Stories from Tuesday, April 7, 2020

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. — The Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center on Tuesday reported the first death of a Cape Girardeau County resident due to COVID-19. The resident was in their 80s, according to a news release from the Cape County Public Health Department. No further details are being provided at this time due to medical privacy laws. As of Tuesday, there have been a total of 20 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Cape County, according to the health department...

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Karen Batson Fox, 61, died April 6, 2020, at her home in Charleston. Born Feb. 3, 1959, at Poplar Bluff, daughter of the late James Shelby Batson and Katherine Batson, she had lived in Poplar Bluff many years and was a graduate of Three Rivers College with a Bachelor of Science in business and science. ...

BLODGETT, Mo. — Glenda Louise (Rister) Evans, 83, of Blodgett was the daughter of the late Ernie and Edna Rister of Blodgett. When the roll was called up yonder on April 6, 2020, Glenda was there! Glenda was a 1954 graduate of Blodgett High School where she enjoyed playing on the Blodgett Indians Basketball Team...

While most people are concerned with social distancing and limiting potential expose to COVID-19, there are medical professionals and scientists focused on improving the situation long term. This comes in the form of better testing, a treatment method and a potential vaccine...

BENTON, Mo. — In a time when everything is changing, Rhonda and Aaron Robert and their daughter, Claire, want to remind the community one thing that will not change this year is their effort to raise awareness of organ, eye and tissue donations. At the beginning of this month, which is also Donate Life Month, the Robert family took time to “green up” the city of Benton, decorating business fronts with blue and green bows as well as the Benton City Hall and Scott County Courthouse...

SIKESTON — More than two weeks since the close of schools due to the coronavirus, many adults are now having to balance their roles as parents and teachers while many are still trying to work from home as well. “It’s been tough,” said Michelle Reynolds who stays home with her two sons, ages 8 and 4. “The days are long. But I’m blessed and grateful to have the opportunity to keep my children isolated as much as possible.”...

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to rise in Missouri, exceeding 2,500. According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, there have been 3,037 positive COVID-19 cases in the state as of Tuesday afternoon. The number of confirmed cases in Scott County has reached 11 according to the Scott County Health Department while New Madrid County now has five confirmed cases...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – In these trying times of the coronavirus pandemic, the emergency room is the last place you want to find yourself. That’s why the Missouri Department of Transportation is sending a strong message that now, more than ever, it’s vitally important to drive safely and obey the rules of the road.  ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — In Tuesday’s COVID-19 briefing, Gov. Mike Parson announced that the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ (DOLIR) Division of Employment Security (DES) has received its first operational guidance related to the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020...