Good morning, Cape Girardeau.

United Way of Southeast Missouri celebrated its 70th anniversary with a ribbon cutting and street party downtown on April 25—Executive Director Elizabeth Shelton said the new site at 16 N.

Spanish Street will serve as the region’s only community childcare resource center for future community programs.

A residential fire broke out Wednesday on the 300 block of East Cherry Street at 3:44 p.m. in Scott City, where heavy smoke and flames trapped residents and claimed two lives—bystanders rescued a child from a window as multiple fire departments joined to fight the blaze.

Ameren warned customers to keep Mylar balloons weighted this spring to avoid power outages—metallic balloons can conduct electricity and cause surges that harm power lines and spark fires.

The company said over 170 balloon-related outages affected more than 14,000 customers since 2021 and urged anyone noticing a loose balloon near equipment to call for help.

Southeast Missouri State University’s Heartland Independent Winter Guard won a gold medal at the Mid-Continent Color Guard Association Championships in Willard, Missouri—capping off its first season with a performance of The Bridge Between Us by its 15 members.

Students in SEMO’s health sciences and athletic training programs are gaining hands-on experience through clinical rotations and internships that have led to job offers and graduate school acceptances.

The university’s partnership with Mercy Hospital Southeast and its new Roy Blunt Health Professions Hall—featuring a medical assessment lab and diagnostic testing center—offer modern training opportunities for future health professionals.

The Missouri Department of Conservation will host the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center's 20th anniversary celebration on May 3 from 1 to 4 p.m., featuring archery, fishing and outdoor cooking.

The event will also mark the retirement of the center’s 20-year-old conjoined black rat snake — found in Delta in 2005.

Mercy Southeast has added obstetrician-gynecologist Rose Glynne, MD, to expand access to women’s health care in southeast Missouri—Dr. Glynne, who served in the U.S.—Air Force, will offer annual exams, prenatal and postnatal care, ultrasounds, and pelvic floor disorder treatment at Mercy Clinic Women’s Health at 650 S. Mount Auburn.

A group of Heartland moms from Be Chosen Fitness returned from Miami after winning first place at the HYROX competition—after months of two-a-day training to build strength and cardio—and they brought back medals that show their hard work.

Their win helped them grow stronger as a team.

Muddy River Marathon

6 AM – 12 PM — Missouri Running Co. — Registration required — Experience a scenic run through Cape Girardeau's historic landmarks.