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The city of St. Ann spent years jailing people who couldn’t pay bond. Now it’s paying them $3.1 million

2 years 5 months ago
More than 35,000 people will be eligible to receive a portion of a $3.1 settlement in St. Ann, a result of litigation filed by civil rights law firm Arch City Defenders. Quentin Thomas describes what it was like to be trapped in a cycle of fines and jail in St. Ann. Maureen Hanlon, a civil litigation staff attorney with Arch City, discusses how St. Ann jailed people solely because they didn't have money to pay for their freedom, and what this settlement means for Arch City's years-long legal campaign against cities with similar practices.

Boo at the Zoo

2 years 5 months ago

Don’t be scared! The Saint Louis Zoo’s nighttime Halloween experience, Boo at the Zoo, features festive decorations, entertaining performers and special food and drink menus, so you can enjoy the […]

The post Boo at the Zoo appeared first on Explore St. Louis.

Rachel Huffman

Proponents drop push to give downstate Illinois utilities, including Ameren, dibs on new transmission lines

2 years 5 months ago
With billions of dollars of construction projects on the line, Ameren Illinois and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers have been vying to secure first rights on new electricity transmission line construction in downstate Illinois. But after Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued an amendatory veto to a bill that would have granted downstate utilities the right of first refusal for such projects, those advocates are abandoning their efforts – for now. At a news conference Wednesday, Rep. Larry…
Andrew Adams

Saint Louis Zoo's elephant Donna faces tumor diagnosis

2 years 5 months ago
The Saint Louis Zoo recently diagnosed Donna, one of their elephants, with a tumor. Unfortunately, they cannot consider surgery as an option. However, the Saint Louis Zoo's dedicated Animal Care team is providing the best possible care for Donna.
Liz Dowell

Argosy Casino Receives Four-Year License: Illinois Gaming Board Approves Three Casino Licenses

2 years 5 months ago
SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Gaming Board (the "IGB" or "Board") licensed new casinos in Danville, Carterville and Chicago and renewed the existing license for the Argosy Casino Alton during today's October meeting. At the meeting, the IGB issued new casino owners’ licenses to Danville Development, LLC d/b/a Golden Nugget Danville, Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort, LLC d/b/a Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort and Bally’s Chicago Operating Company, LLC d/b/a Bally’s Chicago. The Board also renewed a four-year license for Alton Casino LLC d/b/a Argosy Casino Alton following a license renewal hearing. Before the Board voted on licensure, representatives from each of the casinos addressed the Board about their suitability for licensure, providing highlights of their respective operations since opening and sharing their future plans. In addition to licensing Bally’s Chicago, the Board also approved a request from Bally’s Chicago under Rule 3000.540(d)

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SBF is having a tough time on the witness stand

2 years 5 months ago
At the FTX fraud trial Sam Bankman-Fried has decided to testify in his own defense. Today he's getting sort of a trial run without the jury present, and it's not going well. Here are opening snippets from the Wall Street Journal's updates throughout the day: After Bankman-Fried gave several evasive answers.... Sam Bankman-Fried said he ...continue reading "SBF is having a tough time on the witness stand"
Kevin Drum

2023 Madison County Tentative Multiplier Announced

2 years 5 months ago
SPRINGFIELD - Madison County has been issued a tentative property assessment equalization factor of 1.0889, according to David Harris, Director of the Illinois Department of Revenue. The property assessment equalization factor, often called the “multiplier”, is the method used to achieve uniform property assessments among counties, as required by law. This equalization is particularly important because some of the state’s 6,600 local taxing districts overlap into two or more counties (e.g. school districts, junior college districts, fire protection districts). If there were no equalization among counties, substantial inequities among taxpayers with comparable properties would result. State law requires property in Illinois to be assessed at one-third (1/3) of its market value. Farm property is assessed differently, with farm homesites and dwellings subject to regular assessing and equalization procedures, but with farmland and farm buildings assessed according to standard

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Applicants recruited on Craigslist competed for Missouri social equity cannabis licenses

2 years 5 months ago
James Harnden has been a longtime activist for cannabis legalization, ever since he got slapped with a low-level felony possession charge for having an ounce of weed. The 56-year old Rockford, Ill., resident says that charge has cost him job opportunities for 30 years. Earlier this year, he saw an advertisement in the Craigslist “gigs” section posted by a Michigan cannabis real estate group called Canna Zoned MLS. It was looking for “partners who qualify as a social equity applicant” to…
Rebecca Rivas

Coroner Nonn Identifies Female Victim In Two-Car Traffic Crash In Troy

2 years 5 months ago
TROY - Madison County Coroner Stephen P. Nonn is identifying a woman who died after being involved in a two-car traffic crash on Wednesday morning, Oct. 25, 2023. The victim is identified as Catherine L. Leathers, 81, of Troy, IL. Leathers was a front-seat passenger of a 2006 Suzuki Vitara being driven by her husband. The crash occurred at 7:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, at the intersection of US Highway 40 and Bauer Road/Glen Rea Road when the victim’s vehicle was struck on the passenger side after driving into the path of a westbound 2021 Mazda CX-7. The driver of this vehicle refused medical treatment at the scene. Coroner Nonn said the decedent’s husband was taken to a St. Louis Hospital for treatment. Nonn added that the extent and severity of his injuries were unknown at the time of this release. "Leathers was pronounced deceased at Anderson Hospital emergency department after being transported from the scene by Troy Fire Department EMS," he said. "Her cause

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