KPLR 11 St. Louis

Christmas came early for a St. Louis woman and her young daughter. Through the generosity of others, many of them strangers, they received a gift that gives them hope for a much brighter new year. With a turn of a key Marquita Rivers says her life will improve dramatically. Full Story »

MODOT is testing new technology to prevent the buildup of snow and ice on bridge decks. It will be one of the first agencies in the nation to do so MODOT will be working with Pave Guard technologies to install a "solar warming system" on two bridges in Western Missouri. Full Story »

An Illinois artist is making sure your empty bottles survive the holidays. He is trying to make the holidays a little greener one piece of garbage at a time. Full Story »

The St. Louis team in the newly formed North American Soccer League (NASL) will be named AC St. Louis. The name is derived from European style, with 'AC' as an abbreviation for "Athletic Club." AC St. Louis will play 14 home games for the inaugural 2010 season at Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park, the same venue where the woman's pro soccer team, St. Louis Athletica, plays its matches. Full Story »

Political businesses and labor union heavyweights from St. Louis are heading to Washington at the invitation of China's ambassador to the U.S. Full Story »

Although it has been raining, snow removal crews in the St. Louis area are gearing up as a blast of frigid weather heads our way. At American Snow and Ice they depend on bad winter weather. It's the only time of the year the owner can make money. He employs 30 contractors who say they use the extra cash to buy Christmas presents for loved ones. Full Story »

Police in O'Fallon, MO arrested a Fort Zumwalt West High School coach after a 16 year old student claimed he had had inappropriate contact off campus over the course of the last several weeks. On Tuesday, Reginald Hicks, 23, was charged with nine counts of second degree Statutory Sodomy and two counts of second degree Statutory Rape. The St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney's Office set a ... Full Story »

A Metro East man is being questioned after firefighters are called to his house in the 4200 block of baker in Centreville. Police report four children, ages two to seven, were home alone when the fire started. One of them is hospitalized for smoke inhalation. The father left the children alone when he went to pick up a fifth child from a nearby school. Full Story »

Goal is to "Frame a Modern Masterpiece" On Tuesday, the National Park Service and St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay launched an international design competition to revitalize the park and city areas surrounding of one of the world's most iconic monuments, the Gateway Arch. The goal of the competition is to integrate the Arch and the park surrounding it into the fabric of the city and embrace the ... Full Story »

St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long spent part of his morning at Becky David elementary school in St. Charles encouraging students to exercise. For one special third grader, Long's visit was about a lot more than physical fitness. A black limousine arrives at Becky David Elementary School. When the driver opens the door, Rams's defensive end Chris Long and third grader Alec Medley step out ... Full Story »

Sunday, St. Clair County police received a 911 call of a "rape in progress" in Lebanon, IL. Deputies from the St. Clair County Sheriff's Department found 39-year-old Wendy Rodgers detained in the caller's son's bedroom. The parents told law enforcement they had come home from shopping and found the suspect engaging in mutual intercourse with their minor son. The victim's parents called 911 and ... Full Story »

LANCASTER - Police in central Pennsylvania say they arrested an Amish man on drunk driving charges over the weekend after he was found asleep in his moving buggy. Full Story »

Teen Accused Of Killing Elizabeth Olten, 9, Will Be Tried As An Adult A mid-Missouri teenager hid her face behind heavy bangs as she crouched in a courtroom chair Tuesday morning. 15-year old Alyssa Bustamante of St. Martins will stand trial as an adult for the murder of her nine year old neighbor, Elizabeth Olten. The child disappeared October 21. Her strangled and stabbed body was found in ... Full Story »

Reports: Black Cadillac Escalade similar to Tiger Woods' SUV at Health Central Hospital. Tiger Woods' mother-in-law is in stable condition at a local hospital after she was taken from Woods' Isleworth home early this morning, according to fire-rescue and hospital officials. Full Story »

The Unaccredited District Could Merge With Normandy The future of the Wellston School District is in jeopardy and is at risk of closing at the end of the school year. Missouri's Commissioner of Education is calling for a merger with the Normandy School District. Commissioner Chris Nicastro says Wellston has made improvements since losing its accreditation in 2003, but those improvements are not ... Full Story »

More meth labs are busted in Jefferson County than anywhere else in the country. On Monday night, leaders there passed an ordinance aimed at helping law enforcement deal with the meth problem. The council voted unanimously to require a prescription for people to buy products with pseudoephedrine in them, like cold medicines. Pseudoephedrine is a major ingredient in making meth. Full Story »

Dec. 7 is known as Pearl Harbor day, a day to remember Japan's air strike on the U.S. Pacific Fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941. As the years go on, there are fewer first-hand accounts of "The day that will live in Infamy." Full Story »

A runner from St. Louis collapsed and died Saturday after competing in the St Jude Marathon. Memphis police identify the runner as Molly Trauernicht, 32, from St. Louis. Race officials say medical staff immediately treated Trauernicht and she was taken to Methodist University Hospital where she was pronounced dead. Full Story »

The Interstate 64 re-construction project is complete. On Monday, drivers made their way across the new interchanges and ramps of I-64. Drivers faced a few problems on Day 1. For many, it felt a bit like being out of town and driving on an unfamiliar roadway. Everything has changed and you have to pay close attention to the signage. Full Story »

Zhu Zhu Pets Deemed Safe For Children After All A consumer watch group that tried to play Grinch with one of the hottest toys this holiday season is now changing its' tune. San Francisco-based Good Guide set off a media frenzy by claiming Zhu Zhu Pets were not safe for children. Now it admits it didn't test the product according to federal standards. Melanie Moon talked with the toy makers to ... Full Story »

Whitey And Umpire Doug Harvey Easily Drew Enough Votes This Year Manager Whitey Herzog and umpire Doug Harvey got the call Monday, elected to the baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. Herzog and Harvey missed by one vote in their previous tries. This time, they easily drew enough support to reach Cooperstown. Full Story »

Drivers Try Out New Highway After 2 Years Of Construction Everyone's out and about trying the new Interstate 64, or the new Highway 40, or the new Jack Buck Memorial Highway. Regardless of what you call it., it's open and drivers are taking advantage. Construction began back in March 2007 and was completed a month ahead of schedule. The first driver on the new highway was Lex Jones. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nearly 40 years ago, a Kenyan father was visiting his son in Hawaii and took him to his first jazz concert. The boy was Barack Obama and the performer was jazz great Dave Brubeck. Full Story »

On a cold Sunday morning, thousands of active St. Louisans poured onto the pavement of the re-constructed Interstate 64/U.S. Highway 40 for a little exercise. Nearly 2,500 runners took part in the I-64 5K Highway Run/Walk on the newly completed western lanes of Interstate 64, starting and finishing at Tamm Avenue. Full Story »

A Kentucky soldier, who's been on the receiving end of great generosity from people in St. Louis, comes to town to give back. He and his growing family were part of an effort, not even Santa's army of elves may have been able to pull off. On Saturday, dozens of volunteers with the group A Soldier's Wish List raced to get 300 boxes in the mail by afternoon. Full Story »