Public safety

St. Clair County Sheriff Rick Watson said a $300,000 plan put forth by the county board was a good gesture, but he’s skeptical of the plan.

The stop at Emerson Park in East St. Louis marked the first of MetroLink’s “secure platforms” — a $52 million upgrade for stations that will include turnstiles, gates, fencing and checking tickets.

Blair's Law was finally passed after one family fought for years for legislative change following the death of their loved one, Blair Shanahan Lane, from Kansas City, who was killed in 2011 by a stray bullet during the 4th of July.

The Belleville, Fairview Heights, Shiloh and Swansea police departments will allow off-duty officers to patrol up to 30 hours per week.

The 16,000-square-foot facility houses a new St. Clair County 911 dispatch unit, office space for the county sheriff's department and backup equipment for the light rail system's control center.

A ban on eviction moratoriums was also among the bills signed.

Lawmakers sent a similar measure to Gov. Mike Parson last year. He vetoed it due to a proposal making it easier for people to get restitution for wrongful convictions and language around expungements.

The Platte County Republican has sponsored legislation the last couple of sessions that would legalize sports betting.

Handing the microphone to individuals closest to the problem illuminates overlooked areas of safety that are often taken for granted or not considered in mainstream discussions, the study found.

Faith leaders and community organizers will discuss gun violence and public safety Wednesday at the Progressive National Baptist Convention town hall meeting in St. Louis. They'll convene public conversations about ways to prevent gun violence in Black communities and how to advocate for better gun control laws.