Author: Jim Salter
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Homes near St. Louis County creek are being tested after radioactive contamination found in yards
A federal agency is examining soil beneath homes in a small suburban St. Louis subdivision to determine if residents are living atop Cold War era nuclear contamination
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Judge halts Missouri rule limiting transgender health care
CLAYTON, Mo. • A Missouri judge Wednesday temporarily halted a first-of-its-kind rule restricting access to gender-affirming health care for transgender kids and adults, just hours before it was set to take effect. St. Louis County Circuit Judge Ellen Ribaudo put Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s emergency rule on transgender health care on hold until at…
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Predawn Missouri tornado kills at least 5, sows destruction
GLEN ALLEN, Mo. • A tornado ripped through southeastern Missouri before dawn Wednesday, killing five people and causing widespread destruction as the third in a series of deadly massive storms over the past two weeks struck the nation’s heartland. Forecasters are keeping a wary eye out for more extreme weather as this year’s early severe…
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Winter storm brings snow, strong winds, frigid cold
PIERRE, S.D. • A brutal winter storm knocked out power in California, closed interstate highways from Arizona to Wyoming and prompted more than 1,200 flight cancellations Wednesday — and the worst won’t be over for several days. Few places were untouched by the wild weather, some at the opposite extreme. Record highs were forecast from…
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Mo. gov. Parson slams paper for uncovering data security flaw
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. • Republican Gov. Mike Parson on Thursday condemned one of Missouri’s largest newspapers for exposing a flaw in a state database that allowed public access to thousands of teachers’ Social Security numbers, even though the paper held off from reporting about the flaw until after the state could fix it. Parson said…
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Congressional members share own abortion stories at hearing
WASHINGTON • Three Democratic members of Congress on Thursday offered deeply personal testimony about their own abortions as a congressional committee examined how to respond to conservative states that are passing laws limiting abortion access. Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri said she was raped on a church youth trip. Rep. Barbara Lee of California said…
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Michael Brown’s father seeks new investigation into killing
CLAYTON, Mo. — On the fifth anniversary of Michael Brown’s death in Ferguson, his father is urging the top St. Louis County prosecutor to reopen the investigation into the white police officer who fatally shot the black and unarmed 18-year-old. Michael Brown Sr. spoke Friday outside the St. Louis County Justice Center. “Justice has not…
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United Methodist Church delegates reject recognizing gay marriage
ST. LOUIS — The United Methodist Church, America’s second-largest Protestant denomination, faces a likely surge in defections and acts of defiance after delegates at a crucial conference voted Tuesday to strengthen the faith’s divisive bans on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy. Emotions were high throughout the third and final day of the UMC’s…
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Whereabouts of 1,300 Missouri sex offenders unknown
ST. LOUIS • Police don’t know the whereabouts of nearly 1,300 registered sex offenders in Missouri, including hundreds who fall into the most dangerous category, according to a state audit released Monday. Missouri law requires convicted sex offenders to register their names, addresses and other information with their county law enforcement, most often the sheriff’s…
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Grand jury indicts Missouri governor who admitted affair
ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis grand jury on Thursday indicted Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens on a felony invasion of privacy charge for allegedly taking a compromising photo of a woman with whom he had an affair in 2015. The Republican governor responded that he made a mistake but committed no crime. St. Louis Circuit…