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High winds, low humidity, sub-par rainfall and pre-season lack of vegetation contributes to deadly I-55 dust storm Monday

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:01 GMT

Major pattern change promises an end to the chilly, showery weather of recent days with significant warming in sight late this week— most pronounced next weekI was in Springfield this past weekend for this year’s Lincoln Academy 59th convocation ceremony. It was held in the Illinois House of Representatives chamber in the State Capitol. What an honor—and how amazing to meet so many of our fellow Illinoisans including the Governor and First Lady and members of the Academy from across the state. There is so much to say about all of this—but I just wanted to share some photos with you.The entire proceeding was streamed and recorded by the Lincoln Academy, including our acceptance comments: https://thelincolnacademyofillinois.org/DEADLY DOWNSTATE DUST STORM ON I-55Precipitation shortfall plus 50 MPH wind gusts and pre-growing season lack of vegetation contributed to deadly downstate dust storm on I-55MONDAY’S 50-DEGREE MAX TEMP WAS THE COLDEST DAYTIME MAY 1st IN THE PAST 7 YEARS SINCE 2...

Multiple dead after Illinois dust storm causes multi-vehicle pileup

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:01 GMT

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) - At least six people are dead and dozens have been hospitalized after a multi-vehicle pileup south of Springfield, Illinois. According to Illinois State Police, shortly before 11 a.m. CT Monday, officers were called to multiple crashes on both the northbound and southbound sides of Interstate 55. Around the same time, authorities whiteout conditions due to the wind blowing dirt from farm fields across the highway. Monday night, officials said 72 vehicles were involved in the crash. A total of 37 people - the youngest, 2 years old, and the oldest, 80 - were transported to area hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening.Six people were killed, all in crashes in the northbound lanes, Illinois State Police said.Officials said that one of the people who died has been identified as 88-year-old Shirley Harper of Franklin, Wisconsin. The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office is working to identify the other five individuals and notify their ...

Reckless driving caught on camera, raising residents' concern

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:01 GMT

ST. LOUIS - FOX 2 has obtained an alarming new video of reckless driving in St. Louis neighborhoods. Residents said the drivers seem to have no fear of police enforcement, traffic tickets, or prosecution.The video showed a black sedan with dark windows doing “spinouts” at the intersection of Minnesota and Magnolia avenues after 8:00 p.m. Saturday. The incident continued for about 20 seconds before the driver sped off, leaving behind smoke so thick that oncoming drivers can’t see through the intersection.“Watching that video, all I could see was kids getting hurt and also destruction of our property,” said Alex Martin, who lives near the intersection with her two daughters. Top Story: 2 more prosecutors resign from Kim Gardner’s office Another resident said there have been multiple similar incidents every few weeks. Evidence is burned into the pavement in the form of large circular tire tracks.Residents said it’s also common at Spring Avenue and Utah Street, about a mile away. Ther...

Bonne Terre residents concerned over discolored water  

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:01 GMT

BONNE TERRE, Mo. - Some Bonne Terre residents are expressing concerns over discolored water flowing through the water pipes inside their homes.“After we had coffee, we looked at the water again, and it was almost like we ran coffee through the tap,” said Scott Kube, a Bonne Terre resident.Bonne Terre city officials said the discoloration is the result of sediment buildup that worked its way through the system following a water flow test on certain fire hydrants. The city is flushing the water system to address the issue.“I can’t give my son a bath,” said Makayla McEntire, a Bonne Terre resident. Top Story: 2 more prosecutors resign from Kim Gardner’s office She said washing dishes, cooking with water, and doing laundry are all on hold until the discoloration is gone.Bonne Terre officials do not believe the water poses a health danger, but some residents are not convinced.“It (the water) was brown, and then it went to gray and all kinds of colors,” said Michael Stokes, a Bonne Terr...

Man describes St. Louis outdoor sirens as ‘weak’ during test

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:01 GMT

ST. LOUIS – There's nothing like anxiously awaiting a test of the outdoor warning siren, something Thomas Wokurka of south St. Louis hasn't heard in two years."I'm finding it interesting," he said.Besides some wind, it's a perfect spring day."Countdown begins," Wokurka said. "Here we go!"Moments after the clock hit 11:00 a.m. on Monday, Wokurka’s ears were perked."I do hear something," Wokurka said. "Yeah, I do hear it. Way over there."The St. Louis outdoor warning sirens could vaguely be heard in south city, from the same area where the city received most of its complaints in 2022 about residents not hearing the siren."It's kind of weak, isn't it? But there it is," Wokurka said. Top Story: 2 more prosecutors resign from Kim Gardner’s office Chad Storie lives in the south city area and complained about not hearing the siren during April's tornado warnings."We heard a faint test on a siren [Monday] but not confident it was a city siren sounding," he said.Others called FOX 2 from so...

Met Gala watch party highlights growing St. Louis fashion scene

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:01 GMT

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis fashion industry leaders and rising talent celebrated while showcasing the growing industry locally at a Met Gala watch party in the Central West End.It’s the first Monday of May. Fashion lovers already know what that means: It's time for the Met Gala! To celebrate fashion's biggest night, St. Louis fashionistas came together to watch the event at The Maryland House wearing their best Chanel or Fendi-inspired looks, a nod to this year's theme, the late designer Karl Lagerfeld. Dust storm closes I-55 in southern Illinois and causes massive pile-up "Our DNA in fashion it's part of the city's brand; I mean, we used to have a garment district that was only second to New York,” said Susan Sherman, co-founder of St. Louis Fashion Fund.Many attendees were designers themselves, highlighting a thriving industry making strides once again."We love that there's so much happening here, and we want more and more," said Anjali Kamra, a Rungolee designer. "We want the busine...

State auditor may take Kim Gardner to court over failing to hand over needed documents

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:01 GMT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Missouri State Auditor says he may file a lawsuit against St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner.Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick said she’s not handing over the information he needs to complete the audit to see if her office is wasting taxpayers' money.He said he’s been after certain documents for some time now and has given the Circuit Attorney’s Office deadlines. He said he'd run out of patience.“If we don’t received that in the next week or so, then we will be going to court," Fitzpatrick said. "We basically have to file a lawsuit to enforce the petition in court, where a judge would essentially order the Circuit Attorney’s Office to comply with the subpoena, and if they fail to do that, we would have to go back to the judge and say they didn’t. Then the judge would have to determine if they were going to be held in contempt of court or what was going to happen there. So the next step is just going to court to enforce the subpoena and force them to comply with...

Riders react to MetroLink train fatal shooting

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:01 GMT

MAPLEWOOD, Mo. - Another homicide on the MetroLink train has left some riders shaken, but not completely deterred from riding."It's only getting worse,” said John Avery, a Valley Park resident.MetroLink riders see and encounter just about everything."I've seen fights on the trains,” Avery said. “I've seen fights on the platforms."Bob rides the train to and from work every day."The security at times is always here in the morning and the afternoons,” he said. “But when I think there is more trouble, they are not quite as visible." Top Story: 2 more prosecutors resign from Kim Gardner’s office On Monday, several riders all agreed on one thing, more police on trains would deter crime."When you're on the train and people don't see law enforcement, they think it's time to party,” said Demetrius Collins. “But when they see law enforcement, everyone is going to act like they are civilized."However, on Saturday, police were on the train when two men exchanged gunfire, and one was left dead...

Late season storm to bring light rain, snow to Southern California

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:01 GMT

Cooler and cloudier conditions are coming to Southern California with periods of light rain and drizzle, along with a low chance for thunderstorms, between Tuesday and Thursday, before drier, warmer weather moves in for the weekend, the National Weather Service forecasts.  As the late season storm system moves southward, the chances of rainfall will increase across Ventura and Los Angeles counties Tuesday night through Thursday.  “Still high confidence in on and off rain for the area Tues-Thurs, with the peak of the rain falling Wed night-Thurs,” NWS said. “There is a 10-20% chance for thunderstorms too, and colder temps will allow for mtn snow, potentially at the Tejon Pass.”  Rainfall totals are expected to range between 0.25-0.50 inches along coastal and valley regions, and as much as an inch across the mountains and foothills. Snow levels are forecast to drop to elevations of 4,000-5,000 feet, with as much as 6 inches accumulating at higher elevations.  ...

Gordon Lightfoot, one of the greatest songwriters of all time, dies at 84

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:30:01 GMT

It feels like Gordon Lightfoot has always been with me.I mean, was there ever a time when “Old Dan’s Records,” “Canadian Railroad Trilogy,” “If You Could Read My Mind,” Sundown” and “Cotton Jenny” weren’t my companions? I’m sure there was, but it doesn’t feel that way.His voice. Those words. My joy.Yet, it’s hard to feel joyful as I write this — just minutes after hearing the heartbreaking news that the folk-pop troubadour died Monday (May 1) at the age of 84. His cause of death was not immediately available.Without a doubt, Lightfoot will be remembered as one of the greatest songwriters of all time.Sure, that’s my opinion. But it’s also one that is shared by basically the entire country of Canada, which continued to hold its native son up in oh-so-high regard long after his star began to fade on this side of the border.Perhaps the best tell of this songwriter’s worth is to lo...