’s happened is this cold front has stalled over the area. Impulses in the upper levels are rotating through, creating these daily or nightly rounds of thunderstorms, or both in some cases. But coming...

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Lambert Airport resumes 70 percent of flights

ST. LOUIS, MO (ST. LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO) - The director of Lambert-St. Louis International Airport says it’s “amazing” that the tornado-damaged facility is up and running as well as it is. Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge says when she first surveyed the damage from the EF-3 tornado Friday night, she would not have expected to be able to handle 100 flights just 36 hours later. That’s about 70 percent of Lambert’s usual capacity. “We had so much support and so many people pulled together and everyone went by the playbook as to who’s got to do what and organized stuff,” she said. Hamm-Niebruegge says the heavily-damaged C Concourse remains closed indefinitely....

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Army Corps of Engineers initiate Phase II floodfight

The Army Corps of Engineers has initiated a Phase II flood fight along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. A Phase II flood fight is initiated when the river gauge at Cairo reaches 52 feet. The rivers at Cairo are now at 53. The expected crest is 58 ½ feet. The river stage at Cape Girardeau was at 38.8 feet at 3 p.m. yesterday with a forecasted crest of 44.5 feet. Flood stage at Cape Girardeau is 32.0 feet. In a press release, Colonel Vernie Reichling of the Memphis District says, quote, “We are anticipating near-record flood levels in many parts of the Memphis District. We have not seen levels predicted this high since 1937,” end quote. A phase two flood fight entailed greater monitoring of river levels, checks for leaks and sand boils along levees, and establishing field offices in Cape...

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Cairo airport struck by tornado; Cape airport to resume flights to STL

The airport at Cairo, Illinois was hit by a tornado Saturday night. The tornado ripped apart the hanger and damaged the office and at least one airplane, according to the Associated Press and The Southern Illinoisan newspaper. The Cape Girardeau Regional Airport will resume flights to Lambert International Airport on Tuesday, according to a press release. Cape Air flights will use Concourse D. The Cape Girardeau Regional Airport was not affected by storms. Local operations are norm...

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River levels rising

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - The Mississippi and Ohio Rivers are both on the rise, and continued rain this week will increase the likelihood of flooding. The Army Corps of Engineers has switched to a Phase One flood fight, which means that they have personnel on call to open up field operations in flood prone communities. Army Corps of Engineers spokesperson Jim Pogue says that the usual lineup of river towns should keep an eye on the rising river. "Cairo, New Madrid, Charleston, down around Dyersburg in Tennessee. Those are the traditional areas that are problematic where we have to do a lot of monitoring. But generally what we look at are agricultural areas that aren’t protected by the levee system," Pogue said. River levels are expected to rise by one foot each day until the rivers...

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Missouri Senate passes bill to reduce size of House

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - The Missouri Senate passed a bill that would eliminate 60 state Representatives after the next census. The bill would cut the number of Representatives from 163 to 103. According to bill sponsor and St. Louis County Republican Senator Jim Lembke, Missouri has the fourth-largest House in the country. Lembke says downsizing will save money and provide a more efficient government. "This is about having a manageable statehouse and across state government, making changes that would save taxpayers money. This would save taxpayers about five million dollars a year," Lembke says. Opponents of the bill say cutting Representatives would cause leaders to be less in touch with their constituents. Republican Clay Senator LuAnn Ridgeway says this reduction...

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MDC to start bear trapping program in Southeast Missouri

The Missouri Department of Conservation will begin a bear trapping program in Southeast Missouri. Black bears once thrived in the region, but were largely driven out of the state by the 1950s. Arkansas reintroduced black bears in the 1960s. It is thought that many of the black bears currently found in Missouri are descendents of these Arkansas bears. The MDC conducted a trapping program last year in Southwest Missouri with the University of Missouri and Mississippi State University. The Southeast Missouri program will partner with the same universities. This study will provide information such as movement patterns, population densities, habitat preferences, male to female ratios, and overall numbers of Missouri bears, according to an MDC press relea...

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McMullen to head Cape Alternative School

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Cape Central Middle School math and science teacher Scott McMullen will be the new director of the Cape Alternative Education Center. He will assume the position after the end of the current school year. McMullen graduated from Cape Central and Southeast Missouri State University. He received his Masters degree from William Woods University. McMullen is replacing Carla Fee, who was recently appointed principal of Cape Central Junior High Scho...

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Confirmed tornado struck Patton

View Larger Map PATTON, MO (KRCU) - Repair crews are rushing to fix roofs and haul off debris in several communities across Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois following Tuesday night’s powerful storms.  In the Bollinger County town on Patton, metal roofing rests twisted across pastures and massive trees lie toppled. Power was lost through much of the area. The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado touched down southwest of Patton Tuesday night. Weather Service senior meteorologist Chris Noles says that the tornado’s path was a mile long and 100 yards it length, where it leveled trees and power lines and shore the roof off of a barn. Noles says that the EF-0 tornado produced 80 mile per hour winds, which complicates separating tornado damage from straight line...

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SEMO Red Cross and St. Francis Medical Center receive MFH grants

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - St. Francis Medical Center and the Southeast Missouri chapter of the American Red Cross received grants from the Missouri Foundation for Health on Wednesday. A two-year, $100,000 grant was given to the Red Cross to provide basic support for services and assistance to victims of disasters based on their needs, educating the public on prevention and survival, and training volunteers, according to Cheryl Klueppel, the executive director for the American Red Cross - Southeast Missouri chapter. "We are so pleased and grateful to the Missouri Foundation for Heath for recognizing the need and recognizing the support that the American Red Cross can provide in the Southeast Misssouri area to help address and support some of the health needs in the Bootheel area. So we...

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Egyptologist comes to Southeast

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Dr. Sara Orel of Truman State University visited Southeast Missouri State on Wednesday afternoon to present a lecture titled “Saints, Snakes, and Survey in Upper Egypt.” The accomplished Art Historian spoke about her time in Egypt where she surveyed quarries and tombs of the ancient Egyptian Civilization. “Over three seasons we documented twelve quarries and mapped over one hundred tombs, planning several of the tombs in more detail,” she said. Dr. Orel explained how she and her team surveyed Egyptian resources and surroundings. From their findings, they deduced reasons for settling in certain locations as well as proposed tactical choices the landscape provided for defense as well as comfort. Daniel Rohr, K...

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MDC makes final preparations for elk

WINONA, MO (KRCU) - The Missouri Department of Conservation has made final preparations for the transfer of 34 elk to the Peck Ranch Conservation Area.  The elk will be moved from Kentucky on April 30 to the expansive elk zone in Carter, Shannon, and Reynolds Counties. Department of Conservation agents have been managing the 36 square mile Peck Ranch Conservation Area to improve habitat for elk and other animals. Wildlife biologist Ryan Houf says that the department has established food plots of clover, alfalfa, orchard grass, wheat, and rye. They have cleared undergrowth through prescribed fire, which Houf says clears off undesired...

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Missouri Senate passes prayer in school legislation

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL MEDIA) - A Missouri Senate Committee unanimously passed legislation to allow prayer in public schools and government buildings on Tuesday. For four years in a row the legislation has made it to the Senate floor, but died there every time. St. Louis City Democrat Robin Wright-Jones says she has no problem with people praying anywhere. Wright-Jones voted for the bill in committee and says she does not see any Democratic opposition this year. "There's just the eight of us and two of us voted for it. I think the others are Roman Catholic men so I don't think they would have a problem, but I don't know for sure," Wright-Jones said. The House has already passed the bill and the bill's sponsor says he is very optimistic the Senate will pass it too. Brian...

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Violent storm strikes Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - The strong winds and heavy rains that pulverized Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois left downed power lines, shattered trees, and damaged roofs throughout the region. The National Weather Service reports that winds in Olive Branch, Illinois – in Alexander County – reached between 90 and 95 miles per hour last night as the storm rushed through that area. In Cape County, winds at the Cape Girardeau Regional Airport touched 58 miles per hour. In Daisy, a barn was blown over and tree damage is widespread. Damage was reported throughout Bollinger County. Marble Hill experienced straight line winds between 70 and 75 miles per hour. Most of the damage was reported west and north of Marble Hill, and includes some homes that lost their roofs. An unconfirmed tornado...

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Cape City Council to consider rental inspections and licenses

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - The city of Cape Girardeau may soon call for landlords to become licensed as well as require rental inspections in hopes to enforce property maintenance codes. The Neighborhood Protection Program was designed to provide safe living environments for tenants, protect property values, and encourage reinvestment, which Assistant City Manager Ken Eftink believes can be accomplished one block at a time. "The goal is to protect neighborhoods, basically protecting one block at a time. If you look at a house that is in a dilapidated condition it brings down the values of all the other properties on that block," Eftink says. Eftink asked for City Council approval last night and will meet with landlords this week before drafting an ordinance. In other news, the Cape...

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Governor supports Prop B compromise

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - The Governor backed a compromise to Proposition B headlined by weaker regulations and more than one million dollars added to its budget. Jay Nixon said in a press release the proposed legislation is a compromise among voters, animal rights groups, and Missouri's agricultural industry. The agreement would add $1.1 million to the budget and also allow breeders to own more than 50 dogs, a reversal of the original regulations. Senator Mike Parson sponsored the original bill. He agrees with the compromise, but says he's worried with the interference from the United States Humane Society. "That's a disappointing fact that people from out of the state of Missouri don't even want to compromise when all the animal rights groups in Missouri are agreeing...

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Aluminum comes to life on Bedell stage

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Theatrics and dazzling performance graced the River Campus of Southeast Missouri State University when the Aluminum Show visited the Donald C. Bedell Performance Hall last night. The performance is a world renowned attraction featuring large scale aluminum puppets as well as dancers clad in the shiny metal complimented by a stimulating combination of music and light work. The audience-interactive show was created in Israel and quickly gained popularity for its unique use of industrial metals mixed with performance to create a colorful and entertaining spectacle. The Aluminum Show will continue its tour of the U.S. until June when it begins performances in Madrid’s Teatro Coliseum. Daniel Rohr, K...

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Webb City does not enact smoking ban

On the same day that Cape Girardeau residents voted against a smoking ban, the citizens in a western Missouri town chose to approve a similar non-smoking measure. Yet the city council in the Jasper County town of Webb City chose to not enact the smoking ordinance. The Webb City ordinance passed by a vote of 452 to 348. Regardless, the City Council chose to not put the non-smoking measure into law, voting against it 5 to 3. Webb City mayor John Biggs says that council members voted against the measure for individual liberty reasons … and due to low voter turnout. "It just depends on your point of view," Biggs said. "The people that were for the smoking ban thought it was a great turnout. The people that had a mindset against it thought it was a poor turnout." Only 12% of registered...

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Russell wins OVC Player of the Week

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - The Designated Hitter on Southeast Missouri State University’s baseball team walked home with a special recognition on Monday. Brett Russell won the Adidas Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week award. During last week’s five games, Russell gathered two hits in each contest and propelled the Redhawks to victory in each contest. Russell drove in nine runs during his 20 at bats last week. The Redhawks will take on Arkansas State tonight at Capaha Field at 5 p...

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USDA grants $14M to Mizzou, Texas A&M for cattle research

COLUMBIA, MO (KBIA) - The U-S Department of Agriculture is giving 14 million dollars in grants to the University of Missouri and Texas A&M in hopes to find the most efficient ways to breed cattle. Farmers aren’t getting the most out of the feed they’re shoveling into their troughs. That’s the basic hypothesis behind the grant. It will pay the University of Missouri to map the genes of cattle and examine bacteria and microbes in the animals’ stomachs. Director of the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Roger Beachy, says this will help identify the all-star cattle. “We’re gonna get a view of what the diversity of all the animal population is and through that they’re going to be able to select those breeds that are higher-use efficiency. By doing that, we will produce more...

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Emerson suggests barring taxpayer funds IPCC

Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-R) joined legislation on Friday that would bar taxpayer funds for the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. In press release, Emerson calls support of the IPCC a “wasteful idea” and that “We ought to hold the publication of scientific data to the highest standard, especially when there is an implied endorsement of the quality of data on climate change by the government.” Emerson cites criticism of the IPCC for fabricating scientific data on climate change. U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-R), who presents Missouri's 9th Congressional District, sponsored the bi...

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Missouri lauded for reduction of recidivism rate

The state of Missouri is receiving praise for improving its rate of criminals who return to prison three years or less after their initial release. A recently released Pew study applauds Missouri for its decrease in prison recidivism, one of three states to do so. Adam Gelb is ​ the director of the Public Safety Performance Project at the Pew Center on the States. "The overall message is that while the national number is fairly flat, some states like Missouri are making significant progress in putting research about what works into action and cutting their return to prison rate. So I think what other states can take from Missouri is that this is not an intractable, unsolvable problem," Gelb said. Missouri decided to follow the research and began laying out a plan in order to decrease...

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Spring into Dance combines movement, sound, and sculpture

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Percussionist Taylor Stanton is accustomed to teamwork. As a member of the Southeast Missouri Orchestra’s rhythm section, he has to keep his ears open to sounds of his fellow musicians. But for the new Spring into Dance recital, that collaboration goes beyond music. Listen to the story.  “It was a joint collaboration between Dr. Reynolds, Dr. Strauss, some people in the Art department, and all of the heads of the Dance department too,” Stanton said. “It’s one big collaboration between all three departments.” Spring into Dance is a dance production that features lives music from the Southeast Missouri Orchestra,...

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Southeast names new head women's basketball coach

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - The Southeast Missouri State University women’s basketball team has a brand new coach.  The Athletics Department introduced Ty Margenthaler to the community yesterday. Margenthaler has been an assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin for the past five years. He comes from a family steeped in coaching tradition: both his father and brother are coaches at the collegiate level. Flanked by his wife, two sons, parents, and in-laws, Margenthaler thanked Southeast President Ken Dobbins and Athletic Director John Shafer for selecting him as the new coach. But Margenthaler plans to hit the ground running...

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GOP supermajority splinters in Mo. Senate

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - The top Democrat in Missouri's House says the standoff within the Republican supermajority is slowing down important legislation. Mike Talboy watched as Missouri's legislature fractured. The House's Republican leaders decided not to have floor debate on Monday, saying there's nothing to do. Talboy says he's never seen that before. "It's disappointing that we get to some sort of standoff where we decide that we're going to adjourn early. It is what it is at this point," Talboy said. In what House Republicans portrayed as a snub, they say their counterparts in the Senate refused to work out differences over redrawing district lines. Because of that, House Republican leader Tim Jones says there's nothing for the House to do on Monday. "If...

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Domestic violence victim speaks on state Capitol lawn

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - A victim of domestic violence brought her story to the state Capitol lawn to urge lawmakers to strengthen domestic violence laws. For Carol Cromer, she says life with her husband was a nightmare. Before his suicide, he stalked her every move. He sent her threatening messages. He even set fire to her car and to her home. "It had been five very long years of living in constant fear. It had consumed my life so long, that I was unsure of what it would be like to live life normally again," Cromer said. She says keeping him behind bars was nearly impossible as he would place bond everytime. "These individuals are incapable of changing their own lives," she said. "They do not value their own lives. Therefore expecting them to value someone...

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Prescribed fires bring ecological advantages

DAISY, MO (KRCU) - Birds chirping, dogs barking, sun shining, breeze blowing; spring had finally arrived at Ed Graves' farm just outside of Daisy, Missouri. Listen to the story. Graves is originally from the St. Louis area where he worked in law enforcement for 30 years before moving to Southeast Missouri five years ago when his wife retired. After searching all over the state, they finally decided on Southeast Missouri to enjoy retirement and a past time they've shared for years. "For 30 years we've been running bird dogs, Brittanies,” Graves says. “And I field trial them and train them, so we were looking for an area where we could help...

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Constitutional Amendment would protect voter-approved initiatives

St. Louis area Representative Scott Sifton is working to bring a new amendment to Missouri’s Constitution. The so-called Voter Protection Act would require a three-fourths majority in both the House and Senate to amend or repeal a voter-approved measure, such as Prop B or the clean energy law. Sifton, a Democrat, has organized a Voter Protection Alliance that includes proponents on both the left and the right, such as the Humane Society of the United States and Americans for Tax Reform. Sifton says that he understands that legislators should vote the will of their district, and that is precisely why amendments to Proposition B have passed the House and Senate. That’s also why he believes that voter-approved laws need protection. “The folks that show up for work here to cast votes are...

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Mo. House rolls back Puppy Mill law

When voters approved the “Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act”, commonly called “Proposition B”, few guessed the issue of puppies would so divide state lawmakers….they were wrong. The dog-breeding issue has pit urban vs. rural, with rural lawmakers largely opposed to greater regulation. The House voted to on Wednesday roll back portions of the Puppy Mill Cruelty Prevention Act, commonly called “Proposition B”. Barbara Schmitz is the Director of the Missouri Humane Society. She says the move is slap in the face of state voters. "Well, it’s a travesty that both the House and the Senate have voted in support of a measure that would roll back something that the voters just spoke to a few months ago," Schmitz said. Schmitz says the bill remove requirements for cage size, access to water,...

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Koster brings charges against Caruthersville woman

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster has brought Medicaid fraud charges against a Caruthersville woman. Koster brought four felony charges against professionally licensed counselor Kristi M. Smith. She is charged with four counts of Medicare fraud, one count of forgery, and one count of stealing by deceit, according to a release from the Attorney General’s office. Missouri’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit revealed that Smith had billed the state for over 32 hundred dollars in 2009 and 2010. Smith could receive up to 7 years for each of the six violatio...

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Wyoming couple on coast-to-coast horseback journey cross through Cape

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - A young couple from Wyoming crossed the Emerson Memorial Bridge yesterday at noon on horseback as they attempt to ride across the entire United States from California to Delaware.  Richard and Jeanette McGrath have been riding for 13 months. They are accompanied by five horses and a dog that began following them in Kansas. The McGraths are taking their cross-country trip to raise money for their non-profit organization, called Hearts Up Ranch. Hearts Up helps people who have suffered from emotional trauma - such as war veterans or rape victims - by taking them by horseback into the wilderness. Jeanette McGrath...

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Herman Cain campaigns in Jefferson City

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - Tea Party activists showed suppport in favor of a presidential hopeful Herman Cain on the state Capitol's front-lawn. The former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City and radio talk show spoke to a crowd of around 200 about his agenda to lower taxes and strengthen state's individual rights. Although Cain is not a Tea Party candidate, Tea Party activists came to show support for his platform. "I have people asking me all the time. Do you think this Tea-Party 'thing' is going to go away? What 'thing' are you talking about? You talking about these people wanting to take back their government? No, it's not going away. It's gonna get stronger and stronger," Cain said. Cain says he feels confident that a conservative agenda will prevail...

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Redistricting plan would split Jefferson County between 3 Congresspeople

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - As part of the House's redistricting proposal, Missourians in Jefferson County would be represented by three different members of Congress. The Senate has failed to vote on the House's redistricting plan because of opposition by several Missouri Senators. Most opposing Senators say the Republican Senate's plan is a better alternative than the Republican House's. But Democratic Jefferson County Senator Ryan McKenna says he opposes both plans. "For my county to be the only county in the State now to have three congressmen and women is a hard pill for me to swallow," McKenna said. Republican Senator Bill Stouffer says this is one time politics should be put aside. "This map doesn't have a chance to go through this body," Stouffer said. Senators...

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Mo. House passes unemployment benefit legislation

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - Governor Nixon's signature is all that's left before 10,000 Missourians get their unemployment benefits restored. The Missouri House sent legislation to the governor to extend unemployment benefits by a vote of 138 to 13. The bill came from the Senate where a Republican filibuster had held it up for weeks. The delay made benefits expire on April 2 for 10,000 long-term unemployed Missourians. Republican Representative Barney Fisher from Western Missouri says it was time for the bill to reach the governor. "We had to accept them really and concur in what the Senate did. I don't think their changes were drastic. I think they were reasonable and it was time to pass that bill and get it to the governor," Fisher said. Democrat leader Mike Talboy...

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Koster files amicus brief that questions individual mandate

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster filed an amicus brief in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals that questions the Constitutionality of the Obama Administration’s Health Care law. Koster joined the state of Florida in questioning the individual mandate. Missouri voters passed a referendum last year that prohibits the federal government from requiring people to purchase health insurance. Republican state Senator Jason Crowell reacted favorably to Koster’s decision. “He is a Democrat. He is our state’s chief law enforcement officer. And he’s putting his duties as chief law enforcement officer over his affiliation as a Democrat and I applaud him,” Crowell said. Crowell also recognizes that Koster’s amicus brief will have little to no impact on the court’s decision. An amicus brief...

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Redistricting map passes Senate committee

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - The conflict between urban and rural interests took center stage in the re-districting debate. The Senate redistricting committee passed the House-proposed map by a vote of 4-3. Citizens and Senators voiced their concerns over the new map. Senator Robin Wright-Jones voted against the map. She says Blacks outside of St. Louis and Kansas City would lose their voice in Congress. “I see that the two Democratic districts are both basically skewed to the eastern or western sides of the state,” Wright-Jones said. Others say the map would combine too many urban and rural areas. Lafayette county resident Kay Hoflander says the map will dilute the interests of her rural county. Under the proposed map Lafayette and two other rural counties will...

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Elk to arrive in Missouri on April 30

The first group of elk that are part of the Missouri Department of Conservation’s elk restoration project are scheduled to arrive in the state on April 30. The 34 elk will complete their 90-day quarantine and final health testing in Kentucky before being transported by a semi-driven livestock trailer to Missouri. The elk will be released from Kentucky pending approval by the Missouri Department of Agriculture. The elk also have been fitted with ear tags, microchips and GPS collars. After their arrival in Missouri, the elk will be held in a pen at Peck Ranch Conservation Area for up to two weeks, before being released into the wild. Peck Ranch is part of a 346-square-mile elk restoration zone in Shannon, Carter, and Reynolds counti...

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Missouri DNR receives grant for trail projects

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced earlier this week that they have received more than $600,000 in grant funding from the Recreational Trails Program. The department selected 10 trail projects that would receive the money. Johnson’s Shut-Ins received $87,588 to build an accessible trail to the local park store. St. Joe State Park also received funding from the grant. The money they received will go toward trail renovation, off-road vehicle education and trail restrooms. Money will also be given to the Ozark Trail Association for educational maps. The Recreational Trails Program is a federally funded grant program that awards money for trail restoration and development. Katie Long, K...

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Cape Girardeau man injured by trash truck arm

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - A Cape Girardeau man was allegedly injured yesterday in an accident involving a trash truck arm, according to the Southeast Missourian newspaper. At 10 a.m. the man went out to put out his trash. He noticed trash had spilled and stopped to pick it up. As he was doing so, the trash truck arm lifted him up​. Heather Brooks, assistant to the city manager, said that the city is investigating the incident. “At this point in time we are not providing any information. We are in the process of investigating it. We haven’t been able to necessarily confirm all the details of the situation,” Brooks said. According to the Southeast Missourian, the man was taken to St. Francis Medical Center with injuries to his arm, neck, and leg. Rachel Weatherford, K...

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Storytelling Festival bring downtown crowd to Cape Girardeau

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Master story tellers captivated the audiences during the 4th annual Cape Girardeau Storytelling festival this weekend. More than 630 people attended the festival in downtown Cape, which featured 6 of the top story-tellers from around the country. Chuck Martin, co-producer of the festival and executive director of the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau was very pleased with the outcome of this year’s festival. "You know what I think for me the highlight is to see so many people coming from all over, certainly the Midwest and spending time in our community," Martin said. The festival also brought nearly 2500 middle school students from around the area which Martin feels is important in spreading the idea of story telling and oral tradition to a younger...

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Parks & Rec and SEMO team up for disc golf course at Capaha Park

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - The Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department, Southeast Student Government, and Recretion Services at Southeast are teaming up to build a disc golf course at Capaha Park. The three entities are sharing the cost of the project. The disc golf course will use baskets and frisbees in a ten-hole golf course spread out over 4000 feet at Capaha Park. The service will be provided free of charge, but the players will have to supply their own frisbees according to Troy Vaughn, director of Recreation services at Southeast Missouri State University. "You don't have to be a great golfer to come out and do this. Men and women alike will enjoy it. If you even have a disability there's even some opportunities there," Vaughn said. "There's so many different, unique things...

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Nilson establishes prize for aspiring authors

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KRCU) - Author and editor Wedel Nilsen is providing a prize for aspiring authors who wish to have their work published by the Southeast Missouri State University Press. Anonymous judges will read the submitted manuscripts and choose those to move to a pool of finalists, which will then be judged by a last critic. The submissions must be of strong academic quality and also must be works of fiction. The contest is a nation-wide opportunity to U.S. residents. The winner will receive a cash award of $1000, will have the opportunity to present the novel at a University reading, as well as a publishing deal with the SEMO Press. Daniel Rohr, K...

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Governor Nixon announces new small business funding in Jackson

JACKSON, MO (KRCU) - Governor Jay Nixon visited Main Street Flooring in Jackson on Thursday to announce 27 million dollars in new federal funding for small and mid-sized businesses. The funding will come in the form of low interest loans. Nixon said that the funds will help small businesses at every stage of the financial continuum, from starting, to expanding, to reaching maturity. The governor spoke with a group of Southeast Missouri entrepreneurs representing the construction, real estate, technology, and entertainment sectors. “I think you have some entrepreneurs here who have solid idea that if we can give them the tools to move forward...

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Employment in SE Missouri at 10%

The February unemployment rate in Southeast Missouri hovered at 10%, according to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. Cape Girardeau County’s 7.9% unemployment rate was well below the state average of 9.4%. The only other Southeast Missouri county below the state average is Perry County, with an unemployment rate of 7.1%. Perry County’s unemployment dropped by two-tenths of a percent between January and February of this year. St. Francois County has the highest February unemployment rate in Southeast Missouri at 12.1%. Iron County has the second highest unemployment rate in the region at 11.8%, but its unemployment rate dropped by nearly a percentage point between January and February. Boone County’s 6.6% unemployment rate is the lowest in the state. Taney County...

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Filibuster ends in Missouri Senate

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - A group of Senators opposed to a plan to accept federal funds to extend unemployment benefits for Missourians, ended their filibuster Thursday after accepting a compromise with Senate leaders. As part of the deal, Senate leaders say they will cut $250 million from federal stimulus projects for Missouri. The plan also cuts the maximum weeks of state unemployment benefits from 26 to 20. Senate Majority Floor Leader Tom Dempsey says states do look to the federal government for some funding. "You know, it just means difficult decisions at all levels and I'm just glad that we were able to take one step forward today," Dempsey said. Republican St. Louis County Senator Jim Lembke was part of the filibuster. He says the United States is a country...

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Mo. Senate passes late-term abortion bill

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (MISSOURI DIGITAL NEWS) - Following a similar House vote just weeks ago, Missouri Senators passed a bill banning abortions after 20 weeks unless the fetus is determined non-viable by two physicians. The bill would prevent women from getting a late-term abortion if a fetus is determined viable. If a physician says the fetus is not viable, the doctor must get a second opinion of another physician before performing the abortion. Dexter Republican Senator and bill sponsor Rob Mayer has been working for years on late-term abortion legislation. "We were very pleased it was third read and passed out of the Senate. It makes sure, in most cases, viable children are saved from abortion," Mayer said. Jackson County Democratic Senator Jolie Justus said lawmakers should not be...

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Illinois Senate President like performance based funding

CARBONDALE, IL (WSIU) - Illinois Senate President John Cullerton says he believes performance based funding is a good idea. Cullerton's comments came during a stop Tuesday at Southern Illinois University Carbondale where he toured an autism center that receives about 4-million dollars a year in state funding. Cullerton says he was impressed with how the autism program utilizes its state funding. The Senate President says the legislature will need to provide the state's public universities with some leeway under a performance based funding model. Cullerton says the last thing he wants is for public universities in Illinois to have to raise tuition to make up for potential funding losses as a result of a performance based model. He says Workers Compensation Reform is the most important thing...

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