Stories from Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Today will be sunny, with a high near 72 then becoming mostly clear tonight with a low around 49. Sunny on Wednesday with a high near 76 while Wednesday night will be mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Thursday will be mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms with a high near 75 then becoming mostly cloudy Thursday Night with a 30 percent chance of showers with a low around 63. ...

POPLAR BLUFF. -- Two Muskegon County, Michigan, technology companies claim Information Systems Intelligence had an unfair advantage when receiving government contracts during Heath Kaplan's time as chief financial and technology officer. The Daily American Republic also received a document showing Kaplan, now city manager of Poplar Bluff, signed a promissory note in 2012 on an almost $28,000 loan from ISI owner Ryan Leetsma that isn't due in full until June. ...

JONESBORO, Ill. -- Jury selection began Monday for one of two men accused in the beating death of an Illinois man. Jessie Bell, 35, of Anna, Illinois, is charged with first-degree murder in the April 2014 beating death of James H. "Jimmy" Morrison, 46, of Anna...

DEXTER - More details have been released concerning the fatal accident that occurred Saturday night. According to information provided by Dexter Police Detective Cory Mills, Terry Edmond Belcher, Jr., 36, of Dexter, was traveling north, on foot, and had just crossed the eastbound lane of Highway 60, when a red 2003 Dodge Dakota struck him near the edge of the road...

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. ANOTHER MAJOR QUAKE STRIKES NEPAL It hits with a magnitude of 7.3 in an isolated area between the capital of Kathmandu and Mount Everest, killing at least four people less than three weeks after the country was ravaged by another deadly quake...

DEXTER -- Terry Edmond Belcher Jr., 36, died May 9, 2015. Arrangements are incomplete with the Rainey-Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter.

SIKESTON -- William H. "Bill" Deane III, 81, of Sikeston, passed away May 10, 2015, at his home surrounded by his loving family. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 12, 2015, at the First United Methodist Church in Sikeston. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Geoff Posegate, pastor, and the Rev. Charles Buck, former pastor and close friend, officiating...

EAST PRAIRIE - The Dorena-Hickman Ferry is closed. The ferry halted operations about 11:30 a.m., due to a mechanical issue and will remain closed until further notice, according to Keith Todd with the Kentucky Transportation Department. He added, he will attempt to provide timely notice when the Dorena-Hickman Ferry is able to resume service...