Southeast hires new technology officialJohn Weber, director of office and computing services at Cornell College, has been hired as assistant vice president for information technology at Southeast Missouri State University.

Weber will begin his new duties on Jan. 1.

Weber will lead Southeast's information technology department, focusing on computer services and telecommunications, school officials said.

Weber has served as director of office and computing services at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, for five years. Prior to working at Cornell College, he spent three years as director of computer services at Southern Arkansas University.

Truck bursts into flames on St. Louis-area highway

BELLEFONTAINE NEIGHBORS, Mo. -- A FedEx Corp. tractor-trailer crashed and burst into flames Tuesday along Interstate 270 near St. Louis after the driver swerved to avoid a car that cut into his path, authorities said.

Though the tractor-trailer was nearly obliterated, its driver and a passenger were unhurt.

While there were some initial reports that the trucker may have fallen asleep at the wheel, Cpl. Jon Parrish of the Missouri State Highway Patrol's St. Louis-based Troop C said "we have no evidence of that nature at all."

"Another vehicle cut in front of the tractor-trailer's driver," who managed to avoid hitting that car before he lost control of the semi rig, Parrish said.

The tractor-trailer clipped a guardrail and another protective barrier, rupturing a fuel tank that then ignited, Parrish said.

Brad Pitt gives $5,000 gift to Springfield theater

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The folks at the Springfield Little Theatre were actually hoping for something a little more personal. But although it was awhile in coming, the response they got from actor Brad Pitt was more than welcome.

It was nearly two years ago that Beth Domann, the theater's education director, sent off a letter to Pitt, who is from Springfield, and his actress wife Jennifer Aniston asking for a benefit performance by the two to help the theater.

Nothing was heard until last week, when a $5,000 check from Pitt arrived in the mail.

"It's amazing," says finance director Chris Volkmer.

Three register as write-in candidates for election

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- The state auditor's race now officially has five candidates, instead of four.

The secretary of state's office said Tuesday that Theo "Ted" Brown of St. Louis had registered as a write-in candidate for auditor. He joins Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill, Republican Al Hanson, Libertarian Arnold Trembley and Green Party candidate Fred Kennell.

In order for write-in candidates to have their votes counted, they had to register by Oct. 23 with the state or local election authority, depending on the office they are seeking.

A new state law allows voters on Nov. 5 to place stickers bearing the names of write-in candidates on ballots, instead of having to write the names.

Besides Brown, the secretary of state's office reported two other write-in candidates for state offices: Steven L. Reed of Christian County for the 7th U.S. House District and William D. Kloppel of St. Louis for the 97th state House District.

The secretary of state's office said votes for the write-in candidates would be reported in the same manner as for those whose names appear on the ballot.

West Nile claims another in Illinois, officials saySPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- West Nile virus has claimed the life of a Fulton County man, the state's 46th victim of the mosquito-borne disease, state public health officials said Tuesday.

The 62-year-old man died of West Nile encephalitis and was among one of five new confirmed cases of the disease, officials said.

Illinois has reported 719 cases of the virus this year, more than any other state.

-- From staff and wire reports