Good morning, Cape Girardeau.

More than 400 people from across the Heartland joined a one day behavioral health conference at the Show Me Center hosted by the Community Counseling Center—where speakers discussed mental health, substance use and suicide prevention and organizers plan a similar event next summer.

At Cakes Reanimated, Becky Brown struggled to secure cocoa due to heavy rainfall in Ghana and the Ivory Coast disrupting supply from West Africa — rising global demand by 3% per year has led her bakery to focus on custom orders so customers pay less.

At its July meeting, the Jackson R-2 School Board passed a new AI policy that limits how much artificial intelligence may be used on assignments and approved a program on organ donation, extra teacher work days, and a bonus plan for bus drivers while declaring old buses and kitchen equipment surplus. The board also approved using a block of Madison Street as a football field concourse and will install a fence for security—efforts aimed at updating school operations and safety measures.

Jackson High School student Kevin Cai won the 'Man in the Arena' Missouri Boys State Trust/Vogel Family Scholarship worth $100,000 from the American Legion Boys State held at Lindenwood University this summer—he was one of 10 finalists chosen from over 200 applicants—and the award will pay $25,000 each year for college expenses.

Missouri Department of Conservation agents will teach a dove hunting class on August 16 at 2 p.m. at the Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center — the course offers hands-on firearm training and ethical hunting tips.

City crews in Cape Girardeau changed work hours to start at 6 a.m. and end at 2:30 p.m. to keep workers safe while the Salvation Army opened a cooling center with showers and snacks—helping residents beat the heat.

Following today's commission meeting, Cape Girardeau County will add a new policy (to prevent conflict of interest when supervising relatives) to its employee handbook, with HR Director Diane Bauman and Commissioner Stephen Daume noting the change.

Commissioners also approved bids (four for broker/consulting services, five for employee benefits, and four for tax statement printing and mailing services) for review.

The city of Cape Girardeau released updates on street projects—Lexington Avenue is now open from Sherwood Drive to Perryville Road and work will soon begin on the west side at the Perryville Road intersection.

S. Sprigg Street is closed from Linden to Hackberry with water service work between Locust and Linden, and most Transportation Trust Fund repairs are complete except on Perryville Road and Janet Drive as the Asphalt 2025 series team paves Sherri and Dorothy with six more roadways to finish by year's end.

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.