// a href = ./ // St Louis News, Weather, Sports, The Big 550 AM, St Louis Traffic, Breaking News in St Louis

Susan Smith-Harmon

Susan Smith-Harmon

Missouri school year may get longer

Friday, 08 February 2013 02:41 Published in Local News
Public school students in Missouri could soon be spending more time in the classroom. Right now, state law says school must be in session a minimum of 174 days and 1,044 hours each year.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon says he'd like to add six days to the school calendar. And southwestern Missouri Republican State Rep. Lyle Rowland is proposing the state base the requirement on hours, rather than both that and days...and he'd like to add another 29-36 hours to the minimum.

Some districts have expressed skepticism because of the added cost and conflicts with existing labor contracts.

Kirkwood remembers 2008 mass shootings

Friday, 08 February 2013 02:16 Published in Local News
The city of Kirkwood continues to remember the lives lost in a mass shooting five years ago, even as officials work to move the city forward.

A quirk of the calendar put Thursday night's City Council meeting on the five year anniversary of the Kirkwood City Hall shootings.

Before the meeting people gathered outside city hall and held hands. Church bells tolled seven times -- once for each of the six victims, and the shooter.

The massacre on February 7th, 2008 had claimed the lives Mayor Mike Swoboda ((swuh-BOH-duh)), council members Connie Karr and Michael Lynch, Public Works Director Ken Yost ((YOHST)), Police Sergeant William Biggs and Officer Tom Ballman. The shooter, Charles "Cookie" Thornton was also killed.

Last night's council meeting began with a simple commemoration. Mayor Arthur McDonnell read the names of the victims, and offered a prayer. A moment of silence followed, then it was business as usual.
The brother of Kirkwood City Hall shooter Charles "Cookie" Thornton is claiming that his Granite City scrap yard was raided Thursday afternoon in retaliation for the 2008 massacre.

Just hours before the fifth anniversary of the shooting was marked in Kirkwood, the Metro East Auto Theft Task Force executed a warrant at Paul Thornton's Scrap Solutions business in the 5500 block of Dial Drive. But Task force Director Gary Brewer says it had nothing to do with the anniversary of the shootings. "This all has to do with timing on following and executing a search warrant to find stolen vehicles," Brewer said.

Police found several stolen cars on the lot, along with a stolen semi and another tractor-trailer filled with auto parts. Brewer said the bust was the result of an investigation that began after a spike in thefts of older model cars.

Thornton was critical of the way the raid was conduction. He told Fox 2 News Thursday evening that it wasn't right for 20 to 30 officers to come to his business with guns drawn.

Police won't say if there are any charges pending against Thornton.

Latest News

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
Prev Next
IL lawmaker removes name from gambling expansion bill

IL lawmaker removes name from gambling expansion bill

 SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The longtime promoter of expanding Illinois gambling has taken his name from a bill over "perceived conflict of interest" with his law firm. In a stateme...

Man convicted for molesting child

Man convicted for molesting child

A north county man is headed to jail after a jury convicted him of molesting a child. Richard Williams was found guilty of five charges in all. Williams molested the child, who wa...

Former Rep. Todd Akin to speak in North County this week

Former Rep. Todd Akin to speak in North County this wee…

Controversial politician Todd Akin is in North County to speak at a Republican club's monthly meeting. He will be speak at Yacovelli's Thursday night at 7:30. The event is open to...

Few details after fatal overnight shooting

Few details after fatal overnight shooting

Still very little information after a man was shot and killed in north St. Louis this morning. Police say they found 20-year-old Jermaine Johnson on the street near the city's bor...

Gov. Quinn throws support behind fracking expansion

Gov. Quinn throws support behind fracking expansion

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Gov. Pat Quinn says he hopes a bill that would kick-start high-volume oil and gas drilling passes "swiftly" through the Illinois House and Senate after a H...

Missouri juveniles in prison for life, still face uncertain fate

Missouri juveniles in prison for life, still face uncer…

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Prison sentences for Missouri juveniles convicted of first-degree murder remain uncertain because lawmakers did not pass a new sentencing scheme before a...

Work stalled at Bridgeton Landfill; additional police to patrol area

Work stalled at Bridgeton Landfill; additional police t…

For a second day, heavy rainfall has delayed the start of a project at the Bridgeton Landfill.     But when work begins to get rid of an odor coming from the landfill--homeowners ...

Tea Party members protest at local IRS office

Tea Party members protest at local IRS office

Blowback against the IRS is becoming more local. Fox 2 reports that members of the Tea Party are holding a rally outside an IRS Office in Town and Country. The protesters are upse...

© 2013 KTRS All Rights Reserved

St Louis Web Design