The inauguration of Barack Obama

The big news of the day is of course the inauguration of our 44th president, Barack Obama. Festivities got under way early this morning, and the new president was sworn in at noon.

The day has mostly gone off without a hitch, with one exception. Sens. Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd collapsed at an inaugural luncheon.

We've been streaming Associated Press video coverage of inauguration activities all day on our website, and that stream will continue as the day rolls on. You can find the streaming video on our home page.

We also have two photo galleries of the events available — one being updated automatically by the Associated Press, and another we put together of images from the ceremony itself.

Check back around 5 p.m. for a local story on what Cape Girardeau's schools were doing to show students the historic occasion.

Plaza Conference Center closed

The sour economy has claimed another Cape Girardeau business, seMissourian.com learned today.

The Plaza Conference Center closed its doors earlier this month. Click here for more on this story.

School lockdowns, standoffs in Poplar Bluff

Interesting news out of Poplar Bluff today, where adults and children started their day with startling announcements of bomb threats at schools and the county courthouse. The city's school system was on lockdown for two hours after bomb threats were called in, and police have maintained a presence there all day.

Click here for more on this story.

In another story out of Poplar Bluff, a man who police believed robbed a convenience store yesterday was in the hospital this morning being treated for a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Click here for more on that story.

Sikeston, Scott County Central to play each other

The Sikeston-Scott County Central boys basketball game that local high school basketball fans have been clamoring for is on, Semoball.com editor Toby Carrig announced today on his blog.

Click here for more.

Later today and Wednesday on seMissourian.com

Check back later this afternoon for more on the inauguration and the closing of the Plaza Conference Center.

Return to seMissourian.com Wednesday morning to read about the latest historic preservation initiatives in Cape Girardeau and a story we delayed for a day about a law designed to protect victims of domestic assault that's being used by their accused attackers.