// 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

Fifth anniversary of Kirkwood City Hall shootings

Thursday, 07 February 2013 03:40 Published in Local News
Tonight is the fifth anniversary of the horrific Kirkwood City Hall shootings.

On February 7th, 2008, disgruntled Kirkwood resident Charles "Cookie" Thornton gunned down six public servants during a city council meeting before being shot and killed by police.

Two police officers, two council members and the city's public works director also died that night. Several months later, Kirkwood Mayor Mike Swoboda died from his injuries.

Thornton, a Meecham Park resident, had reportedly been upset because his company was denied the contract on a development in his neighborhood. Thornton had accused city leaders of bias in the racially divided city.

Since the shootings, several community groups have worked to try to bridge the divide.

There are no plans for a formal commemoration at tonight's city council meeting. Instead, Mayor Arthur McDonnell says they'll take a moment to remember the fallen at the end of the meeting.
A 13 year old could face charges for bringing a gun to a St. Louis elementary school. The weapon was found yesterday at Jefferson Elementary on the near North side.

The sixth grade suspect had allegedly used the weapon to terrorize several students over the past few days, even pointing it at some and making threats.

Two students spoke with Fox 2 news about their ordeals. A third grader said he thought he was going to die, "He came out of nowhere with a gun. He had put it to my head." The boy says the sixth grader pulled the trigger, but the gun clip fell out.

The victim's fourth grade cousin says the suspect threatened to shoot anyone who told on him. "I didn't tell nobody because I was scared to," the boy said. "I thought he was fixing to shoot me."

District spokesman Patrick Wallace acknowledged that a gun had been found at the school, but says the district can't comment because it involved a juvenile and it's still being investigated. Wallace did say the school is now reevaluating security.

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.

Latest News

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
Prev Next
SAMARDZIJA PITCHES CUBS PAST CARDINALS 4-2

SAMARDZIJA PITCHES CUBS PAST CARDINALS 4-2

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Ryan Sweeney and Cody Ransom hit back-to-back homers in a four-run first inning and that was plenty for Jeff Samardzija, who pitched the Chicago Cubs over the St....

ALTIDORE SCORES, US BEATS HONDURAS 1-0

ALTIDORE SCORES, US BEATS HONDURAS 1-0

SANDY, Utah (AP) -- Jozy Altidore scored a goal in his fourth consecutive international match, enough for the United States to edge Honduras 1-0 in a World Cup qualifying game Tues...

MILLER, MOLINA LEAD CARDINALS TO VICTORY

MILLER, MOLINA LEAD CARDINALS TO VICTORY

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Rookie Shelby Miller pitched five shutout innings and Yadier Molina had a two-run double to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-2 win over the Chicago Cubs on Mon...

HEAT HAVE NO ROOM FOR ERROR VERSUS SPURS IN GAME 6

HEAT HAVE NO ROOM FOR ERROR VERSUS SPURS IN GAME 6

MIAMI (AP) -- They lost three times in three months in one of the most overpowering stretches the NBA has ever seen. Now the Miami Heat have lost three times in five games. So su...

RASK SHUTS DOWN BLACKHAWKS AS BRUINS TAKE 2-1 LEAD

RASK SHUTS DOWN BLACKHAWKS AS BRUINS TAKE 2-1 LEAD

BOSTON (AP) -- The puck bounced off the post and rolled across the crease, away from the goal line. The red light flashed briefly, but replays would confirm that Tuukka Rask's shut...

MANU GINOBILI SPARKS SPURS TO GAME 5 WIN

MANU GINOBILI SPARKS SPURS TO GAME 5 WIN

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Manu Ginobili had 24 points and 10 assists in a surprise start to spark the San Antonio Spurs to a 114-104 victory over the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the NBA Fina...

CARDINALS DROP SERIES WITH LOSS TO MARLINS, 7-2

CARDINALS DROP SERIES WITH LOSS TO MARLINS, 7-2

MIAMI (AP) -- Maybe the St. Louis Cardinals were looking ahead to the Chicago Cubs. In a matchup of worst versus first, NL Central leader St. Louis mustered only five hits Sunday ...

ROSE WINS US OPEN, MORE HEARTACHE FOR MICKELSON

ROSE WINS US OPEN, MORE HEARTACHE FOR MICKELSON

ARDMORE, Pa. (AP) -- A steady hand gave Justin Rose the shiny U.S. Open Trophy. A wild ride gave Phil Mickelson yet another silver medal. Rose captured his first major championshi...

© 2013 KTRS All Rights Reserved

St Louis Web Design