// 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

Error means new bridge ramp must be torn up, repoured

Thursday, 07 February 2013 02:11 Published in Local News
A 400 yard stretch of concrete that was recently poured as part of the new Mississippi River Bridge project is now being dug back up. That's because it doesn't meet the Illinois Department of Transportation's code.

IDOT District 8 project implementation leader Jeff Church says the ramp is being torn out and redone because it didn't meet certain safety requirements pertaining to the slope. "The slope that they had was not, high enough," Church said. He said if the slope on a curve isn't high enough, it's hard for cars to stay on the road.

Church told Fox 2 News that the contractor, Fred Weber construction, will absorb the cost of the re-do because it was their mistake. But, he says, it isn't expected to delay completion of the project.

The ramp will connect Illinois drivers to the new Mississippi River bridge when it opens in January 2014.
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn's state of the state address is receiving mixed reviews.

Quinn said Illinois's $100 billion pension shortfall is the number one problem for the state.

That feeling was echoed by business interests. The Illinois Manufacturers' Association says the time for talk is over and the Illinois Chamber of Commerce calls a failure to address pensions unconscionable.

But the president the Illinois Retail Merchants Association criticized the governor's plan to raise minimum wage from $8.25 to $10.00 per hour, saying it would hurt both employers and job seekers. The governor argued that no one working 40 hours a week should live in poverty.

During the speech, Quinn also said it was time for the state to allow same-sex marriages, and he renewed his call for an assault weapons ban.

MO House panel adopts voter photo ID requirement

Wednesday, 06 February 2013 03:34 Published in Local News
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - A Missouri House committee has adopted a measure requiring voters to show photo identification before casting ballots.

The House Elections Committee approved a state constitutional amendment that would ask voters whether to allow the photo ID requirement. The committee also approved a separate bill that would implement the photo identification requirement.

The vote was along party lines, with Republicans saying the photo ID requirement would increases transparency and reduce voter fraud. Democrats said there are no reports of voter impersonation and that the plan could disenfranchise voters.

Currently when Missourians vote, they can show a photo ID or other means of identification such as utility bills or bank statements.

Both measures head to the House Rules Committee for further consideration.

Latest News

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
Prev Next
Pens close out Sens in 5

Pens close out Sens in 5

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Too much talent. Too much skill. Too much composure. The Pittsburgh Penguins have reached the NHL Eastern Conference finals and will play either the New York Ran...

Pacers stun Heat in game 2

Pacers stun Heat in game 2

MIAMI (AP) — This time Indiana didn't wilt in the final seconds. After losing the NBA Eastern Conference finals opener in overtime to Miami, the Pacers kept their composure until ...

Pioneering political journalist dead at 81

Pioneering political journalist dead at 81

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pioneering Washington journalist Haynes Johnson, who helped redefine political reporting, has died at age 81. The University of Maryland, where Johnson was a jou...

President Obama sees terror threat at pre-9/11 level

President Obama sees terror threat at pre-9/11 level

WASHINGTON (AP) — Some call it wishful thinking, but President Barack Obama has all but declared an end to the global war on terror. Obama isn't claiming final victory over extrem...

East St. Louis jury issues indictment of timeshare scam mastermind

East St. Louis jury issues indictment of timeshare scam…

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (AP) — A Las Vegas man is accused in Illinois of a timeshare scam that federal prosecutors say bilked $10 million from more than 3,000 victims across the Unite...

Tow boat members honored for saving lives

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Two crew members from a tow boat, including one who died, have been honored for their efforts to save a family of five after the family's boat became disabled on t...

Deadline looms to request Missouri absentee ballots

Deadline looms to request Missouri absentee ballots

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Voters in southeast Missouri voters are running out of time to request absentee ballots by mail or fax for next month's congressional election. The spec...

Gov. Quinn responds to House approving conceal carry bill

Gov. Quinn responds to House approving conceal carry bi…

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Gov. Pat Quinn is lashing out at lawmakers after the Illinois House approved a concealed carry bill that he says "puts public safety at risk." Quinn says ...

© 2013 KTRS All Rights Reserved

St Louis Web Design