iJacked: Kindles, iPads Stolen From Airplanes at Lambert

Four women were charged last week in connection with the thefts in 2011.

Four women who cleaned airplanes at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport face criminal charges for iPad and iPod thefts from flights in 2011. The women stole or received at least six iPads, two iPods and six ebook readers, according to court documents. During the thefts, all four women worked for ABM Janitorial Services, a contractor responsible for cleaning Southwest Airline planes at Lambert. Police said she stole an iPad valued at $909 between 9 p.m. Nov. 5 and 12:30 a.m. Nov. 6 from the Airport Operations area at Lambert. Police said they found one Nook and five Kindle ebook readers valued at $1,309 at Doss’ residence.  The items had been stolen from airplanes, according to a police report. Lambert Airport Police said in a statement…

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Hazelwood Looking to Grow Business Sector through Annexation

Hazelwood City Council approved resolution adopting a boundary change plan, which has to be submitted to the St. Louis County Boundary Commission by July 1.

Under a plan and map to be submitted to the St. Louis County Boundary Commission by July 1, the City of Hazelwood will indicate an interest in being open to the idea of expansion that would place properties fully within city boundaries. It's not an immediate move, but Hazelwood City Manager Edwin Carlstrom did recommended passage of a resolution adopting a boundary change plan for the purpose of potential future annexations at Hazelwood City Council's May 2 meeting. "It's what I call the south industrial area," Carlstrom said. "It's an unincorporated pocket of St. Louis County. "It's surrounded by Hazelwood, a little bit by Berkeley and the Airport to the south." Potential for Growth in the Business Sector Carlstrom said a similar plan has…

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One Year Later: The Good Friday Tornado in Pictures

Upload your own photos from last year's Good Friday Tornado.

Residents of greater St. Louis will not soon forget Good Friday 2011 and Easter weekend. Here's a look back at some of the damage that was caused.  Have your own photos or memories? Add your photos by clicking on the "Upload photos and videos" link at the top of this article. Leave your memories of the day by leaving a comment below.

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Airport News

'No More Trash' Near Lambert St. Louis International Airport

On Friday, the Missouri Department of Transportation's annual No MOre Trash! Bash will occur at Lambert Airport.

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), community leaders and Adopt-A-Highway volunteers will all be participating in its annual No MOre Trash! Bash and hope to see volunteers come out and help with the effort. Each year North St. Louis County locations are selected and this year the focus areas are spots surrounding Lambert St. Louis International Airport. Kara Price, MoDOT's senior community relations specialist, said MoDOT will provide safety vests, gloves, litter pickers and trash bags. The only thing supporters need are comfortable walking shoes. The goal of the annual No MOre Trash! Bash is to spread awareness of Missouri's litter problem and work toward a litter-free state. "We need your help this year to help make …

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Airport News

Man Who Tried to Open Jet Door Mid-Flight ‎Gets 10 Months in Prison

The unruly passenger forced a Continental Airlines flight to be diverted to Lambert St. Louis International Airport.

A man who tried to open a Chicago-bound airliner’s door mid-flight was sentenced this week in a St. Louis federal court to 10 months in prison. Reynel C. Alcaide, 34, of Burbank, Ill., is also banned from flying for the three-year term of his supervised release, and ordered to repay Continental more than $7,000 in restitution. When Alcaide made is attempt on the airplane, it caused the flight to be diverted to Lambert St. Louis International Airport, less than three miles from the Hazelwood border. According to court documents, Alcaide was flying from Houston to Chicago on Mother's Day last year, when he left his seat on Continental's flight 546 and rushed to the front of the plane. He attempted to open the door while pinning a flight …

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Airport News

Lambert Airport's Concourse C Reopening Monday

Just a couple weeks shy of the Good Friday Tornadoes anniversary, Lambert St. Louis International Airport will unveil an up-to-date main concourse.

Just shy of the one year anniversary of the Good Friday Tornadoes that ripped through North St. Louis County, Lambert St. Louis International Airport will re-open the C-Concourse Monday. The airport had previously planned renovations set to begin, but the concourse turned into one of the hardest hit parts of the airport when an EF-4 tornado tore a 22 mile path across North St. Louis County on April 22, 2011. See Related: Patch on the Scene at Lambert Airport moments after the tornado laid a path of destruction. The concourse was closed on April 22 of last year after sustaining heavy roof, window and interior damage from the tornado, wind and water. It will open at exactly 4 a.m. on Monday. "The repairs and renovations have made the C …

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China Hub Set for Vote in Missouri House

The Missouri House is set to vote on a bill that would give companies $60 million in tax incentives. Hazelwood could benefit from the hub down the line.

The House of Representatives is set to vote on the bill that would establish a China Hub at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. Fox 2 reported Wednesday that the bill passed the Missouri Senate, but in a form that cut $300 million in tax incentives. But companies could still get tax cuts outside of the legislation. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Gov. Jay Nixon is proposing companies use a program called “Compete Missouri.” House leaders are against the idea, according to the website, because it gives the state’s executive branch the power to decide tax incentive distributions. The bill includes $60 million in tax incentives for those companies that “arrange international shipments out of Lambert,” The St. Louis Post-Dispatch …

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China Hub: Turbulence Possible As Discussion Continues

While many Missouri leaders lined up in St. Louis this week to voice their support for the proposal, groups such as the Show-Me Institute argue that the government should avoid involvement in the issue.

Patch is pleased to partner with Brian R. Hook, editor and investigative reporter for Missouri Watchdog, a news website dedicated to investigative journalism about local, state and federal government across Missouri. We've invited Hook to contribute a weekly column that describes what he's watching and why it's important for Missouri taxpayers. Fasten your seat belts. Prepare for landing. Aerotropolis is on approach to St. Louis. Aerotropolis is a plan that is designed to turn St. Louis into a global cargo hub. According to an economic-impact study by the St. Louis Regional Chamber of Commerce and Growth Association, the missing piece of a multi-model infrastructure system for the St. Louis region is air cargo. The $300 million in tax …

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A United Front: Area Chamber Urges Lawmakers to Act on China Hub

The Northwest Chamber Chamber of Commerce, serving members in North County, sends a letter to the state requesting an extra session to consider tax credits to spur trade, and asks its members to do so also.

The prospect of a so-called China hub, centered around Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, has leaders of the Northwest Chamber of Commerce lobbying the Missouri legislature to act.  The chamber, which serves members across St. Louis County, wrote a letter to lawmakers, urging them to jump-start the proposed China hub with an emergency session. The chamber believes the session would put the Aerotropolis tax credits on the table, credits designed to attract Chinese companies. Mike Leblanc, co-chair of the Northwest Chamber’s economic development committee, said if the legislature waits until September to look at the issue, the Chinese may discover Kansas City, MO or Memphis, TN are more serious than St. Louis about establishing a …

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The Difference Between Life and Death: Experts Say Planning is Key in Preparing for Tornadoes

A local meteorologist from National Weather Service offers tips in the event of a tornado warning.

With the area in full swing of trying to aide those the Good Friday and Joplin tornadoes affected, the best advice in preparing for severe weather is to plan ahead, according to Ben Miller, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s (NWS) St. Louis Office. “Know what you are going to do before it happens,” Miller said. “For families, figure out where you usually are and where you’re going to go in the event of severe weather.” For detailed information from the NWS on severe weather preparedness and setting up plans for your family, click here. Also important, Miller said, is knowing the difference between a tornado watch and a warning. A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for the development of a tornado, he said. …

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