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Death toll rises as cleanup effort underway on Interstate 55 

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:11 GMT

DIVERNON, Ill. - On Tuesday evening, the Illinois State Police confirmed the total number of fatalities from the major car pileup on Interstate 55 had grown to seven.The scene of the crash in Divernon, Illinois, reopened to traffic just before 6 p.m. An E-Environmental Solutions hazmat worker cleared lithium batteries from the scene of the crash."Certainly, dust storms happen, but it is not something that happens every day here in this part of Illinois,” said Brendan Kelly, director of the Illinois State Police. “This is a very serious and unusual circumstance."In total, 72 cars were involved in the crash, and 37 people were brought to area hospitals. Nathan Cormier was at the scene and tried to help other drivers. 6 deaths in Illinois dust storm, police need help identifying 2 victims “If I hadn't moved, I would have been creamed,” Cormier told WCIA. “I just went ahead and went from vehicle to vehicle to try to find people.”The Illinois State Police is still looking to confirm th...

Grieving mom alleges CAO ‘negligence’ in daughter’s murder case

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:11 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Failed by the justice system, a mother in anguish speaks out for the first time about the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office.Johnetta Doss’ daughter was murdered in St. Louis right before graduating from Parkway West High School. Doss initially declined to speak when the circuit attorney’s office first dropped her daughter’s case in March.She’s now speaking out as she says she’s learned how the prosecutor’s office failures have possibly blown the chance of catching her daughter’s killer.Doss said she finds the strength to speak out, through her daughter Carieal. She wears her picture daily.“I said that I was going to purchase a machine for these shirts, because I wear them every day,” she said.Carieal robbed and shot in the head on a Franklin Avenue sidewalk in north St. Louis in April 2020, not far from where she lived. Doss said the case was quickly solved, with police handing over evidence to the circuit attorney’s office in June 2020. But she found out years later t...

St. Louis County bill that aims to ban pedestrians on the roads moves forward

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:11 GMT

CLAYTON, Mo. - The St. Louis County Council has advanced a new bill aimed at restricting pedestrians from being on the roadways.Most of the council was in support except for two councilwomen who feared there were some flaws, including targeting the homeless, but Councilman Ernie Trakas fought back, saying this bill is designed to help everyone."The bill can best be described in two words. Public. Safety," Trakas said.At Tuesday’s meeting, the St. Louis County Council voted to move forward with a bill aimed at banning pedestrians from the roads. Trakas originally introduced the bill. 6 deaths in Illinois dust storm, police need help identifying 2 victims "It targets no one and, at the same time it excludes no one," he said. "Meaning it doesn’t mean if you're a firefighter with a boot, a boy scout or a newsboy, or a homeless person, we're worried about your safety on the roadways."Following a lawsuit in 2021 that gave panhandlers more rights on the road, drivers around St. Louis Cou...

Trash piles up at century-old cemetery surrounded by new subdivision

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:11 GMT

WINFIELD, Mo. – Far from the main road is a cemetery buried with history that keeps piling up with trash.Rebecca Brown has ancestors of all ages at Rybolt Cemetery in Lincoln County."As young as a year old and up," Brown said. "There's some adults 20 and 30 years old, and on up."She's been told around 40 to 50 people are laid to rest at Rybolt."I've been coming here since back in the ‘70s with my grandmother," Brown said.It's always been quiet, but over the years, Brown said it's turned into another kind of burial place."There's been everything dumped here. Ashes, metal pieces; we've picked up tons of trash," she said.From kid toys, tires, and even a new swing, Brown said headstones have even been knocked over. She questions who could do such a thing. 6 deaths in Illinois dust storm, police need help identifying 2 victims "People are just destroying it," Brown said.The rural cemetery isn't so secluded anymore. Dozens and dozens of homes have been built around the cemetery."It's ve...

Police investigate triple shooting in north St. Louis County

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:11 GMT

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - Police are investigating a triple shooting in north St. Louis County Tuesday night.The shooting occurred around 9:30 p.m. in the 1000 block of News Halls Ferry Road and Chambers. According to the police, one is dead, and two others are injured.The St. Louis Police Department is handling the investigation. This is a developing story. FOX 2 will give updates as more information becomes available.

Contact 2 reveals new allegations against Branson timeshare business

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:11 GMT

BRANSON, Mo. – Susan Mann was scouring her elderly parent’s financial records when she says she noticed large amounts of money missing from their bank account.“Digging deeper, I found out they purchased not one, not two, but three timeshares with Branson Nantucket,” she said.Nearly six years after closing on their first property at the resort, Mann alleges her parents were deceived by Branson’s Nantucket.“They thought they were signing paperwork to have that unit rented that they thought they originally purchased,” Mann said. “Now he’s 92, and she’s 84, and they completely took advantage of them. One with dementia, one can’t hear or walk.” 6 deaths in Illinois dust storm, police need help identifying 2 victims She shared letters with us her parents sent to management at Branson’s Nantucket. They detail confusion about loan payments and what they described as “extreme pressure to initial and sign documents.”Better Business Bureau Investigator Brian Edwards received similar consumer...

Cardinals fans honor memory of legendary broadcaster Mike Shannon  

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:11 GMT

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis Cardinals fans entering Busch Stadium Tuesday were sharing some of their fondest memories of legendary broadcaster and World Series champion Mike Shannon.  The contest marked the team’s first home game since fans learned of the passing of the St. Louis native.“He had the redbird blood in him all the way,” said Dennis Vlasak, one of the fans attending Tuesday night’s game.  6 deaths in Illinois dust storm, police need help identifying 2 victims “He really did care for St. Louis and the area,” said Linda Howe, a Georgia resident who grew up listening to Shannon’s broadcasts. She attended Tuesday night’s game with her husband, Jeff. He fondly recalled listening to broadcasts involving Shannon and Hall of Fame broadcaster Jack Buck. “It was like you were there,” he said.  Trending: No standing, sitting or walking on roadways, St. Louis County bill says “Those guys would bring a game to you the way you feel every pitch, every hit, a...

Many show support for injured Lake St. Louis officers at fundraiser benefit

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:11 GMT

LAKE ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Crowds showed up Tuesday to support the Lake St. Louis police officers who were injured in a crash back in March.The officers are still recovering from their injuries after police said a drunk driver crashed into them on the side of the highway while they were working a separate crash. Their community wants the officers to know how much support they have."Everybody needs the police to support them, and we want to support the police as well and let our customers and anybody that comes in support the police as well," said Barb Baker. Trending: No standing, sitting or walking on roadways, St. Louis County bill says Baker and her husband are the owners of Donatelli's, and she said all three of the officers came out, one of them, for a special event."Kyle Case, it was his birthday today, and it was his first time out and about, so it was nice," Baker said. "He had his whole family in here, and they sang happy birthday."She said the officers expressed their gratitu...

Major trash trouble on highways in Madison County, Illinois

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:11 GMT

MADISON COUNTY, Ill. - Major trash troubles in Madison County, Illinois, are linked to big trucks going up and down the highway. However, officials hope to follow in St. Charles County's footsteps to get a handle on the trash trouble.The numerous trash and garbage trucks that pass through Madison County each day on their way to the landfill are the main cause of the problem."Over a hundred trucks a day that come over from Missouri that transport trash from Missouri transit locations to the Roxana landfill," said Kurt Prenzler, board chairman for Madison County. "Sometimes the tarps are not placed properly, and sometimes trash falls out from those trucks, it’s not intended.” Trending: No standing, sitting or walking on roadways, St. Louis County bill says Prenzler said IDOT does what it can, but it’s time for some new ideas."Well, we looked over the river and what MoDot does. MoDot hires an independent contractor, and that’s something that IDOT doesn’t do," he said. "IDOT has their...

Elias Diaz, Ezequiel Tovar lead Rockies to win over Brewers

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:50:11 GMT

Elias Diaz has been the Rockies’ rock.The veteran catcher’s excellent season hasn’t received a lot of attention, what with injuries to Rockies pitchers and the club’s poor start. But he shared the spotlight with rookie shortstop Ezequiel Tovar Tuesday night in Colorado’s 3-2 victory over Milwaukee at Coors Field.“Offensively, for sure,” manager Bud Black said when asked if Diaz is playing at an All-Star level. “This is reminiscent of his second half in 2021. The average is high, the on-base (percentage) is high and I still think there are more homers in there.“He’s catching great. … I think ‘Elie’ is becoming more comfortable and confident with his receiving, his blocking, his game-calling. He’s got a canon and I think that’s showing up in some of the caught-stealing numbers.”Diaz, how batting .330 to lead all big-league catchers, hit a solo homer in the fourth and then drove in the go-ah...