SUMMARY: Missouri’s first year of in-person absentee voting has been a significant success, with over 200,000 ballots cast before polls close on Tuesday. In St. Louis County, election officials are preparing for the final voting days and report high participation. On Saturday, many voters utilized satellite voting sites, with lines typically moving efficiently within 30 minutes. Election workers are equipped to handle increased demand, having prepared ample supplies, including 900,000 sheets of ballot paper. Officials remind voters that it’s too late to mail in ballots; they must be hand-delivered by 7 PM on Tuesday.

As Election Day approaches, St. Louis County is seeing an unprecedented turnout in absentee voting. The county’s early voting period, which began on Oct. 22, has already drawn an impressive 200,274 ballots. This figure demonstrates high voter engagement ahead of the November election, with absentee voting by mail contributing significantly.

St. Louis News: FOX 2 covers news, weather, and sports in Missouri and Illinois. Read more about this story or see the latest updates on our website https://FOX2Now.com

Follow FOX 2 on social media:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/FOX2Now
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FOX2Now/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FOX2Now/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fox2now/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@fox2now
SnapChat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/fox2now

Source

SUMMARY: Foster care children are often targeted by traffickers, as highlighted by Fox Files investigator Chris Hayes. Recent trafficking incidents at the Renaissance Hotel and River City Casino involved missing teens from foster care and minors, revealing concerning patterns. Statistics show that 78-80% of trafficking survivors have spent time in foster or adoptive care. Training for police, healthcare professionals, and citizens focuses on identifying and assisting victims, emphasizing the importance of intervention while ensuring personal safety. Survivors require ongoing support to avoid re-victimization, highlighting the need for community awareness and involvement in preventing trafficking.

Two recent sex trafficking busts – one at the Renaissance Hotel in April 2023 and another at River City Casino this past February – reveal a pattern.

St. Louis News: FOX 2 covers news, weather, and sports in Missouri and Illinois. Read more about this story or see the latest updates on our website https://FOX2Now.com

Follow FOX 2 on social media:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/FOX2Now
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FOX2Now/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FOX2Now/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fox2now/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@fox2now
SnapChat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/fox2now

Source

SUMMARY: The Frederick Town Recycling Center, which recently caught fire, is linked to Critical Mineral Recovery (CMR), a company with a history of EPA violations. Both CMR and the Madison, Illinois facility share the same president. Past incidents in Madison resulted in 14 EPA violations related to hazardous waste disposal and facility standards. According to attorney Al Watkins, while CMR and the fire may not be directly connected, the fire itself led to violations. CMR states it collaborates with the EPA to enhance safety measures. Investigations are ongoing regarding the previous violations and the recent fire’s implications.

A company with ties to the Fredericktown battery processing plant that caught fire this week has a history of EPA violations. 

St. Louis News: FOX 2 covers news, weather, and sports in Missouri and Illinois. Read more about this story or see the latest updates on our website https://FOX2Now.com

Follow FOX 2 on social media:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/FOX2Now
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FOX2Now/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FOX2Now/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fox2now/
TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@fox2now
SnapChat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/fox2now

Source