a Better Bubble™

Aggregator

Johnny Johnson's Execution Is Back on for August 1

2 years 2 months ago
Missouri's plan to execute a St. Louis man this Tuesday is back on — and he now has just one last long-shot chance to stop it. A three-judge panel of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals granted convicted killer Johnny Johnson a reprieve last week, swayed by his lawyers' arguments that Johnson's long history of mental illness deserved further analysis before he could be killed. [content-1] But on Saturday, the full bank of judges overruled that panel, denying Johnson's appeal.
Sarah Fenske

Missouri's Back-to-School Tax Holiday Pauses All Local Taxes for the First Time

2 years 2 months ago
Since 2003, Missouri has set aside a weekend at the beginning of August when families won’t pay state tax on new clothes and school supplies as they prepare for the start of the school year. For just as long, every city, county and special district that imposes its own sales tax has had the authority to opt out of the Back to School tax holiday.
Rudi Keller

Iowa Republicans cheer Trump as most opponents tread carefully

2 years 2 months ago

Iowa Republicans emphasized they were open to hearing from all 13 presidential candidates Friday at the state party’s Lincoln Dinner, but many in the audience were ready to send former President Donald Trump back for a rematch. “In Iowa, we are a neutral, objective state,” Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann said. “We’re going […]

The post Iowa Republicans cheer Trump as most opponents tread carefully appeared first on Missouri Independent.

Robin Opsahl

St. Louis County Police Investigate Fatal Motor Vehicle Accident Involving Pedestrian

2 years 2 months ago
ST. LOUIS COUNTY - The deceased in a fatal motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian has been identified as Susan Becker, 56 years of age, of the 5200 block of Pitcher Drive in House Springs, Missouri, 63051. St. Louis County Police Department West County Precinct detectives are investigating the accident involving a pedestrian struck in the 100 block of Gravois Bluffs Circle that resulted in the death of an adult female. At approximately 1:36 p.m. on Saturday, July 29, 2023, officers from the Fenton Precinct responded to a call for a person struck in the 100 block of Gravois Bluffs Circle in the City of Fenton. Officers arrived on scene to find a female victim who had been struck by a vehicle. She was transported to an area hospital where she later succumbed to her injuries. The driver remained on scene and is cooperating with investigators. Preliminary investigation indicates the female was crossing the parking lot when she was struck. This is an active

Continue Reading

Gov. Pritzker Signs Bill Banning Indoor E-Cigarette Use in Public Spaces

2 years 2 months ago
CHICAGO — Governor JB Pritzker signed HB 1540, a bill banning the usage of e-cigarettes in indoor public spaces. The bill adds electronic smoking devices to the 2008 Smoke-Free Illinois Act, which banned smoking in most public spaces in the state. The amended act would now ban electronic smoking devices in any place where combustible smoking is already prohibited. “Illinoisans deserve to enjoy public spaces without being exposed unwillingly to secondhand vapor and other electronic cigarettes byproducts,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Now, e-cigarettes and vapes will qualify under existing anti-smoking laws, reducing air pollution and making a more accessible, healthy Illinois.” Electronic cigarettes, like their combustible counterparts, contain nicotine in addition to flavorants and other aerosolized components that can lead to lung damage over time. Electronic cigarettes are popular among young people, and nicotine use during adolescence can cause long-term

Continue Reading

Levee Construction Project Completed Soon, Protects Against 500-Year Flood

2 years 2 months ago
WOOD RIVER - The Wood River Drainage and Levee District (WRDLD) is nearing completion of a major levee project along Illinois Route 143 that aims to protect Riverbend communities from the 500-year flood. The Wood River Levee System Reconstruction Project is a collaboration between WRDLD, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the Southwestern Illinois Flood Prevention District Council (FPD Council) . The project aims to repair and reinforce flooding infrastructure throughout the area. “There actually is a completion date, finally,” Kevin Williams, WRDLD executive director, said. “This project on 143 should be complete by the end of the calendar year, 2023. So, just in a few months. It’s right around the corner.” The most recent construction started in 2021, but conversations about the Wood River Levee System Reconstruction Program really began in 2007 when the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced they would withdraw accreditation

Continue Reading

Saturday Storm Delivers Strong Punch, Several Encounter Outages

2 years 2 months ago
MADISON COUNTY - July has been a rough and tough month for Ameren Illinois workers and customers because of the storm-and wind-related power outages. The latest storm on Saturday which had 60-mph winds in some areas knocked out power to more than 13,000 customers in Madison County. As of 8 p.m., Sunday, July 30, there are roughly 170 customers still without power in Madison County. As of 10:27 a.m. Monday, Brian Bretsch, a spokesperson for Ameren Illinois, said Madison County had only seven customers reported out of service. Most of Ameren's work is now concentrated in St. Clair and Marion County area. At peak, 50,708 customers were without power. As of 8 p.m., July 30, approximately 6,500 customers are without power in the Ameren Illinois service territory. "Our line workers and support staff are doing an outstanding job with their latest restoration efforts," Bretsch, a spokesperson for Ameren Illinois said. "We ask those remaining customers without power to have patience as our

Continue Reading