Sunday, January 20, 2013
The 2012 report represents the fourth year in a row of overall crime reduction, according to police data. See which crime categories decreased and which increased.
Serious crime in areas protected by St. Louis County Police Department officers has decreased in 2012, dropping to its lowest level since 1969. The total population served directly by county police is more than 410,000. Index crime statistics comparing 2012 to 2011 in the municipalities served by county officers, as well as unincorporated St. Louis County, show an overall reduction of 8.7 percent. The county police team stated in a news release the following update: These crime numbers include offenses reported in a community more recently contracted with the county police department last March—the City of Dellwood. In Missouri, a St. Louis County police spokesperson said only the Kansas City Police Department is responsible for more …
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Pay increases are being discussed by officials during St. Louis County's budgeting process this year. It would mark the first time in four years that employees were given raises.
Raises for St. Louis County employees are being discussed by officials during this year's budgeting process. (Sign up here for the FREE Patch Newsletter, including Breaking News Alerts.) It would be the first raise county employees received in four years. “We’re in the first third of the budget process and talking about all of the different options here,” said Mac Scott, spokesperson for County Executive Charlie Dooley. He added that a raise isn't certain yet. “We got some things (last year) that were better than we thought they’d be,” he said. Councilman Steve Stenger (D-South County) reinforced the possibility during a South County Chamber of Commerce meeting on Thursday. “The St. Louis County police are the best in the area, but we …
Monday, July 23, 2012
The Parks Department will present a business plan to the St. Louis County Council after being the center of the 2012 budget discussion.
St. Louis County officials will hear a business plan for the Parks Department seven months after County Executive Charlie Dooley first threatened to close 23 county parks and lay off more than 170 employees, citing a budget crisis. The meeting will take place Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. in the St. Louis County Council conference room at 41 South Central Avenue in Clayton. Members of the county council—led by then-chairman Steve Stenger (D-Affton)—vehemently opposed Dooley’s initial 2012 budget proposal and questioned his office’s claim of a $10 million deficit. Parks activists also protested the closures, leading to several petitions and a rally outside county headquarters in Clayton. After forming a special budget committee, the council and …
Sunday, July 8, 2012
The Missouri Fraternal Order of Police and the NEA give their support to Carnahan in the Missouri 1st Congressional District.
As the race towards the Aug. 7 primary picks up, Rep. Russ Carnahan has picked up more key endorsements toward his challenge with 1st Congressional District incumbent, Rep. William Lacy Clay. Last week, the St. Louis Beacon reported Missouri Fraternal Order of Police endorsed Carnahan. “The Missouri Fraternal Order of Police is proud to stand with Russ because of his record and understanding of the sacrifices that law enforcement officers make every day to keep our communities safe,” Kevin Ahlbrand, President of the Missouri FOP, said in the article. “We know that Russ will continue to fight on behalf of St. Louis region on issues critical to our officers and community such as jobs, education, health care, and public safety.” The fellow …
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center hosted a panel Tuesday ahead of the release of a St. Louis Economic Council report on the issue.
The St. Louis County Economic Council is putting the focus on the connection between immigration and innovation in 2012. Tuesday, the agency hosted a panel discussion at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in Creve Coeur ahead of the release of a report on what immigration means for the economic future of the St. Louis region. The Danforth Center itself was a fitting venue for the event, as the facility boasts of having scientists from more than 20 countries on the site. As you'll see in our Storify coverage curated on this page, panelists argued for getting past divisive debates that tend to surround immigration and focus on bringing new people and new energy to the region. Part of that is letting go of the age-old "where did you go…
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Represenative Russ Carnahan gets a notable endorsement in his bid against Representative Lacy Clay.
Reps. Russ Carnahan and Lacy Clay each snagged labor endorsements in their bids to stay in Congress. The two St. Louis City Democrats are both running in the 1st Congressional District, an area that encompasses all of St. Louis City and portions of north St. Louis County. It’s a race that’s expected to be quite heated, as evidenced by the barbs traded between the two on the first day of filing. A few weeks ago Clay received an endorsement from the Missouri branch of the AFL-CIO, one of the largest labor unions in the state. This week, Carnahan nabbed endorsements from firefighters unions that encompass St. Louis City and St. Louis County. It’s not that surprising because the St. Louis City union commended Carnahan for his work retrieving …
Saturday, March 10, 2012
There are still unresolved legal issues in the effort to draw new political lines.
After more twists and turns than a Six Flags roller-coaster, redistricting has been nothing short of a harrowing experience. But is it possible that state Senate redistricting could be reaching some sort of conclusion? Maybe. And that's because Friday is the deadline for feedback for a tentative Senate map that was approved by a bipartisan commission a couple of weeks ago. The lines have to be redrawn every 10 years to conform to population shifts throughout the state. The response, of course, hasn’t been universally favorable. While some lawmakers, such as Sen. Brian Nieves (R-Washington), have been content with their reconfigured districts, others, such as Sens. Jim Lembke (R-Lemay) and Jane Cunningham (R-Chesterfield), have not been as…
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
After a tumultuous two-month period that included threats of park shutdowns, protests and the possible closing of a West County satellite office, council members sign off on a $357 million budget.
The St. Louis County Council has approved a $357 million budget that spares county parks and averts the shutdown of a satellite office in West County. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the budget plan will include cuts in staff through layoffs and through allowing vacant positions to remain unfilled — including 10 positions in the county police department. The Post says those positions do not include patrol officers. The cuts could involve as many as 50 employees. “That won’t be decided until January, where we’re at with those positions,” councilman Mike O’Mara, D-Florissant, told KMOX. The biggest hit is likely to come from the parks department; while no parks will be closed, the department budget is down from $26 million to $22.6 …
Thursday, December 1, 2011
A special committee met Tuesday to brainstorm the 2012 proposed budget for St. Louis County.
Two potential alternatives to closing county parks came out of Tuesday’s special budget committee meeting: moving money from the health fund to the parks fund and not filling current vacant positions in the county. (See related: County Council, Executive Divided on 2012 Budget) Steve Stenger, chairman of the St. Louis County Council, formed the committee, which is headed by District 5 Rep. Mike O’Mara. The committee was created to suggest alternatives to the proposed 2012 budget, which called for the closure of 23 St. Louis County Parks and 173 lay-offs. County Executive Charlie Dooley said the budget reflected a $26 million deficit in 2012. Chief Operating Officer Garry Earls presented the committee with a report that outlined answers to…
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
A budget proposed by County Executive Charlie Dooley includes the closure of 23 St. Louis County parks.
Tensions rose Tuesday night at St. Louis County Council’s second special budget committee meeting when County Executive Charlie Dooley stood by his 2012 proposed budget, which includes the closure of 23 St. Louis County Parks. The budget, which has been largely criticized by Council Chairman Steve Stenger, also included laying off 173 employees in both the parks and code enforcement division. “Being the chairman of the county council does not give you the knowledge of the county budget in one year,” Dooley said. “You can’t know what you need to know.” Dooley said he hasn’t received anything from Stenger as the chairman. Stenger asked Dooley to elaborate on what he hasn’t provided to Dooley. “I haven’t received a plan from the chair about …
FedUpVet
1:35 pm on Sunday, January 20, 2013
Crime has steadily been dropping here in Missouri and especially in St. Louis County since both the Carried Concealed Bill was passed and Chief Fitch was appointed. We should credit it to smart police work and less potential victims on the streets. more ›