News

Improved traffic flow and safer conditions for pedestrians who use the Grand Blvd. bridge are two of the benefits of the 15-month closure that will start at 5am on Monday, March 14th.

The 52-year-old crossing is structurally deficient, and in danger of being closed permanently, says the city's chief engineer, Rich Bradley.

The Missouri House has given first-round approval to legislation that would prohibit the state's minimum wage from exceeding the federal rate.

In 2006, Missouri voters approved a ballot initiative that set the state's minimum wage at $6.50 an hour, and allowed future minimums to rise based on the rate of inflation.  It now matches the federal level of $7.25 an hour.

Flags are being lowered in Missouri for the last surviving American to serve in World War I.

Missouri native Frank Buckles died Sunday at the age of 110 at his farm in West Virginia. He was born in the Harrison County town of Bethany and also lived as a child in Vernon County.

Buckles lied about his age to enlist in the Army and served during the war in England and France.

Updated 4:07 p.m. March 1, 2011 with statement from Illinois State Police

The Illinois State Police released a statement this afternoon in disagreement with the Attorney General's recommendation:

"The Illinois State Police respectfully disagrees with the recent opinion of the Attorney General's Public Access Counselor (PAC) regarding the release of names of Firearm Owner Identification cardholders. The Department intends to request that the PAC issue a binding opinion so that the issue may be resolved through the judicial process."

Federal officials say Arch Coal will pay $4 million in fines and change some mining practices to settle alleged Clean Water Act violations in Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky.

The deal announced Tuesday is between St. Louis-based Arch, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Justice.