Belgrade News

The Frank Lloyd Wright House in Ebsworth Park has hired its first employee, architecture and archaeology expert Laura Meyer. via St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Diana Harper [Order this photo] Central High School senior Diana Harper might not consider herself an artist, but the judges in the Missouri 8th Congressional District Art Competition do. via Southeast Missourian

“Well this is really important to me. Our priest was talking to us in our religion class about how He's inspiring people and giving them new hope”

Thousands of faithful gathered at Washington's new baseball stadium to hear Pope Benedict the 16th celebrate mass. via KRCG-TV Jefferson City

“He's usually there to keep track of the runs and how many hits they get”

For Army National Guard Maj. Matt Bacon's two young sons, this tour of duty in Iraq has been a lot tougher than the last. via Columbia Daily Tribune

“If they're here illegally, they've just gotten 90 days of services from your constituents. I don't expect mine to pay for it”

To get public benefits such as food stamps or housing assistance in Missouri, people would have to prove they are U.S. citizens or legally in the country under a bill endorsed by the House. via Columbia Daily Tribune

“Whatever name they want to give to it, it is a recognition of same-sex unions”

Gay couples had to struggle mightily to win the right to marry or form civil unions. via Southeast Missourian

“Having the practice here helped a lot at basic”

Sunday, April 13, 2008 :: Michelle Key Army basic training can be intimidating to new Soldiers, but with the help of the Missouri Army National Guard's Recruit Sustainment Program, Soldiers are prepared to ... via Kansas City InfoZine

“If you're truly a leader and you are truly going to prioritize your programs, ... you can't please everybody”

A promise to keep taxes low is not uncommon during political campaigns, but such pledges can haunt an executive administration. via Columbia Daily Tribune

“We've been there and been able to move away from that sandbagging situation”

The latest round of flooding was blamed in the death of a southern Missouri boy, forced scattered evacuations around the state on Friday, and had some Mississippi River towns fortifying levees and floodwalls. via KMOV-TV Saint Louis

“Question 10 (of the application) asks, what do you expect the DREAM program to accomplish in your community?”

What is to become of Lebanon's city center? The city/county economic development organization wants to put a prettier face on the area around Commercial Street with help from the Missouri Downtown ... via Lebanon Daily Record

“We depend on high earnings during the up cycle to sustain ... investment over the long-term, including the down cycles”

By H. JOSEF HEBERT / Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON -- When it comes to public opinion, Congress isn't held in very high regard, Rep. via KSDK NewsChannel 5

“We need to make sure that good jobs and our state's services are available to honest, legal residents.”

Immigrants will have to provide proof of citizenship in order to receive public benefits. via Suntimes News

“He wholeheartedly believes that everything he's done has been proper, or he wouldn't have done it.”

St. Louis -- Federal prosecutors believe an eastern Missouri doctor is reckless in handing out prescriptions and may be linked to as many as 46 drug overdose deaths, the St. via Springfield News Leader

“The reason why my parents brought me to the U.S. was to get a good education.”

A Missouri student who has spent years fighting her deportation to Costa Rica has received another extension of her stay in the United States. via KMOV-TV Saint Louis

“We have no problem with a state law that is more responsive, we just have a problem with a state law that is going to be more regulatory”

State senators gave quick preliminary approval Tuesday to legislation cracking down on illegal immigrants and those who hire them. via KMOV-TV Saint Louis

District 8 Congresswoman Joann Emerson is in the area on a break from Washington until next Monday. via KZIM-AM Cape Girardeau

“The better first impression they get of Cape, the more likely they are to continue or to start doing business here”

Hopefully by time this column is printed, the water is receding. The serial storms since Feb. via Southeast Missourian

Any amateur speller knows that some words defy all logic. That same characteristic seems to have overtaken the offices of the Scripps National Spelling Bee.Officials have yet to give a satisfactory explanation ... via KansasCity.com

“I have the biggest pit in my stomach. I'm very hopeful that we can prevail. Then the other part of me is, 'I am just sick.”

Ca-LAM-i-ty. Noun. Disaster or misfortune. Ca-LAM-i-ty.

Now use it in a sentence:

'Morgan Brown is facing a calamity.'

Two weeks ago, Morgan plowed through the Northwest Missouri Regional Spelling Bee, nailing words like 'diablo' and 'poltergeist' on her way to the championship.

The 12-year-old is still riding high off that win into this Easter holiday, her parents say, eagerly anticipating her May trip to Washington and the 2008 Scripps National Spelling Bee finals.

Meanwhile, Morgan's parents are torn up, her North Platte School District is frantically exploring its options and even national bee organizers had a rough week poring over the rule book. Read more

“Our guidelines are that if the additional water could push some places over flood stage, we could reduce the size of the pulse or completely eliminate it.”

Washington -- The Army Corps of Engineers has pushed back plans to release extra water into the Missouri River this week due to flooding concerns in central Missouri and larger than expected flows from ... via Springfield News Leader