Antonio French http://news.stlpublicradio.org en Mayor, Black Caucus Reach Deal To Open North St. Louis Rec Center http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/mayor-black-caucus-reach-deal-open-north-st-louis-rec-center <p>Mayor Francis Slay and the Aldermanic Black Caucus appear to have reached a deal on an operating contract for a new recreation&nbsp;complex in O'Fallon Park on the city's north side.</p><p>The deal still needs aldermanic approval and would take effect 90 days after the mayor's signature. That puts the earliest opening for the facility after the start of the new year - more than a year behind schedule.</p> Mon, 24 Sep 2012 22:18:30 +0000 Rachel Lippmann 4687 at http://news.stlpublicradio.org Mayor, Black Caucus Reach Deal To Open North St. Louis Rec Center St. Louis alderman fined for ethics violations http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/st-louis-alderman-fined-ethics-violations <p><strong>Updated at 8:45 p.m. to clarify the location of mingled funds.</strong></p><p>The Missouri Ethics Commission has fined St. Louis city Alderman Antonio French nearly $38,000 for a series of campaign finance violations that occurred during his successful 2009 campaign for the 21st Ward seat.</p><p>French, a Democrat, was charged with five violations, including failing to maintain a checking account at a chartered bank for about nine months, and failing to update campaign records to indicate the closure of the old account and the opening of a new one.</p> Mon, 05 Mar 2012 21:36:24 +0000 Rachel Lippmann 3204 at http://news.stlpublicradio.org St. Louis alderman fined for ethics violations Morning headlines: Ill. lawmakers approve tax increase, Mo. House to consider drug testing for welfare recipients, surveillance cameras close to being installed in 21st Ward http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/morning-headlines-ill-lawmakers-approve-tax-increase-mo-house-consider-drug-testing-welfare <ul><li>Democratic Illinois lawmakers have approved a 67% income-tax increase in a desperate bid to end the state's crippling budget crisis. Legislative leaders rushed early Wednesday morning to pass the politically risky plan before&nbsp; new General Assembly was sworn in at noon. The increase now goes to <a href="http://www2.illinois.gov/gov/Pages/default.aspx">Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn</a>. He supports the plan to temporarily raise the personal tax rate to 5% from the current 3% rate. Corporate taxes also would climb. Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:09:16 +0000 Julie Bierach 304 at http://news.stlpublicradio.org Morning headlines: Ill. lawmakers approve tax increase, Mo. House to consider drug testing for welfare recipients, surveillance cameras close to being installed in 21st Ward