Nearly 100 protesters and activists disrupted a city Board of Aldermen meeting on Friday, calling for immediate changes to the St. Louis City Justice Center, where 18 people in custody have died since 2020.

Drug-soaked paper is making its way into Illinois prisons, causing overdoses and staff safety concerns. But banning it could pose legal issues.

City public safety officials say their reporting of jail deaths earlier this year excluded one person because that individual was arrested but not considered a detainee at the city jail.

In addition to allegedly stealing at least $120,000 from Circus Flora, George Pace is also accused of fraudulently applying for pandemic small business relief.

Attorneys with the Thomas More Society filed the federal lawsuit Wednesday on behalf of several organizations including Students for Life of America, Pro-Life Action League and Illinois Right to Life. It names Gov. JB Pritzker, Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Department of Insurance Director Ann Gillespie as defendants.

A federal grant will cover the $1.5 million cost of the program’s first two years. The grant will also allow St. Louis County Police to expand their program.

Jail deaths at the City Justice Center in St. Louis are slightly higher than public safety officials previously shared and much higher than online reports show. But deaths at the CJC so far this year are the lowest they’ve been since 2021.

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.

Pro-life group challenges city’s now-repealed ‘buffer zone’ law, potentially reshaping protest laws nationwide.

The Republican won election to the top spot in the judiciary in 2020 after serving 14 years as an associate judge in the circuit.