Articles by Michael Phillis and Jim Salter

How Push for the Atomic Bomb Spawned Enduring Radioactive Waste Problems in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS (AP) __ The federal government and companies responsible for nuclear bomb production and atomic waste storage sites in the St. Louis area in the mid- 20th century were aware of health risks, spills, improperly stored contaminants and other …

Justice Department Accuses Minneapolis Police of Systematic Discrimination After George Floyd’s Killing

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Justice Department alleged Friday that Minneapolis police have systematically discriminated against Black and Native American people for years and often violated constitutional rights following a sweeping investigation that began after George Floyd was killed. The two-year …

Archdiocese of St. Louis to Pay $1M to Settle Sex Abuse Lawsuit

ST. LOUIS (AP) – The Archdiocese of St. Louis will pay $1 million to settle a lawsuit filed by a man who was sexually abused as a child by a priest who previously spent 12 years in prison for abusing …

Minneapolis to Pay $8.9M Over Officer’s Actions before Floyd Death

The city of Minneapolis agreed Thursday to pay nearly $9 million to settle lawsuits filed by two people who said former police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into their necks years before he used the same move to kill …

Winter Storms Ravage Multiple States

Dangerous winter weather ravaged the nation from California through the northern Plains on Thursday, trapping drivers on icy roads, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands and grounding multiple flights. For the first time since 1989, the National Weather Service …

Parts of Northern US Shut Down Ahead of Massive Winter Storm

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – States in the northern plains are largely shutting down ahead of a massive winter storm that could dump up to 2 feet of snow in some areas, accompanied by strong winds and dangerously cold temperatures. The blizzard-like …

Marijuana Now Legal in Missouri, But You Can’t Buy It Yet

As of Thursday, it was lawful for adults to possess and use marijuana in Missouri. That doesn’t mean you can legally buy it just yet, or use it everywhere. Medical marijuana has been legal in the state since a ballot …

No Radioactive Contamination Found at Missouri School

FLORISSANT, Mo. (AP) – Testing by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers found no radioactive contamination at a Missouri school that was shut down last month amid fears that nuclear material from a contaminated creek nearby had made its way …

Mississippi River Low Water Level Threatens Barge Traffic

Parts of the Mississippi River are so low from weeks of drought that barge traffic is being limited at the worst possible time — as crop harvests begin. Some Mississippi River communities between St. Louis and New Orleans may see …

St. Louis Police Face Closer Scrutiny Under New Oversight Plan

Eight years after Michael Brown’s death pushed the St. Louis region front and center into the national debate over police accountability, the city’s elected officials and its police associations are at odds over a new oversight plan. St. Louis Mayor …