Caterpillar closing 5 plants, cutting 670 jobs

EAST PEORIA, Ill. (AP) —Caterpillar says it plans to close five plants and trim about 670 jobs in Illinois and several other states, in the latest phase of a larger cost-cutting campaign announced last year. The mining and construction equipment company will cut about 230 jobs for office and production workers at a major manufacturing…

Mizzou professor reaches deal with prosecutors over assault charge

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) – The suspended University of Missouri professor who was charged with misdemeanor assault related to her clashes with two student journalists during campus protests in November has reached a deal with prosecutors. Columbia city prosecutor Steve Richey said Friday that assistant communications professor Melissa Click agreed to serve 20 hours of community service…

Judge: Non-major candidates need to be on ballot

CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) – A federal court has ordered St. Louis County to include the names of non-major party candidates on county and municipal ballots in future elections. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports U.S. District Court Judge Ronnie White told the county Wednesday that it could no longer enforce a rule limiting local ballots to…

Former Pine Lawn Cop Found Guilty On Federal Charges

St. Louis, MO  (KTRS)  A former Pine Lawn police lieutenant is facing up to twenty years behind bars after being convicted on federal charges. The U.S. attorney’s office announced that 35-year-old Steven Blakeney has been found guilty of three criminal civil rights charges. Prosecutors say the false arrest happened in March 2013 while Blakeny was…