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State official plans to help residents dealing with O'Fallon sewer backup issues

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:05 GMT

O'FALLON, Mo. - A Missouri State Representative from St. Charles answers the call to help with a sewer backup crisis families faced in O’Fallon.After another family contacted FOX 2 for assistance following a backup at their home due to a blockage in the city's sewer system, we got in touch with Rep. Phil Christofanelli for help.Griffin Wielgus said he came home to find sewage covering his basement floor. He thought the cleanup and the cost of getting his home back would cost around $30,000. The City of O'Fallon said it’s not responsible for the cost, even though it’s the city’s sewer line. St. Louis County man charged after crashing truck near the White House Wielgus’s homeowners’ insurance won’t cover the cost either, saying, it’s the city's fault. For Wielgus, dealing with O'Fallon has been a real challenge."I think they should be accepting responsibility. I don’t know what they expect people to be able to do," he said. "If it’s their main lines that are backing up, it’s not tha...

GOP lawmakers concerned Missouri voters could legalize abortion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:05 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Voters could get to decide if abortion should be legal again in Missouri on the ballot next year. That possibility has lawmakers playing the blame game after a big priority for Republicans this session fell short of the finish line. The legislation would make it harder for voters to change the state's constitution by increasing the number of voters needed to approve an initiative petition. Without it, some GOP members worry abortion will become legal again. "I think the Senate should be held accountable for allowing abortion to return to Missouri," House Speaker Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres, said. "I think abortion will be allowed because they will put ballot candy in and if you don't pass IP [initiative petition] reform, it will (pass) 50% plus one. I don't believe in changing the constitution that easily." St. Louis County man charged after crashing truck near the White House After becoming the first state in the country to outlaw abortion following the ...

Social media may harm children and teens, surgeon general says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:05 GMT

ST. LOUIS - The U.S. Surgeon General's Office released an advisory Tuesday about the growing concerns surrounding the impacts of social media on kids.Screen time in the U.S. is a hot topic, and the Surgeon General's report said advisories are reserved for significant public health challenges that require immediate action. "A lot of these things collide. It's from not feeling accepted, and it's on social media, and they don't feel accepted, or they are excluded, and it just all can start snowballing," said Tina Meier with the Megan Meier Foundation.Meier urged parents to read the Surgeon General's report. The study shows 95% of 13- to 17-year-olds use social media. Almost 75% of youth said social media sites are doing a fair to poor job of addressing cyberbullying. It also shows that when it comes to body image, nearly half of social media posts make people feel worse. St. Louis County man charged after crashing truck near the White House "Since the pandemic, we have had a 565...

Thieves targeted another public garden in Illinois

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:05 GMT

ALTON, Ill. There’s been another bizarre case of repeated thefts from a public garden.Last week, FOX 2 reported about expensive planted flowers being pulled up and stolen, along with leaf blowers and weed eaters, from the Wilson Park botanical garden in Granite City, Illinois. This time, it's a ceramic frog called Fernando in Alton. Fernando is part of a water feature/fountain, the centerpiece of a large garden in the median at the State Street, Belle Street split. The median was not much to look at before Alton residents Laura Wallendorf and Cheryl Seniour transformed it about five years ago. St. Louis County man charged after crashing truck near the White House “We just started working up here,” Wallendorf said.They added flowers, hostas, and ornate grasses in place of waist-high weeds.The Alton Public Works Department was so taken by the volunteer transformation, it added electric service and water service during a nearby streetlight project. One worker then added th...

Historic Our Lady of the Rivers Shrine hit by graffiti vandals

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:05 GMT

PORTAGE DES SIOUX, Mo. - The community of Portage Des Sioux is frustrated after the historic “Our Lady of the Rivers Shrine” is vandalized and covered in graffiti for weeks without cleanup efforts in time for the high tourism season.Just off the banks of the Mississippi River lies the small, peaceful town of Portage Des Sioux. Overlooking it all is the iconic Virgin Mary called “Our Lady of the Rivers Shrine,” the landmark was erected to protect the area from flooding, but there is another threat: vandals.Two weeks ago, they graffitied the entire area, including the shrine, and it has yet to be removed."It's terrible. Our town is known for that statue, and it kind of puts a black mark on our town,” said Colleen Bextermueller, a Portage Des Sioux resident. St. Louis County man charged after crashing truck near the White House "It's just not right; I mean, it’s defacing for us a very religious monument,” said Dawn Boschert, a Portage Des Sioux resident.The landmark was adopted by th...

Market with recent violent incidents owned by high-profile informant

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:05 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – A north St. Louis County business that was the scene of deadly violence twice last week, is owned by someone you might think would be in prison.FOX 2 began digging into how Uptown Market and Liquor could have so much violence outside, even with a police camera watching. We found the man listed as owner was recently sentenced to four years in prison for the way he operated his businesses.However, records show he still hasn’t reported to prison.The convenient store is the only food option for many people in Glasgow Village, with the closest major grocery store about three miles away.Two shootings, just four days apart outside the market, injured five people; two of whom died. One of the victims was a store employee, who is remembered by a balloon memorial. St. Louis County man charged after crashing truck near the White House When FOX 2 began looking into whether the store can do more to keep shoppers safe, we found through St. Louis County real estate record...

Mississippi River boating rescue likely first of many ahead of summer season 

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:05 GMT

EUREKA, Mo. - A scene on the Mississippi River Tuesday afternoon is likely a sign of things to come. Two men were rescued by the Marine Task Force after their boat began taking on water."This is the season for those water incidents," said Capt. Matt Coppin with the Metro West Fire Protection District.It's not just boating distress calls that start to increase ahead of Memorial Day weekend. Drowning calls will also be on the rise, according to Coppin. Coppin and his team have responded to several calls along the Meramec River. St. Louis County man charged after crashing truck near the White House "These waters, even though they look calm and serene, can be really dangerous," he said.The Metro West Fire Protection District prepares year-round for drowning and boating accident calls."The simplest and easiest thing you can do is wear a life jacket," Coppin said.It's especially important to set boating and swimming safety standards if you're with kids."I think the most important thing ...

Rockies’ bullpen delivers again in 5-4 win over Marlins

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:05 GMT

The starting rotation has taken the Rockies on a roller coaster ride this season, but the bullpen has mostly been steady and dependable.It was again Tuesday night in the Rockies’ 5-4 win over the Marlins before an announced crowd of 19,470 at Coors Field. Jake Bird, Brent Stuter and Pierce Johnson held off the Marlins for 3 1/3 innings as the Rockies beat Miami in LoDo for the 10th time in the last 11 games.Johnson gave up a run in the ninth and found some trouble but held on to notch his 10th save in 10 chances.The Rockies remained the only team in the majors with an undefeated record when leading after seven innings. They are now 19-0.The trio picked up Austin Gomber, who delivered a solid start, pitching into the sixth inning. The lefty has notched a win in four of his last five starts, posting a 3.74 ERA, with the Rockies going 5-1 over that span.There was history at work Tuesday night. At 20 years, 38 days old, Marlins right-hander Eury Pérez became the youngest pitcher t...

Indigenous Missing Person alert issued by CBI for Lakewood woman

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:05 GMT

An Indigenous Missing Person alert has been issued by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation for a woman last seen in Lakewood.Chasity Mueller, 36, was last heard from by family members via a text message on May 3, according to the alert.Mueller, who has the words “Stay Away” tattooed on her fingers across both hands and a lip piercing, in known to be experiencing homelessness in the Lakewood area. She may be with a know companion 34-year-old Vincent “Vinny” Ramirez.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Woman, 55, considered endangered is missing from southern Colorado Crime and Public Safety | Missing Boulder woman found safe in New York Crime and Public Safety | Man is missing for over a month and Denver police ask for public’s help in locating him Crime and Public Safety | 71-year-old man missing from Thornton found safe Crime and Public Safety | Missing Indigenous Person Al...

Pursuit suspect in custody after trying to break into home in Anaheim

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:36:05 GMT

Officers with the Garden Grove Police Department, assisted in the air by Anaheim Police, took the driver of a suspected stolen vehicle who led officers in pursuit, into custody.  The pursuit suspect was traveling westbound on Ball Road, from Beach Boulevard in Stanton, a short time after the chase was initiated.  When Sky5 reached the pursuit, the suspect’s vehicle showed substantial damage to the front end, with smoke coming from the hood of the sedan.  Near the intersection of Masterson Road and Masterson Avenue, the suspect jumped out of the vehicle and ran into the backyard of a residence where two people at the rear of the house quickly ran inside.  That’s when the suspect can be seen from Sky5 attempting to get into a different in the back of the home.  Officers quickly picked up the foot chase and released a police dog that rushed toward the man. The suspect was able to slam the gate on the dog. Once police got into the backyard, the suspect attempted...