Retired police captain dies in apparent accidental shooting
SWANSEA, Ill. (AP) – A retired East St. Louis police captain has died in an apparent accidental shooting. The Belleville News-Democrat (http://bit.ly/1OAne5Q ) reports that 72-year-old Sherman Jumper of Swansea died Wednesday afternoon after a small handgun he was carrying inside of a bag discharged. Police say Jumper was in his garage and appeared to…
Belleville woman pleads guilty to cancer scam for donations
BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) – A southwestern Illinois woman has pleaded guilty to lying about a terminal ovarian cancer diagnosis and stealing money raised on her behalf. Thirty-two-year-old Alissa Jackson of Belleville was a married mother of five when she was charged in June 2014 with bilking thousands of dollars in donations, free food and a…
Backers of cigarette tax hike begin collecting signatures
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Supporters of increasing the cigarette tax by 23 cents a pack are collecting signatures to get the proposal on the ballot. Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association Executive Director Ronald Leone said Wednesday an outside firm began gathering signatures this week. Initiative petitions need a certain number of voter signatures…
Missouri names Mitchell chair of diversity task force
( KTRS ) The University of Missouri system has appointed an associate dean to lead its diversity task force. The university has announced that David Mitchell, associate dean for academic affairs, will chair the university system’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force. He is also chair of the Missouri State Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission…
Illinois jobless rate jumps as more people look for work
( KTRS ) State officials say the unemployment rate rose Illinois in November as more people started looking for work. The Illinois Department of Employment Security reports that the jobless rate hit 5.7 percent in November, the first increase since July 2014. The report showed a 5.1 percent increase in the number of unemployed people looking for work…
Austin, Gurley lead Rams past Buccaneers, 31-23
ST. LOUIS (AP) – Tavon Austin scored twice, Todd Gurley topped 1,000 yards rushing and the Rams beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-23 on Thursday night in what could be the franchise’s final game in St. Louis. The 31st-ranked offense had an inspired effort in front of another half-filled but spirited Edward Jones Dome crowd,…
Tarasenko breaks tie, Blues beat Predators 2-1
ST. LOUIS (AP) – Vladimir Tarasenko scored a power-play goal with 5:20 left, Jake Allen made 27 saves and the St. Louis Blues rallied to beat the Nashville Predators 2-1 Thursday night. The Blues came back from a goal down in the third period for the second straight game and have won three of four.…
New refugee center to open in St. Louis
ST. LOUIS (AP) – A center to welcome refugees from Syria and elsewhere is set to open in St. Louis. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/1lU0s2j ) reports that the refugee center is scheduled to open Thursday. Muslim police chaplains Adil Imdad and Dzemal Bijedic said they began to look for a warehouse to open a…