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With thrills both on and off the rides, Fright Fest at Six Flags St. Louis is one of the spookiest fall festivals and events of the season. During the day, […]

The post Fright Fest appeared first on Explore St. Louis.

EDWARDSVILLE - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is proud to be part of a paired double degree program that makes for an educational opportunity and cultural exchange that spans two countries. SIUE and the Hochschule Mainz- University of Applied Sciences of Germany (HS-Mainz) are in partnership to both offer civil engineering degrees, according to Nader Panahshahi, PhD, professor and chair of the SIUE Department of Civil Engineering. “SIUE students can earn a second bachelor’s in civil engineering from one of the top technical schools in Germany, with only one extra semester of study,” said Panahshahi. “Students can also obtain an international prospective for their engineering career.” And a continent away, Germany students have the same prospect. Hochschule Mainz students can earn a second bachelor’s in civil engineering from SIUE, an ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) accredited civil engineering program

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The De Soto police sergeant was fired in 2020 after he set up a Halloween display mocking Michael Brown’s death. His criminal charges in the assault case came weeks later.

WOOD RIVER — Emergency responders were dispatched to Illinois Route 143 near Kendall Hill Friday afternoon, Oct. 4, 2024, following the discovery of a body. Upon arrival, first responders confirmed the presence of a deceased individual and subsequently requested the assistance of the Madison County Coroner's Office. The Illinois State Police has been assigned to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, according to police officials. In response to the ongoing investigation, several police departments were on the scene, managing traffic. As a result of the investigation, Illinois Route 143 is closed at I-255 and also Wanda Road, creating significant detours for local traffic. Further details regarding the identity of the deceased and the nature of the incident have not yet been released.

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GODFREY - Mont Bodine might have been his legal name, but to his friends, loved ones and fans, Bodine will live on as Flea, the legendary bassist of pop punk band judge nothing . Flea passed away on Oct. 1, 2024, in Godfrey. Born in Alton, Flea quickly stood out for his musical talent. He joined the band judge nothing as a student at SIUE, and the group of young musicians traveled the U.S. They released two albums through Thick Records and shared the stage with major artists like Green Day and Joan Jett. Andy Dykeman, the drummer of the band, remembers Flea as a dear friend. “We traveled the United States in a stinky van, playing music and creating enough memories and adventures for multiple lifetimes,” Dykeman said. “After the time in the band, we maintained our close relationship. Our wives were close friends, even our dogs.” Carlos Huddleston, Mark Kanak, Brian Leitner, Doug Nothing and Rob Wagoner made up the rest of the band. The musicians remained

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A allegedly suspicious fire forced several people out of their homes early Friday morning in the county.

Church groups and everyday people from across the bi-state area are bringing basic necessities directly to families impacted by the devastation left behind from Hurricane Helene. 

Ctrl-Alt-Speech is a weekly podcast about the latest news in online speech, from Mike Masnick and Everything in Moderation‘s Ben Whitelaw. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Pocket Casts, YouTube, or your podcast app of choice — or go straight to the RSS feed. In this week’s roundup of the latest news in online […]

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.

Time for Biden to declassify Khashoggi intelligence

This week marked six years since Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was brutally murdered by the Saudi Arabian government. The U.S. government has declassified some information on the murder, including its belief that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammad bin Salman approved the order to “capture or kill” Khashoggi.

But too much remains hidden, and this secrecy prevents accountability and serves to endanger other journalists. In an op-ed for The Daily Beast, Lauren Harper, Daniel Ellsberg Chair on Government Secrecy for Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF), urged the Biden administration to declassify more intelligence on Khashoggi’s murder.

Declassification would prioritize the public’s right to know over America’s relationship with an autocratic ruler. You can read the full op-ed here.

Sheriff in Texas extorts journalist with his own equipment

Back in 2021, sheriff’s deputies in Fort Bend County, Texas, illegally arrested citizen journalist Justin Pulliam for filming them conducting a mental health check. They also seized his phone and equipment, in clear violation of the Privacy Protection Act of 1980.

The charges against Pulliam were dropped in May, but he recently told the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker — a project of FPF — that the phone and equipment illegally seized from him when he was arrested has yet to be returned. The reason? He declined to sign a waiver releasing the sheriff’s office from liability in order to get back his property.

Read more about this, and the sheriff’s other unconstitutional acts, on our website. The officers involved shouldn’t be released from liability -– they should be released from their jobs.

Frivolous SLAPPs stalk journalists

A small nonprofit newspaper in Wisconsin recently won a legal victory against a frivolous defamation lawsuit. But the case shows that sometimes winning isn’t enough.

The lawsuit against the Wausau Pilot & Review is a prime example of how resentful subjects of reporting can weaponize the legal system to attack the First Amendment. The costs of SLAPPs, or strategic lawsuits against public participation, can be staggering.

We explain on our website that without strong laws that protect against SLAPPs at both the state and federal level, even journalists who win can lose.

Release Camp David documents for President Carter’s 100th birthday

Former President Jimmy Carter turned 100 this week. A fitting birthday present would be for the CIA to fully declassify its records on the 1978 Camp David Accords.

Releasing the full record of the peace talks between Israel and Egypt, one of the highlights of his administration, would not only commemorate Carter’s foreign policy legacy, it would add important context for policymakers as escalation continues between Israel and its neighbors.

Lauren Harper has more on our website about why it’s time for this unnecessary secrecy to end.

Lawsuit seeks transparency on Assange prosecution

The U.S. government’s prosecution of Julian Assange ended earlier this year, but plenty of questions about its decade-plus pursuit of the WikiLeaks founder remain unanswered.

A new Freedom of Information Act lawsuit — filed against the FBI and Department of Justice by our friends at Defending Rights and Dissent — seeks to change that.

We held an X Space discussion with DRAD Policy Director Chip Gibbons and Kevin Gosztola, editor of The Dissenter and author of “Guilty of Journalism: The Political Case Against Julian Assange,” to discuss the secrecy surrounding Assange’s case. Read about it or listen here.

What we’re reading

Heritage Foundation staffers flood federal agencies with thousands of information requests (ProPublica). The problem isn’t how many FOIA requests the Heritage Foundation filed, or their subject. It’s that government agencies are incapable of effectively searching and reviewing large amounts of records. Agencies like the CIA and FBI don’t need more help denying requests they don’t like and requesters they deem “vexatious.”

I'm a journalist from Gaza. Israel's recent Ramallah closure is bigger than Al Jazeera (MSNBC). “By attacking journalists, whether through the bombing of their homes, as in my case, or shutting down newsrooms, as we saw in Ramallah, Israel is sending a chilling message: Telling the truth is dangerous work with a steep price.”

On Edge: What the US election could mean for journalists and global press freedom (Committee to Protect Journalists). As part of its special election report, CPJ calls on both U.S. presidential candidates to endorse the PRESS Act to protect journalists from secret surveillance and the threat of jail.

California governor vetoes bill expanding media access to prisons (The Desk). There may have been good reasons to veto this bill, but the risk of making inmates famous isn’t one of them. Journalists covering prison face countless obstacles. The dangers of the status quo far outweigh the risk of a bad guy getting 15 minutes.

Federal judge blocks police buffer zone law in media lawsuit (Indiana Capital Chronicle). Courts recognize a constitutional right to record police. But anti-transparency lawmakers have a workaround: barring people from getting close to them. These buffer laws are blatantly unconstitutional. Good for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press for fighting back.

Texans’ right to free speech is under attack … again (Hill Country News). The Texas legislature held a hearing this week on the “use and misuse” of the Texas anti-SLAPP law. The law protects journalists and all Texans who want to speak freely. We must protect it.

Trump rages at Google, says he will ‘request their prosecution’ at the ‘maximum levels’ as president (Mediaite). Turns out the “maximum level” at which Google can be prosecuted for displaying news stories that Trump dislikes is exactly zero, because of the First Amendment. No politician should get to decide what news we can and can’t read.

Come see us in Washington or London

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.

Jethro Tull wants to help fans get into the holiday spirit this year.The band just announced they’ll be reissuing their 2003 holiday album, The Jethro Tull Christmas Album – Fresh…

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The charges stem from the fatal overdose of 24-year-old Gabriel Thone, who was found dead on the floor of the master bedroom at Jones’ home in October 2022.

GRANITE CITY - Students at Maryville Elementary Education Center welcomed several birds of prey to their school. On Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, Ameren Illinois and the Illinois Raptor Center partnered to bring birds of prey to the school. With a gym filled with 400 first and second graders, the assembly allowed students to study the birds and learn about conservation, life cycles and ecosystems. “I was really excited when reached out to me about the opportunity and we were able to put this together,” said Dr. Liz Niepert, principal at Maryville Elementary Education Center. Niepert said this was the school’s first indoor assembly of the year, and students had been practicing their “Mustang manners” to prepare. She added Maryville Elementary Education Center cares about conservation, and they try to instill these values in their students. The school has a recycling club and recently installed a hydroponic garden. The first and second graders also

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The Utah Hockey Club, NHL's newest team, has named St. Louis native Clayton Keller as its first captain in franchise history.

Antonio Cartez Mosley pleaded guilty and will serve 15 years in prison for the death of Michael Finocchiaro.

JERSEYVILLE - Students at St. Francis Holy Ghost School in Jerseyville recently applied their understanding of energy transfer and motion by constructing marble roller coasters as part of their science curriculum. The project, led by science teacher Joan Dougherty, allowed the students to engage in hands-on learning and teamwork. The roller coaster competition took place as part of their science classes, where students were tasked with designing and building functional marble roller coasters. The results were evaluated based on creativity, engineering principles, and the ability to maintain the marble's motion. In the competition, two teams were awarded first place. The first group consisted of Stella Pohlman, Braylee Waier, Bridget Heltsley, and Holly Hernandez-Lamer, while the other first-place team included Gracie Flowers, Allison Millitello, Louise Bregenzer, and Daphne Slusser. Second place was claimed by the team of Luca Derrick and Caleb Maag, along with another team consisting

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5 On Your Side's Sydney Stallworth will be co-hosting the event's pep rally starting at 8 a.m.

Metallica has announced a donation of $100,000 in support of those affected by Hurricane Helene.Through their All Within My Hands charity foundation, the metal legends are sending $50,000 to World…

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WOOD RIVER — The Wood River Oilers celebrated Senior Night with a decisive 7-2 victory over the Roxana Shells in girls tennis on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. The match showcased strong performances from the Oilers, particularly in singles play. Kaylynn Buttry, Hailey Handler, Jaden Downs, Saaphyri DeSelle, and Khloe Whitfield all secured wins in their respective singles matches. Additionally, the duo of Buttry and Handler emerged victorious in doubles competition. The event not only highlighted the athletic achievements of the team but also served as a farewell to the senior players, marking a significant moment in their high school tennis careers. The senior tennis players are Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athletes of the Month.

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