August 18, 2014

Ferguson Schools remain closed on Monday

an update on the school districts page indicates that the schools (which were to open Thursday 8/14) will remain closed in the interest of the safety of the students and families.


This marks the loss of the 3rd day of school.

August 17, 2014

Frightened family recounts being caught at looting scene in Ferguson

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/frightened-family-recounts-being-caught-at-looting-scene-in-ferguson/article_10bde052-08ce-5c75-8ea1-fb3f2a89d940.html

Tremayne Belford, 12, and his sister, Cliuana Belford, 17, said they were marching in a peaceful demonstration along West Florissant when Cliuana had to use the bathroom, so they stopped at the QuikTrip.

As they were leaving the store, a throng of people ran toward them. They thought police had released dogs and tear gas so they ran with the people back into the store but once they got inside they realized people were stealing from and trashing the store.

Cliuana said they were cursing and yelling, "Y'all let my friend die."

She pushed her brother behind the counter and tried to hide his eyes. The looters had already beat up a QuikTrip employee and the employees had fled to a storeroom.

August 15, 2014

West Florissant businesses face new struggle

FERGUSON • Business is resuming along the strip of food markets, chop suey restaurants and auto-parts stores that line West Florissant Avenue. But it’s not business as usual.

Most shops have reopened, although many work from behind plywood nailed over missing windows. Customers are back, too, but nowhere near the normal numbers.

That has some businesses wondering if they can still make a living on West Florissant in Ferguson and Dellwood.

Shi Thompson was worried about driving to West Florissant to have her nails done but came anyway Thursday morning. She saw the word “Open” spray-painted on the plywood of the shop.

http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/west-florissant-businesses-face-new-struggle/article_cff5a6ba-3a73-546c-88e4-e8caf545549d.html

August 13, 2014

Another police shooting in Ferguson

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/another-police-shooting-in-ferguson/article_7fb366f0-2f29-5bdd-b18b-34c9d8c688e7.html

At about 1 a.m., a St. Louis County Police officer shot and critically wounded a man who police said pointed a handgun at the officer near the intersection of West Florissant and Chambers Road.

The shooting happened near Chambers and Sheffingdell Court close to the site of protests against police for the fatal shooting of Michael Brown.

Police said they received a call about four to five men in the area armed with shotguns and wearing ski masks and they got reports of shots fired in the area. Police officers arrived and saw "multiple subjects running," said police spokesman Officer Brian Schellman.

An officer approached one of the men and he pulled a handgun on the officer who then fired, Schellman said.

August 13, 2014

Nine charged with looting-related felonies in Ferguson

A total of nine people have been charged with felonies in connection with looting that took place Monday following protest over the shooting of Michael Brown, St. Louis County authorities reported.

The following suspects were charged with felony burglary for breaking into Princess Beauty Supply, 6911 West Florissant Road, for the purpose of stealing:

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/nine-charged-with-looting-related-felonies-in-ferguson/article_e6d5b21e-8385-51e1-9a75-996d73dd08a1.html

August 13, 2014

Some looted businesses reopen Tuesday

Several of the West Florissant Avenue businesses struck by looters late Sunday in Ferguson and Dellwood reopened Tuesday.

Among those that got back into business were Zisser Tire & Auto and a nearby Taco Bell.

But others, including AutoZone and Shoe Carnival, remained closed.

http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/some-looted-businesses-reopen-tuesday/article_926c6549-844f-525d-b530-3ce439c7144b.html

August 12, 2014

Ferguson-area businesses cope with aftermath of weekend riot

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/ferguson-area-businesses-cope-with-aftermath-of-weekend-riot/article_4a310ec3-94de-57dd-95f7-4e350f6a6fa2.html

DELLWOOD • Ferguson-area businesses grappled Monday with the aftermath of weekend looting that left windows shattered and store shelves empty.

The violence started Sunday evening in response to the fatal police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown. By the time it ended early Monday, more than two dozen businesses in Ferguson and neighboring Dellwood were damaged or looted.

Monday found near bumper-to-bumper traffic up and down the ravaged stretch of West Florissant Avenue, where many businesses — even those untouched by violence — remained closed.

Among those striving to put things in order was Zisser Tire & Auto, where workers spent the day installing plywood over the shattered remains of massive glass panels that once bordered the showroom on three sides.

August 11, 2014

How 'movie tourism' hurts American cities

Over the past couple of years, a series of ads has appeared in New York City’s subways and buses touting the benefits that film productions bring to the five boroughs. “Each year, the film & TV production industry generates over $400 million in tax revenue to NYC” the cute, infographic-style posters read. The ads also inform readers that this is equivalent to the salaries of thousands of sanitation workers, firefighters or teachers. “Thank you for hosting production in your neighborhood,” they conclude. As though you had a choice.

The “Filming is good for NYC” campaign may assuage residents justifiably upset at losing parking spots or taking detours to avoid walking into a film set. But these ads also sugarcoat a series of corrupt city and state policies that use the “cultural value” of the entertainment industry to transfer taxpayer money to film production companies, encourage gentrification and increase inequality.

Cultural institutions

Made in NY comes out of the Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting. It “celebrates” films and television programs that are produced in New York City by giving those productions a month of “free” (read: taxpayer funded) advertising in the subway, taxis and bus stops of New York City. In return, these productions donate either $10,000 or .1 percent of the production cost, whichever is greater. This amounts to much less than a month of free marketing in America’s number one media market. The productions must also and co-brand their advertisements with the “Made in NY” logo and messaging.

Wouldn’t the city better support its cultural institutions by just giving them the value of this advertising directly and letting the film companies advertise themselves? And wouldn’t it do better by the MTA just giving them this money outright?

http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2014/8/movies-gentrificationfilmindustrycorruption.html

August 11, 2014

Violence breaks out near site of vigil for teen killed by police

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/f9d627dc-e3c8-5bde-b2ab-7f0a3d36a083.html

FERGUSON • A day of protests and vigils Sunday for an unarmed black teenager who was shot to death by a Ferguson police officer erupted Sunday night with confrontations, looting and gunshots.

Authorities said Sunday that a police officer shot an unarmed black teenager after the teen attacked the Ferguson officer. But pressure for a deeper explanation grew locally and nationally through the day.

Hundreds of people gathered at the shooting site Sunday night for a vigil for Michael Brown, 18, who was to begin technical school classes today.

While some people prayed, others spilled onto West Florissant Avenue, choking off traffic. The situation grew more tense and widespread. Looting was reported at a QuikTrip at 9420 West Florissant Avenue about 9 p.m. and quickly spread from there. Most of the businesses being targeted were mainly along West Florissant.

The link includes many photos of both the protests and the later violence/looting.

August 8, 2014

Century-Old War Leaves Lasting Impact On St. Louis German Identity

World War I collared the spread of German culture and language across the globe. Though far from the front lines, St. Louis’s vibrant German community was no exception.

A hundred years ago, the growth of the city had largely been driven by thousands of Germanic immigrants who built and controlled large swaths of government, industry, education, and religion. The Great War tested and ultimately transformed that influence in many ways that linger today.

As war broke out among Eastern and European powers in August of 1914, St. Louis’ German population had many vested interests in the conflict: local German-language papers reported news from the front lines; members of the Busch family bought German war bonds; from Turnvereins to City Hall to a vast network of religious institutions, German was a common tongue and identity.

“Up until World War I, everything was done in German around here,” said Dennis Rathert, archivist and historian for Trinity Lutheran Church in Soulard, which today is the last church in St. Louis to hold regular services in German – the fourth Sunday of each month.

http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/century-old-war-leaves-lasting-impact-st-louis-german-identity?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=FBStLouisPublicRadio3774