LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” has marched confidently into the new year, raking in an additional $88.3 million and topping the box office for a third week, according to studio estimates Sunday. In the first weekend of 2016, the record-busting film blew past the domestic grosses of both “Jurassic World” and…
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (AP) — Authorities have identified another of the 22 people killed in the winter flood in the Midwest. The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Saturday that the body of 52-year-old Brian N. Hunt of Halfway was found Friday in southwest Missouri. His vehicle was swept away by floodwaters in Polk County on…
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — President Barack Obama has declared an emergency exists in Missouri because of flooding. Obama signed the declaration on Saturday. It allows federal aid to be used to help state and local response efforts to storms that began Dec. 22 and flooding that continues. It also authorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency…
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Amid concerns of a looming teacher shortage, public officials in San Francisco and other cities are looking at housing as a tool to prevent the exodus of young educators. School districts in high cost-of-living areas and rural communities that have long struggled to staff classrooms are considering buying or building rent-subsidized…
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Interstate 44 is now open again in Missouri. A 24-mile stretch of the interstate southwest of St. Louis closed Wednesday due to flooding along the Meramec River. The Missouri Department of Transportation reopened the east-west interstate late Friday morning. Hours earlier, southbound lanes of Interstate 55 reopened south of St. Louis.…
ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger has lifted a state of emergency that had been in place for nearly a week due to widespread flooding. Stenger surveyed damage Friday and said he decided to lift the order after consulting with emergency officials. The Meramec River has dropped significantly, easing tensions in…
New laws taking effect Friday will reduce how long the unemployed can receive benefits and shorten the amount of time that low-income families can get welfare payments. The limit for jobless benefits will be cut from 20 weeks to 13. The lifetime limit on cash welfare payments will be reduced from 60 months to 45.…
St. Louis, MO (KTRS) The American Red Cross continues to provide relief across major portions of Missouri and adjoining states following region-wide flooding in recent days. Red Cross volunteers have opened shelters to provide a place to sleep, food, and medical needs for anyone displaced by the floods. Today, shelters in Arnold, Ballwin, Pacific, Carthage, and Cape…