Appeals court upholds Illinois fracking rules

ST. LOUIS (AP) – An Illinois appeals court has upheld the state’s rules for the high-volume oil and gas drilling technique known as fracking. The appellate court sided with a Madison County judge who rejected an environmental group’s legal challenge. The 5th District Appellate Court on Friday issued an opinion agreeing with a November ruling…

Mail center employees accused of theft

St. Louis, MO ( KTRS ) Four current or former employees of a U.S. Postal Service distribution center in Hazelwood are among five people accused in a federal indictment of stealing mail that contained marijuana, electronics and other items. The U.S. Attorney’s office in St. Louis announced the indictment Tuesday. All five suspects are in…

Missouri utility regulator leader nears end of term

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – The chairman of a Missouri panel that regulates public utilities such as water and electricity will step down. Public Service Commission chairman Robert Kenney announced Monday that he’ll leave when his term expires in August. Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon appointed Kenney in 2009 and named him chairman in 2013. Kenney…