stLouISTAggregator
Mother of man who died in St. Louis jail from lack of insulin sues city, medical provider
A man incarcerated at the downtown jail lost nearly a quarter of his body weight in the two months before he died of dehydration and a lack of insulin, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday on behalf of his mother.
Community Honors Beloved Cat Newt with Memorial Bench, Bike Event Celebrates Iconic Feline's Life
EDWARDSVILLE — A community is coming together to honor a beloved feline known as Newt, whose presence brought joy to residents and trail-goers over the years. A dedication ceremony for a memorial bench took place this week at the intersection of Cloverdale and the Nickel Plate Bike Trail, marking the spot where Newt often roamed. The bench dedication event coincides with the Newt Scoot bike ride on Saturday, an 11-mile trek that benefits the Metro East Humane Society. "Newt was more than just a pet; he became a cultural icon for many who frequented the trails," MCT's S.J. Morrison said. "He was a culture maker because he was such a friendly cat," said one community member. "He really brought a community of people together, not just those who used the trails but also those who love animals." The memorial bench will feature kitty paw prints in concrete, symbolizing Newt's frequent paths around Cloverdale. "It is a testament to the community," Morrison noted. "Sometimes animals
Dave Matthews recalls childhood encounter with fellow Rock Hall inductees Foreigner
Dave Matthews Band is being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Saturday in Cleveland, in a ceremony that will stream live on Disney+. At a ceremony at the…
Thies Farm celebrates 40 years of family fun at Pumpkinland
It’s Pumpkinland time at Thies Farm and Greenhouses, a family-friendly tradition Dave Thies has led for 40 years now.
Power plant outside St. Louis named 2nd highest air polluter in the nation for the 4th year in a row
Pedestrian struck, killed Thursday evening in Collinsville
Authorities are investigating after pedestrian was fatally struck Thursday evening in Collinsville.
59-Year-Old Woman Dies After Being Hit by Vehicle
COLLINSVILLE — A pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle on Tuesday evening, Oct. 15, 2024, at the intersection of East Church Street and South Morrison Avenue in Collinsville. The incident occurred around 5:51 p.m. and involved 59-year-old Regina Shaw of St. Louis. Shaw was transported to a local hospital by Collinsville Fire Department EMS, where she was pronounced deceased. The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and is fully cooperating with the investigation. The Collinsville Police Department has enlisted the help of the Metro East Crash Assistance Team (MECAT) to conduct a thorough investigation into the accident. As of now, no additional information is available, pending the completion of the MECAT investigation.
Illinois and Missouri Knights Commemorate Columbus at Cardinal Glennon
ALTON - Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Members from Illinois and Missouri celebrated the Feast Day of Christopher Columbus at the Annual Memorial Mass held at the Cardinal Glennon Hospital Chapel Monday, October 14, 2024. Father Charles Ferrara was the celebrant and is also a 4th degree Sir Knight and Friar of the Saint Louis Assembly. Twenty-two Honor Guard Sir Knights and an additional eleven Sir Knights were in attendance at the Mass along with several of their relatives. State officers present included Missouri State Deputy Michael Auchly, Vice Supreme Master Gerry Mattix-Wand, Past State Master of Illinois Marce Tebbe and State Chairman Jerry Herbert. The following Honor Guard and 4th degree Sir Knights were also in attendance: Eric Bruns, Ed Vokum, Bruce Bange, Gene Berviller, Paul Watters, Ben Robben, John Vansaghi, Tom Lange, Dennis Buchheit, Henry Fulkerson, Louis Mushell, Rich Koeckenmeier, Lou Libermann, Roland Schriever, Mike Amad, David Stukenberg, John Dempsey, Stan
Spike in child pneumonia cases worrying St. Louis region urgent cares
Comptroller Mendoza Suspends Payments to the Village of Orland Park for Failure to File Documents
Starting today, Illinois Comptroller Susana A. Mendoza is suspending “offset” payments to the Village of Orland Park. “Offsets” refers to money collected from state payments our office withholds from people who owe traffic tickets or other money to municipalities such as Orland Park. These payments are worth about $120,000 a year to the village. The IOC is taking this action because Orland Park has failed for two years to file its statutorily required annual financial reports with this office. These reports are an important tool in tracking local government spending and offer transparency to taxpayers wondering how their tax money is being used. “We take very seriously our statutory obligation to collect annual financial reports from municipalities around Illinois,” Comptroller Mendoza said. “We very rarely use tools like this to enforce compliance, but we have been asking for two years.” Today’s action by the Illinois Office
St. Louis man pulled gun on Uber driver and stole his Tesla, charges say
A man was charged Friday with pointing a gun at his Uber driver and then stealing the man's Tesla when the driver refused to take him to a new address.
LA Rams look to take Earth City property; St. Louis again contests
The Los Angeles Rams are looking to capitalize on their option to buy Rams Park in Earth City, the team's practice facility when it was located in St. Louis, for $1, according to court documents.
New York Times pushes for PRESS Act
Dear Friend of Press Freedom,
Here are some of the most important stories we’re following from the U.S. and around the world. If you enjoy reading this newsletter, please forward it to friends and family. If someone has forwarded you this newsletter, please subscribe here.
New York Times pushes for PRESS Act
This week, The New York Times published an important editorial calling on the Senate to pass the PRESS Act, the strongest press freedom bill in modern history.
The PRESS Act has already passed the House unanimously, but it’s been stalled in the Senate, where opponents like Sen. Tom Cotton have held it up based on absurd claims.
We need the PRESS Act now more than ever. As the Times explained in its editorial, this is not simply a matter of “press versus government”:
"This law would effectively protect those who serve the public interest by blowing the whistle on government wrongdoing. And it would help protect all Americans, who deserve nothing less than the full truth about the officials they elect and the government they fund."
Read the editorial here, and consider sending it to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York (who has said he supports the PRESS Act) or your senator. You can also use this easy contact form from the ACLU to tell the Senate to pass the PRESS Act.
Intelligence community must give estimate of ‘incidental’ collections
Declassified reports and other hints have long shown that Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act has been used and abused to spy on Americans.
But despite its promises to Congress, the intelligence community has never given a public estimate of the number of U.S. persons’ communications that are “incidentally” collected as part of the National Security Agency’s Section 702 surveillance.
This week, Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF) and more than 20 other organizations joined a letter led by Restore the Fourth calling on the intelligence community to determine and release this estimate. Read it here.
U.S. must intervene on behalf of journalist charged by Israel
FPF also joined a letter led by Defending Rights & Dissent urging the U.S. embassy in Israel to advocate for American journalist Jeremy Loffredo, who was arrested on Oct. 9 and charged with “aiding the enemy during wartime and providing information to the enemy.” We wrote an op-ed about the case for The Guardian last week.
The charges against Loffredo are apparently based on his journalism regarding the impact of Iranian missile strikes in Israel. There must always be consequences when American journalists are punished for reporting news, even if the government responsible is an American ally or the journalist reports for a controversial outlet.
What we’re reading
As US presidential vote looms, newsrooms focus on how to stay safe (Voice of America). As FPF Executive Director Trevor Timm explains, “Police departments feel that they have the power to violate the rights of journalists. Then what ends up happening is it turns into a snowball effect. More police agencies crack down even harder.”
Courage is contagious: Daniel Hale to receive the inaugural Ellsberg Whistleblower Award (Ellsberg Whistleblower Award). Congratulations to Hale! Whistleblowers like Hale — who informed the public about high civilian casualties and governmental misconduct regarding U.S. drone warfare — deserve to be celebrated for their courage.
This reporter was arrested for asking questions. The Supreme Court just revived her lawsuit (Reason). Police and prosecutors who retaliate against journalists for their reporting should take note: The Supreme Court wants people whose First Amendment rights are violated by government retaliation to have their day in court.
The FBI knocked on my door (Ken Klippenstein). What’s the point of the FBI paying a journalist a home visit to tell him something he already knows, other than to say “you’re on our radar”? Ken Klippenstein may not be intimidated, but what if it had been a less experienced journalist?
Beef up the freedom of the press (The Wall Street Journal). “Journalists need to be able to maintain the confidentiality of sources who provide information about government misconduct or other sensitive information.” We need both the PRESS Act and stronger First Amendment protections for the press.
Come see us in Chicago, Washington, or London
On Monday, FPF Advocacy Director Seth Stern and other experts will discuss the threats to press freedom, including Israel's murder of journalists in Gaza, Project 2025, and the prosecution of Julian Assange. Join us at this event, organized by Defending Rights & Dissent, on Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. CT at Nabala Cafe, 4660 N. Broadway in Chicago.
The Double Exposure Festival & Symposium, Nov. 7-10 in Washington, D.C., will have panels, workshops, and master classes focused on investigative storytelling. Don’t miss our Director of Advocacy Seth Stern, who will discuss dangerous government efforts to limit who is a journalist — such as by excluding documentary filmmakers. Purchase your tickets or passes here.
Or come see us in London, where we’re co-hosting Source! the London Logan Symposium with The Centre for Investigative Journalism Nov. 14-15. Hear from journalists from all over the world about press freedom issues and the challenges they face in protecting themselves and their sources. Register to attend here.
Follow us on TikTok and Instagram
FPF is now live on Instagram and TikTok. Click the links to follow us and see our latest posts about press freedom.
St. Charles City-County Library CEO to step down next month
St. Charles City-County Library CEO Jason Kuhl announced Friday that he will step down from his role next month, leaving the district to pursue a similar leadership role in a different state.
Wood River Museum Unveils 2025 Calendar Honoring Fallen Veterans
WOOD RIVER - The Wood River Museum has announced the release of its 2025 calendars, honoring local veterans who lost their lives in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The calendars feature photographs and information about these individuals, serving as a tribute to their sacrifices for freedom. The calendars are available for purchase at various locations, including the Wood River Museum, the Library, City Hall, Busey Bank, Midwest Members Credit Union, First Mid Bank & Trust, Farm Fresh, and Rustic Roots. Priced at $5.00, the calendars also serve as a significant fundraiser for the Wood River Heritage Council. For those unable to purchase the calendar in person, it can be mailed within the United States for an additional fee of $3. Interested buyers can call 618-254-1993 and leave a message to arrange for mailing. Bruce Jean, a representative of the Wood River Museum, said the calendar aims to ensure that the contributions of these veterans are not
ISP Experiences 19th Move-Over Law Related Crash Of 2024
GRANTSBURG – Illinois State Police (ISP) officials investigated a traffic crash in Johnson County involving an ISP trooper who was hit by a motorist who failed to move over. On October 17, 2024, at approximately 3:50 p.m., an ISP Troop 10 trooper was parked with their emergency lights activated, providing traffic control for a truck-tractor semi-trailer fire on the right shoulder of Interstate 24 eastbound near milepost 21 in Grantsburg, IL. Approaching traffic failed to reduce their speed in time and a separate three-vehicle crash occurred near the trooper. Immediately after, another truck-tractor semi-trailer swerved near the shoulder to avoid the crash that had just occurred, but instead sideswiped the driver’s side of the parked squad car. The squad car’s driver side was scratched and the mirror was broken. The trooper was inside of the squad car at the time of the crash, and fortunately, was uninjured. The driver of the truck-tractor semi-trailer, 36-year-old
Halloween Pop-Up Bar: Til Death Do Us Part(y)
You’re officially summoned to the darkest celebration in St. Louis. Sports & Social at Ballpark Village is hosting a new Halloween pop-up bar from Oct. 2 to Nov. 3. Guests […]
The post Halloween Pop-Up Bar: Til Death Do Us Part(y) appeared first on Explore St. Louis.
The Prospect Weekly Roundup: Judicial Gerrymandering
On today’s episode, David and Hassan talk about what’s wrong with the courts.
Bruce Springsteen on Jeremy Allen White: “He is a great actor and sings pretty good”
The Bear star Jeremy Allen White is set to play Bruce Springsteen in the upcoming movie Deliver Me From Nowhere, and The Boss has shared his thoughts on the actor’s…