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East St. Louis High graduates honored hours after school fire

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:46:57 GMT

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. - Students and families had an emotional day at East St. Louis Senior High School on Wednesday."The fact that we're leaving here has not set in yet. I don't think that we can ever get used to the fact that we're leaving our home," said Jeremy Avan, a graduate of East St. Louis Senior High School.Students said the school felt like home, and it's upsetting to see the damage left behind from Tuesday's fire."I actually saw the smoke, and I actually screamed. My heart broke," said Ranyia Cox, a graduate of East St. Louis Senior High School. "Of course, we got to find out that it wasn't that bad. This school is our home."The fire happened outside the construction and electrical classrooms. Edwardsville High School asst. principal accused of sex with teen "There were a few student sheds that were built by our construction trades program," said Sydney Stigge-Kaufman with the East St. Louis School District. "Those, unfortunately, did not survive the fires. There were a...

Inside look: FBI response team uncovers how investigators gather evidence to solve crimes

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:46:57 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - FOX 2 had an in-depth inside look at how the FBI gathers hidden evidence, from white-collar crimes to violent crimes.The FBI Evidence Residence Response Team (ERT) comes into a room thinking, ‘just because we can’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not there.’ERT leader in Springfield, Illinois, Special Agent Michael Maguire, said wearing the proper protective gear helps to keep the investigator from contaminating evidence and to keep evidence from contaminating the investigator.ALS (alternative light sources), commonly referred to as ‘black light’ can reveal hidden traces of bodily fluids and DNA. The ERT most often uses blue light. Orange/amber eyeglasses and camera lens cover filter out the blue light, which fluoresces traces of fluids people otherwise don’t see. Edwardsville High School asst. principal accused of sex with teen “Our naked eye can only see so much. This allows us to use science so we can see more,” Maguire said.Liquid solutions are often sprayed onto...

FAA approves St. Louis Lambert International Airport master plan

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:46:57 GMT

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Lambert International Airport officials announced on Wednesday that the FAA approved the airport’s master plan. That plan maps out proposed improvements to meet the anticipated growth of air travel through 2040.“We’re very happy they approved the master plan,” said Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, director at Lambert. “We expected that it would be approved, but it’s always nice to get that final stamp.”An environmental impact study will be the next step in the process of moving the plan closer to reality.“In conjunction with the FAA, we’ll be doing an environmental review of the impact of this," Hamm-Niebruegge said. "While we’re doing that, we’re also negotiating with the airlines."She said an agreement with the airlines is essential for the plan to move forward. Edwardsville High School asst. principal accused of sex with teen One of the main components of the plan combines Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. The combination would allow for one entry point. Hamm-Niebruegge s...

Fans pay tribute to Tina Turner in Delmar Loop

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:46:57 GMT

ST. LOUIS - On perhaps the darkest day of Tina Turner's life and career, her St. Louis Walk of Fame star may be shining its brightest. Her Delmar Loop star is now surrounded by flowers, with several fans paying their respects. "I grew up on her music," LaTonya Walker said on Wednesday. "It's really sad that she's gone." Turner spent many of the early years of her life in St. Louis, graduating from Sumner High School in 1958. She would later work as a nurse's aide at Barnes Jewish Hospital.  For sale: Eccentric Fenton home hidden behind quaint exterior Brother Self-Love grew up in St. Louis and said his grandparents introduced her music to him. “I love her because my grandparents loved her, and I love her because I grew up on her," Self-Love said. Turner began recording music in the 1950s, eventually joining forces with Ike Turner. She’d have a highly publicized divorce with Ike, chronicling the abuse she endured over the years. They were divorced in 1978, and i...

Contact 2 digs into St. Louis County property value reassessments

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:46:57 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - St. Louis County Assessor Jake Zimmerman knows a thing or two because he’s seen a thing or two.“A lot of people get this letter in the mail. It comes from me and at the top it says in big bold letters, ‘This is not a bill,’” Zimmerman said.“People are busy. You’ve got a job; you’ve got to pick up the kids. You throw it out, right? Please don’t throw out that letter! Because right underneath where it says ‘This is not a bill,’ that’s where it tells you what I think your home is worth.”It’s real estate reassessment time in St. Louis County. Missouri law requires reassessment every two years in odd numbered years and at least once every six years.“I am not the tax man. I don’t set your tax rates. The school district does that and the fire department does that,” Zimmerman said. “What I’m in charge of is figuring out what your house could have sold for on January 1 of this year.” Edwardsville High School asst. principal accused of sex with teen Here’s how it wor...

New greenway connects St. Charles to St. Louis County communities and economies

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:46:57 GMT

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. - Various greenways are being completed from St. Louis City to St. Charles County. The trails prove they're connecting not only local communities but economies as well."I think it's a great thing for the community, and I only hope that it continues to grow,” said Lisa Brown, a St. Charles County resident.The Great Rivers Greenway is expanding its reach with numerous greenway projects throughout the St. Louis region. The recently finished Brickline Greenway leg in front of CITYPARK already makes downtown more accessible.A city-funded pathway nearby under Interstate 64 at 21st Street will soon connect to the greenway for expanded mobility for residents and visitors. For sale: Eccentric Fenton home hidden behind quaint exterior In a statement, the St. Louis Planning Division Program Manager, Scott Ovilgie, said:"The City of St. Louis is excited to see segments of the Brickline Greenway open to demonstrate to residents the ambitious scale of the project. We loo...

Marlins feast on Rockies’ pitching in 10-2 rout at Coors Field

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:46:57 GMT

The highlight for Colorado fans on Wednesday night at Coors Field arrived in the seventh inning when Nuggets forward Bruce Brown’s image flashed on the giant scoreboard above left field. He received a standing ovation.The key role player for the newly-crowned NBA Western Conference champions was among the announced crowd of 19,546 who watched the Rockies get drubbed by the Marlins, 10-2.This was an ugly game for the local nine, who were outhit 10-4. The four hits tied for the Rockies’ fewest at home this season.Karl Kauffmann, making his second major-league start, pitched 4 1/3 innings, giving up five runs on six hits. The right-hander walked three and fanned two. Kauffmann kept Colorado in the game — with the help of double plays to end the first and second innings — until the Marlins ripped into him in the fifth inning with four hits, including a two-run double by Luis Arraez, who’s hitting .371.“Definitely, that’s going to be key is going...

Metro bus driver stabbed in Woodland Hills; suspect at large

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:46:57 GMT

Police are searching for a suspect who stabbed a Metro bus driver Wednesday night in Woodland Hills.  Calls about the incident, located at Erwin Street and Topanga Canyon Boulevard, came in at around 5:15 p.m., officials with the Los Angeles Police Department said.  "The Department has mustered a number of night watch detectives and uniform personnel to investigate this senseless attack," LAPD Chief Moore said. "Detectives are speaking with witnesses and gathering video evidence. Numerous uniform officers are conducting a grid search of the area." It is unclear what led up to the incident, but officials said the victim was transported to the hospital in unknown condition.  Footage from Sky5 showed a large police presence at the scene while authorities investigated. LAPD on the scene of an alleged stabbing of a Metro Bus driver in Woodland Hills May 24, 2023. (KTLA)LAPD on the scene of an alleged stabbing of a Metro Bus driver in Woodland Hills May 24, 2023. (KTLA)The suspe...

Nazi elements pulled from 6th grade 'Sound of Music' production

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:46:57 GMT

Amid backlash from parents, a 6th-grade production of “The Sound of Music” in Fullerton will be altered to remove Nazi elements, the district superintendent announced.The musical, which is being produced at Rolling Hills Elementary School, tells the classic story of the von Trapp family’s escape from the Nazis in Austria prior to World War II.When parents found out that the production would include swastikas and other Nazi props, and involve children giving a “Hail Hitler” salute, Fullerton School District Superintendent Bob Pletka intervened.“These social media posts of our children could leave them vulnerable to co-opting of these photographs by nefarious individuals or groups meant to mock or exploit our children for their own purposes,” Pletka said in a statement. Parents protest Pride event at North Hollywood elementary school “When my wife called me, she said, ‘Our son was whispering ‘little Nazi boy, little Nazi boy.’ I'm like, what? Where's that coming from?” one parent sa...

Man accused of attempted sexual assault on elderly woman in Ventura

Published Thu, 13 Feb 2025 11:46:57 GMT

A man is accused of attempting to sexually assault an elderly woman while she was gardening in Ventura on Wednesday.The suspect was identified as Lathanial Walker, 26, by the Ventura Police Department.Officers received reports of an attempted sexual assault on the 200 block of South Dunning Street around 8:15 a.m.When police arrived, they discovered the victim, a 75-year-old woman, had been gardening in her front yard when Walker approached her on foot.He stood for several minutes while watching her tend to the garden. Then he suddenly moved in closer to her and dropped his pants, police said.“Walker grabbed the victim from behind and began to drag her toward a more secluded area,” police said. “The victim yelled for help and neighbors intervened to save the victim from further trauma." Father of 3 killed in Northridge shooting while earning money for daughter’s birthday cake During the intervention, Walker fled toward a nearby mall but was later apprehended by responding officers...