// a href = ./ // St Louis News, Weather, Sports, The Big 550 AM, St Louis Traffic, Breaking News in St Louis

Wednesday, 01 May 2013 06:40

Protest march planned at SLU today

Irate faculty and students at St. Louis University plan to take their issues with their school's president to the streets of the mid-town campus. 

 A protest march is planned this afternoon by members of the SLU community against university president Father Lawrence Biondi.

The move comes after Biondi and another high ranking university official canceled an appearance before the faculty senate. The group had hoped to question Biondi about the school's future. 

SLU officials issued a statement Monday saying the two did not appear because they were focused on finding a Months ago the group voted no confidence in Biondi. Some have called for him to step down.

The march starts at 1pm this afternoon at the Frost Campus Clock Tower.

It will proceed to Father Biondi`s residence at Cartier Hall, then continue down the main university thoroughfare to Vandeventer.

It will then go north to Lindell, east to Grand and then south DuBourg Hall.

Published in Local News

       St Louis based Peabody Energy is holding its annual shareholders meeting in Wyoming to highlight the importance of the coal-rich Powder River Basin.

     A delegation of more than a dozen retired and active mine workers from West Virginia, Illinois, Kentucky and Florida are protesting.

    One group critical of the company, Missourians Organizing for Reform and Empowerment, claims the company is trying to avoid hearing concerns in its hometown. 

    Meantime, thousands of protesting mine workers returned to St. Louis today as  hearings begin in U.S. Bankruptcy Court on demands by Peabody's Patriot Coal Company. Miners accuse Peabody of eliminating  health care for retired miners and for making cuts in pay, benefits and working conditions for current miners. 

     In a statement, Peabody Energy says "The union continues to grandstand when it knows that this matter will be decided in the courts. Patriot was highly successful following its launch more than five years ago with significant assets, low debt and a market value that more than quadrupled in less than a year.   Peabody has lived up to its obligations and continues to do so. This is a matter between the union and Patriot Coal, and will be decided in the bankruptcy court."

Published in Local News
On the same day that St. Louis University's embattled president issued a letter offering a conciliatory tone, some university alumni expressed their disapproval of Father Lawrence Biondi at the Billiken's basketball game.

At the start of the game, a group raised a banner that read "Alums for No Confidence," a reference to the no confidence votes issued by the university faculty and student government late last year.

In Biondi's 20 page report to campus yesterday, he acknowledged the criticism against him. He said that although he didn't agree with all of it, he's "committed to being part of the solution; to working more closely with those...who say that their voices are not being heard.”
Published in Local News
Tuesday, 26 February 2013 13:18

Arrests in another Peabody Coal protest

Another protest against Peabody Coal, and another round of arrests.

Ten coal miners were arrested during the march on the energy giant's head quarters. The members of the United Mine Workers of America say their members could lose healthcare and pension benefits if Patriot Coal goes bankrupt. The protesters say Peabody engineered the failure of Patriot.

Peabody maintains that Patriot was a viable company and struggled without any interference from Peabody.
Published in Local News
Former miners, protesting Peabody Energy in downtown St. Louis, have been arrested.

KTRS's Michael Golde is on the scene and reports that the protesters' goal was to get arrested. They hope to draw attention to what they believe is a unfair deal concerning their pension and health benefits.

Peabody's Senior Vice President of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Vic Svec, says this is a matter between Patriot coal and the United Mine Workers of America. Many of the former miners at the protest, worked for Patriot Coal. They argue that Peabody Energy made Patriot Coal a separate company that was never supposed to succeed. They accuse Peabody of "fraudulent conveyance,” or transfer of money with the intent to hurt creditors, but that charge must be proved to hold Peabody liable for potential losses in retirement benefits.

There were also miners arrested at another protest of Peabody last month. The protest remains peaceful and those miners arrested were very cordial with police, even shaking hands with the arresting officers.
Published in Local News
Wednesday, 06 February 2013 01:24

Inmates attack 3 Illinois prison staffers

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) - Two guards and a chaplain have been released from a hospital after being hurt in an Illinois prison attack that union officials say involved up to 15 inmates.

Tuesday's assaults were the latest in a series of violent incidents over the last month at Menard Correctional Center and other Illinois state prisons. Last Thursday, a Menard inmate died in what one official called suspicious circumstances.

Union officials say the violence is a result of Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn's decision to close several prisons around the state to save money.

Tuesday's assaults happened as about 200 union members marched outside the prison in the southern Illinois town of Chester. They were protesting over what they say are growing threats to their safety.

Corrections officials say the attack led to a lockdown.
Published in Local News

Latest News

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
Prev Next
St. Charles City Council hears both sides of smoking ban issue

St. Charles City Council hears both sides of smoking ba…

   St. Charles City is one step closer to crafting a smoking ban of some sorts.  The question is whether there will be any exemptions.  The city heard input from citizens Monday ni...

Injuries pile up in wake of Oklahoma tornado

Injuries pile up in wake of Oklahoma tornado

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Officials at two hospitals say they're treating nearly 60 patients, including more than a dozen children, after a massive tornado hit suburban Oklahoma City. ...

Missouri Senator could call new session

Missouri Senator could call new session

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri's legislative session is over, but the work may continue for some lawmakers. Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey says he is considering appoin...

Crews search for man who fell into Mississippi River

Crews search for man who fell into Mississippi River

The search continues for a man in the Mississippi River. Police say two men were in a car that was parked near the Merchants Bridge in north St. Louis when it started to roll. The...

Huge tornado rips across Moore, OK

Huge tornado rips across Moore, OK

 MOORE, Okla. (AP) - Neighborhoods are flattened and buildings are on fire after a mile-wide tornado moved through the Oklahoma City area. Television footage on Monday afternoon s...

Violence, crime prevention program expands to St. Louis county

Violence, crime prevention program expands to St. Louis…

St. Louis ciyy and county police are launching a new program that targets violence in high-crime areas. The "St. Louis Initiative to Reduce Violence" or "SIRV" was announced this ...

Scientists say New Madrid could be due for large earthq…

It has been over two hundred years since the powerful New Madrid earthquakes. Scientists now say that lull could end in the not-too-distant future. They expect a the fault to unle...

MO legislative session over, but work may continue

MO legislative session over, but work may continue

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri's legislative session is over, but the work may continue for some lawmakers. Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey says he is considering appoin...

© 2013 KTRS All Rights Reserved

St Louis Web Design