Aggregator

Detectives are heartbroken as they investigate an accidental shooting in north St. Louis overnight.

The Bommarito Audi West County Gateway Cup returned for its 39th year, attracting top American teams and giving away $150,000 in prizes, while the positive feedback from the neighborhoods was overwhelming.

DORSEY — A head-on collision involving two semis resulted in a fatality and multiple injuries on Illinois Route-159 northbound near North Deer Park Drive, according to a preliminary investigation by the Illinois State Police (ISP) Troop 8. Authorities reported that the crash, which involved two truck-tractor semi-trailer (TTST) combinations, occurred earlier today. One individual was pronounced dead at the scene, while other injuries have been reported, although the extent and number of those injuries remain unclear. As a result of the crash, Illinois-159 northbound has been shut down at Renken Road, with extended lane closures expected. ISP advises motorists to seek alternative routes as emergency responders and investigators work at the scene. Further details about the incident are not available at this time, and the investigation is ongoing.

Continue Reading

The ticketed event, presented by St. Louis County Library Foundation and The Novel Neighbor, will take place at the library’s Clark Family Branch on September 5.

by Dr. John Gaal Editor’s Note: Each week, Dr. John Gaal, director of worker wellness for the Missouri Works Initiative, a non-profit workforce formed by the Missouri AFL-CIO, collects and comments on news and trends in workforce wellness and life balance. Construction Forum carries the Worker Wellness & Well-Being Blog as a regular feature. The […]

by Marilyn W. Thompson

ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they’re published.

Judge Aileen M. Cannon has shown bias in handling criminal charges against former President Donald Trump and should be reversed and removed from the case to “preserve the appearance of justice,” a public interest group argued in a legal filing on Tuesday.

The brief filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and joined by a retired federal judge and two constitutional lawyers is a direct legal assault on Cannon’s decision to throw out special counsel Jack Smith’s prosecution of Trump for alleged mishandling of classified documents. CREW is a nonpartisan open-government advocacy group that has been at the vanguard of fighting Trump in various legal battles.

The brief argues that Cannon’s decision “hinged on ignoring the plain text of four federal statutes,” dismissing “a landmark Supreme Court opinion confirming the Attorney General’s power to appoint a Special Counsel.”

CREW writes that “a reasonable member of the public could conclude, as many have, that the dismissal was the culmination of Judge Cannon’s many efforts to undermine and derail the prosecution of this case.”

In a stunning July 15 ruling, Cannon wrote that Attorney General Merrick Garland exceeded his authority by appointing Smith as special counsel without congressional approval and violated the Constitution’s separation of powers. “The Special Counsel’s position effectively usurps that important legislative authority,” she said. Critics say that decision was incorrect and disregarded years of legal precedent, including a landmark Supreme Court ruling.

Smith appealed her decision to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but he stopped short of asking that Cannon be removed if the case is remanded.

Nancy Gertner, a retired federal judge from Massachusetts, was one of several parties who joined CREW as a friend of the court. She told ProPublica she decided after analyzing Cannon’s decision that it could not be explained by her caseload or inexperience.

“It was clearly bias,” said Gertner, who is a senior lecturer at Harvard Law School, citing repeated rulings from Cannon that were favorable to Trump’s attorneys. “And with this Supreme Court, there’s no ceiling. All precedents are up for grabs.”

Federal statutes governing reassignment of cases give appellate courts authority to ask the chief judge in a district to move the case if the original judge “has engaged in conduct that gives rise to the appearance of impropriety or a lack of impartiality.” The brief cites several precedents, but reassignment based on judicial bias is uncommon.

Cannon, 43, was appointed to the Fort Pierce courthouse in the Southern District of Florida by Trump in November 2020, after he lost the election to Joe Biden. She was randomly assigned to the Trump document-handling case in 2022.

In May, the circuit’s Judicial Council dismissed several misconduct complaints against Cannon, alleging that she deliberately slowed down the Trump case and that she should have recused herself from the case as a Trump appointee. The panel said it would not discipline a judge unless it found a pattern of slowness in numerous cases and did not require her recusal based on her appointment. At the time, Chief Judge William H. Pryor Jr. cut off what he called an orchestrated campaign that brought in more than 1,000 letters seeking her removal.

Cannon’s sudden decision to throw out Smith’s case came on the opening day of the Republican National Convention, and Trump praised her in his acceptance speech as a “highly respected federal judge” willing to stand up against what he has called Smith’s “witch hunts.”

Represented by San Francisco lawyer Steven A. Hirsch of Keker, Van Nest & Peters, CREW described Cannon’s decision to end the case as “the culmination of many efforts to undermine and derail the prosecution.” It cited a series of unprecedented rulings over many months in which Cannon appeared to create “a parallel legal universe for former presidents” and crossed the line “to active judicial interference and advocacy” for Trump.

CREW criticized Cannon for adopting a lone concurrence from Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in an immunity case against Trump and, shortly afterward, rendering a 93-page opinion that echoed the justice’s position that Smith’s prosecutions violated the Constitution.

CREW details “dramatic and unusual” controversies during Cannon’s case that offer the appeals court “more-than-adequate grounds to reassign the case upon remand.”

The 11th Circuit has taken the unusual step of reversing Cannon twice during the course of the case, including a harsh rebuke in December 2022 of her decision to appoint a special master to screen classified documents.

Cannon approved the appointment of a senior federal judge in New York and various federal consultants to examine materials seized from Mar-a-Lago in Florida. Smith had complained to the appeals court that a special master was unnecessary and slowed down the prosecution.

“If the court reverses Judge Aileen M. Cannon’s ruling in this matter, it will be the third time in under three years that it has had to do so in a seemingly straightforward case about a former president’s unauthorized possession of government documents,” CREW argued.

If you have information about Judge Aileen M. Cannon you would like to share, please contact Marilyn W. Thompson at marilyn.thompson@propublica.org or call 917-512-0243.

Alex Mierjeski contributed research.

ARCH Air Medical Service is hosting events all this week to celebrate an important milestone: 45 years of lifesaving service in cases where there is no time to waste.

WOOD RIVER — September is National Preparedness Month, a dedicated time to emphasize the importance of emergency preparedness for individuals, families, and communities. The Madison County Health Department is highlighting this campaign to encourage residents to stay informed, create a preparedness plan, assemble an emergency kit, and actively participate in community preparedness efforts. Madison County residents can get involved by volunteering for emergency response organizations, such as the Madison County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC). The health department is seeking individuals that live or work in Madison County and are licensed or certified in the following behavioral health fields: Social work Psychology Behavioral and mental health Counseling and substance abuse The health department works to prepare for disasters that could impact the public’s health, especially during a biological incident. In an emergency or disaster, volunteers will be needed

Continue Reading

The St. Louis Development Corporation in June abruptly announced that it would take the job back in house from St. Louis Lambert International Airport.

Built Solutions, known for designing and installing modular interiors using interior construction products – including DIRTT – is teaming up with Mercer Zimmerman, the Midwest’s leading lighting and controls agency, to provide more ways for their customers to create beautiful, functional spaces. “For more than 75 years, Mercer Zimmerman has represented high quality, beautifully designed […]

EDWARDSVILLE - Stephen Duda, MS, PE, instructor in the Department of Construction in Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's School of Engineering, has been honored with the Exceptional Service Award (ESA) from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). This award recognizes individuals who have continued to serve ASHRAE with exemplary dedication following the Distinguished Service Award (DSA). ASHRAE is a global organization dedicated to advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration technologies. With over 54,000 members worldwide, ASHRAE provides resources like codes, standards, design guides and educational opportunities. The group promotes energy-efficient practices to reduce the environmental impact of buildings, influencing engineering and construction practices around the world. Duda’s association with ASHRAE began in 1992. He was named a Fellow in 2014. His service to the organization includes earning

Continue Reading

MoBOT credits its super-strong lily pads mainly to Missouri's climate, 2024's long and hot summer and the garden's heated water lily pool.

HIGHLAND - After a car accident almost cost 14-year-old Brayden Baer his life, the Highland community has rallied around their own “hometown hero.” As Baer is recovering from his injuries, including two total lung collapses and a traumatic brain injury, Highland community members will host “Battle for Brayden” to help pay for medical expenses. This all-day event on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, will offer several activities and chances for people to participate, up to and including the main fight planned for that evening at the K of C hall. “Everybody likes this kid. Everybody does,” explained Chris Freimann, who helped organize the event. “The lucky part is, we’re very thankful that he is home now and he’s starting to live a version of a normal life.” The Battle for Brayden event starts at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday with a 5k. This is followed by a yoga class at 8:45 a.m., then a cornhole tournament at 11 a.m. All of these

Continue Reading

The Wainwright Office Building, a prominent structure in Downtown St. Louis, has a new owner.

ROXANA – Ridley Allen, a standout player for the Roxana Shells, had an exceptional girls' softball season this past spring. As a senior in 2025, Allen is expected to continue her impressive performance at the plate. Allen is a Midwest Members Credit Union Female Athlete of the Month. She has demonstrated remarkable versatility on the field, her head girls softball coach Wade Stahlhut said. "Ridley is a very athletic player," Stahlhut added. "She can play multiple positions and has even been slated in the catcher position." During the 2024 season, Allen secured her place as a formidable hitter, and will likely be the No. 4 hitter for the Shells next season. She recorded seven home runs, 24 RBIs, and 21 hits, achieving a batting average of .328. These statistics underscore her potential as a future college player. In addition to her athletic prowess, Allen is also active in the drama group and theater at Roxana High School. "She has a beautiful voice," Stahlhut remarked, highlighting

Continue Reading

In the ongoing battle between Elon Musk and the Brazilian Supreme Court, it appears that Elon was the first to blink. At least a little bit. What started to shape up as a new front in the battle, with Elon’s SpaceX defying the order to block X on its Starlink satellite internet service, crumbled on […]

A 31-year-old St. Louis County man was found guilty on Tuesday for a fatal crash that claimed the lives of his ex-girlfriend and her toddler daughter.