Advocate won't continue fight for shelter

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP) - An advocate for the homeless says he will end his legal battle to convert a former federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau to a homeless shelter.

The Rev. Larry Rice said this week that his organization, New Life Evangelistic Center, will not appeal a federal judge's ruling that denied New Life's claim to the old courthouse.

Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly's earlier this month upheld the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' decision not to give the building to Rice's organization. He wanted to use the property to provide housing for up to 125 people.

The judge's ruling clears the way for the Cape Girardeau County Commission to acquire the property. Commissioner Paul Koeper told the Southeast Missourian that the county probably won't decide what to do with the property for at least a month.

----

Information from: The Southeast Missouri, http://www.semissourian.com