A 34 year old O’Fallon man, Andrew Haller, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges including coercion and enticement of minors, as well as distribution and receipt of child pornography. Haller was found to have engaged in illegal sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl he met online and solicited explicit material from another minor, using platforms like Tumblr and encrypted apps Telegram and Signal. An FBI investigation uncovered 195 images and 92 videos of child sexual abuse material on his devices, which he had also distributed. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Hayes.
St. Charles County has received the “Transportation Achievement of the Year” award from the Gateway Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers (GSITE) for its Emergency Vehicle Preemption system, the largest of its kind in Missouri. This cloud-based technology prioritizes emergency vehicles at 351 intersections, allowing quicker and safer passage for police, fire, and ambulance services. Installed in June 2022 and covering 200 vehicles, the system—funded by 80% federal grants and 20% local funds—has significantly improved emergency response times.
Missourians eager to gamble on sports will have to wait longer after Secretary of State Denny Hoskins ruled that the Missouri Gaming Commission’s emergency rules for sports betting don’t qualify for expedited implementation. Instead, the process will follow the standard timeline, including public input, delaying legalization until at least the fall. Despite this setback, applications for sports gambling licenses are ongoing, and advertisements are already rolling out. Although voters narrowly approved Amendment 2 last November, statewide sports gambling must still be implemented by December 1 of this year as stated in the amendment.
St. Peters is now accepting applications for its Home Improvement Loan Program, offering up to $7,500 in interest-free, five-year forgivable loans to help low-income homeowners with rehabilitation projects such as new windows, HVAC systems, roof replacements, and driveway repairs. To apply or learn more, visit www.stpetersmo.net/cdbg, call 636-279-8279 and select Option 2 for an application, or call 636-477-6600, extension 1362, with any questions.