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Drivers may get rude surprise after alleged DMV fraud

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:58:26 GMT

ST. LOUIS – More than a hundred vehicle owners recently learned their license renewals are not legal. It’s not their fault, according to prosecutors who say they just dismantled a decade-long fraud scheme.People who visited DMV offices in four counties may not be driving legally, even though they paid the appropriate fees.An indictment out of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, unsealed Tuesday, accuses four DMV contract workers of a fraud scheme that began in 2014.Gary Wilds is accused of fraudulently registering motor vehicles, paying other DMV contract workers up to $100 for each fraudulent transaction, and using tax exemptions meant for businesses with large trucks.“Our allegations are that he pocketed the sales taxes and led the individuals to believe that they were completely legal,” federal prosecutor Tracy Berry said.“The state of Missouri has already sent out tax assessment letters to the individuals that have been identified. Approximately 100 to 150 individuals had received lette...

St. Louis police investigate 6 sudden deaths

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:58:26 GMT

ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is investigating six sudden deaths in the city.The deaths all happened in under a four-hour span. The ages of those who died range from their early 40s to their late 60s.A spokesperson for the St. Louis Fire Department said the deaths are not related to carbon monoxide poisoning or a house fire.The police said none of the deaths appeared to be criminal.

Fairview Heights residents hopeful Savers will reopen after fire

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:58:26 GMT

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS, Ill. – Debra King opened her garage door for a neighborhood Halloween gathering Tuesday night. She and other Fairview Heights residents shared sadness over news of a morning fire a few blocks away at the Savers thrift store on Lincoln Trail.“We were just all in shock that that happened to our community,” Alicia Tolle, Fairview Heights resident, said. Tolle donates items to the store because Savers donates a portion of their sales to local non-profits. Fire officials said the three-alarm blaze appeared to start in the area behind the store, where two trailers were filled with donations. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News SIGN UP NOW Residents are hopeful the store will be able to reopen because only a small amount of fire entered the ...

Refugee camp bombing underscores deadly day in Gaza

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:58:26 GMT

An Israeli airstrike on Gaza's largest refugee camp headlines a dark day in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.Israel admits the strike on the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza was targeted. The Israeli Defense Forces said they killed a Hamas leader who helped plan the Oct. 7 terror attack on Israeli soil.They claim IDF jets struck Nasim Abu Ajina, who was identified as the commander of the Beit Lahia Battalion of Hamas' Northern Brigade. Hamas denies that report.Pictures and video reveal the destruction left behind.Eyewitnesses and medics say many people, including children, died in the attack. Israeli officials said they repeatedly warned residents to evacuate the camp in recent days and blamed Hamas for operating in civilian areas.“Why was this Hamas battalion commander literally operating underneath a civilian area?” Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson Doron Spielman said. “They have no concern for the civilians.”The United Nations publicly criticized the attack. ...

Disagreement over paying disabled workers minimum wages in Illinois

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:58:26 GMT

BREESE, Ill. – FOX 2 received an exclusive look at growing tensions over the issue of fair pay for disabled workers.Illinois House Bill 793, the Dignity in Pay Act, would require all workers to be paid the state minimum wage.The close to 70 developmentally disabled workers at the not-for-profit Community Link in Breese, Illinois, and their loved ones are actually against the proposal.Hourly wages at Community Link can range from $3 to $4 an hour to more than $16 an hour (well above the current state minimum wage of $13). The overall average comes out to about $6.“I like working with people—the people around us,” long-time worker David Richards said.“To lose this sense of productivity and this sense of pride, it would just be a crime,” said Rita Winkeler, whose brother, Mark, is also a long-time worker and lifelong friend of David’s. Missouri appeals court rules against ballot summary language that described ‘dangerous’ abortions Still, demonstrators gathered at the state capitol i...

Providing a safe and happy Halloween for St. Louisans and their kids

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:58:26 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Colorful characters and creepy costumes—not just on people but on cars—all gathered in a parking lot on Page Boulevard."Kids are actually two-and-a-half times more likely to get hit by a car on Halloween, and we know that we're in a city where people don't like to stop at stop signs, on top of it," Samantha Simpson, the COO of the Annie Malone Children and Family Services, said.The foundation hosted its second trunk-or-treat."I think this is really great to have a space for kids," St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones said.A safe space, but certainly not an empty one. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News SIGN UP NOW "If you just drive down the block in St. Louis, there's a lot of empty lots. To be able to come to one space and be able to hit a million...

White House will develop an anti-Islamophobia strategy but faces skepticism from Muslim Americans

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:58:26 GMT

By AAMER MADHANI, SEUNG MIN KIM and ZEKE MILLER (Associated Press)WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s administration is preparing to announce that it will develop a national strategy to combat Islamophobia, according to people briefed on the matter, as it faces skepticism from many in the Muslim American community for its staunch support of Israel’s military assault on Hamas in Gaza.The White House announcement had originally been expected to come week when Biden held a meeting with Muslim leaders, but was delayed, three people said. Two of them said the delay was due in part to concerns from the Muslim American community that the administration lacked credibility on the issue given its robust support for Israel’s military, whose strikes against Hamas militants have also killed thousands of civilians in Gaza. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the White House plans.The launch of the anti-Isl...

7-year-old trick-or-treater injured in Berkeley hit-and-run

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:58:26 GMT

(KRON) -- A 7-year-old child broke their leg in a hit-and-run crash while trick-or-treating in Berkeley on Tuesday, the Berkeley Police Department confirmed. The crash happened on the 1200 block of Derby Street at 6:24 p.m. Police said the child and their mother were trick-or-treating when the mother stepped onto the street and the child was struck by a car. The child is in stable condition, police said. The car fled the scene and has not been spotted by police. It was described as a "dark-colored compact car" by Berkeley PD.

World Series 2023: Corey Seager has the Rangers on the brink of their first title

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:58:26 GMT

The Texas Rangers offered Corey Seager $325 million before the 2022 season hoping the 2020 World Series MVP could help the franchise finally earn a title of its own. It could all pay off Wednesday night.Seager and Marcus Semien each homered early in an 11-7 rout of the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 4 on Tuesday night, pushing the Rangers’ Series lead to 3-1 and putting them on the brink of a title. Seager and Semien, signed as free agents for $500 million in December 2021, have six RBIs each in the Series. Seager is the first shortstop with three World Series homers, and he has four homers in his last five games dating to the AL Championship Series. His 19 career postseason homers are second among shortstops, trailing Derek Jeter by one. After leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to the 2020 title, he could join Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson and Reggie Jackson as the only two-time World Series MVPs.Texas improved to 10-0 on the road this postseason and moved within one win of the first t...

Helicopters drop water on Oahu wildfire for 2nd day, while some native koa and ohia trees burn

Published Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:58:26 GMT

HONOLULU (AP) — A wildfire in Hawaii’s Central Oahu has grown to cover more than a square mile (2.5 square kilometers) in a remote mountainous area and has burned native koa and ohia trees, officials said Tuesday. No structures or homes were threatened and no evacuations were ordered.Multiple helicopters from the Honolulu Fire Department, the U.S. Army and the state dropped buckets of water on the blaze from the air for a second straight day. Mililani and Wahiawa are the towns closest to the flames, but they weren’t at risk. Army installations Schofield Barracks and Wheeler Army Airfield are also in the area, which is about about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Honolulu.Video footage shot by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources showed white and brown smoke rising from green forests. Black and grey patches covered already scorched hillsides.Firefighters battled flames from the air because the terrain is rough and inaccessible. The fire was moving east on a...