Stories from Thursday, March 19, 2020

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office has released its response plan to the COVID-19 outbreak. “As we are all aware, concerns over COVID-19 continue to grow across the state of Missouri,” Sheriff Britton H. Ferrell said Thursday. “To be clear there are no known active cases in Mississippi county at this time. All efforts currently are proactive and preemptive out of caution.”

There's a rare glimmer of hope for the rest of the world as it battles the coronavirus pandemic: Chinese authorities said Thursday that Wuhan, the former epicenter that initially suffered thousands of cases a day, and its surrounding province had no new cases to report...

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are falling in early trading on Wall Street Thursday, but the losses are more subdued than the wild swings that have dominated recent weeks. At least for now. The S&P 500 was down 1.9% shortly after trading began, following eight straight days where it swung up or down between 4.9% and 12%. ...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Gov. Mike Parson today issued an executive order to relax the hours of operation for motor carriers to give them more flexibility in transporting goods to aid in Missouri’s COVID-19 emergency response. The governor’s executive order supports the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s national emergency declaration to provide hours-of-service regulatory relief to commercial vehicle drivers transporting emergency relief in response to the nationwide coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. ...

The chairman of Arizona's Asian Chamber of Commerce didn't see much downside to attending a small dinner at a local restaurant to bolster the business and bring together other leaders to discuss how to help Asian-American eateries devastated by the coronavirus...

CHICAGO (AP) — Concern among Americans that they or a loved one will be infected by the coronavirus rose dramatically in the past month, with two-thirds of the country now saying they're at least somewhat concerned about contracting the COVID-19 illness...

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a matter of days, millions of Americans have seen their lives upended by measures to curb the spread of the new coronavirus. Normally bustling streets are deserted as families hunker down in their homes. Many of those who do venture out try to stay a safe distance from anyone they encounter, even as they line up to buy now-precious commodities like hand sanitizer. ...

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are swinging between gains and losses in early trading on Wall Street Thursday, but the moves are more subdued than the wild jabs that have dominated recent weeks. At least for now. The S&P 500 was down 0.2% in mid-morning trading after bouncing between a loss of 3.3% and a gain of 1.4%. That would be a notable change in normal times, but the index has had eight straight days where it swung up or down between 4.9% and 12%...

NEW YORK (AP) — When hospitals need to prep a room for the next coronavirus test, when jetliners discharge their passengers at the gate, when suburbanites start to take sanitary precautions more seriously, the call goes out: Send in the cleaners. These largely unsung workers are often the first line of defense against the global COVID-19 pandemic, cleaning and disinfecting homes, offices, medical facilities and public spaces where the novel coronavirus could spread. ...

One store advertised hand sanitizer at $60 a bottle. Another was accused of hawking it at $1 a squirt. Chain stores were accused of selling $26 thermometers and face masks at the "everyday low price" of $39.95 a pair, while a convenience store offered toilet paper at $10 a roll next to a sign reading: "This is not a joke."...

NEW YORK (AP) — On the first Sunday after the coronavirus began upending American life, some religious institutions – including two churches whose pastors are close to President Donald Trump – held in-person services amid public health worries over the pandemic. That picture already looks different this week...

HOUSTON (AP) — Cars lined up for more than a mile outside a Houston hospital Thursday as the nation's fourth-largest city began drive-thru testing for the coronavirus, but officials warned they don't have enough kits or protective gear to meet demand...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Anyone entering a Missouri Department of Corrections office or facility will undergo enhanced screening in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, state officials say. The agency said the new procedure will require everyone — staff, volunteers, vendors and other visitors — to answer a series of health-related questions when entering a corrections-related office or facility, ranging from community supervision centers to the state's 20 prisons, The St. ...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sports are on hold, theaters are closed and so are amusement parks, a disaster-movie scenario that has Hollywood reeling. But Americans held captive at home by the coronavirus can turn to Netflix, Amazon, Hulu and other streaming services, outliers in an entertainment industry brought to an unprecedented standstill...

WASHINGTON (AP) — Just a couple of weeks ago, Erika Vega hoped her temp job at a cafeteria would soon become permanent. But instead, the viral outbreak shut down the building where she worked and left her wondering where her next paycheck will come from...

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. — Larry Gene Grubbs, 78, died March 18, 2020, at his home. Born Jan. 30, 1942, in East Prairie, son of the late Sidney and Nellie Grounds Grubbs, he was employed by Brown Shoe Company in Charleston for 29 years and later worked for DeWitt Manufacturing Co. ...

SIKESTON — Bobby Gene Barnes of Sikeston passed away on March 19, 2020, at the age of 90 at Delta South Nursing in Sikeston. He was born Aug. 9, 1929, in Biggers, Ark., to the late Everett and Caroline Seagraves Barnes. On Nov. 4, 1951, in Piggott, Ark., he married Doris Mayfield Barnes, who survives of the home...

NEW MADRID, Mo. — Cameron Jerel Jackson, 31, died March 14, 2020, at his home in New Madrid. Born June 13, 1988, in Sikeston, he was the son of Clarence McKinney of St. Louis and Linda Jackson of New Madrid. His fiancee, Precious Hill, survives of New Madrid...

JACKSON, Mo. — With family by her side, Gospel music playing in the background, and the 23rd Psalm being read to her, Bonnie Sue Allen, 80, of Jackson, passed away peacefully, Wednesday, March 18, 2020, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.    ...

The Bridge Worship Service, a collaboration of Community Baptist Church and North Acres Baptist Church, is doing what many churches around the country are doing, adjusting to the recent pandemic of the Coronavirus. “This is an interesting time for all us,” said Glen Cantrell, pastor of Community Baptist Church, “we’re social people who have to learn to be less social until this ends.”...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The fallout from the coronavirus could have an especially devastating impact in the black community, where many residents rely on public health clinics that are already beginning to feel a financial pinch, African American pastors in St. Louis told government leaders Thursday...

SIKESTON — As churches are facing a decision of what to do with their services, one Sikeston church is using it as an opportunity to help the community. Instead of holding a Sunday service, Fellowship Baptist Church in Sikeston will be offering a free meal Sunday to help area senior adults and families by providing meals for those who would like to receive one...

SIKESTON, Mo. — Classes may be out but food service is available at school districts across the Bootheel. While schools are closed due to the coronavirus, or COVID-19, area school districts are finding ways to deliver the meals that many families depend on to feed their children during the school year...

BMU closes lobby The Sikeston Board of Municipal Utilities will close their lobby and other facilities to any outside visitors beginning Friday through April 3, at which time they will reassess the risk to employees and customers. All BMU customers are asked to pay over the phone with a debit or credit card through the web payment portal, set up an auto draft from their bank account, or make use of one of BMU’s two drive-thru lanes and night deposit box...

SIKESTON — Events for the 40th Annual Kenny Rogers Children’s Center may have been canceled in light of the coronavirus outbreak, but the need for community support remains. Early this week the Kenny Rogers Children’s Center made the decision to cancel all remaining events scheduled for its telethon, which was set for Saturday and Sunday...

PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — As precautionary measures and in the interest of public health, Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation (DAEOC) will modify service delivery effective Monday. According to a news release from Scarlett Loomas, development administrator with DAEOC, all offices will be closed to the public until at least April 3 pursuant to CDC guidance...