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Southeast Missouri State University professor Karie Hollerbach studied the prevelance and role of African-Americans in TV ads. Her research shows that African-Americans appear in a rather large number of ads but that roles are rather limited.
Conservationists are bringing this huge, primitive fish back to its Missouri wetland roots. New scientific evidence suggests that the much-maligned fish’s bad reputation is unfounded.
In 2003, a young mountain climber was repelling in the remote Blue John Canyon in Utah. An 800 pound boulder broke lose and pinned his right arm against a the canyon wall. Five days later, he amputated his arm with a dull multi-use knife and began the long walk back to his truck.
A neighborhood wedged between Southeast Missouri State University and Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau is close to becoming the city’s first designated residential historic district. City Council will hold a second and third public reading of a proposal that would establish the Boulevard Historic District on Monday, September 21st.
Bakanae, or “Foolish Seedling Disease,” is common to rice farmers in California but absent in Missouri. Should it be introduced to the state, it could potentially wipe out 90% of Missouri’s rice crop.
Two rotations of twenty-three citizen-soldiers will spend two week each in the Caribbean nation. They will work on schools, roads, health clinics, and other infrastructure needs in areas just outside of Santo Domingo.
The Public Works Department is considering the purchase of six automated trash collection trucks. Officials say that the new trucks will save time and money in the long term and provide a safer working environment for city employees.
The Muny Band will perform patriotic music tonight at 8:00 p.m. in the Band Shell at Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau. Band director Ron Nall says that the band will play "Americana" music originally scheduled for Memorial Day.
A Jackson developer purchased Schultz School in 2008. After a year of construction, the building is now ready to be re-opened as a senior housing complex.
Doug Austin, Vice-Chair of the Cape Girardeau Census Committee, says that the 2010 Census form contains only ten questions and can be completed in less than ten minutes. The Census provides information that is used in calculating Missouri's number of representativs in the U.S. Congress, how much federal money will be spent in the region, and other important data used in school construction, social programs, and demographic studies.
The 2008 Kids Count Report, conducted by Citizens for Missouri’s Children, rates Missouri’s 114 counties and the City of St. Louis. In the 2007 report, Cape Girardeau ranks as the 26th best county for children in the state. The 2008 report rates Cape County as 48th. Citizens for Missouri’s Children policy director Emily Schwartze attributes Cape Girardeau County’s slide down the rankings to a higher dropout rate in the county.
The Cape Girardeau City Council recently approved the formation of the Girardeau Goes Green Advisory Board. The petition for the advisory board was brought to the council by the Southeast Missouri Climate Protection Initiative. Cape Girardeau councilwoman Debra Tracy and Southeast Missouri Climate Protection Initiative co-facilitator Kathy Conway spoke with KRCU's Jacob McCleland about the new advisory board.
The senator held a “listening forum” at Southeast Missouri State University’s Kennett Campus to discuss health care overhaul. The forum was generally cordial with none of the rancor which had clouded similar events nationwide.
Southeast Missouri State University Economics professor Bill Weber researched what it would cost the region if it were unable to meet the EPA’s ground-level ozone regulations. For the counties most affected, the economic sacrifice of non-attainment would be small.
A Conversation with Mike and the Ninja’s Brian Rhodes by Jason Brown
As with everything these days, the internet has proven to be a great distribution system for independently created content, and comics are no exception.
Going Public: Southeast senior Andrew Kruep talks about Angels in America: Millennium Approaches. The play will run March 26 through April 5 in the Wendy Kurka Rust Flexible Theatre on Southeast Missouri State University’s River Campus.
The small Ozark town held its fourth annual TimberFest on October 3 and 4. One of the biggest attractions was a lumberjack pentathlon consisting of grueling physical activities related to the traditional timber industry.
The U.S. Department of Transportation will award a grant worth over $900,000 to the Mississippi County Port Authority. The money will be used to expand the Dorena-Hickman Ferry, which crosses the Mississippi River between Hickman, Kentucky and rural Mississippi County, Missouri. It is one of only two ferries crossing the Mississippi River in Missouri.
The Congresswoman from Missouri’s 8th District feels that the $68 billion TARP repayment should not be recycled and would be better used by taking a chunk out of the deficit. She warns that it is too early to tell if financial institutions are returning to health.
Representative Jo Ann Emerson met with leaders from the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission to talk about EPA air quality regulations for Perry and Ste. Genevieve Counties. The two counties are trying to meet attainment status for ground-level ozone readings.
Interview by Jacob McCleland; written by Carly Vogelsang.
Missouri counties affected by severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding during May are eligible for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA officer Noel Boxer explains the agency’s new role in Southeast Missouri.
Kenn Stilson's award-winning coming-of-age story will be shown for the first time in Cape Girardeau. The film was shot entirely in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois, utilitizing many locals both on-screen and on the set.
Thomas Schweich says the Missouri GOP needs politicians who are not part of the "backroom, lobbying" crowd that the party has seen over recent years. He wants to see an inclusive, tolerant, and non-judgemental Republican Party in the state.
The U.S. Representative from Missouri’s 8th District would like to see generic drugs brought to market in a more expeditious fashion. She feels that increased availability of generics could play a big role in health care reform, but cautions it is one of the “tougher things to deal with” due to pharmaceutical clout on Capital Hill.
Interview by Jacob McCleland; written by Carly Vogelsang
Governor Jay Nixon applied for federal relief funds to fund the Missouri Broadband Now Project. According to the Governor’s office, it would improve the standard of living in rural communities by connecting them to education, medical, and commercial resources.
Speaking at Southeast Missouri State University, Nixon laid out four principles that must be met in any legislation that he signs. Insurance companies, he says, often will not cover autism treatment. This leaves many families paying out-of-pocket or not seeking treatment at all.
The Georgia-based singer dropped by the KRCU studios to talk about her EP Pomegranate and discuss tattoos, relationships, and a childhood surrounded by music.
Musician Darren Solomon created a collaborative website with 20 musicians, each playing etheral music in the key of B-flat. Inspired by accidentally playing two YouTube videos at the same time, the website features a video clip of each musician. The user can choose which videos to play, and the results are often haunting and atmospheric.
Dr. Schnell was one of the original co-hosts of KRCU's Going Public and Rock of Ages. He was also a distiguished historian, scholar, and expert on the modern American Presidency. Dr. Schnell passed away at age 66 following a pair of strokes.
Interview by Jacob McCleland; written by Carly Vogelsang.
Southeast Missouri native publishes his first novel to good reviews. Stan Crader’s debut novel The Bridge connects with readers from St. Louis to Germany.
Producers of The Elliot Potter Show made their appeal to late-night television viewers in the form of a single ad that ran at 11:34 p.m. on a public-access channel.
Matt Martino, a native of Cobden, Illinois, fought through more than his share of setbacks on the way to recording his debut solo CD, Let It Shine in 2007. Tracks from album have appeared on national television and garnered critical praise.
Professional cyclist Brad Huff is the only Missourian to compete in the Tour of Missouri race. Huff grew up in Springfield, Missouri and will be making his third Tour of Missouri appearance.
Missouri State Budget Director Linda Luebbering says that the decrease was expected. In addition, tax refunds should be sent out in a timely manner and funds borrowed from the state budget reserve will be repaid by May 15.
Clint Zweifel wants to remove an interest rate cap on state dollars that are invested in community banks. He also hopes to encourage banks to offer low-interest loans to small businesses by modifying the Missouri Linked Deposit Program.
The Traces World War II Museum will bring the "Held in the Heartland" exhibit to the Sikeston Public Library. The exhibit will be on display on Thursday, April 16 from noon to 7 p.m.
The operatic winner of America's Got Talent! will perform with the Southeast Missouri Symphony Orchestra. He still manages to make it home to Sikeston every few weeks, he says. Boyd feels that his experience at Southeast gave him the confidence to be the performer that he is today.
Sudanese President visits Egypt, Libya, Eritrea in spite of indictment on war crimes. KRCU's Jacob McCleland speaks with Don Kraus, CEO of Citizens for Global Solutions, about the International Criminal Court's charges against Bashir.
Elliot Potter’s downtown promotional appearance was marred by chaos as the 100 foot tall radio personality was attacked by four men with proto packs. No injuries are reported, though damages are expected to run into the millions.
The popular early childhood education program could face up to ten percent budget cuts. The funding cuts come at a time when Parents As Teachers is celebrating its 25th anniversary in Missouri.
Between 1998 and 2007, clean energy jobs grew by 5.4% in Missouri, while all other jobs increased by 2.1%. Conservation, pollution mitigation, and energy efficiency make up the majority of Missouri’s clean energy jobs.
Poster's work portrays urban landscapes and rural America. His photographs cover a wide scope of emotions, characters, and settings. In addition to his work as a photographer, Poster has been a successful director of photographry for feature films, including the cult classic Donnie Darko.
Southeast Missouri State University President Ken Dobbins came by the KRCU studios to discuss record student enrollment, the status of the budget, H1N1, and negotiations for placing a community college in Cape Girardeau County.
Art Slam! which will pit a couple of professors from different academic realms into a mixed martial aesthetic arts cage match as their opinions battle it out over the same exhibition of art work.
High school teams from across Southeast Missouri and St. Louis brought their robots to Cape Girardeau on Saturday for the FIRST Tech Challenge. KRCU’s Jacob McCleland travelled to Risco High School to meet up with one of the teams and see first-hand the work that goes into building a robot.
Ron Clayton has been teaching art at Southeast Missouri State University for nearly 20 years. His career will be on display beginning this Friday, November 6 at the Crisp Museum at Southeast Missouri State University’s River Campus in Cape Girardeau. An opening will be held this Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Clayton will give a gallery talk at 6 p.m.
Sand prairies are left-over beaches and alluvial sediment from rivers that long-ago changed their courses. Once common in Southeast Missouri, there are now only a few patches of sand prairie left.
The bill's sponsor, Sen. Jason Crowell, says the legislation does not call for mandatory drug tests. Applicants will only be tested for controlled substances when there is probable cause.
Missouri's Senior Senator visited the National Guard's 1140th Engineer Battalion in Cape Girardeau to announce $500 million in additional funding. The money will be used to update and purchase new equipment for National Guard units across the country.
The Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center closed the Sonic on Broadway Street in Cape Girardeau for fear of possible contamination. Officials authorized the re-opening of the business on Friday afternoon.
If you’ve been to the SEMO District Fair this week, you probably expected to find livestock, rides, and games. If you paid close enough attention, you may have heard something a little unexpected – Afrikaans, one of the many languages spoken in South Africa.
Dr. Chris McGowan, dean of the Department of Science and Mathematics, will chair a Committee on Sustainability. In addition, the university is currently hosting Dr. Tom Kelly, the director of the Office of Sustainability at the University of New Hampshire.
Caleb Tankersley's poetry is heavily inspired by his Christian upbringing. While his work does not challenge religion, it is not entirely free of scrutiny. Tankersley's "God" series currently has 18 poems. He aspires to complete 150.
Students at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau recently had the opportunity to serve with Habitat for Humanity. Tyler Tankersley reports that instead of having to go to the site where the house was being built, Habitat for Humanity came to them.
A $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education will fund the remodeling of six laboratories in Magill Hall. Some rooms have not been renovated for 50 years.
Southeast Missouri State University's Dr. Wayne Bowen is heading to France to give a presentation on the Spanish fuel crisis during World War II at the 3rd Internatioanl History Congress.
Artist Chris Wubbena's father is a Vietnam War Veteran who suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. They travelled to Vietnam in July and August and met with people who fought on both sides of the war. Chris is working on a series of artwork that will be on display at Crisp Museum next summer.
State Budget Director Linda Luebbering says that the 5% year-to-date decline in funds is worse than expected. Governor Jay Nixon may have to make cuts to the FY2010 budget.
The small town of Williamsville, Missouri, held its 10th annual Christmas tree lighting and stew dinner on Saturday, December 5. The tight-knit community takes a unique approach to celebrating their values in the holiday season. Joshua Smith has more.
The Attorney General’s “Missouri 2008 Annual Report on Traffic Stops” shows that there is a notable disparity between the size of Missouri’s African-American population and the number of traffic stops of African-American motorists. The 2008 report shows the highest level of disparity since the A.G. began releasing the report in 2000.
Counselor Gwyeth Smith and education reporter David Marcus encourage graduating seniors to take a year off before starting college. The "gap year," they contend, allows time for personal growth.
A study by Southeast Missouri State University economists shows how the region spent the 2008 stimulus rebates as compared to the rest of the nation. A greater percentage of Southeast Missourians spent the rebate instead of saving, investing, or paying down debt, the study says.
Kelley Baker, the author of The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide Part One: Making the Extreme No Budget Film will speak on October 7 at Southeast Missouri State University.
The author of a new book recounts the stories of the U.S. soldiers photographed at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. While only low level MPs were punished for the torture, Philip Gourevitch argues that those who enabled the abuse should also be held accountable.
Southeast Missouri State University Department of Theatre and Dance will perform The Children's Hour November 11-15. The play was written in 1932 by Lillian Hellman and illustrates the harm of lying and gossip.
Interview by Jacob McCleland; written by Carly Vogelsang
Luis Hernandez explores the parental role in childhood academic development at Southeast Missouri State University and gives a glimpse into the power of vocabulary.
Cape Girardeau is notorious as a favorite haunt for spooks and ghosts of all kinds, no doubt helped by its long history as a Mississippi River town. Join Joel Rhodes on a visit a few of the more well-known haunted spots in town – Old Lorimer Cemetery, the Glenn House, and Port Cape – as well as check in with some businessmen whose inn is frequented not only be guests, but by spirits from decades past.
The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture spoke with KRCU's Jacob McCleland prior to his forum in Portageville, Missouri. Vilsack discussed ARRA funds of rural broadband access, the USDA's stance on ethanol production, and his Public Service Announcements with Cookie Monster.
The Tour of Missouri bicycle race came to Southeast Missouri yesterday afternoon, as professional cyclists from around the world crossed the finish line in downtown Cape Girardeau. British cyclist Mark Cavendish captured first place for the second straight day.
Interview by Jacob McCleland. Written by Carly Vogelsang.
Blaine Kaltman authored the book Under the Heel of the Dragon: Islam, Racism, Crime, and the Uighur in China, offering insight into the relationship between the Uighur and the Chinese ethnic majority of the Han. Fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Kaltman conducted interviews without an interpreter or the knowledge of the Chinese government to provide a unique and in-depth perspective.
Following an audit that reports various conflicts of interest among commissioners, state treasurer Clint Zweifel, who also serves as MHDC chairman, discusses how to address the commission's problems.
