GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS UNDER HEIGHTENED SECURITY

State and federal government buildings were under a heightened level of security Monday after the execution of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh.

McVeigh was executed at 7:14 a.m. Monday by chemical injection in Terre Haute, Ind., six years after 168 people died when he blew up the Oklahoma City federal building.

There were no reports of problems at federal and state facilities in Missouri through Monday afternoon.

Street parking adjacent to the Cape Girardeau Federal Building was blocked off Monday. Parking spaces were cordoned off along Broadway and Fountain Street next to the building at 339 Broadway.

McVeigh had said his act was inspired by the federal siege of the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, and Missouri officials were concerned that those sympathetic to McVeigh could use his death as a rallying point.

Lou Tedeschi, chief of the Capitol Police, said he had instructed his officers to be extra sensitive to potential security risks.

"Because it's now a date of significance, our officers of course are paying close attention around all government buildings we have responsibility for," Tedeschi said. "We are keeping in touch with other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies regarding any intelligence information to react to potential situations."

At the Jefferson City branch of U.S. District Court, federal marshals were asking visitors for picture identification Monday as a deterrent to any troublemakers.

"I even work here and I had to show my identification," said Carrie James, the deputy clerk. "I was glad the security was up on the building."

"I wasn't really worried, but it's been on my mind," James added. "I thought, Gosh, I wish I was working in a grocery store today instead of a federal building."'

In Springfield, acting chief deputy for the U.S. marshals, Rick Lymburner, said there had been no threats or unusual phone calls.

However, his officers had been instructed to take extra security measures, which Lymburner said will remain in effect indefinitely.

Several peaceful vigils were held by groups opposed to the death penalty in Jefferson City, Kansas City and St. Louis.

Tedeschi declined to elaborate on Monday's additional Capitol security measures. Shortly after the bombing, the state installed a guard shack at the entrance to the Capitol basement and blocked off a circle drive at the south entrance with concrete barriers.

"Even though those enhancements were made as a result of Oklahoma City, those were things we felt were necessary prior to that," Tedeschi said.

The state Division of Facilities management directed safety officials at state buildings to discuss with staff various emergency procedures, including how to respond to bomb threats.

"We've been making sure those coordinators get word to employees the best they can to make them aware of the events of today in case something unusual would happen," said assistant operations director Mark Allen.

Tedeschi said all threats would be taken seriously.

"We do investigate all threats made on state employees or government buildings very thoroughly," Tedeschi said.

Hundreds of workers had to be evacuated Monday morning from the Harry S Truman Office Building adjacent to the Capitol after a false fire alarm.

"It was not an unusual incident, but certainly one that concerns us," Allen said.