Stories from Tuesday, February 4, 2014

By DAVID CRARY AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) -- The U.S. abortion rate declined to its lowest level since 1973, and the number of abortions fell by 13 percent between 2008 and 2011, according to the latest national survey of abortion providers conducted by a prominent research institute...

By DAVID A. LIEB The Associated Press JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Gov. Jay Nixon on Friday set an Aug. 5 special election to fill three vacant Missouri House seats, including one that's been vacant since June. The date ensures the winners won't be around for this year's regular session but could take office in time to decide whether to override any potential gubernatorial vetoes...

By DAVID SILVERBERG Associate Editor Sunday"s snowfall totaling 4-6 inches created treacherous driving conditions throughout Southeast Missouri. Four inches fell Sunday in Poplar Bluff, Mo., but higher amounts fell in Stoddard County with 5 inches reported at Bernie, Mo., and 6 inches at Dudley, Mo., according to reports made by trained spotters to the National Weather Service at Paducah, Ky...

Curtis Sumner Curtis Vinton Sumner, 56, of Paragould, Ark., died Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2014, at Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Visitation will be at 4 p.m. today at Fowler-Sullivan Funeral Home in Poplar Bluff, Mo. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with burial in Pilgrims Rest Cemetery in Fairdealing, Mo...

Sandra Bishop Sandra Ann Bishop, 68, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., died Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014, in Poplar Bluff. Mrs. Bishop was born April 24, 1945, in Piggott, Ark., to the late Robert Doyle Dover and Verna Ottie Smith. She had served in the United States Army. Mrs. Bishop was a homemaker and member of the Abundant Life Christian Center...

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Seattle Seahawks had a blowout victory Sunday night, but there was no big winner in the Super Bowl ad contest. Here's a look at some things you might know -- and some things you don't -- about the ads. BOB DYLAN'S SUPER BOWL Legendary musician Bob Dylan appeared in a Chrysler ad that had been kept tightly under wraps. Dylan walked through the streets of Detroit explaining that the city made cars and that "cars made America."...

Darrel Myers BLUE MOUND, Ill. -- Darrel Wayne Myers, 85, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., formerly of Stonington, Ill. passed away at 1 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, 2014, at Missouri Delta Medical Center, Sikeston, Mo. Mr. Myers was born Nov. 12, 1928, in Moweaqua, Ill., the son of Wayne and Veta (Grear) Myers. ...

By MAE ANDERSON AP Retail Writer NEW YORK (AP) -- What Super Bowl ads will people discuss over the water cooler a day after the big game? There were no crude jokes. Sexual innuendo was kept to a minimum. And uncomfortable scenes were missing. In short, there wasn't much shock value...