Columnist Sylvester Brown says his employer, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, put him on paid administrative leave on Friday, March 27, and locked him out of the building over allegations that officials in East St. Louis paid for a trip he took to Washington, D.C. Photo: Nick LucchesiAsked about who he would like to see as his successor at the Post, Brown said, "I haven't gotten to that yet. I hope whoever he is, he has a strong spine."Brown, the metro columnist covering African-American issues and
photo by Keegan HamiltonEast St. Louis mayor Alvin Parks said Friday that the city's bars, liquor stores and nightclubs will continue to serve alcohol until the current closing time, despite criticism.Parks doubles as East St. Louis' liquor commissioner and said nightclubs will remain open until 6 a.m. and package liquor stores until 3 a.m.The decision comes despite pressure from the East St. Louis City Council, St. Clair County law enforcement officials, and many East St. Louis residents to res
perfectsubstitute.blogspot.com​Former East St. Louis deputy liquor commissioner Walter D. Hill was indicted yesterday on federal extortion charges, the Belleville News-Democrat reports. Hill is accused of using his position with the city to extort money, liquor, and sex. He is also accused of lying to federal investigators.A portion of the typically stellar reporting from the BND's Carolyn P. Smith:The indictment charges Hill with soliciting and receiving money and property -- including cash,
photo by Jennifer SilverbergEast St. Louis Mayor Alvin Parks​East St. Louis mayor and liquor commissioner Alvin Parks may have finally had it with his city's nightclubs. After a bloody weekend that left four people injured or dead in two days at nightspots scattered across town, Parks says last call at the bars will be rolled back--at least for the time being-- from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Parks, who was at the scene of one of the murders--a fatal shooting at 3:14 a.m. at Club 2151-- when it occurred
