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St. Louis Eyes Using $10M – $20M in ARPA Funds for Tornado Recovery

1 month 1 week ago
From St. Louis Business Journal:  St. Louis is eyeing the use of $10 million to $20 million in federal funds for tornado damage recovery, Mayor Cara Spencer said Tuesday. She said she had asked the city’s Community Development Administration to look at what federal American Rescue Plan Act funds could be used for the purpose. […]
Dede Hance

Wood River Council Votes 3-2 To Keep Grocery Tax

1 month 1 week ago
WOOD RIVER – The Wood River City Council narrowly approved an ordinance on Monday replacing the state’s expired 1% sales tax on groceries with the city’s own 1% taxes on groceries and grocery “services.” According to the ordinance, the State of Illinois recently eliminated its 1% sales tax on grocery items; 100% of the revenue generated by this tax went to local municipalities. Without this sales tax revenue, Wood River estimates an annual loss of $800,000, which “creates an undue hardship on City.” To help local municipalities make up for the lost revenue, the Illinois General Assembly later passed a law allowing each municipality to put their own 1% grocery sales taxes in place. However, any municipality that imposes their own grocery sales tax is also required to impose a “service tax” at the same rate; Wood River’s 1% sales tax would be implemented alongside a 1% “service tax.” “ City has determined

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Mayor Spencer gets emotional discussing tornado devastation

1 month 1 week ago
At the end of a news conference with other city officials covering topics like the city’s siren system, the presence of the Missouri National Guard, and getting state and federal help to those most in need, the mayor was asked to describe her own reaction when first seeing the aftermath of the tornado.
Kevin S. Held

What you may not know about tornado sirens

1 month 1 week ago
The City of St. Louis is re-testing tornado sirens Tuesday afternoon after a failure to sound them during a deadly tornado Friday. With that, there is also an opportunity to share what the public may not know about the sirens.
Megan Mueller

Three Charged in May 14, 2025, Homicide On Rio Street

1 month 1 week ago
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — Three suspects have been charged in connection with a homicide that occurred on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, in the 1100 block of Rio Street, authorities said. On Thursday, May 15, 2025, the St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office filed first-degree murder and armed criminal action charges against Briana Davis, 20, of Florissant; Deangelo Morris, 18, of St. Louis; and Christian Parker, 20, of St. Louis. Each is being held on a $1 million cash-only bond with no 10% bond option. The victim, identified as 21-year-old Keshon Parker of Florissant, Mo., was shot and killed in the afternoon hours of May 14, 2025. St. Louis County police officers from the North County Precinct responded at 1:20 p.m. on May 14, 2025, to reports of a shooting. The victim was found with life-threatening gunshot injuries and transported to a hospital, where he later died. According to probable cause statements, multiple suspects drove to the victim’s location acting

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