WOOD RIVER - The Madison County Health Department plans five free H1N1 flu immunization clinics next week. Under new guidelines effective Tuesday, all Illinois residents will be eligible for immunization. Full Story »
CHICAGO — Charges have been dropped against a 22-year-old Chicago woman who was accused of videotaping part of "The Twilight Saga: New Moon" at a movie theater. Cook County prosecutors on Friday announced in court that they won't pursue charges against Samantha Tumpach. Full Story »
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A medical examiner says a 30-year-old man died of hypothermia in his home, where the electricity had been shut off for lack of payment. Full Story »
The Major Case Squad is investigating as a homicide the death of a man who collapsed after crashing his car in Granite City. Police say the call came out about 10:30 p.m. Thursday in the 4100 block of Division Street in Granite City. The driver got out of the car and collapsed. Full Story »
FRIDAY DEC 11 2009 -- Convicted killer Gregory Bowman is escorted into a St. Louis County courtroom to await his formal sentencing for the 1977 murder of Velda Joy Rumfelt. Full Story »
It's the Saturday night before Thanksgiving, and the crowd in Salon B at the Holiday Inn in Sunset Hills is primed for a drag show. Some 50 teenagers are dressed like Japanese comic-book and video-game characters, and many of them sport wigs in colors not usually found in nature. Two girl... Full Story »
Euphoric Recoil Through fogged glasses the target floating seven yards down the shooting range looked vague, almost ghostly. Muffled under bulbous blue headphones, my ears picked up shallow breath, an accelerated heartbeat and every other audible sign of my apprehension. Staring d... Full Story »
THE RUNDOWN, DECEMBER 1, 2009 DEREK JETER IS A SAINT And don't you forget it, Aaron: If you don't know what the award entails, then maybe you shouldn't open your mouth ["Derek Jeter Wins Derek Jeter of the Year Award," Aaron Schafer]. The award [Sportsman of the Year] is... Full Story »
Dear Mexican: As a Chicano/Mexican, I have lost my faith in God. While they take pride in their country like everyone else, and like to make frequent jokes, Mexicans are generally very humble (poor) people. Isn't God supposed to be on the side of the poor and humble? Why is it th... Full Story »
Photoillustration. Photography by Jennifer Silverberg. View a larger version of the cover here .... Full Story »
St. Louis high school among the best in America Full Story »
Five-year-old student collects 55,000 nickels for Ferguson school Full Story »
'Up in the Air' lands in St. Louis Full Story »
Economic news raises hopes for global recovery Full Story »
Electronics stolen from rapper Nelly's Wildwood home Full Story »
Gregory Bowman has been sentenced to death for killing a teenager in St. Louis County more than 30 years ago. Circuit Judge David Lee Vincent III on Friday agreed with the jury's recommendation for the death penalty. Bowman's attorney says he will appeal. Bowman had spent 28 years in prison for two killings in Illinois before his conviction was vacated. Full Story »
St. Louis County police are on the scene at St. Louis rapper Nelly's home in Wildwood, Missouri. Police say they are searching for an intruder who got into the rapper's home and fled with a duffel bag of goods. County police spokesperson, Officer Rick Eckhard said that it's believed the suspect entered and left through a window in the home. Eckhard also said people inside the residence called ... Full Story »
St. Louis aldermen are expected to vote Friday on whether to cut pay for thousands of city workers. Published reports say the proposal calls for mandatory one-week furloughs for rank-and-file workers; managers would be required to take two weeks of unpaid leave. The measure does not include fire and police workers, but firefighters would be asked to give back 40 hours of vacation time. Full Story »
Gregory Bowman spent nearly three decades in prison for two killings in Illinois before his conviction was overturned. Now, he's about to head back to prison and possibly death row for killing a Missouri teenager 32 years ago. Bowman, of Belmont, Ill., was scheduled to be sentenced Friday in the 1977 killing of 16-year-old Velda Rumfelt in St. Louis County. The jury that convicted the 58-year ... Full Story »
The Major Case Squad was activated overnight in the Metro-East. Detectives are investigating a homicide in the 4100 block of Division Street in Granite City. Police say a 9-11 call came into the Madison County Sheriff's office just after 10:30pm Thursday. The caller told sheriff's deputies that a man wrecked his car a yard, got out of the vehicle and collapsed. When deputies arrived, they found ... Full Story »
The Major Case Squad was activated overnight in the Metro East. Detectives are investigating a homicide in the 4100 block of Division Street in Granite City. Police say a 911 call came into the Madison County Sheriff's office just after 10:30pm Thursday. The caller told sheriff's deputies that a man wrecked his car in a yard, got out of the vehicle and collapsed. When deputies arrived, they ... Full Story »
St. Louis aldermen are expected to vote Friday on whether to cut pay for thousands of city workers. Published reports say the proposal calls for mandatory one-week furloughs for rank-and-file workers; managers would be required to take two weeks of unpaid leave. The measure does not include fire and police workers, but firefighters would be asked to give back 40 hours of vacation time. Full Story »
St. Louis County police are on the scene at St. Louis rapper Nelly's home in Wildwood, Missouri. Police say they are searching for an intruder who got into the rapper's home and fled with a duffel bag of goods. County police spokesperson, Officer Rick Eckhard said that it's believed the suspect entered and left through a window in the home. Eckhard also said people inside the residence called ... Full Story »
Bowman Accused Of Killing Velda Rumfelt, 16 Gregory Bowman spent nearly three decades in prison for two killings in Illinois before his conviction was overturned. Now, he's heading back to prison and death row for killing a Missouri teenager 32 years ago. Bowman, of Belmont, Ill., was sentenced Friday in the 1977 killing of Velda Rumfelt, 16, in St. Louis County. The jury that convicted the 58 ... Full Story »
One local business owner can't wait to see the movie. His company played a role in the making of Up in the Air. Full Story »
Columbia Bring food to erase fine The Columbia Public Library will participate in a Food for Fines program through Thursday, Dec. 31. Those who bring in a non-perishable food item to the library, 106 N. Metter Ave., will have their overdue fines forgiven. Full Story »
How far would you drive to save a few dollars on a bottle of gin? Full Story »
Five students at Immaculate Conception School in Columbia may want to polish a resume for Hallmark. They won an art contest with a design that has been printed on Christmas cards now making their way around the world. Full Story »
RBHS news The following involves Red Bud High School, 815 Locust St.: Full Story »
Consider yourself pretty lucky if you have the luxury of picking a hospital for a non-emergency procedure. After all, most visits to medical offices - the typical cuts, concussions or accidents - aren't exactly planned or debated. Full Story »
Posted 12:46 p.m. Fri., 12.11.09 - The end of the year is rapidly approaching (but not the end of the decade, so will all you impatient calendar-watchers please quit with the "best of decade" list-making already?) and the first batch of winners in Awards Season has just been released. Full Story »
Posted 12:09 p.m. Fir., 12.11.09 - Missouri is making national news with state Rep. Rob Schaaf's (R) appearance in a recent YouTube posting of a TV ad designed for the D.C. area that has gone viral . The commercial has people from all backgrounds stating, "I guess I'm racist." Full Story »
Posted 10:20 a.m. Fri., 12.11.09 - Jacob Blickenstaff is a musician, a photographer and a soul music aficionado. Full Story »
Posted 10:44 a.m. Fri., 12.11.09 - Virginia Benson and her husband, George, live high above street level in a building with sweeping views that still make them pause at sunset. The retired couple makes good use of amenities like the pool, gym, sun deck and barbecue area for residents. Full Story »
Posted 4:15 p.m. Thu., 12.10.09 - In this week's Beacon Roundtable, Dick Weiss, Dale Singer, Jo Mannies and Bob Joiner sit down to talk about Rod Jetton's legal troubles, some Missouri lawmakers' plan to opt out of federally mandated health care, how electronic medical records could change the system and what the city's schools are up to. Full Story »
Three metro-east high schools this year made the U.S. News and World Report magazine’s list of the best in the country. Full Story »
Three members of the District 189 school board said the recent hiring of a security guard with a conviction for attempted rape demonstrates why background checks should be completed before the board votes to hire people. Full Story »
The husband of former Boy Scout leader Wendy Rogers, who was charged with sexually assaulting a Scout in her troop, posted bail for her release Wednesday night. Full Story »
Four months after James Frew shaved his head to honor a classmate who died in 2006 of cancer, the 10-year-old was diagnosed with leukemia. Full Story »
Beginning next week, all Illinois residents will be eligible to receive the H1N1 vaccination. Full Story »
The Washington County Unit of the Salvation Army is in dire need of volunteers to help with their Bell Ringing Campaign which will continue through Christmas Eve. Full Story »
This year it may be more imperative than ever to return to the core values of the Christmas season. With so many people out of work, the budget for Christmas is shrinking, but that doesn’t mean that holiday cheer is out or that the special day has to be less than memorable and wonderful. Full Story »
There is no need to be alone this Christmas - CiCi’s is continuing its Christmas dinner tradition. Full Story »
The Missouri Public Defender’s Office will have to represent Steven Roloff at his trial for first-degree assault and abuse of child even though he was previously able to hire a private attorney. Full Story »
FARMINGTON — As council members debated issues in the basement of city hall Thursday evening you could hear the sound of footsteps on the ceiling, but it wasn’t eight tiny reindeer making all the noise. It was an enthusiastic crowd of nightly visitors to Winter Wonderland upstairs at Long Memorial Hall which forced the officials to take their business downstairs for the time being. Full Story »
Jackass Penguins take a walk at Hakkeijima Sea Paradise in Japan. AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye
More Photos and Slideshow »
All Comics »
