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Save A Lot CEO Leon Bergmann has resigned after less than two years with company.

Alsu Kurmasheva, an American journalist working for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, has been wrongfully detained in Russia.

Deník N/Ludvík Hradilek, courtesy of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

Russia is adding to its shameful tally of imprisoned American journalists with its detention of Alsu Kurmasheva, a reporter for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. And there are simple steps the Biden administration can take -– but inexplicably hasn’t yet — to help her get home.

Kurmasheva, a dual U.S.-Russian citizen, was first prevented from leaving Russia in June, and she’s been imprisoned there since October. Russian authorities accuse her of failing to self-register under its “foreign agents” law. Kurmasheva is the second American journalist imprisoned in Russia this year, following the bogus espionage charges brought against Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in March.

Shortly after Russian security services arrested Gershkovich, the State Department appropriately designated him as “wrongfully detained.” That opened the door to additional U.S. resources dedicated to bringing Gershkovich home, including the involvement of the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs.

Secretary of State Anthony Blinken should also designate Kurmasheva as wrongfully detained, and quickly, just as he did Gershkovich. Kurmasheva’s case meets the criteria set under federal law that the State Department uses to determine a wrongful detention of a U.S. national by a foreign government, but it has yet to act.

The spurious charge against Kurmasheva shows that Russian authorities are retaliating against her for being an American and a journalist. The “foreign agents” law is infamous for its use to crack down on independent journalism and civil society.

Kurmasheva is also known for her reporting on the Tatar people — an ethnic minority in Russia that is under increasing scrutiny and pressure from the Russian government — and is likely being targeted for this and other reporting the Russian government dislikes. And, of course, the Russian government is no fan of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which Russia has also labeled a “foreign agent” and forced out of the country.

President Joe Biden and U.S. lawmakers should also publicly condemn Kurmasheva’s imprisonment and demand her immediate release. Biden has said that he’s “serious” about bringing home Americans held illegally in Russia and elsewhere, and he’s specifically commented on Gershkovich’s detention. But he has yet to publicly mention Kurmasheva’s case.

The president must make clear that this issue has his attention, and that the U.S. government won’t stand idly by while Russia repeatedly locks up American journalists.

In Congress, Rep. Michael McCaul, the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has spoken out, as have several other lawmakers, but others have been silent. What are they waiting for?

Two so far this year is already far too many American journalists wrongfully detained in Russia. If the U.S. has any hope of keeping that number from growing in the future, it must use every method at its disposal to secure the release of both Kurmasheva and Gershkovich.

The family of an ex-Kansas City police officer, found guilty at trial on charges of second-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action, has asked the governor for a clemency.

A Collinsville woman has been charged in connection with a man's overdose death earlier this year.

ALTON - Riverbend Head Start & Family Services received a $20,000 donation from Delta Dental to go toward dental care for their students. Riverbend Head Start & Family Services provides early childhood education for income-eligible families. CEO Gene Howell noted that a lot of their work is funded by Head Start, a program through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. But Riverbend Head Start & Family Services also assists with health and dental care, which they must fund themselves. The Delta Dental donation will make it possible for them to help more children. “If you can imagine a 3-year-old with three or four or five or six exposed nerve roots, that’s a lot of pain. You can’t learn when you come into a classroom in that kind of pain,” Howell said. “Delta Dental allows us to connect that kid with a local resource…It makes a world of difference for these kids. And when they come in after getting the surgery done, you see the smiles,

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      Ari Groover as Tina Turner  (in photo) and her backup singers mesmerized the audience opening night at the Fabulous Fox.           “Tina”  Simply the Best– Especially to St. Louisans             by Pat Lindsey Seeing Ari Groover portray Tina Turner in “Tina–The Tina Turner Musical” is almost like witnessing reincarnation. There are times in […]

The post Tina Turner returns Home in musical about her life appeared first on flovalleynews.com.

The Missouri Tigers football program reaches a big milestone, earning its first Top-10 rank from the College Football Playoff committee.

KISS is getting ready to say goodbye to the road next month, but Gene Simmons insists that won’t be the end of KISS.   “This tour is the end of the road for the…

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Jacob Ehlinger was charged with assault after police say he ran a stop sign, then pulled a driver who honked at him out of a car and severely beat him.

JERSEYVILLE - The Hollow Avenue improvement project in Jerseyville continues to make progress, with Phase 1 getting closer to completion and the City Council recently approving an agreement to commence with Phase 2. The project includes repaving, widening, ADA-compliant sidewalks, and more. The Jerseyville City Council recently approved a professional surveying/engineering/land acquisition services agreement with Bartlett & West Inc. regarding Phase 2 of the Hollow Avenue Roadway Improvements project. Jerseyville received $1,000,000 in grant funding from the Federal Highway Administration for these improvements to Hollow Avenue. The city was one of only ten recipients of the grant, which was awarded as part of the administration’s Accelerated Innovation Deployment (AID) funding initiative. These improvements are just one component of the city’s long-term Capital Improvement Plan, which among other things, prioritizes “the safe and efficient movement of residential

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Industrial technology firm Watlow has opened a new $6 million R&D facility in St. Louis County that it says will create 10 to 15 new jobs and will develop materials used in its thermal systems.

This is a church steeple in the city of Banning during late winter, with a bit of snow still left on the mountains. The church elders need to fix their cross. It's crooked.

The committee passed a bill that would freeze the amount seniors owe on the city’s portion of property taxes — roughly 20% of the total levy.

The owner of a 21-story downtown St. Louis office tower agreed to a takeover of the property by investors, via a receiver, following an alleged loan default.

Buc-ee’s isn’t done building stores in the Show-Me State.

The bakery-café chain's new St. Charles County location will feature a mobile drive-thru, kiosks for ordering dine-in and rapid pick-up, as well as mobile pick-up and delivery options.

ROXANA. - Riverbender.com is proud to once again live-stream the Roxana Shells' football playoff journey for those wanting to avoid the crowds or just watch from the comfort of their own home. The 12-0 Shells host the 11-1 Mt. Carmel Golden Aces on Saturday afternoon in the IHSA Class 3A state semifinals. The game is set to kick off at 3 p.m. from Charles Raich Field in Roxana. The game can be viewed on either Riverbender.com or EdGlenToday.com as well as on Facebook and YouTube . Riverbender.com would like to thank the outpouring of community support and the many sponsors who made live-streaming this game possible. A special thanks to our Playoff Game Sponsors: Werts Welding & Tank Service Chris Slusser for Madison County Board Chairman Tom McRae Madison County Circuit Clerk Phillips 66 Rosewood Chiropractic Clinic BJC - Alton Memorial Hospital Roberts Motors Sherry Gilleland - Dream Home Reality Center Fowl Commit Apparel & Accessories Circui

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Workers at General Motors' Wentzville Assembly Plant rejected a tentative contract the automaker reached last month with the United Auto Workers.

As you likely know by now, last week, Elon Musk released the initial version of the AI chatbot he created earlier this year via “xAI” which may or may not be part of his many other companies, but definitely uses employees, technology, and resources from those other companies. He named it “Grok,” though also claimed […]