Cape Girardeau Regional Airport Manager Jojo Stuart sat down with us to discuss the openings of afternoon flights to Dallas, Texas beginning in December as well as the seasonal flights to Pensacola, Florida starting in April. Stuart speaks on the Department of Transportation's decision to renew Cape Airport’s contract with Contour Airlines as well as repairs and additions to airport facilities such as the new terminal, repairs of the taxiways, and a larger hangar built for the SEMO Aviation program

Policy experts are urging Congress to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits and address the larger problem of escalating health care costs, warning that premiums could more than double if no action is taken. A Century Foundation analysis shows rural and high cancer-rate counties would be hit hardest, as ACA premiums are already projected to rise an average of 18% next year, potentially affecting a record 466,000 Illinoisans.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released funds for farmer-driven agriculture research in Missouri and nationwide after a months-long delay. Farmers across the country launched a campaign to insist the government release the money, which it did in mid-September. The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program grants funds to farmers and ranchers for on-farm studies and helps distribute the results.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded a new Essential Air Service contract to Contour Airlines, the City of Cape Girardeau Regional Airport announced Wednesday. The decision keeps Contour Airlines operating at the airport and expands travel options for the Southeast Missouri region. Service to Chicago O’Hare International Airport will continue, and new flights to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport will be added. Seasonal service to Pensacola International Airport is expected to be available by Spring 2026.

Missouri hog farmers are stepping into the national spotlight as Congress considers Prop 12, California’s crate-free pork law. They say losing the law would wipe out a fair market that rewards crate-free pork.

Workers and community groups are taking their fight to the Missouri Capitol, protesting what they call an illegal power grab to redraw congressional maps. The action follows Labor Day rallies in Kansas City and St. Louis, where thousands opposed changes they say threaten workers’ rights and democracy.

Federal crop insurance pours billions of taxpayer money into corn and soybeans in Illinois, but leaves small fruit and vegetable farmers exposed. As climate risks grow, one Illinois specialty farmer says diversity, not subsidies, is his safety net.

Some Missouri workers are marking Labor Day by joining the national ‘Workers Over Billionaires’ movement, saying it’s about more than holiday weekend barbecues when the state’s top 1% of residents make nearly 16 times what the average worker earns.

Business and out-of-state ownership of Illinois farmland has surged since 2005, driving up rent prices and limiting conservation practices. Unlike neighboring states, Illinois has no restrictions on corporate land purchases, raising concerns about rising costs, soil health, and long-term food security.

Missouri’s 26 rail trails, including the 240-mile Katy Trail, could be affected as Congress takes up the 2026 transportation bill, the largest source of federal funding for trails, walking, and biking, supporting a 42,000-mile national network.