Good morning, Cape Girardeau.

The United Way of Southeast Missouri opened the region’s first Childcare Resource Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. Nov.

19 at 16 N. Spanish St. in Cape Girardeau — the center helped families navigate childcare options and supported providers in overcoming business challenges.

The Glenn House in Old Town Cape will host a fun, Alice in Wonderland-themed event—Through the Looking Glass to the Past—from 6:30 to 8:50 p.m. on Friday, Nov.28 after the Downtown Tree Lighting and Parade of Lights.

Guests can also enjoy a Holiday Kickoff concert on Saturday, Nov.22 at 7 p.m. in the Carriage House and visit again on Sunday, Nov.30 to see more holiday decor and help raise money for window repairs.

SEMO and the Missouri Job Center will host the third annual Drive Thru Job Fair on December 10 from noon to 3 p.m. in the parking lot of SEMO's Innovation Center at 920 Broadway Street in Cape Girardeau so job seekers can pick up flyers for open positions.

On November 17, the FBI of St. Louis held their third School Safety Initiative in Cape Girardeau for local school employers and officers—hosted by Cape Girardeau Public Schools—to share practices for preventing school violence and setting up threat assessment teams.

A Jackson County judge ruled Senate Bill 775 unconstitutional by finding it violated due process and free speech, which had forced school libraries to remove hundreds of books.

The decision now lets librarians restore full access to information — a change welcomed by education professionals — as schools adjust their policies.

Cape Girardeau city officials have issued a boil water advisory for about 14,000 addresses until 9:15 a.m. Friday — a drop in system pressure from construction work led to the alert.

Affected residents must boil their water for drinking and food use while tests run and repairs continue.

A recent investigation found that Kansas and Missouri DMVs sold driver information under a decades-old federal law that lets states recoup costs by sharing data with private companies — in 2024, Kansas earned over $1 million from two firms while Missouri provided access to more than 5,000 groups. Today, there is no option for consumers to opt out of this data sharing.

Saint Francis Healthcare System announced board-certified Dr. Kelsi Swanson joined its general surgery team; she earned her degree in 2018 from Chicago Medical School plus completed her residency at UT Southwestern/Parkland Hospital in Dallas and a fellowship at Allegheny Health Network’s Esophageal Institute in Pittsburgh.

Wome

The Zonta Club of Cape is proud to host the annual Women of Achievement Luncheon, a prestigious event dedicated to celebrating and recognizing the outstanding accomplishments of women in our community. This luncheon brings together influential leaders, community advocates, and supporters to honor the achievements and contributions of remarkable women who have made a significant impact in various fields.

River Valley Craft Club – 50th Annual Craft Fair

River Valley Craft Club – 50th Annual Craft Fair – Multiple Crafters and Vendors with lots of handmade crafts and unique items, Santa will be joining us both days so bring your children to get a picture with Santa. Saturday and Sunday, November 22-23 at the A C Brase Arena Building, 410 Kiwanis Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO, event times are Saturday 9 am to 5 pm and Sunday 10 am to 4 pm.

River Valley Craft Club – 50th Annual Craft Fair

River Valley Craft Club – 50th Annual Craft Fair – Multiple Crafters and Vendors with lots of handmade crafts and unique items, Santa will be joining us both days so bring your children to get a picture with Santa. Saturday and Sunday, November 22-23 at the A C Brase Arena Building, 410 Kiwanis Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO, event times are Saturday 9 am to 5 pm and Sunday 10 am to 4 pm.

5th Annual Mary Mingle 5k

8 AM – 2 PM — Mary Jane bourbon + smokehouse — Registration required — Participate in a community-driven run and support a good cause.

Toys For Tots 24-Hour Drive

8 AM-8 PM — Schnucks Cape Girardeau — Donations appreciated — Help make a child’s holiday brighter with toys and cash contributions for local families in need.