Toys R Us to open location in the Heartland for holiday season

PADUCAH, Ky. (Heartland News) - Toys R Us will open a seasonal store in the Heartland. According to the toy story, it will be open in Kentucky Oaks Mall for the holiday season. They say other locations will open or are opened across Missouri and Illinois, as well. This is...

MoDOT Awards Bridge Painting Contract in Ste. Genevieve County

Ste. Genevieve Co., Mo. (KFMO) - The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission has awarded a contract totaling more than $850,000 for bridge painting work on four bridges over Interstate 55 in Ste. Genevieve County. During its regular meeting on November 5, 2026, the Commission awarded an $852,987 contract to International...

Missouri to pay $150,000 to settle lawsuit over prisoner’s death by suicide

Missouri must pay $150,000 to the mother of a man who committed suicide in a Southeast Missouri prison, a Mississippi County judge ruled Friday. Jahi Hynes was 27 when died April 4, 2021, at the Southeast Missouri Correctional Center in Charleston. His mother, Willa Hynes, sued the Department of Corrections, three of the agency’s corporate […]

Giant City School earns Illinois’ highest school rating

JACKSON COUNTY, Ill. (Heartland News) - A Jackson County, Illinois school earned a major achievement this year. Giant City School received an exemplary designation by the Illinois State Board of Education, the highest ranking under its guidelines. In order to receive it, the school had to reach certain levels of...

Cape Girardeau prepares for more road work and street improvements

The City of Cape Girardeau boasts plenty of fun activities, a lively downtown and multiple subdivisions, but all of that traffic can cause more stress on the roadways. While it might cause more delays and longer travel times, the City of Cape Girardeau is planning more construction projects and improvements to the roads around town.

Downtown Cape Girardeau announces holiday events, 34th annual Parade of Lights

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — Old Town Cape Inc. is preparing for the holiday season with several events planned in downtown Cape Girardeau, including a Christmas tree lighting, Small Business Saturday and the 34th annual Parade of Lights. The holiday festivities will begin Friday, Nov. 27, with the downtown...

Election raises questions about mayor pro tem

Thomas earns most city commission votes; Wilson marks longest-serving female commissioner. Paducah City Commissioner Dujuan Thomas received the most votes in Tuesday’s city commission election, putting him in a position to potentially become the city’s next mayor pro tem. The city commission must still formally select someone for the position.

Sikeston VA Clinic hosts Veterans Resource Fair

SIKESTON, Mo., (KBSI) — The Sikeston VA Clinic hosted a Veterans Resource Fair on Thursday, Nov. 5, providing an opportunity for local veterans to connect with available resources. An event connecting local veterans to valuable resources took place in Sikeston. A resource fair for veterans and their families to...

Williamson County social worker pleads not guilty

Jackson Veterans Day parade set for Nov. 11

JACKSON, Mo., (KBSI) — The city of Jackson will honor military veterans with a Veterans Day parade Wednesday, Nov. 11. According to the Jackson Police Department, the parade will begin at 4 p.m. and travel through uptown Jackson. The parade will start at the Frozen Food Locker on South...

Orange Barrel Report November 4

SIKESTON, Mo., (KBSI) — Route M in Iron County will be reduced to one lane with a 12-foot width restriction lane as contractor crews perform shoulder repairs. This section of roadway is located from Boulder Drive and Longwood Drive near Ironton, Missouri. Weather permitting, work will take place from...

Cape Girardeau’s Spaghetti Day set for Nov. 5

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) — The Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department and Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Foundation will host Spaghetti Day on Thursday, Nov. 5. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the A.C. Brase Arena in Cape Girardeau. Meals will include...

Cape Public Library to host 2nd Fall Fair for families

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (Heartland News) - The Cape Girardeau Public Library will host a Fall Fair with games, crafts and a petting zoo. The free Fall Fair is scheduled for November 14 from noon until 3 p.m. in the back yard at the library at 711 N. Clark Street. Attendees...

Hotel, restaurant owners offer to pay for Cape Girardeau tourism study

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (Heartland News) - Local hotel and restaurant owners are prepared to pay a Chicago-based firm about $100,000 to assess Cape Girardeau’s tourism potential beyond sports tourism, according to a plan presented to the city council on Monday. Jeff Maurer of Mayson Capital Partners pitched the plan...

Republicans Dominate Madison County Races; Voters Pass Amendments 3 and 8

FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. — Republican candidates earned decisive victories across federal, state, and legislative contests in Madison County during Tuesday’s general election, according to unofficial returns released by election officials. With all 8 precincts fully reported as of 8:20 p.m., GOP candidates swept every contested race with nearly three-quarters...

Army Corps of Engineers to Hold Public Workshops on Wappapello Lake Water Control Plan

Wappapello, Mo. (KFMO) - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District, will host three public workshops December 15-16, 2026 to discuss proposed revisions to the Wappapello Lake Water Control Manual and gather additional public feedback. The manual is being updated to comply with current U.S. Army Corps of...

Federal Opportunity Zone expansion to drive housing, business growth in Cape Girardeau

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (Heartland News) - A major federal designation is expected to bring new investment, housing and business growth to Cape Girardeau starting in 2027. Southeast Missouri Regional Economic Development, Inc. announced on Thursday, November 5 that all six eligible census tracts, or community districts, nominated in Cape Girardeau have been approved for Opportunity Zone 2.0 status.

New weather radar coming to southeast Missouri

Missouri officials have approved funding for a new weather radar intended to strengthen severe weather monitoring across parts of southeast Missouri, according to an announcement from State Rep. Keith Elliott, a Republican from Doniphan.

Heartland Votes: Voters elect Steve Kuykendall as next Mississippi County sheriff

Voters have elected Steve Kuykendall as Mississippi County's next sheriff.

Election Day live: Southern Illinois voters decide on local, statewide elections

A voter in Eldorado, Illinois, Kaylynn Owens, casted a democratic vote this midterm. “If we don’t, then who is choosing for us?” Owens said. Owens, working in a school district in Saline County, said she voted ‘no’ for the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law. PTELL is an Illinois law that limits the amount of how much local property taxes can go up.