Email Author Nicholas Phillips

Awards

• 2012 - National Association of Black Journalists Awards, published January 20, 2011

  "Left for Dead"

• 2012 - AAN AltWeekly Awards, published January 20, 2011

  "Left for Dead"

• 2011 - National Association of Black Journalists Awards, published June 9, 2010

  "Tears of a Town"

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2012 Stories by Nicholas Phillips

• Woman Films Herself Nude for VietSingle.com, Complains a Guy Is Blackmailing Her With It

  published Nov 21, 2012

  Last Friday morning, a 38-year-old woman walked into the Springfield Police Department to make a complaint. She was being blackmailed, she told an officer -- but felt "embarrassed," according to the i... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Some Area Couples Celebrate Thanksgiving With Crazy Domestic Strife

  published Nov 21, 2012

  The holidays can be stressful. And love can drive you mad. We get all that. But land sakes, it sure seems like certain couples have gone batshit cray-cray within the past week.Exhibit A: Head-stabbing... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Another White Castle Targeted, This Time by a Rifle-Wielding Bandit

  published Nov 20, 2012

  For the second time in a week, a St. Louis-area White Castle has been targeted for a stick-up.  Police tell us that last evening at 12:18 am, a suspect walked into the . He's described by the cop... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Richard Dale, Jr., St. Louis Homicide No. 103: Shot in Head, Left in Vehicle for Days

  published Nov 20, 2012

  At 6:10 pm Monday, police say, officers came to the 5900 block of Lalite in the Walnut Park West neighborhood in North St. Louis. They'd gotten a call about a pickup truck that had been parked in the ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Know This Guyr FBI Wants to Talk to Him About Child Porn.

  published Nov 20, 2012

  The FBI's not giving us much to go on here, but it's worth a shot. They want to talk to this guy, but not because they're accusing him of anything. Rather, they think he might know the victim and prod... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  [PHOTO] Good Morning, Forest Park

  published Nov 20, 2012

  A mist covered much of Forest Park this morning. This was the view from North Skinker Road and Forsyth Boulevard at about 6:40 am (as captured by an old-model Blackberry). ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Hey Thieves: Stealing Smartphones Might Not Be Worth It Anymore

  published Nov 19, 2012

  Hear ye, petty thieves: You can steal somebody's smartphone if you want, but by the end of next week, most users will be able to remotely deactivate their phones forever on the big networks. So you're... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  The Kansas City Chiefs Have Disappointed a Fan to Death

  published Nov 19, 2012

  However discouraged you may feel about Rams quarterback Sam Bradford or the St. Louis Rams in general, take solace in the fact that you're reading these words right now, because you're still alive. Lo... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Most People Don't Commit Suicide by Blowing Up Their House. This Man Did.

  published Nov 19, 2012

  Most Americans shoot or suffocate themselves when they decide to end their own lives. Not Kirk Sayles. From what TV news crews can tell, the 52-year-old from Florissant left a suicide note in a car ou... More >>

• [VIDEO] Twinkies May Become Scarce. But Twinkie Analogies Never Die

  published Nov 16, 2012

  True, Hostess has shuttered its St. Louis plant (citing a labor strike). It's liquidating the whole company. The supply chain has already been disrupted!  But fear not. Hostess says it plans to s... More >>

• FEATURED STORY

  Rebecca Sue Russell Gets 10 Years for Role in Horrible Child Sexual Assault Case

  published Nov 16, 2012

  Remember Rebecca Sue Russellr No, not for her ultra-eerie mugshot (see right), but rather, for allegations that she, her boyfriend and another fella sexually abused three girls - ages 5, 3 and 7 month... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Woman Holds Robber at Gunpoint Until Cops Arrive (Yes, the Media Reported It)

  published Nov 16, 2012

  We've said it before, and we'll say it again: Don't let gun-rights extremists tell you that the media never reports positive gun stories. Because sometimes they do. Just last night, KSDK Channel 5 ran... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Republic Man Feared FBI Would Find Child Porn on His Laptop. So He Called the Cops.

  published Nov 16, 2012

  There are oh-so-many reasons we're relieved to not be this guy. "This guy" hasn't been named by the News-Leader in Springfield, but they are saying that he is a man from nearby Republic, who on Novemb... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Grad Student at Truman State Faked Cancer, Now Faces Forgery Charge

  published Nov 16, 2012

  It appears that, at least for a while, some people really believed Victoria Ann Marut was sick. The 22-year-old student in Truman State University's graduate education program first told her professor... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  [UPDATED] Fenton Man Charged With Stealing Jeep with Baby Inside

  published Nov 15, 2012

  Updated with charges and mugshot:  Ryan Beckler, a 21-year-old from Fenton, has been charged for the incident on Wednesday when a Jeep was stolen with a baby inside. He faces charges of stealing ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  How to Avoid the Fate of the Teenage Girl Who Reported Rape at UMSL

  published Nov 15, 2012

  Rape is never ever justified. No one ever deserves it. It is always a revolting crime. That said, there are certain things you should definitely avoid to keep yourself safe -- from rape, yes. And murd... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Driver Killed in Crash After Trying to Avoid Dead Deer

  published Nov 15, 2012

  On Wednesday morning, Keith A. Labitska was driving north on I-55 in his 2005 Chevy Malibu, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.The 41-year-old from Imperial saw a dead deer in the roadway... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  About to Lose Your House in the Countyr Judge OKs Law That Might Be Your Last Chance

  published Nov 15, 2012

  A circuit-level judge gave the greenlight on Wednesday to a St. Louis County law that will require a lender to sit down with a homeowner before foreclosing on a home. This law -- a.k.a. the "foreclosu... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Starting Friday, Steinberg Ice Rink Will Be Open "All Day, Everyday." OKr

  published Nov 14, 2012

  Ah, how we adore Steinberg Skating Rink in Forest Park - the largest outdoor rink the Midwest! You can go with the fam! With a first date! With stupid friends! They have a fire pit. There's hot chocol... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Operation Pizza-Police Nabs Pot-Smoker with Heroin, Cash and Weaponry

  published Nov 14, 2012

  Last night, Imo's Pizza took a phone-in order that the staff considered suspicious -- and we imagine they're a bit on edge, what with the string of pizza-delivery robberies/murders lately. So Imo's no... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Deer Harvest Down This Year Due to "Freaky Weather"

  published Nov 14, 2012

  Last Saturday at sunrise, firearm deer season began. It's a big deal across the state of Missourah. (Yours truly shot at a doe, but missed. No, I don't want to talk about it.)But this year was kind of... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Vontel Harris, St. Louis Homicide No. 101; Shot Outside a Mobil Station on Kingshighway

  published Nov 14, 2012

  Yesterday, Vontel Harris of the O'Fallon neighborhood was in the parking lot of the Mobil station at Kingshighway and Delmar Boulevard.  At about 1 pm., the cops say, a white, newer-model Mazda S... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Some Firefighters Can Live Outside City Limits, State Supreme Court Rules

  published Nov 14, 2012

  Yesterday, the Missouri Supreme Court basically told St. Louis city firefighters: "If you have seven years of service under your belt, go ahead and move outside the city limits if you want."So they ca... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  George Allen Expected To Be Released Wednesday Morning

  published Nov 13, 2012

  George Allen has been locked up for about three decades for the brutal rape and murder of court reporter Mary Bell in 1982. But a campaign to prove his innocence has convinced Cole County Judge Daniel... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Sorry, Clayton Smokers. You Still Can't Smoke in the Park, Appeals Court Rules

  published Nov 13, 2012

  The federal Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Clayton resident Arthur Gallagher last Thursday in his quest to overturn that city's ban on smoking in public parks. A retired vineyard owner,... More >>