News

By St. Louis Public Radio

Belleville, Ill. – The Belleville Township School Board in has expelled two students accused of attacking another student on a school bus last week.

The incident was captured by a security camera on the bus and received widespread attention.

Board president Curt Highsmith said expelling kids is regrettable, but he wanted to send the message that such behavior is intolerable. The expulsions were the most severe punishments the school board could hand out.

By AP/St. Louis Public Radio

Peoria, Ill – Customers in Illinois who get their natural gas service from Ameren will pay less to heat their homes this winter.

The St. Louis-based utility said Monday that lower demand triggered by the global recession could reduce heating bills by 26 percent. A company vice president, Scott Glaeser, said Ameren also hedged most of its supply to avoid having to adjust rates every time the market changes.

By Rachel Lippmann

East St. Louis, Ill – Officials in East St. Louis have rejected plans to close a budget gap by laying off firefighters.

The city must close a $2.9 million deficit by December 31. A plan from Mayor Alvin Parks would have laid off 11 firefighters and closed a firehouse. But the city's Financial Advisory Authority rejected that suggestion.

By Marshall Griffin, St. Louis Public Radio

Jefferson City, MO – Governor Jay Nixon has issued an executive order creating a partnership between state government and faith-based groups to aid Missourians hit by natural disasters or terrorist attacks.

The partnership includes two federal agencies, 16 state agencies, and 16 private, religious and charitable groups who would all work together to respond to a major disaster.

By Rachel Lippmann

St. Louis – The National Transportation Safety Board says a partially inflated evacuation slide forced a charter plane carrying President Obama to make an emergency landing in St. Louis during the 2008 campaign.

The incident happened in July 2008. The NTSB released its report today.