stLouISTAggregator
Snow tracks lead to man's arrest in Fenton wire scheme
A man's footprints in fresh snow led to his arrest Friday in connection with a wire theft scheme, authorities say.
Five Missourians, two from St. Louis area, voting soon on Democratic Party chair
Russ Carnahan, state Democratic chair, and Florissant municipal judge Mary Elizabeth Dorsey are two St. Louis-area members of Democrat’s national board.
St. Louis assessor becoming state-court judge
St. Louis Assessor Michael Dauphin will become an associate circuit judge in the St. Louis Circuit Court.
Liz Truss, Who Accused Earlier PM Of ‘Crashing’ Economy, Threatens To Sue Current PM For Saying She Crashed The Economy
In a twist that highlights the absurdity of UK libel laws, former Prime Minister Liz Truss is threatening to sue current PM Keir Starmer for saying she “crashed the economy” during her chaotic 49 days in office… conveniently forgetting that she made the exact same accusation against an earlier PM herself. That’s right, Truss, whose […]
Most snow hit these St. Louis cities this week, snowfall totals show
3 Women Arrested For Mob Action At Alton Bar
ALTON - Three women from Alton have been charged with mob action after allegedly battering a customer and staff at a bar in downtown Alton. The following individuals, each from Alton, face a Class 4 felony count of mob action: Precious N. Steward, 27 Thelma D. E. Jordan, 35 Honesty A. Butler, 25 Charging documents filed against all three individuals on Jan. 8, 2025 state that on Nov. 16, 2024, the three acted together to batter “a female customer and bar staff” at The Firehouse bar in Alton. The Alton Police Department presented separate but related cases against all three individuals, who were each granted pretrial release from custody. The issuance of charges is based solely upon probable cause and is not an indication of guilt. All subjects charged with criminal offenses are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Billy Joel pushes January gig to November due to ‘medical procedure’
After a stellar 2024, Billy Joel's 2025 is starting off a little bumpy: He's had to reschedule his first concert of the year — not counting New Year's Eve —…
Webster University narrows loss, sheds going concern warning
Webster University on Friday reported that it narrowed its operating deficit in fiscal 2024, and said it will be cash-flow positive for the current fiscal year, as it's boosted by increased enrollment and efficiency measures.
Investment adviser with big St. Louis presence is KC firm's biggest acquisition, adds $292B in assets
An institutional investment consulting firm with a big St. Louis office has been acquired and adds $292 billion in assets to its new parent company.
Track 'Edward Blizzardhands' and 'Plowy McPlowface' plowing Collinsville streets
"Snowbegone Kenobi," "The Big LePlowski," and many more uniquely named snow plows will be seen on the streets of Collinsville clearing snow for drivers on Friday.
Rare gold medal from St. Louis 1904 Olympics up for auction
A rare and historic piece of St. Louis history is currently up for auction: A well-preserved gold medal from the 1904 Olympic Games.
Matson Money CEO: 'American Dream' Still Possible In 2025
Mark Matson, CEO of Matson Money , appeared on Our Daily Show! on Riverbender.com to discuss wealth building and management strategies to kick off the new year. Described as an “investment advisor company,” Matson Money aims to help its clients make their own “American Dream” a reality through financial stability. Matson said “equities,” or stock investments, are some of the “greatest wealth-creation” tools available not just in the United States, but around the world. “Equities are the greatest wealth tool known to mankind,” Matson said. “Historically, large stocks have averaged about 10% every year, so your money doubles every 7.2 years. Small stocks have been in the ballpark of 12%, small-value stocks in the ballpark of 7.2%. So historically, equities - owning stocks - not only in the United States but globally, is one way people can fulfill their American Dream.” Despite turbulent economic condition
I need some positivity in my life today
The Prospect Weekly Roundup: California Burning
On our live show, David and Harold talk about their common experiences on the Westside of Los Angeles, epicenter of the terrible wildfires raging across Southern California.
Wandering Around Downtown
Friday Cat Blogging – 10 January 2025
Where's Charlie?
The Next Financial Crisis: Insurance
Today on TAP: Increasing damage from fires, hurricanes, and floods will destabilize a lightly regulated industry—and spill over into broader financial markets.
Bill Medley releases ‘Crying Time,’ featuring Michael McDonald, from upcoming album
The Righteous Brothers’ Bill Medley has shared a new single from his upcoming album, Straight from the Heart, which is due out Feb. 14.The 12-track album, Medley’s first new record in over a…
Why covering the prison system matters
Dear Friend of Press Freedom,
If you enjoy reading this newsletter, please support our work. Our impact in 2024 was made possible by supporters like you. If someone has forwarded you this newsletter, please subscribe here.
Covering the prison system
With all the talk about threats to U.S. journalists over the next four years, it’s easy to forget that nearly two million Americans are already living in a system rife with censorship, secrecy, and retaliation.
Despite its size and scope, the incarceration system is in many ways invisible. Its facilities operate outside the public eye and with less oversight than other governmental entities. And information about carceral institutions is closely guarded by corrections agencies that have a range of ways to restrict public access and block reporting efforts.
We published a two-part guide by journalist Daniel Moritz-Rabson on ways to navigate the challenges journalists face in covering incarceration facilities and incarcerated people. While the obstacles are daunting, we hope the guide serves as a reminder that facing these challenges is worthwhile.
TikTok isn’t the radio
In addition to making baseless national security arguments, people from opinion columnists to appellate judges have argued that banning TikTok is somehow consistent with existing governmental authority to regulate certain broadcasters.
Before today’s Supreme Court argument, Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF) Senior Advisor Caitlin Vogus explained why they're wrong, both as a legal matter and a policy one, in Tech Policy Press.
“TikTok isn’t a radio station. If the Supreme Court treats it like one, it will open the floodgates to government control of other social media apps and the internet as a whole,” she wrote. Read the op-ed here.
Archivist can still fight secrecy
President-elect Donald Trump said this week he will replace the archivist of the United States, Colleen Shogan. Threatening to fire Shogan over the National Archives and Records Administration’s work (under a predecessor) to recover the records Trump wrongly took to Mar-a-Lago raises genuine concerns about retaliation and future compliance with the Presidential Records Act.
But the threat could have a silver lining if it prompts Shogan to spend her remaining time in the post being candid with the public about what NARA needs to survive. This will help supporters more effectively advocate for NARA during the next Congress. If NARA is undermined or neglected, expect even more overclassification from the federal government.
Read more about how Shogan can fight secrecy in The Classifieds, our new project dedicated to reforming overclassification and government secrecy.
What we’re reading
U.S. Press Freedom Tracker’s Stephanie Sugars on protests, police and the press (First Amendment Watch). Check out this interview with our U.S. Press Freedom Tracker Senior Reporter Stephanie Sugars about the Tracker’s annual arrest report and threats journalists — particularly those covering protests relating to the Israel-Gaza war — faced in 2024.
GOP senator reveals one condition that will get Tulsi Gabbard confirmed (Daily Beast). There are some legitimate reasons why Tulsi Gabbard is a controversial nominee for director of national intelligence. But her support for reforming surveillance programs used to spy on Americans shouldn’t be one of them. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for Gabbard to change her stance.
Over and out? Emergency medical crews denied NYPD radios in move that unions say endangers the public (amNY). Who could’ve guessed that encrypting NYPD radio wouldn’t go well? To be fair, we didn’t see the first responders part coming.
Meta to end fact-checking program in shift ahead of Trump term (The New York Times). More free expression and more news on social media is, of course, a good thing. But based on Meta’s track record and the kind of speech it appears to be prioritizing, this looks like a political move, not a principled one.
Why I’m quitting the Washington Post (Ann Telnaes, Substack). The editorial cartoonist explained why she left the paper after 15 years when one of her cartoons was killed: “We’re talking about news organizations that have public obligations and who are obliged to nurture a free press in a democracy. Owners of such press organizations are responsible for safeguarding that free press.”
Ohio puts police bodycam footage behind a paywall (The Intercept). Some better ways to reduce costs of producing police footage: Put video online proactively, hold police accountable for misconduct before the press starts probing, or maybe even hire better cops.
Check out our other newsletters
If you haven’t yet, subscribe to FPF’s other newsletters, including The Classifieds, our new newsletter on overclassification and more from Lauren Harper, our Daniel Ellsberg Chair on Government Secrecy.