Good morning, Cape Girardeau.

A Tip-A-Cop fundraiser at Texas Roadhouse raised over $2,000 for Special Olympics Missouri + local law enforcement officers volunteered their time to support local athletes.

On Thursday, a man named Reed was arrested at a local hotel for threatening staff with a Civil War—style sword after he refused to leave his room when a hotel employee called the police and officers took him into custody.

Old Town Cape’s free, outdoor Tunes at Twilight Fall Series will kick off on Aug.

1 at 6:30 p.m. on Ivers Square grounds. Regional artists will perform weekly and food vendors will offer snacks, face painting and henna tattoos — if it rains, the concerts will move to Gospel Life Church.

Several schools in southeastern Missouri are launching the Hope Squad program today to help students spot peers facing mental health challenges — the program is funded by grants from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks and will train student leaders at seven schools in the Cape Girardeau and Perryville areas. Community Counseling Center and Cape Girardeau Public Schools are partnering to implement advisor training for the initiative.

The Missouri Department of Conservation is hosting a hike of Civil War locations in southeast Missouri on July 23.

Hikers will meet at 9 a.m. at the Nature Center on 2289 County Park Drive then walk a 2.5 mile long trail at Holly Ridge Conservation Area before driving to the Stoddard County Civil War Memorial Cemetery to finish at 3 p.m.—participants must be ready for moderately challenging terrain and pack their own lunch and water.

Congress passed a bill on Thursday to cut $1.1 billion in federal funding to public networks for the next two years, and Cape Girardeau's KRCU— which gets 25% of its budget from the federal government— now must plan for tough programming choices.

Local media leaders say the station will shift to more local content to fill the funding gap.

A heat alert system—funded by community donations—kept Cape Girardeau County sheriff’s K9 officer Zeno safe when the patrol vehicle’s air conditioning failed and temperatures quickly rose from 75°F to over 90°F in five minutes.

Craft Activity for All Ages

2-3 p.m. — Riverside Regional Library — Free entry — Be creative with craft activities suitable for everyone at the Benton Branch.

Toddler Hour

2-3 p.m. — Oran Branch Library — Free entry — Come get colorful with stories and crafts for ages 0-5.