Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email E-edition PLUS unlimited articles & videos Personalized news alerts with our mobile app *Refers to the latest 2 years of stltoday.com stories Please subscribe to continue reading… LOUIS COUNTY — Authorities this weekend charged a substitute bus driver who they say hit two students on a bus was charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child Murry was driving the school bus as a substitute driver when he became angry with several students who were in the back of the bus He pulled the bus over near Patterson Road and Sally Drive in Florissant to confront the students Police said Murry punched one of the students in the face twice and held another one face down in a seat while he punched and scratched him they reported that Murry had fled the scene and several students were on the side of the road Police later found him at Hazelwood Central High School and arrested him Other students recorded the assault with their phones and a security camera in the bus also captured the encounter A spokesman from the Hazelwood School District did not immediately respond to questions about Murry's employment Post-Dispatch photographers capture hundreds of images each week; here's a glimpse at the week of April 20 Email notifications are only sent once a day Louis County house turned from a polite inquiry to gunfire Police have made no arrests but believe the shot that killed the boy came from his friends — not from the homeowner A jury convicted Demesha Coleman of first-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the shooting death of a 19-year-old Katarina O'Reilly filed the suit Wednesday on behalf of her minor son who she said suffered second-degree burns when the coffee spilled onto … Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device by | May 2 Louis has entered a three-year agreement with the Ferguson-Florissant School District that will support students from the district’s International Baccalaureate Program who enroll at UMSL The University of Missouri–St. Louis and the Ferguson-Florissant School District have launched a new collaboration to expand access to higher education for some of the district’s most talented students As part of the three-year agreement, UMSL will offer direct admission to Ferguson-Florissant students who have been accepted into the district’s International Baccalaureate Program. It will also provide a minimum $5,250 Gold Scholarship for any who enroll at the university full-time The scholarships will be renewable each year provided the students complete 30 credit hours per year and remain in good academic standings “At UMSL, we believe in empowering talented students with opportunities that help them realize their full potential,” said Reggie Hill the vice chancellor for strategic enrollment and career advancement “Through this collaboration with the Ferguson-Florissant School District we are proud to expand access to higher education for International Baccalaureate students and invest in the next generation of leaders This partnership reflects our deep commitment to student success academic excellence and creating pathways that uplift our region.” Ferguson-Florissant will help the university identify students in the IB program who display a strong fit with UMSL and it will provide the university with opportunities to promote its programs and recruit students UMSL will have the opportunity to create a student leadership program for interested IB students and it will also collaborate with the district on enrichment activities including college readiness and access initiatives UMSL will take steps to ensure student success once students enroll at the university, providing IB students with academic advising and a success coach in the Office of Student Support professional development workshops and other academic support services “We are thrilled to collaborate with the University of Missouri–St. Louis to ensure our International Baccalaureate graduates have a seamless transition to college, recognizing their hard work and academic excellence with guaranteed admission and generous financial support,” said David Murray the chief academic officer for the Ferguson-Florissant School District “This initiative is a testament to the value of an International Baccalaureate education and we are proud to see our students being rewarded for their dedication with this incredible opportunity.” The International Baccalaureate is an internationally recognized program of honors courses that leads to the awarding of the prestigious IB Diploma. The Ferguson-Florissant School District facilitates the program for students at McCluer North High School The IB curriculum challenges students to “think critically and creatively Students from more than 20 colleges and universities across the Midwest attended the conference April 26-27 at the UMSL Science Complex Brown spent three days in the nation’s capital participating in policy training touring the National Mall and the White House and speaking with politicians such as Sen More than 50 students participated in the annual symposium and shared research on topics ranging from biology and chemistry to history and music University Marketing and CommunicationsUniversity of Missouri–St Penney Building/Conference Center1 University Blvd.St News and Media RelationsUMSL Experts Guide Office Number: (314) 516-5000Admissions Toll-Free: 1-888-GO-2-UMSL Log in | Designed by UMSL Web and Digital Communications A 72-year-old man was killed Tuesday night in a head-on collision on Interstate 70 in Saline County according to a crash report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol The man reportedly crossed over the median and began driving the wrong direction in the eastbound lanes around the 64.8-mile marker and the 59-year-old man was seriously injured and flown to a hospital in Independence The man who died was not wearing a seatbelt To report an error or typo, email news@komu.com Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Louis-area school districts are gearing up for more leadership changes for the next school year The Francis Howell School District has announced career educator and school administrator Mike Dominguez will be the new superintendent after its current one, Kenneth Roumpos, prepares to take the top job at the Kirkwood School District. Dominguez is currently the superintendent for Garden City Public Schools in neighboring Kansas the ninth-largest school district in the state and serves a predominantly minority student population according to a statement from the district he served as superintendent for Stratford Independent School District in Texas He was also a teacher and wrestling coach in schools in the state “I am thrilled to be joining the Francis Howell community and look forward to meeting with students and residents to hear their ideas and hopes for the future of the District,” Dominguez said in a statement we will continue the District’s legacy of academic excellence and chart new paths for student learning so that our graduates are ready for the future.” The school board said it conducted a national search led by School Exec Connect, a consulting agency, after Roumpos announced his intent to leave the district at the end of the school year Francis Howell has recently been the focus of various culture war battles The district rolled out a new version of Black history and literature curricula this fall after the board voted to revise them last spring the board voted to prohibit teachers from discussing gender identity in the classroom The school board also voted to ban books that have references to drugs They also implemented a policy that allows parents to challenge any books taught in the district The Ferguson-Florissant School District said it has officially dismissed former Superintendent Joe Davis after the school board placed him on administrative leave pending an investigation last year The investigation was prompted by two principals who filed a lawsuit against the district alleging Davis had sexually harassed them The FFSD school board said in a statement it could not substantiate whether Davis had engaged in illegal conduct but decided that he should not return to the district “The board believes that new leadership for the Ferguson-Florissant School District at this time is in the best interests of the students staff and community,” the district said in a statement The district said it will pay out the remainder of Davis’ contract because it is not terminating him for cause. The contract is estimated to be for thousands of dollars — Davis was paid a salary of $260,000 during the 2023-24 school year, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch The district is grappling with a projected budget shortfall of $7.7 million for the upcoming school year which the board said is partly caused by increased hiring and low student enrollment The board said it’s actively working to reduce spending has implemented a hiring freeze and is cutting positions across the district The Florissant Fire Protection District held an open house at Station 51 on April 26th invited the community out to meet with firefighters tour the new bunk quarters and enjoy lunch Some of the most concerning stressors to Florissant’s wetlands are tied to climate Climate change models predict increasing summer temperatures and earlier peak stream flows in the region which will likely decrease water available for wetland plants This climatic water deficit increases the likelihood of drought stress and is expected to reduce the number and overall area of wetlands in the park two drought cycles occurred during the study period in the region (2009–2013 Our modeling of climate and groundwater data suggests that climate changes may decrease groundwater levels which can have important impacts on wetland vegetation from past and present activities—such as a century of historical cattle ranching—affects Florissant’s wetlands disturbance was quantified by examining land use (e.g. These kinds of disturbances were lower in the valley bottoms but increased if wetland sites were near roads disturbance scores account for hydrologic changes such as water diversions and physical or chemical impacts which have an immediate effect on wetland plants Most wetland sites had intermediate levels of local disturbance both landscape and local level human disturbance indicators showed an intermediate level of disturbance in and around the wetland monitoring sites A wetland’s condition can be understood by the kinds of plants it supports Plants that need consistently wet areas (hydrophytic plants) have higher wetland affinity Plants that are more conservative require specific habitats have a narrow range of environmental conditions This is measured by the Floristic Quality Index Native plant species tend to decrease with human disturbance which opens the door to invasive nonnative plant species multiple indicators can be synthesized into an overall index of condition—a Vegetation Index of Biotic Integrity all four of these measurements showed relatively stable and healthy conditions in the park Some sites in the Hornbek complex had nearly 50% cover of invasive species immediately after restoration activities though invasive cover later decreased at this complex especially as it affected groundwater levels had a negative effect on wetland health at Florissant wetland plants were impacted in some sites by the density of nearby road–stream crossings and other human land uses Tracking the connection between human disturbance and wetland condition is a core aspect of the network’s long-term monitoring and it has direct implications for resource management Continued monitoring of Florissant’s valuable wetlands will help park managers better understand what drives wetland condition Monitoring specifically reveals where nonnative plants occur It reveals how and where human disturbance is impacting native species cover and groundwater levels Knowing the condition of individual wetland sites can also prioritize and guide future restoration projects Recent research suggests that impacts from climate change may be offset by reducing other stressors such as raising groundwater levels through restoration A combined water balance and tree ring approach to understanding the potential hydrologic effects of climate change in the central Rocky Mountain region Download the NPS app to navigate the parks on the go dozens of individuals gathered at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument to raise their voices in support of public land preservation consisting of residents from Colorado Springs united to demand action to protect both the land and the dedicated workers who help preserve it through the Department of Government Efficiency made headlines by cutting hundreds of National Park Service jobs This decision was part of a broader initiative to reduce the federal workforce. However, in a significant development, a federal court judge ruled these terminations as illegal, mandating the reinstatement of the workers. the future of their employment remains uncertain We're out here showing the park rangers some love Supporters of the monument argue that the cuts are far-reaching and do not just impact jobs they threaten the preservation of national parks themselves a ranger who dedicated 17 years to Florissant Fossil Beds expressed her deep emotional connection to the park and you feel that incredible connection through time.. It's so important that we have this and protect it.” Visitor numbers for national parks reached new highs in 2024, with over 331.9 million visitors, a figure not seen since 2016. The influx of visitors has raised concerns about how the parks will manage the increased traffic with diminished staff a former National Park Superintendent for over 40 years The people in the National Park Service are absolutely loyal and hardworking.” a representative of the Pikes Peak Sierra Club voiced his disappointment regarding the cuts the protesters at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument remain determined to fight for the preservation of both the land and the people who protect it it's worth noting that service members who retire and then teach at the Academy are considered civilian instructors Watch KOAA News5 on your time, anytime with our free streaming app available for your Roku, FireTV, AppleTV and Android TV. Just search KOAA News5 Report a typo Jocelyn Pugh-Walker and Brent Mitchell will co-lead the Ferguson-Florissant R-II School District after the school board placed Superintendent Joe Davis on administrative leave because of allegations of sexual harassment The two school administrators will be acting co-superintendents while Davis is on leave pending an investigation into the allegations from two former high school principals we want you to know that your children remain in the hands of a capable and school leaders who are deeply committed to their success,” Pugh-Walker and Mitchell said in a statement Former McCluer High School Principal Cedric Gerald and McCluer North High School Principal Frank Williams filed lawsuits against the school district on Dec They claim the district knew of Davis’ behavior and failed to address their complaints They are represented by Lauren Kruskall of Jungle Law alleges that Davis made sexually explicit comments during a non-work-related dinner in 2021 and that Davis touched him inappropriately during a meeting about school operations in March 2023 The lawsuit said Davis allegedly retaliated against Williams in 2024 by withholding additional resources from McCluer High School as school administrators struggled to deal with student fights Williams also alleges Davis placed him on administrative leave in February of that year and later demoted him to assistant principal of a middle school also alleges that Davis tried to engage in sexually explicit conversations during meetings outside of work said he felt targeted by Davis because of his sexual orientation A similar instance of retaliation is described in the lawsuit from Gerald in which he alleges that Davis denied his school additional resources in 2021 when school administrators were struggling to curtail student fights Gerald eventually took family and medical leave in 2023 citing high stress from his work as principal The school board placed Davis on leave during a closed session on Saturday The board said in a statement that it plans to tap an external party to conduct an independent investigation FLORISSANT — In a coordinated nationwide rally on March 1 thousands turned up to national parks sites around the US to protest the recent firings of up to a thousand probationary workers with the National Parks Service (NPS) and thousands of Forest Service employees those who attended one such rally at Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument estimated over 100 people came out “We felt we needed to show them some love and let them know that despite their firing and short-staffed parks many people want to support our National Parks,” said Lisa Mussi one of the people in attendance in Teller County Mussi said Florissant Fossil Beds lost at least one permanent position, which appeared to be the cause for a now-viral Facebook post the site made stating they had to shut down operations on Mondays and Tuesdays due to short staffing “When asked if volunteers could fill the gap we were told that a staff member must be present at all times,” Mussi said in an email “They also indicated that the person they lost also performed routine maintenance and upkeep in the park.” Mussi pointed to economic data from the National Parks Service (NPS) highlighting how vital Florissant Fossil Beds is to the gateway communities of the area 63.7 thousand park visitors spent an estimated $4.3 million in local gateway regions while visiting Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument,” the NPS site said “These expenditures supported a total of 55 jobs and $6.4 million in economic output in local gateway economies surrounding Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.” The Sierra Club Colorado also took part at the Florissant rally they called it a demonstration and encouraged people to spread the word on social media Sierra Club said about a dozen of their members were there on Saturday Mussi and Sierra Club Colorado said other attendees included former national parks volunteers current Colorado Parks and Wildlife volunteers “This will be a peaceful protest aimed mainly at showing our support for employees whose service and dedication protect our parks and make visitation possible,” the Sierra Club web page said “We will obey all directions from Fossil Beds staff about where and how we can demonstrate.” According to a public document and spreadsheet from the Resistance Rangers other sites in Colorado that had protests and demonstrations on Saturday included Rocky Mountain National Park Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park President Trump's administration and billionaire Elon Musk through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have been working to cut the federal workforce at a breakneck speed since Trump took office in January The probationary worker firings were announced in mid February and many were enacted a week later like a fired Rocky Mountain National Park employee who spoke to KOAA last month said the firings were justified by a boilerplate letter claiming poor work performance multiple lawsuits have been filed by union groups representing those fired with a federal judge in San Francisco ruling last week that probationary firings are illegal and issued a temporary pause Email Senior Reporter Brett Forrest at brett.forrest@koaa.com. Follow @brettforrestTVon X and Brett Forrest News on Facebook Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInFLORISSANT Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument announced they would be closing two days a week The popular southern Colorado park said going forward it would be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays They said this decision was made due to staffing shortages They said there would be no access to the visitor center trailhead parking or public restrooms while they are closed Dorrisa Ellis has worked as a personal support assistant at the Veterans Benefits Administration St Louis regional office in Overland since October but she and at least 19 of her colleagues recently received an email from the U.S Department of Veteran Affairs notifying them of their immediate termination is a union member of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2192 she helps veterans access documents needed for various benefits She was nearing the end of her shift on Feb 24 and working on a document for a client when she received the termination email She and her colleagues who were targeted were in their probationary period meaning they were within a one- or two-year suitability review period required for civil service employees when hired “They told me that it was only administrative leave but now they're saying that it's termination,” Ellis said “I was also told that I was supposed to still get paid on administrative leave but now we're saying that we’re not getting paid “I'm having a hard time getting a job because I came to work for the government,” Ellis said Saturday so now I'm just kind of stuck with two kids.” The AFGE is the largest federal labor union in the U.S. and dozens of members and allies rallied Saturday afternoon outside the Post Office in Florissant on North Highway 67 Cars honked in solidarity as they passed while the crowd chanted Louis County Council Chairwoman Shalonda Webb an AFGE union member of Local 2192 who works at the VA facility in Overland “I'm thinking about the single moms,” Tillman said “I'm thinking about people who weren't ready how can you just tell somebody you can't have no job today (or) your job is gone by email?” AFGE Local 2192 President Jovianna Snead said all the letters received by terminated probationary employees were the same stating that they were being let go due to a failure of performance probationary employees must have a failure in production for termination to proceed it’s an illegal riff (and) reduction in force,” Snead said “What was the reason that you're terminating them?” According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, or OPM VA job appointments aren’t final until the probationary period ends the OPM described such periods as “part of the hiring process” for employees “Until the probationary period has been completed a probationer has ‘the burden to demonstrate why it is in the public interest for the Government to finalize an appointment to the civil service for this particular individual,” the termination letter reads the Agency finds that your performance has not met the burden to demonstrate that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest.” national vice president of AFGE District 9 which represents 65,000 federal employees across Kansas said she estimates over 1,000 employees and counting have been terminated across her district She said the government mistakenly believes it can fire probationary employees at will “They believe that probationaries just don't have any rights at all,” Hicks said You can't just arbitrarily fire people because they're in a category it's easier to fire the probationaries versus a tenured employee.” is the second vice president of AFGE Local 96 She’s also the AFGE District 9 National Women's Advisory Coordinator She said two of the local’s members were terminated a couple of weeks ago McPherson noted that one was fired after transferring from the Department of Defense to the VA “It was 14 years of service (that) just went down the drain,” McPherson said “The other employee would have had her one year this month in March but they fired her a couple of days before her probationary period was up.” McPherson said that the employee who had 14 years of service as a federal employee was reinstated within a week of being terminated the union heard nothing from the VA about why she was reinstated McPherson said they’re working hard to file grievances as often as necessary at local and national levels but we just have to file those grievances,” McPherson said that stuff gets turned over and those employees (will) be made whole.” Most federal union members make around $50,000 a year noting that many live paycheck to paycheck But this isn’t the first time the Trump administration has targeted VA employees. During Trump’s first term, thousands of VA employees were fired under his 2017 Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act which promoted VA employee suspension based on misconduct or subpar performance and they're more strategized than they were before,” Hicks said Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More FLORISSANT, Mo. – St. Louis native and hip-hop star Nelly plans to open an upscale bowling alley in Florissant. The Florissant City Council on Monday approved Derrty Bowling LLC’S request to take over Olympics Lanes on New Halls Ferry road.   “We're putting a lot of money into redoing it bringing it from the 1970s to today's technology,” said Mike Chaffin upscale bowling experience…this has been a passion his whole life and we saw an opportunity when the lanes became available.” but Chaffin said renovations should be complete by June The bowling alley was also approved for a liquor license The league-oriented facility will be open for those 21 plus from Thursday to Sunday The 11,000-square-foot building will receive $600,000 in renovations Chaffin said Brunswick Corporation will fund part of the project partnering with Nelly for promotional material “We'll have music going…just energy and a fun environment But also there could be serious bowlers,” Chaffin said Stories you've missed since your last login: Recommended stories based on your interests: A federal judge ruled on Friday that the former chief of the Florissant Fire Protection District could not prevail on the claim that his 2023 firing was retaliation for his First Amendment-protected activity Erik Holt alleged the Teller County district’s directors terminated him because he cooperated with an investigation into potential election fraud during the May 2023 election Holt turned over the fire station's surveillance footage from the day of the election and answered questions from the district attorney's investigator presented evidence showing board members did not know about Holt's cooperation with the investigator at the time they voted to terminate him the district argued Holt's firing was a result of Holt failing to properly inform the board about renewing the district's insurance — causing the policy to lapse and operations to briefly shut down in June 2023 "Plaintiff’s termination had nothing to do with his speech it was for his role in allowing the FFPD’s insurance coverage to lapse," wrote Sara L To state a viable claim of First Amendment retaliation they were not speaking pursuant to their official duties Wang concluded that factor alone doomed Holt's First Amendment claim While Holt maintained the district attorney's inquiry was the "only one of its kind" he ever participated in Wang observed the provision of surveillance footage and Holt's conversation with the investigator fell within his fire chief duties "It is instructive that one of the job responsibilities of the Fire Chief of the FFPD (is) to lead and administer all Fire Department operations," she wrote the closed-circuit security system that yielded the video sought by the Teller County District Attorney’s investigator Lawyers for both parties did not immediately respond to a request for comment A federal judge this month partially dismissed the wrongful termination claims the Florissant Fire Protection District’s former chief lodged a… Colorado Politics is published both in print and online Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily designed for public policy arena professionals Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper containing outstanding features and news stories Secure your subscription to Colorado’s premier political news journal You can be in the know right alongside Colorado’s political insiders Your access to this service has been limited If you think you have been blocked in error contact the owner of this site for assistance If you are a WordPress user with administrative privileges on this site please enter your email address in the box below and click "Send" You will then receive an email that helps you regain access Wordfence is a security plugin installed on over 5 million WordPress sites The owner of this site is using Wordfence to manage access to their site You can also read the documentation to learn about Wordfence's blocking tools or visit wordfence.com to learn more about Wordfence Click here to learn more: Documentation 6 May 2025 8:51:04 GMT.Your computer's time: document.write(new Date().toUTCString()); (First Alert 4) - A pedestrian and dog were hit and killed in Florissant Saturday morning Florissant Police Department responded to the call around 7 a.m authorities said they found a deceased 62-year-old male laying in the roadway and a deceased dog was located nearby Florissant police confirmed to First Alert 4 the man’s name was Rick Alsept Neighbors said Alsept walked around the neighborhood often white and blue flowers mark the spot where Alsept died Neighbors said he was a proud Navy veteran I had a hard time composing myself,” said Kevin Jordan who lives near where the incident happened a few times a day he’d take his dog out for a walk in the stroller and he’d pick up trash and collect it clean up the neighborhood and everybody around here knew him Signs are posted frequently in the area urging drivers to slow down Jordan said speeding is a constant problem in the neighborhood “I saw people saying things like speed bumps would help and stuff like that but I don’t really know that for the most part those would help,” he said “I don’t know what the solution would be.” Jordan said he will fondly remember his neighbor and hope he gets justice “It’s just sad for somebody to live their life like he did see the things he saw and for this to happen for him to die and go out like this and for the person to run,” he said This case is being investigated as a hit-and-run. On Monday, police announced the arrest of Alonzo Johnson. Residents are being asked to use an alternate route while the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Florissant Police Department at 314-831-7000 the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays Officials say this is due to a lack of staffing Guests will not have access to the visitor center the monument will be open Wednesday through Sunday FNRP's Fourth Grocery-Anchored Center in the State Highlights Strategic Growth in the Midwest a grocery-anchored shopping center located in Florissant This acquisition expands FNRP's presence in Missouri bringing its total portfolio in the state to four grocery-anchored centers totaling over 950,000 square feet Florissant Marketplace is a 98% occupied shopping center anchored by a 70,262-square-foot Schnucks Schnucks has grown to become the region's #1 grocer by market share The grocer has been a tenant at Florissant Marketplace for more than 20 years Accompanying Schnucks at the center is a strong mix of daily-needs tenants Current inline tenants have a weighted average tenure exceeding 11 years "Florissant Marketplace is a prime example of our ability to acquire well-located necessity-based retail centers in markets we know well," said Stuart Brackenridge "By leveraging FNRP's national platform and local expertise we see tremendous opportunity to enhance the center's performance." Florissant Marketplace is located in a high-traffic retail corridor 20 miles north of Downtown St Positioned along North Lindbergh Boulevard a major thoroughfare with over 44,700 vehicles per day the center benefits from strong demographics with more than 88,000 residents within a three-mile radius earning an average household income exceeding $85,000 Chase Young of CBRE represented the seller in this transaction Disclaimer: An investment in commercial real estate is subject to risk including the risk that all of your investment may be lost Any representations concerning investing in commercial real estate resistance to inflation and any other representations as to the merits of investing in commercial real estate reflect our belief concerning the representations and may or may not come to be realized Cash distributions are not guaranteed.  [email protected] a leading national private equity commercial real estate firm has reached 99% occupancy at Carriage Place.. Commercial Real Estate Banking & Financial Services Construction & Building Real Estate Do not sell or share my personal information: LOUIS — The Ferguson-Florissant School District has released an update on its ongoing financial crisis and is asking for the community's input Families, staff, and community members are encouraged to share their feedback by completing a survey by Thursday, March 14, at 10 a.m. The survey was sent to families, staff, and the community and can also be found on the website www.fergflor.org according to a press release sent out by the district Despite reducing spending and making $1.4 million in cuts in February the district said it is still facing a projected $7.7 million deficit for the next school year The district listed various factors contributing to the crisis The Board of Education is also seeking community input to help guide decision-making while the focus remains on students LOUIS — Multi-agency resource centers for storm victims in Florissant and Arnold will be available Monday The State Emergency Management Agency has coordinated with volunteer partners and other state and local agencies for additional resource centers in St Residents impacted by the tornadoes that devastated the state earlier this month can go to the James J Eagan Center in Florissant and the Arnold Recreation Center in Arnold to receive support services and recovery resources Eagan Center will offer services and resources during the same hours on Tuesday Storm victims can go to either resource center LOUIS — The severe weather that devastated the St Louis area earlier this month was the first time Florissant resident Lydia Jackson experienced a tornado in her community Jackson and her husband met with organizations for resources and next steps Monday at the James J “You really don’t realize the resources that you truly need until you either lose them or you’re without it,” she said She mentioned her family was frightened during the storm as her ring doorbell camera captured the EF-2 tornado coming toward their home “It was pretty scary for the kids and I have a dog who was agitated by it,” Jackson said Louis and Jefferson counties were able to go to either the James J “This is a really good set up for anyone who has been impacted by the storm,” Jackson said The purpose of a MARC is to gather as many services providers as possible into one place as a “one-stop-shop” for victims for the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) “The person who’s been impacted by the disaster doesn’t have to go to this office and that office … They can come and visit all these entities in one location,” he said Storm victims should bring proof of residency such a bill or a piece of mail and any photos of property damage Monday’s MARC was the 11th held throughout the state where officials have been on traveling to different cities since last week “The service providers have been amazing to make sure they’re getting the services out,” Dickhaut said “We want to make sure we get the right amount of information that can help the folks navigate the process going forward.” Dickhaut said roughly 900 homes were either destroyed or sustained major damage More than 3,000 homes in total were either majorly damaged “The biggest thing that we’re working to do with (the MARCs) is help people realize that there’s help out there and there’s assistance.” He mentioned the road to recovery is not quick adding it can take communities months and even years SEMA also is coordinating with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Dickhaut said once a federal declaration is approved FEMA will come to provide a similar process in providing resource centers for those impacted Jackson said she and her neighbors went to check on each other in addition to the police arriving immediately after “This was one of those events that probably We were able to come together and be supportive,” she said The fire department came quickly to shut off gas that was leaking She commended the first responders for their fast response to the community She and her neighbors were without power for days Jackson said everyone celebrated “like we were at a Cardinals game with a home run hit.” For anyone who cannot attend the MARCs can call the American Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767 or the United Way at 2-1-1 for services and resources Mo.–Police in Florissant say the man involved in the shooting inside a Schnucks store has been charged Derrick Johnson has been charged with one count of assault in the first degree and one count of armed criminal action According to police Johnson confronted a man in the frozen food seciton of the store located at 3987 New Halls Ferry aiming toward the victim and started to chase him Court documents state the man then fled to another aisle before pulling out their own gun and shooting Johnson in the abdomen Johnson then fell to ground and was later transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Police said his injuries are non-life-threatening The shooting happened in the busy Cross Keys shopping plaza around lunch time The incident was captured on surveillance video.  Police have not named the other person involved in the incident. Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInUPDATE: Florissant police say they have identified the man and that he is in serious condition at a local hospital (First Alert 4) - The Florissant Police Department is asking for help identifying a pedestrian who was hit by a car on Monday morning the man was struck on Parker Spur at New Halls Ferry around 7:22 a.m Police said the man did not have any identification at the time of the incident He was last seen wearing a multi-colored scarf dark pants and white New Balance tennis shoes Officers said the man had an old-fashioned MP3 player with wired headphones Anyone with information about the man’s identity is encouraged to call the Florissant PD Communications Center at 314-830-7000