Stories from Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today: 1. OBAMA TO FOCUS ON THE ACHIEVABLE IN STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH Avoiding lofty goals, he'll instead announce smaller proposals _ such as job-training initiatives _ during his prime-time address...

CARUTHERSVILLE - A pedestrian was killed when she darted in front of a tractor-trailer rig on Interstate 55. Amber C. Davis, 38, of Caruthersville was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident at 11.2 mile marker on Interstate 55 at 10:35 p.m. Monday by Pemiscot County Coroner Jim Brimhall. Her death was the fifth in the Troop E area...

By Jill Bock jillb@standard-democrat.com NEW MADRID - A hefty increase in insurance premiums is impacting the New Madrid County 2014 budget. Even with a reduction in plan benefits and an increase in employee out-of-pocket expenses, the County's health insurance premiums rose 30 percent over last year, according to County Clerk Clement Cravens. ...

The reconstructed Malone Avenue and Kingshighway intersection opened Monday morning.

Sikeston DPS fought a grass fire on Monday morning.

SIKESTON -- Billy J. Brandon, 70, died Jan. 27, 2014, at St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

NEW MADRID -- Thelma E. White, 87, died Jan. 26, 2014, in New Madrid. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

MARBLE HILL -- Lillian Dildine Kimes, 84, died Jan. 26, 2014, at the Woodland Hills Nursing Center in Marble Hill. For the complete Standard Democrat obituary log in to our electronic edition.

I get so tired of watching these advertisements. People saying how much they love this and how much they love that. If everybody would notice, down at the bottom it says paid actor or being compensated for this ad. If you are paid, you are gonna say you like anything whether you do or you don't. I think this is just out and out fraud...

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- A Bertrand man is in jail and facing felony charges for a shooting in 2011 after almost a year on the run. Alonzo Simpson, 27, was arrested by the Sikeston Department of Public Safety Saturday after information was obtained that Simpson was at a Sikeston business, according to Capt. Jim McMillen, public information officer for the Sikeston Department of Public Safety...

scottw@standard-democrat.com SIKESTON -- Customers frequenting two of Sikeston's head shops will find a much smaller selection to shop from Wednesday. Search warrants executed Tuesday morning by the Sikeston Department of Public Safety's Detective Division resulted in the seizure of about 700 miscellaneous drug paraphernalia items, according to Capt. Jim McMillen, public information officer for DPS...