Stories from Monday, January 26, 2015

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Transforming the Missouri Department of Transportation headquarters into a space for some legislative and executive branch employees is among the projects that could be funded with new bond revenue. At issue is last year's bonding plan for about $353 million of renovation projects at higher education institutions and state facilities, the Columbia Daily Tribune reported. ...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A special prosecutor is taking a fresh look at the death of a handcuffed Iowa suspect who went overboard as a Missouri State Highway Patrol boat was transporting him. Amanda Grellner acknowledged she is reviewing the case after receiving new information, The Kansas City Star reported. ...

ST. LOUIS -- College programs that train Missouri's future teachers are facing an unprecedented level of scrutiny as the state overhauls how educators are certified. The changes -- which mirror a national push in the past decade for higher teacher education standards -- have come under fire not only for the way they have been enacted, but for the premise behind them...

MARYVILLE, Mo. -- It's a familiar sight in Maryville -- a familiar sight, in fact, in thousands of towns and cities all across the United States -- two lanky, clean-cut young men in dress slacks, collared shirts and neckties walk down a residential street carrying satchels, occasionally stopping to ring someone's doorbell...

On Friday afternoon the Perry County Sheriff's Office released the names of three individuals who are wanted for various crimes. Two of the three still had active warrants as of Sunday afternoon. The first, Christopher W. Heberlie, 38, of St. Mary, Missouri, was wanted and arrested on suspicion of felony possession of a controlled substance. Over the weekend he was incarcerated at the Missouri Department of Corrections, processed and released...

Peyton Strand plays trumpet with the Jackson Junior High Honor Band on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015 in Jackson. (Fred Lynch)

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon has asked lawmakers for more money this year and next, but with an even stronger grip on the Legislature and new checks on the governor's power, Republicans are unlikely to give him what he wants. Nixon is asking for $140 million more from general funds to pay bills this year, while still withholding $502 million in general revenue expenditures from the current budget, citing lagging state income. ...

The citizen advisory board formed to review plans for the future of Cape Girardeau County facilities has been given plenty of suggestions to consider before making its final recommendation to county commissioners today. At the two public meetings hosted this month in Cape Girardeau and Jackson, advisory board members said they favored Option C -- the final option of the three drawn up by...

BOSTON -- One prospective juror was frank when asked whether he could consider a sentence of life in prison for the man accused of bombing the Boston Marathon. "I would sentence him to death," he said, then added: "I can't imagine any evidence that would change how I feel about what happened."...

FULTON, Mo. -- Relatives of Winston Churchill have marked the 50th anniversary of the death of Britain's World War II leader at the Missouri college where he delivered his historic "Iron Curtain" speech. The Columbia Missourian reported that the National Churchill Museum at Westminster College organized a remembrance event Saturday. It included Churchill's granddaughter, Edwina Sandys, and his great-grandson, Duncan Sandys...

Kathy Dillahay of Perryville VFW Post 4282 presents a $125 check to Phoebe Pohlman, winner of the 2014 Voices of Democracy contest. Phoebe, a sophomore at Perryville High School, is the daughter of Paul and Jane Pohlman of Perryville. The theme for this year's essay was "Why Veterans are Important to our Nation's History and Future." Entrants must compose an original 3-5 minute essay and record it. ...

I saw this beautiful sunrise right before the rain clouds took over.

Editor's Note: This story has been corrected to be more clear about dual credit coursework and an increase in enrollment. Enrollment has increased once again at Southeast Missouri State University, and it's because of a higher number of high school students taking dual-enrollment classes...

Bear posing with his Mardi Gras beads.

ST. LOUIS -- The oil and gas drilling technique known as "fracking," once trumpeted as a job-creating boon for Southern Illinois, is off to a feeble start in the state as slumping oil prices and the rigors of Illinois' new regulations have energy interests cautiously waiting on the sidelines...

Today is Monday, Jan. 26, the 26th day of 2015. There are 339 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Jan. 26, 1915, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Rocky Mountain National Park Act, which created America's 10th national park. On this date:...

NEW YORK -- A "potentially historic" storm could dump 2 to 3 feet of snow from northern New Jersey to Massachusetts starting today, crippling a region that has largely been spared so far this winter, the National Weather Service said. A blizzard warning was issued for a 250-mile stretch of the Northeast, including New York and Boston, and the National Weather Service said the massive storm would bring heavy snow and powerful winds starting today and into Tuesday...

KEY WEST, Fla. -- Millions of genetically modified mosquitoes could be released in the Florida Keys if British researchers win approval to use the bugs against two extremely painful viral diseases. Never before have insects with modified DNA come so close to being set loose in a residential U.S. neighborhood...

ATHENS, Greece -- A radical left-wing party vowing to end Greece's austerity program won a historic victory in Sunday's parliamentary elections, setting up a showdown with the country's international creditors that could shake the eurozone. Alexis Tsipras, leader of the communist-rooted Syriza party, immediately promised to end the "five years of humiliation and pain" that Greece has endured since an international bailout saved it from bankruptcy in 2010...

LOS ANGELES -- Paula Abdul is getting back into the judging business on Fox. The former "American Idol" judge will join the "So You Think You Can Dance" panel when the talent show returns this summer. Jason Derulo also is coming aboard as a judge, the network said Thursday. The singer-songwriter's hits include "Talk Dirty" and "Wiggle."...

GALVESTON, Texas -- A dog who vanished from his Texas yard last year has been returned home after turning up in a central Indiana city some 1,100 miles away. Sixty-nine-year-old JoeAnn Navarro of Galveston said her two pit bulls apparently were stolen from her backyard in May...

A different company will provide weather observations at Cape Girardeau Municipal Airport; a new contract has been awarded to MidWest Weather Inc. of Maryland Heights, Missouri, which doesn't expect to make any immediate changes here. Resolution Trust Corp. ...

The Cape Girardeau area is building a reputation for having a thriving communicative atmosphere for young business professionals. As established in a story written by Savanna Maue last week, networking opportunities have formed over the years to help business professionals connect and pick the brains of other businessmen and businesswomen in the area...

Last week when I so carelessly left my wallet in a cart on Schnucks parking lot, some very honest person found it and turned it in. Thanks so much and God bless. Let the Rams go. We built them a great stadium, we updated it to make them happy and they are again threatening to leave. They haven't had a winning season in a decade. Good stadiums are for good teams. The Rams, on the other hand, should be playing on a local high school field. Goodbye to bad rubbish...

The Perry County Sheriff's Department released the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. n Ty Lincoln, 20, of St. Mary, Missouri, was arrested on suspicion of statutory rape/intercourse with a person younger than 14 years old, and statutory sodomy/deviate sexual intercourse with a person younger than 14 years old...

* At 7:14 a.m., a medical assist on William Street. n At 7:25 a.m., a power line down on North Sprigg Street n At 10:36 a.m., a medical assist on South Ellis Street. n At 10:49 a.m., a medical assist on South West End Boulevard. n At 10:50 a.m., a medical assist on South West End Boulevard...

The Cape Girardeau Police Department reported the following items. Arrests do not imply guilt. n Travis J. Williamson, 34, of Cape Girardeau was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance. n Robert L. Wilkes, 19, of St. Louis was arrested on a Cape Girardeau warrant for a probation violation...

Dale K. Wolfenkoehler, 93, of Jackson passed away Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. He was born Oct. 30, 1921, in Jackson, the son of William "Fritz" and Annie Harriet McBryde Wolfenkoehler. He and Carrie "Edna" Lange were married Dec. 25, 1947, in Millersville...

LaFern F. Schoen, 80, of Oak Ridge passed away Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau. She was born Sept. 21, 1934, in Shawneetown to Harry and Florence Kasten Ludwig. She and Marvin E. Schoen were married Aug. 1, 1954, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Pocahontas...

BLODGETT, Mo. -- Jane Minner, 81, of Blodgett passed away Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, at her home. She was born Jan. 16, 1934, in Osceola, Arkansas, the daughter of Louis Franklin and Estie Lee Simpson Stowers. She had worked for the Kenny Rogers Cerebral Palsy Center in Sikeston, Missouri, for 20 years as a physical therapy supervisor...

Marie A. Howell, 97, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, at Saint Francis Medical Center. The funeral service will be Thursday morning. Details to follow. Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

JONESBORO Ill. -- Laura Buckley, 67, of Jonesboro died Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, at her home near Mill Creek, Illinois. Arrangements are incomplete at Crain Funeral Home in Anna, Illinois.

Estel Lee Bowers, 82, formerly of Gordonville, passed away Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015, at Chaffee Nursing Center in Chaffee, Missouri. He was born June 3, 1932, in Buffington, Missouri, to John and Mary Jones Bowers. He and Betty J. Frazier were married Jan. 5, 1953, in Piggott, Arkansas...

NEW YORK -- At some point this will end, perhaps even soon. The price of gasoline will not fall to zero. But for the first time since 2009, most Americans are paying less than $2 a gallon. Just three months ago experts were shocked when it fell under $3...

The newest Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market store in the region will open Wednesday morning. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for 7:30 a.m. Wednesday at 2021 Independence St. in Cape Girardeau. The new 41,000-square-foot store will feature a full line of groceries, including produce; departments with health, beauty, cleaning and pet supplies; a pharmacy with a drive-through lane; and Wal-Mart pickup, where customers can shop online at Walmart.com for products not carried in the store and have the items delivered there for free.. ...

Three advertising professionals from Missouri and Nebraska spent about 10 hours Saturday judging the annual Tri-State and Jonesboro, Arkansas, Advertising and Marketing Professionals best advertising in the tri-state area competition. And by 3 p.m. that day, their spirits were still high...

JUNEAU, Alaska -- President Barack Obama is proposing to designate the vast majority of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as a wilderness area, including its potentially oil-rich coastal plain, drawing an angry response from top state elected officials who see it as a land grab by the federal government...

Heavenly Father, we look to you for you are our healer and deliverer. Amen.