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The victim was found lying dead in the street at about 5 a.m.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe vowed during his annual State of the State address in January to rewrite the foundation formula, the equation that determines how the state funds public schools. Almost three months later, he has yet to announce his selections for a task force charged with reviewing public school funding and recommending changes. The […]

by Mark Olalde

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A top official in the Department of Labor this week informed all staff members that they could face criminal charges if they speak to journalists, former employees or others about agency business.

A memo sent Monday by Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s chief of staff, Jihun Han, and obtained by ProPublica, states that “individuals who disclose confidential information or engage in unauthorized communications with the media may face serious legal consequences.”

Among the ramifications, the memo states, are “potential criminal penalties, depending on the nature of the information and the applicable laws,” and “immediate disciplinary actions, up to and including termination.”

The guidance document went on to say that “any unauthorized communication with the media,” regardless of what information is shared or how it is shared, “will be treated as a serious offense.”

The memo listed laws, regulations and a departmental guide to explain its legal position. Among them was a regulation concerning civil servants’ ethical obligations and a law, the Freedom of Information Act, guaranteeing the public the right to inspect certain public records.

“This message will serve as your only warning,” the memo stated.

The warning comes as current and former Labor Department employees have spoken to the news media about harms they see resulting from the dismantling of portions of their agency, which enforces laws guaranteeing rights to a safe workplace, fair pay and protections against discrimination.

“It’s very chilling,” a Labor Department employee who requested anonymity for fear of retribution told ProPublica. “It’s never a good look when you’re telling people to never talk about what you’re doing.”

Labor Department spokespeople did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“These types of missives can chill the free flow of information to the press and the public,” said Gabe Rottman, vice president of policy at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. “That’s a concern.”

Civil servants do not sacrifice their First Amendment rights by accepting a job with the federal government, but there do exist higher restrictions on what information they can disclose publicly. Government agencies that handle classified information have on rare occasions launched criminal investigations against leakers, but those are typically invoked only when leaks involve classified national security intelligence or protected financial information, Rottman said.

“But normally, disclosures to the press or others would be a matter of employee discipline as opposed to carrying criminal sanctions,” he said.

While the memo raising the possibility of criminal penalties was sent to Labor Department employees, it reflects a common approach by the administration of President Donald Trump to guard against federal government employees speaking to reporters.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, for example, has publicly announced an aggressive pursuit of leakers. Elon Musk, who launched the Department of Government Efficiency, which is at the heart of the shake-up of the federal government, has bragged about his tactics in rooting out leaks at his companies. And Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has blamed alleged leaks by former Pentagon staffers for reigniting controversy over his use of the Signal messaging app to discuss military operations.

Federal employees at various agencies told ProPublica that an air of suspicion has descended on their workplace during Trump’s second term, with rumors flying of surveillance of rank-and-file government workers. In the Department of Agriculture, for example, a banner temporarily appeared on government computers when employees logged in, telling them that “unauthorized or improper use of this system may result in disciplinary action, as well as civil and criminal penalties.”

Agriculture Department spokespeople did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Labor Department employee told ProPublica that Monday’s memo felt like the latest attack on a workforce already weathering layoffs, spending freezes and reorganizations.

“It’s been horrible. It’s been a deeply exhausting roller coaster,” the employee said. “It’s very difficult to work when you’re in a constant state of being terrorized by your employer.”

The concerns center around Rustic Roots Sanctuary and its founder, who is set to receive the largest amount of money.

Homicide Detectives are investigating a deadly shooting that happened during the early morning hours on April 21, 2025 in the 3400 block of North Market.

The post UPDATE: Man Shot, Killed in Jeff-Vander-Lou appeared first on St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.

Brian Wellington was 13 when he and another teen shot and killed a woman in front of her daughter, charging documents said.

For decades, major wireless carriers AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile collected vast troves of sensitive user location and movement data, then sold access to any random nitwit with two nickels to rub together. The result was a parade of scandals wherein everybody from stalkers , law enforcement (or people pretending to be law enforcement), car companies, governments, and right wing […]

WASHINGTON — Trump administration health officials announced Tuesday they hope to eliminate eight petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the nation’s food supply before the end of next year, though they haven’t received guarantees or written agreement from food companies. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary detailed efforts to phase out the dyes during a press conference alongside Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the department’s Washington, D.C.,…

Three newly elected St. Louis Public Schools board members were sworn in Tuesday night during a meeting at district headquarters. Karen Collins-Adams, the wife of former district superintendent Kelvin Adams, was named president. She replaced Toni Cousins, who was not reelected earlier this month. At the meeting, board member Ben Conover, who was appointed in February after the resignation of Sadie Weiss, wondered if Collins-Adams' marriage would pose a challenge. "I have some concerns, I think,…

The city’s Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority on Tuesday approved providing up to $4.3 million for additional funding for ongoing repairs to a deteriorating city-owned downtown parking garage.

The Believe STL Academy began holding classes this fall.

ST. LOUIS - An overnight shooting in north St. Louis County left one person dead Wednesday morning. The shooting took place around 3:30 a.m. on the 6900 block of Greenway Avenue. An investigation into the shooting is ongoing. This is a developing story; FOX 2 will provide additional information once it comes into the newsroom.

A fight between two women Monday morning on Riverview Boulevard near North Broadway was followed several hours later by gunfire that residents think was retaliatory.

23andMe has the bankruptcy court's approval to continue operating as it goes through bankruptcy.