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An inspections backlog grew in Missouri during the COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbated more recently by staffing shortages and a spike in complaints that have tapped available resources.

ALTON - Former Alton Chapter Of AFSCME 124 Labor Union President Byron Clemons, 36, entered a guilty plea to one count of interstate transportation of stolen money and was sentenced to 18 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution after he embezzled $202,100 in union funds. Clemons will be on supervised-release for two years after he serves his prison time as part of the sentence and is ordered to pay back the $202,100. He was the president of the Alton Chapter of AFSCME Local 124 from June 2017 through January 2022. Clemons withdrew the funds from the labor union's account from February 2021 to January 2022. The prosecutors in the case said Clemons used the embezzled money to gamble at casinos and pay personal expenses. In rejecting the defendant’s request for probation, the sentencing judge in the case stated that she hopes a message is sent that individuals who steal from non-profits will be held accountable. “Clemons abused his position as the labor union’s

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Paul McCartney is heading to Brazil. The two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Famer has just announced dates for a Brazilian leg of his Got Back tour, his first return to the…

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 “Sister Act” Opens Aug. 14 for 7-night run The Muny announced its full cast, design and production teams for the divine musical comedy, Sister Act, Aug. 14 – 20. “Hallelujah! We’ve reached the end of our 2023 season with this wonderful team and cast,” said Muny Artistic Director and Executive Producer Mike Isaacson. “This cast […]

The post “Sister Act” to Close 2023 Muny Season appeared first on flovalleynews.com.

Well this is dumb. First off, let’s just remind everyone that in a moment of pure stupidity, Salesforce.com founder and CEO Marc Benioff called for Section 230 to be “abolished.” Specifically, he claimed that websites “must have standards and practices decided by law” and that websites “need to be held accountable” for what users do […]

She was found dead with her wrists and neck bound by a cord in the woods near St. Clair.

FARMINGTON, Mo. -- A man was killed while attempting to walk across US 67 in Farmington Saturday night. Tommy Shafer, 50, was hit by a SUV and taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. A crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol says that Shafer was crossing US 67 at around 9 [...]

The year started out strong for advocates trying to make it easier for people with felony convictions to regain their voting rights. In March, the Democratic-led legislatures in Minnesota and New Mexico enacted measures that cleared a pathway for residents serving prison time for felonies to regain their right to vote upon being released. It […]

The post In reversal, some states make it harder for people with felony convictions to vote appeared first on Missouri Independent.

Extreme inequality is bad for billionaires and ordinary citizens alike.

ALTON - A local nonprofit hosted a pet food drive and cave clean-up this weekend in memory of Trinity Buel. Trinity’s Way was founded after 17-year-old Buel’s passing in 2018. To celebrate her birthday on Aug. 6, the organization cleaned up litter at Piasa Park and collected pet food to donate to a local animal shelter. “We wouldn’t be here five years later if Trinity wasn’t such an awesome special person,” said Raina Schlueter, the organization’s vice president and Buel’s friend. “There’s a reason we’re all still here doing this. And we’re still going strong.” Buel was passionate about helping animals and the environment, a legacy that Trinity’s Way carries on. The nonprofit organizes a clean-up every month. They hold the pet food drive twice a year, on Buel’s birthday and the anniversary of her passing in February. Chris Unthank, the organization’s president and Buel’s

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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 […]

In a monetary policy world where doves argue for lower interest rates and hawks for higher ones, St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank Jim Bullard was difficult to categorize.

EDWARDSVILLE - R.P. Lumber Co., Inc. has acquired the Sparta, IL location of Wright Building Center, a long-time industry presence in Southwestern Illinois. “For 39 years, Wright Building Center has served the citizens of the Randolph County area, and we are thrilled to have their team join the R.P. Lumber family,” said Robert Plummer, President & CEO of R.P. Lumber. “We have been industry friends and competitors for many years, so it is exciting to add this great location to our footprint in Illinois,” Plummer continued. “Since 1964, my family has been in the hardware, lumber, and construction business,“ said Jami Lee Wright, owner of Wright Building Center and member of the recent inaugural class of LBM Journal’s “40 under 40” strong leaders in the LBM community. “We’ve had a great run. We're thankful for our awesome team and the strong customer base that has kept us going since 1984. R.P. Lumber runs an impressive

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Nearly 5,000 Jehovah's Witnesses from throughout the region will gather at St. Charles' Family Arena this weekend as the denomination resumes in-person conventions for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Anthony Jones remembers clearly the moment a St. Louis police officer arrested him at the 2017 Stockley protests in downtown St. Louis. Before the young officer put Jones in the back of a police van, Jones paused, and told him: “One day, you’re gonna look back and realize you’re on the wrong side of history.”