By SUE MANNING (LOS ANGELES, AP) — Sugarplum went into the salon as a reddish-blonde dachshund mix and came out with pink and green ears, a rainbow tail and a… Read more »

By JESSICA GRESKO (WASHINGTON, AP) — They are some of the rarest bobblehead dolls ever produced. They’re released erratically. They’re given away for free, not sold. And if you get… Read more »

By ALAN SCHER ZAGIER (ST. LOUIS, AP) — Blues guitarist Tommy Bankhead rubbed shoulders with some of the genre’s royalty, from Howlin’ Wolf and Elmore James to Albert King and… Read more »

By ALAN SCHER ZAGIER (ST. LOUIS, AP) — In days gone by, a knock on the door by a teacher or school official used to mean a child was in… Read more »

By ALAN SCHER ZAGIER (ST. LOUIS, AP) — Documentary filmmakers A.J. Schnack and David Wilson knew it would be easy to make fun of Branson, middle America’s flag-waving, family-friendly celebration… Read more »

By KAREN CERNICH Washington Missourian (MARTHASVILLE, Mo., AP) — Jim Jackson is a friend of Daniel Boone, both literally and figuratively. On some occasions, the Marthasville man even dresses up… Read more »

(ST. LOUIS, AP) — Used Christmas trees can be donated as homes for fish as part of a Missouri Department of Conservation program. The department uses the natural trees to… Read more »

By JOSH LEDERMAN (HONOLULU, AP) — President Barack Obama is encouraging Americans to embrace the spirit of Christmas by volunteering at a soup kitchen, buying gifts for kids in need,… Read more »

(PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo., AP) — For kids who can’t wait for Santa to arrive, the North American Aerospace Defense Command has a Christmas treat. Visions of sugar plums… Read more »

(Editor’s note: This version of the story includes an update regarding the extension of enrollment to Tuesday). By LEAH WANKUM (JOHNSON COUNTY, Mo., digitalBURG) – Care Connection for Aging Services… Read more »