Veterans Find Second Chances Through Treatment Court

POPLAR BLUFF — For two southeast Missouri veterans, a special treatment court program has provided something they once thought was beyond their reach: a second chance at life. Marine Corps veteran Howard Bellew, 70, of Cape Girardeau County, and Army veteran Rachel Coomer, 42, of Scott City, were among...

Herrin American Legion to host Hog Roast.

HERRIN, Ill. (Heartland News) - Herrin’s American Legion post will raise money to improve the Christmases of veterans and their families with a pig roast in November. The Veterans Hog Roast will take place at 213 E. Madison Street in Herrin on Saturday, November 7, starting at 11:30 a.m. Attendees will be served a hog roast will all the fixings.

CBJ Candidate Voter’s Guide: District 146

The 2026 midterm election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 3, with no-excuse early voting already underway. During the election, Missouri voters will get to choose their representatives, as well as vote on several statewide ballot initiatives. Republican Lucas Green and Democrat Mary Harriet Talbut are running for District 146...

Major I-55 construction project near Exit 93 set to begin spring 2027

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (Heartland News) - The Missouri Department of Transportation is planning new construction along I-55 near Exit 93, a project officials say involves several moving parts and is expected to take about two years to complete. A map provided by MoDOT highlights the work area in red, showing...

Missouri sets new permit rules for unstaffed shooting ranges

The Missouri Conservation Commission has given final approval to a Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) regulation requiring most users of the agency’s unstaffed firearms shooting ranges to possess a valid small-game hunting permit beginning in March 2027. The commission approved the regulation during its Oct. 23 open meeting in...

Cape Girardeau County party leaders make final push ahead of Election Day

CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY, Mo. (Heartland News) - The Cape Girardeau County Republican Central Committee Chair Kim Swartz and Democratic Central Committee Chair Wayne Pettit say both parties have spent weeks going door to door and making phone calls to advocate for their candidates and educate voters on what’s on the ballot, including the constitutional amendments.

Missouri Department of Conservation to Require New Deer Permit for NonResidents Hunting Public Land Starting in 2027

The new Nonresident Public Land Deer Hunting Permit will be $165. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Conservation Commission gave final approval to a regulation change from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) at its Oct. 23 open meeting in Cape Girardeau that would require nonresident deer hunters to purchase a Nonresident Public Land Deer Hunting Permit for $165 to be able to pursue, take, possess, and transport deer on public land in Missouri such as conservation areas and other state and federal public lands. This permit will be required in addition to regular nonresident deer hunting permits. The change will become effective for the 2027 deer season.

Scarecrows take over downtown square

The downtown square in Perryville has been taken over by scarecrows this October thanks to the Chamber of Commerce’s first annual scarecrow decorating contest. According to director of operations Alex Lueders, the idea came from Ste. Genevieve, whose chamber of commerce has done a similar contest in the past.

Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial hosting Veterans Day ceremony on Nov. 11

PERRYVILLE, Mo. (Heartland News) - Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial is inviting the community to join in a special Veterans Day ceremony on Wednesday, November 11. The event, which begins at 11:30 a.m., will feature the official dedication of the Gold Star Families Memorial Monument on the memorial’s campus in Perryville.

PSC Approves Agreement in Ameren Missouri Request for Battery Storage and Solar Projects with Conditions

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. --- The Missouri Public Service Commission today approved an Agreement and granted the request of Union Electric Company d/b/a Ameren Missouri (Ameren Missouri) for three battery energy storage system (BESS) facilities, two solar generation facilities, and a new switching station. Signatories to the Agreement included Ameren Missouri, the Staff of the Missouri Public Service Commission (Staff), and Renew Missouri. The Office of the Public Counsel (OPC), which represents the public in cases before the Commission, was not a signatory to the agreement but did not object to the agreement.

Early voting available on the SIU-Carbondale campus

Southern Illinois University Carbondale is offering early voting opportunities on campus ahead of the November 3 election. Jackson County residents can cast ballots October 29 and 30 in the Student Center's north hallway near the escalators. Early voting hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and are open to voters living in any of the county's 56 precincts.

Firefighters contain 2-acre brush fire near home in Cape Girardeau County

CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY, Mo. (KBSI) — Firefighters contained a brush fire that burned approximately 2 acres near a home in Cape Girardeau County on Saturday, Oct. 24. According to the Millersville Rural Fire Protection District, crews responded to a reported natural cover fire near a residential structure off County Road 471.

Cape Girardeau residents weigh in on proposed restaurant tax increase

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) — Cape Girardeau residents have an opportunity to ask questions and share their thoughts on a proposed restaurant tax increase that would help fund sports facility improvements. The city hosted a public input session Monday to discuss the proposal, which would raise the restaurant tax...

Here Lies a Revolutionary War Soldier: Joseph Hagan

In celebration of the 250th Anniversary of our country, local members of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution will highlight the patriots buried in Southeast Missouri. Joseph Hagan was born in 1740, in St. Mary’s City, Maryland, to Ignatius and Rebecca Wright (Lowe) Hagan. Joseph married Mary Anne...

Groundbreaking ceremony for Bell Tower Project

Former owners of tax-foreclosed land in Oregon’s Baker, Columbia, Jackson and Marion counties can claim a share of $4.9 million by November 30

Oregon is paying out a $4,919,409.99 pool to people who lost land to tax foreclosure in four counties, and the claim window is open until Monday, November 30, 2026. The four counties are Baker, Columbia, Jackson and Marion. Former owners, and the heirs and successors of former owners, can file online or by mail postmarked […]

Budweiser Clydesdales returning to Marion, Ill.

MARION, Ill. (Heartland News) - The Budweiser Clydesdales are returning to the Heartland--just in time to kick off the holiday season. On Wednesday, the city of Marion, in conjunction with Golden Eagle Distributing, announced that these world-famous horses will be in Marion, Illinois this November. The community is invited to...

SMTS Celebrates Opening of New Park Hills Facility

PARK HILLS — Southeast Missouri Transportation Service Inc. (SMTS) celebrated the opening of its new Park Hills facility Thursday, Oct. 22, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house attended by employees, community leaders and representatives of the Park Hills-Leadington Chamber of Commerce. The new facility, located along Highway 67,...

Missouri Conservation Committee OKs new camping, range, deer permits

The Missouri Conservation Commission approved several changes at its October open meeting. At the meeting in Cape Girardeau, the MCC voted to require a permit for camping on Missouri Department of Conservation areas, a permit to use unstaffed shooting ranges, and a new permit for deer hunters who don’t live in the state.