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Surveillance Tech Companies Are Writing Press Releases For Cops. Worse, News Agencies Are Publishing Them.

2 years 4 months ago
There’s nothing new about cop shops letting their tech providers write their press releases for them. Law enforcement officers love power but often think nothing of surrendering their autonomy to the providers of the snooping tools. For years, Harris Corporation — the maker of Stingray devices — told cops what they could or couldn’t say […]
Tim Cushing

ICC Rulings Could End To Business As Usual For Illinois Gas Utilities

2 years 4 months ago
In a sweeping rebuff of four different utilities, Illinois regulators have sharply curtailed record rate hikes proposed for more than 4 million gas customers across the state, while also blocking most spending on a controversial pipe-replacement program that has fueled a heating affordability crisis for consumers in recent years. Under the rulings by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) Thursday, customers of Peoples Gas, Nicor Gas, Ameren Illinois and North Shore Gas will still incur a rate increase, putting more stress on already struggling families – a pattern consumer advocates have said they are determined to stifle in coming years. Nonetheless, the decisions significantly limited the size of the rate hikes that the utilities threatened to inflict on consumers, and they collectively signaled that the regulatory climate in Illinois may be shifting decisively in the direction of stronger consumer protections. In each of the cases, the ICC’s reduction to the rate hik

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Daily Deal: StackSkills Unlimited

2 years 4 months ago
StackSkills is the premier online learning platform for mastering today’s most in-demand skills. Now, with this exclusive limited-time offer, you’ll gain access to 1000+ StackSkills courses for life! Whether you’re looking to earn a promotion, make a career change, or pick up a side hustle to make some extra cash, StackSkills delivers engaging online courses […]
Gretchen Heckmann

Jay Ashcroft to appeal abortion ballot summary ruling to Missouri Supreme Court

2 years 4 months ago
Secretary of State Jay Aschcroft will try again to salvage the ballot summary he wrote for abortion rights initiative petitions with an appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court. Ashcroft’s language has been savaged in opinions from two courts, most recently when the Western District Court of Appeals ruled his summaries are “replete with politically partisan language.” In a Thursday interview with The Independent, Ashcroft said notice will be filed with the state’s highest court seeking a review…
Rudi Keller

Phillips 66 Wood River Refinery Generously Donates $50,000 To Riverbend Family Ministries

2 years 4 months ago
WOOD RIVER - Riverbend Family Ministries (RFM) is thrilled to announce an impactful donation of $50,000 from Phillips 66 Wood River Refinery. This generous contribution will directly support the vital operations of RFM’s Client Service Department, dedicated to providing personalized support to individuals and families in crisis throughout Madison County. This gift will play a vital role in delivering personalized support for children, youth, and families who’ve experienced trauma, most often due to violence, addiction, poverty, and homelessness. RFM’s Client Service Department supports clients and their families with resources such as rental and utility assistance, job coaching, interview skills, resume writing, financial fitness, social service navigation, rehabilitation connections, laundry, showers, and more. RFM is also home to 9 additional non-profit agencies, providing convenient access to additional resources and support services clients may require. All service

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PETA St. Louis turkey billboard urges residents to go vegan

2 years 4 months ago
This Thanksgiving, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is encouraging everyone to consider a vegan lifestyle and is giving away free vegan roasts near their new Thanksgiving billboard. The distribution of vegan roasts is scheduled for November 17 at noon.
Liz Dowell

It’s good to be rich

2 years 4 months ago
This is apropos of nothing in particular, but I felt like checking out annual increases in wealth for the top 1%. You can think of this as "extra" income, above and beyond what people spend, or as annual savings. Here it is: The annual wealth increase of the top 1% has increased about 150% since ...continue reading "It’s good to be rich"
Kevin Drum