Articles by Jim Salter

St. Louis County Exec’s Corruption Conviction Linked to Insurance Firm Owner

In less than a week, Steve Stenger went from being the top elected official in Missouri’s largest county to a convicted felon. Stenger pleaded guilty Friday to federal corruption charges for providing political favors in exchange for campaign donations. Among …

Midwest Flood Risk Might Last for Months, Experts Say

Even as floodwaters receded in hard-hit places in in the Midwest, experts warned Saturday that with plenty of snow still left to melt in northern states, the relief may only be temporary. Rainfall and some snowmelt spurred flooding in recent …

Flood Risk High in Missouri This Spring, Weather Service Says

Missouri towns along the Mississippi River and its tributaries should brace for the prospect of potentially serious flooding this spring, in large part because of an unusually snowy winter to the north. The National Weather Service office in suburban St. …

Missourians Urge FEMA Action Over Too-High Illinois Levee

Missouri landowners and environmentalists are urging a federal agency to sanction a levee district on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River, arguing that the earthen barrier has been built above its authorized height, worsening flooding for its neighbors. Great …

Missouri’s Gov. Parson Pushing for Prescription Monitoring Bill

The long-futile effort seeking a statewide prescription drug monitoring program in Missouri now has a prominent advocate — Gov. Mike Parson. The Republican governor met Wednesday with St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, doctors and other health leaders to discuss ways …

Duck Boat Operators Fight Back, Call Missouri AG’s Lawsuit ‘Irresponsible’

The operators of a Missouri duck boat that sank in July, killing 17 people, say in a court filing that a lawsuit from Missouri’s attorney general is “irresponsible” and “littered with factual inaccuracies and innuendo.” Attorney General Josh Hawley’s lawsuit …

Coast Guard: Missouri Duck Boat in Violation of Inspection Terms

A tourist boat was on the lake despite wind speeds far exceeding allowable limits when it sank last month in Missouri, killing 17 people, according to a certificate of inspection made public on Aug. 1. The U.S. Coast Guard announced …

Judge Says Corps Is Responsible for Flooding, Damage in 4 Midwest States

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers should act immediately to make flood control the top priority on the Missouri River, an attorney for hundreds of farmers, landowners and business operators said after a federal judge ruled the agency was responsible …

St. Louis Cardinals’ Anti-Terrorism Safety Act Plan Approved

The St. Louis Cardinals have received federal certification giving the organization legal protections in the event of a terrorist attack at Busch Stadium. Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security certified the Cardinals under the …

St. Louis Workers Likely to See Wage Drop with New Law

Thousands of workers in St. Louis will likely see smaller paychecks starting Monday, when a new Missouri law takes effect barring local government from enacting minimum wages different than the state minimum. The law is drawing protests in St. Louis …