Good morning, Cape Girardeau.

The PORCH Initiative celebrated five years in Cape Girardeau by highlighting achievements in fundraising & community investment.

The group reinvested $1.2 million in local real estate projects and honored longtime volunteers for their service.

The Christmas Country Church Tour celebrates 20 years and will run from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Dec.

18-19. More than 40 historic churches in southeast Missouri (including one in Kaskaskia) will welcome visitors for a self-guided tour with free-will donations, refreshments and recipe tips.

Saturday morning, the fifth annual Mary Mingle 5K set a record with 527 participants in downtown Cape Girardeau, running from Houck Stadium to the Courthouse steps on Spanish Street.

The race, hosted by the Community Counseling Center Foundation, supports mental health services across the region.

Old Town Cape announced winners of the 33rd Annual Downtown Parade of Lights held with a Charlie Brown Christmas theme, awarding Dutch Enterprises, Plants Plus, St. Mary’s, Oran Marching Band, In Memory of Eric Uhrhan and Dominic Hooper, and Rock ‘N’ Roll Drive-In — organizers thanked sponsors and volunteers.

A new city sign is being installed downtown at Broadway and Main (near the riverwalk) to promote local events.

Planned last year with city branding funds estimated at $50K to $60K, officials expect the sign to boost local initiatives.

Veteran Kelsey Lainhart, who received a service dog from Rescue 22, says the nonprofit faces a funding crisis from lost grants and a government shutdown, leaving veterans waiting.

Nearly every donation goes toward training dogs (money that supports its life-saving mission) as Rescue 22 seeks urgent community backing.

Mercy Southeast in Cape Girardeau now offers FibroScan — a quick, painless test that measures liver stiffness and fat buildup to help detect liver disease.

The service is available immediately for patients with risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, or hepatitis.

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.

SEMO Women's Basketball vs. William Woods

11 a.m. — Show Me Center — Tickets available — Watch the SEMO Women's Basketball team take on William Woods in a thrilling matchup.