News Blog

FCC Judge Finally Tells Bob Romanik Stations To Fuck Right Off

by Danny Wicentowski on February 19, 2020 at 6:54PM

On paper, EMT and its trustee Metro East attorney Dennis J. Watkins control the stations that host Romanik's show. However, as the FCC dug deeper, it found "substantial and material questions of fact" that it was actually Romanik pulling the strings.

Suspect Fhontez Mitchell Charged in Police Officer Shooting

by Doyle Murphy on February 19, 2020 at 2:49PM

A north St. Louis County man was arrested after a high-speed chase and charged with assault in the shooting of a police officer. Fhontez Mitchell, twenty, was shoplifting women's clothing on Sunday evening at a Walmart in Ferguson when the off-duty officer and a store security guard confronted him near the entrance, authorities say.

Three Relatives Charged After 11-Year-Old Gives Birth in St. Charles Bathtub

by Daniel Hill on February 19, 2020 at 12:29PM

Three people from St. Charles have been charged with crimes after an eleven-year-old gave birth in the bathtub of her home. The Associated Press reports that all three who were charged are relatives of the young girl, and all including the young girl live in St. Charles.

St. Louis Man Arrested, Gun Recovered After South City Standoff

by Monica Obradovic on February 18, 2020 at 5:19PM

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Off-Duty Police Officer Shot in Ferguson Walmart, Suspect At Large

by Doyle Murphy on February 17, 2020 at 9:43AM

We welcome tips and feedback. Email the author at doyle.murphy@riverfronttimes.com or follow on Twitter at @DoyleMurphy.

Burglaries and Broken Promises: Life in Blue Fountain Apartments

by Ryan Krull on February 17, 2020 at 6:15AM

The Blue Fountain complex straddles Gustav Avenue off of Broadway, and the units on the south side of the street are in marginally better shape than those on the side where James and Lee live. Still, a cursory look in the buildings south of Gustav shows units that are in severe disrepair with significant standing water and a laundry room filled with washers and dryers ripped from the walls.

Greitens Goes Full Trump, Says He's 'Fully Exonerated'

by Danny Wicentowski on February 14, 2020 at 11:06AM

approximately 20 interviews." After all that, it concluded: "The MEC found no evidence of any wrongdoing on the part of Eric Greitens, individually, and no evidence that Governor Greitens knew of the two reporting violations below."

Waterbed Exec Bryan Vonderahe Sentenced to Federal Prison

by Doyle Murphy on February 13, 2020 at 1:12PM

A St. Louis County executive who embezzled $3.8 million was sentenced today to four years in federal prison. Bryan Vonderahe, 45, lived a wealthy man's life: big house in Kirkwood, expensive SUVs and ski vacations in Breckenridge, Colorado.

Illinois Man Charged With Animal Torture Burned Dog With Lye

by Danny Wicentowski on February 11, 2020 at 5:07PM

See Also: Retired Cop Who Shot Neighbor's Dog Found Guilty of Animal Abuse Today's press release from Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office notes that Johnson is not Charlie's owner, though it's not clear how the alleged animal abuser came in contact with the ten-year-old dog. If convicted, Johnson faces a maximum sentence of eight years in prison.

St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar Announces Retirement

by Doyle Murphy on February 10, 2020 at 12:53PM

The police department sent out a news release shortly after, highlighting a 34-year career with the county. During his tenure as chief, the department swelled to 1,020 officers and 342 professional staff employees — a significant jump from the 853 officers and 276 staffers when he succeeded retiring Chief Tim Fitch in 2014.

Ajla Zekan, Suspect in Jeff Co Cabbie Stabbing, Arrested in St. Louis County

by Doyle Murphy on February 9, 2020 at 11:16PM

She was taken into custody on Saturday by St. Louis County police. The same day, Jefferson County prosecutors filed charges of first-degree assault, armed criminal action and tampering with a motor vehicle.

Josh Hawley Sketchy, But Probably Not Criminal, Audit Finds

by Doyle Murphy on February 6, 2020 at 5:32PM

Despite promises that he was dedicated to the work of the attorney general, there were early signs that Hawley was not super interested in grinding out the day-to-day drudgery of the job and instead had his eyes on then-Senator Claire McCaskill's senate seat. In 2018, the Riverfront Times published photos of Hawley pumping iron during mid-morning gym sessions in Columbia — a curious schedule and location given that taxpayers might have expected their attorney general to be at work 30 minutes away at his office in Jefferson City.

Donald Trump, Stone Cold Idiot, Doesn’t Know KC Is in Missouri

by Danny Wicentowski on February 3, 2020 at 9:09AM

Yeah, that sounds about right. What a world.

Murder Suspect James Kempf Kills Himself in Arkansas, Ending Manhunt

by Doyle Murphy on January 31, 2020 at 1:43PM

A Fenton man wanted for shooting his estranged wife and killing her dad committed suicide as police closed in on him in northwest Arkansas, authorities say. James Kempf, 45, had been on the run since January 23 following the double shooting in Fenton.

No Matter the Source, Marijuana Patients Can Possess Weed in Missouri

by Danny Wicentowski on January 31, 2020 at 1:32PM

Follow Danny Wicentowski on Twitter at @D_Towski. E-mail the author at Danny.Wicentowski@RiverfrontTimes.com

St. Louis Boy Shot Himself With Stolen Gun He Found Outside

by Doyle Murphy on January 30, 2020 at 8:42AM

A ten-year-old who shot himself in the leg yesterday afternoon found the stolen gun outside, police say. Officers responded shortly before 5 p.m. to the 2800 block of Gamble Street in the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood of north city for what was described as a "self-inflicted" injury.

Teen Carjacker Sentenced as Feds Promise Crackdown on Juveniles

by Hanna Holthaus on January 29, 2020 at 3:59PM

I could either take the gun and hurt them or just go about my business. I just let them be because I thought about my kids.”

Barclay the Stanley Cup Pup to Lead Purina Pet Parade

by Liz Miller on January 28, 2020 at 3:13PM

This time last year the St. Louis Blues were really starting to heat up. Many folks rightly credit Craig Berube, who was named interim coach in late 2018, and goalie Jordan Binnington, who officially joined the team in late December, as being instrumental in the Blues going from worst to first last season.

FCC Judge Fed Up With Delays In Case of Racist Shock Jock Bob Romanik

by Danny Wicentowski on January 27, 2020 at 2:42PM

More than seven months after federal investigators announced the results of a years-long dig into the ownership of radio stations connected to n-word-spewing shock jock Bob Romanik, the daily talk show on KQQZ (1190 AM) remains on-air — and as despicable as ever. But in an order issued on Friday, an administrative law judge for the Federal Communications Commission wrote that she's reached the end of her patience with Entertainment Media Trust, the holding company that, on paper, owns KQQZ and three other metro-area radio stations.

Here Are the Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Coming Soon to St. Louis

by Daniel Hill on January 27, 2020 at 12:03PM

It may still be months before Missouri's shiny new medical marijuana facilities officially open for business, but meanwhile the state has announced the companies and locations that have been given the, er, green light. Some 192 dispensaries made the cut, with 24 chosen for each of Missouri's eight congressional districts.