This afternoon on seMissourian.com

Barlow gets 20 years

Dozens of family members and friends of Michael Strong watched a St. Louis judge sentence Lisa A. Barlow to 20 years in prison Thursday.

She pleaded guilty last month murdering Strong, her boyfriend, in the Scopus, Mo., home they shared in 2007.St. Louis County Circuit Judge James R. Hartenbach's sentence came as part of a plea deal, after Barlow showed investigators where to find the murder weapon. The original charges of first-degree murder and armed criminal action were dropped to second-degree murder.

Strong's family called Barlow's act "unforgivable." Barlow's family members present in the courtroom did not make public statements.

Holiday Happenings changes names, ownership

William Horman told Southeast Missourian reporter Brian Blackwell that he bought Holiday Happenings Aug. 1 from Rick Werner, the son of the late owner, and has made it Gerard's Gift and Floral. He decided to keep the Holiday Happenings name in place until he was ready to make the switch official ...

Possible severe thunderstorms tonight

Meteorologists are calling for a slight risk of severe thunderstorms tonight. The primary hazards will be damaging winds and large hail. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out, <a href="http://www.semissourian.com/article/20090226/NEWS01/902269985 " target="_self">according to the National Weather Service.

Spotters may be activated.