An orphanage upstart has its challenges — funding, staffing, location, clean water. Clean water? If your orphanage is in Haiti, then yes. Water ranks as highly as four walls and a roof. Enter an unlikely purifier.

Dr. Deborah Weems’ passion coming out of medical school drove her to emergency room jobs around the state. About 15 years later, that commitment to medicine is still there, but another, older passion has sprung up. “When I was a kid,” said the highly nontraditional Missouri Western State University video student, “I would spend Sundays watching Wild Kingdom. I loved wildlife documentaries.” Still working 12-hour shifts in a Kansas City emergency room, Dr. Weems enrolled at Western in the department of communications studies and theater. She’s two semesters away from her degree, which has a heavy emphasis on video production.

The SUV market has dropped off so much, Chrysler is offering to pick up part of your gas tab. The car company will pay for gas costs over $2.99 per gallon over the next three years if you buy one of their new sport utility vehicles.

Given the family history, extreme oratory skills are needed to win an argument against the Montees.

Some say it’s just politics. Others offer that it’s actually going to help the economy. Whatever side of the fence you’re on, the government likely is sending you some money within the next few months. About 130 million Americans who filed a tax return this year will receive rebates, ranging from $300 to $1,800 depending on income and number of children, through the economic-stimulus package. Checks began showing up this week.

MARYVILLE, Mo. — Jenny Harrison’s college pal was only half joking when he said people enjoy giving her money.

MARYVILLE, Mo. — A new Missouri law puts a cap on how much public higher education institutions can raise tuition. And those institutions are promptly meeting that cap.

A local university building, not quite completed, already has gained state recognition and financial backing.

St. Joseph might not have the number of bicyclists that inhabit other Midwestern cities, but they’re dedicated.

Jazz musician Coleman Hawkins died nearly 40 years ago. But a local jazz society has worked hard in recent years to keep his name alive.