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Friday, October 30, 2026

Husband and wife now face murder charges in I-170 teen's death

Plus, Kirkwood residents sue over a nearly 15% electric rate hike and City SC raises its banner.

The Daily Chesterfield team3 stories18 sources7 min read

Crime & CourtsTop story

Taiya Herndon now faces murder charges in the I-170 shooting death of a 17-year-old

Taiya Herndon's bond is $750,000 and her hearing is set for Nov. 19

$750,000
cash-only bond for Taiya Herndon
Nov. 19
date of her preliminary hearing
17
age of Alyssa Wilson

Source: KSDK

If you've followed the I-170 case, there's new detail. Taiya Herndon, 45, now faces first-degree murder and armed criminal action charges in the death of 17-year-old Alyssa Wilson, a McCluer North High School senior headed to Boo at the Zoo, KMOV reports. She was first charged with hindering prosecution of a felony. Her husband, Willie Herndon, already faced the murder charges. Her bond is now $750,000, cash-only, and a preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 19.

New court records say the couple went to the Ferguson Police Department about two hours before the shooting to report that a red car was following them. STLtoday reports the new charges say they targeted Wilson's car because they thought it had been following them. FOX 2 adds that video showed a man later identified as Willie Herndon standing outside the Buick for two minutes before a gunshot was heard.

The couple's Buick was seen at three spots before the shooting

  1. 5 p.m.Taiya Herndon reports a red car following the couple at the Ferguson police station.
  2. 5:51 p.m.The couple's Buick Enclave is seen at a Mobil on St. Charles Rock Road.
  3. 7:03 p.m.The Enclave pulls onto the shoulder of southbound I-170 with its hazard lights on.
  4. 7:07 p.m.Wilson drives past, a gunshot strikes her car, and she crashes.

Sources: KSDK, KMOV, FOX 2

  • Home: Taiya Herndon is from Arlington, Texas
  • Next day: police found the Buick at a Caseyville, Illinois, hotel
  • Also: Willie Herndon is suspected in an Oct. 10 I-55 shooting
  • I-55 shooting: no one was hurt, near Bates Avenue

County Government

Two Kirkwood residents sue the city, saying its nearly 15% electric rate hike needed a public vote

If you pay a Kirkwood electric bill, this lawsuit is about your rates. Two residents, Fonda Fantroy Richards and Alfred Rheinnecker, filed suit Wednesday in St. Louis County Circuit Court. They say the 14.8% increase, effective Nov. 1, 2025, broke the , which bans certain tax increases without voter approval. STLtoday reports the suit says officials are using electricity and water charges to cover a multimillion-dollar budget deficit.

The suit ties the increase to $15.6 million in Electric Department overspending. The council fired then-Director Mark Petty on Sept. 29, 2025, and agreed to pay him $112,500 in severance. It voted to fire chief administrative officer Russell Hawes on Oct. 22, 2025, and a month later agreed to pay him $250,000 in severance plus $29,327 for health insurance.

Kirkwood's firings, rate hike, lawsuit and a planned audit unfolded over about 15 months

  1. Sept. 29, 2025The city council votes to fire Electric Department Director Mark Petty.
  2. Oct. 22, 2025The council votes to fire chief administrative officer Russell Hawes.
  3. Nov. 1, 2025The 14.8% electric rate increase takes effect.
  4. Dec. 19, 2025Hawes' last day as Kirkwood's city manager.
  5. Oct. 28Two residents file suit in St. Louis County Circuit Court over the increase.
  6. Early JanuaryA forensic audit of the Electric Department will likely begin.

Sources: STLtoday.com, STLPR, KSDK

  • Audit firm: council agreed to begin negotiating with Plante and Moran of Chicago
  • Audit start: likely early January
  • Audit length: up to six months
  • Filed by: attorney Daniel J. Emerson, under the

Hawes's severance is more than double Petty's

Source: STLPR

View as table
Value
Mark Petty, Electric director$112.5K
Russell Hawes, city manager$250K

Kirkwood agreed to pay Hawes more than double Petty's severance

Source: West Newsmagazine

View as table
Value
Russell Hawes$250K
Mark Petty$112.5K

Circle of Concern's client numbers have grown since 2021

  1. 2021Circle of Concern's client count begins growing; it has since risen 23%.
  2. 2025Clients grow an additional 10% in the last year, since 2025.
  3. NovemberCircle of Concern kicks off a year-long capital campaign.
  4. Dec. 2025Hawes' last day as city manager.
  5. Oct. 28Two residents file a lawsuit over the rate increase.

Source: West Newsmagazine

Sports

St. Louis City SC raised its first championship banner at Energizer Park on Wednesday

If you missed the party, here's the recap. St. Louis City SC raised its first championship banner for its 2026 title, the club's first trophy since it began play in 2023. City beat the Columbus Crew in a penalty shootout, and the win comes with a $600,000 prize from U.S. Soccer. The St. Louis American notes City is the 11th St. Louis club to win the Cup.

$600,000prize from U.S. Soccer for winning the U.S. Open Cup

The title also qualified City SC for the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup.

Source: STLPR

  • Shootout: City won 5-3 after 120 scoreless minutes
  • Final kick: midfielder Daniel Edelman
  • Backup goalkeeper Ben Lundt stepped in after Roman Bürki's injury
  • Next: the 2027 CONCACAF Champions Cup

Fans lined up outside for photos with the trophy before the match. The night ended with a 3-2 loss to the Portland Timbers.

City SC lost to Portland after raising the banner

  • Portland Timbers3
    St. Louis City SC2
    FinalPlayed after the pregame banner celebration at Energizer Park

Source: STLPR

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News Notes

Schools

Nine school districts in the St. Louis region are asking voters to approve ballot measures for building repairs, security upgrades and, in some cases, teacher salaries. Webster Groves and Parkway held community meetings to gather feedback. STLPR

Poll workers

St. Louis County election directors say payroll system problems could delay pay for poll workers. Poll workers staff 200 polling places in the county. KMOV

Early voting

More than 110,000 people have already voted early in St. Louis County. That includes 38 inmates who haven't been convicted. KMOV

Property taxes

If you're a senior in the county's property tax freeze, the county says a software glitch overcharged seniors and is correcting the error. KMOV

Circle of Concern

The Valley Park nonprofit launched a $1 million campaign and serves approximately 800 families each month. Executive Director Cyndi Miller says clients are up 23% since 2021. West Newsmagazine

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Circle of Concern's client count is up 23% since 2021

Source: West Newsmagazine

View as table
Value
Growth since 202123%
Growth since 202510%

Asked

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Asked

How are you planning to cast your ballot this election?

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Quoted

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.

— Maya Angelou

The Buy

Around Missouri

Kalshi

Prediction-market operator Kalshi sued Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway in federal court Tuesday, seeking to block enforcement of sports betting laws against its sports prediction marketplace. Hanaway sent cease-and-desist letters to six operators last month. FOX 2

Ambulance tax

Seven months after voters soundly rejected a 1% sales tax, the St. Charles County Ambulance District is back with a more modest proposal. It could bring in $25 million next year. STLtoday.com

Sentencing

A judge ruled Thursday that a St. Peters man will spend six years in prison for a drunken driving crash that killed one woman and injured three others. STLtoday.com

$25 millioncould come in next year for St. Charles County's ambulance district

Voters soundly rejected a 1% sales tax seven months ago.

Source: STLtoday.com

Asked

Tap an answer to see how Chesterfield answered.

Asked

What's your Halloween weekend plan?

Be the first to answer.

Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Things to Do

Things to Do

Chesterfield, MO

Friday, Oct. 30

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Around the Block

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Neighbors

THE CHESTERFIELD POLICE HAVE BEEN CALLED due to this info -

“Be on guard of a grey jeep renegade looking vehicle with a 50ish yr old man with grey hair and glasses. He tried to coax the girls to come to his car. The girls ran and are safely home. This is not a joke”

— A neighbor, Villages at Baxter Ridge

108 likes · 23 comments

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The Wrap

A St. Louis native started Shake Shack. Danny Meyer, who also runs Union Square Hospitality Group, talks about his new book, What Could Possibly Go Right?, Mon., Nov. 2, from 7 to 9 p.m. It's in the Wool Studio Theatre at The J's Staenberg Family Complex, part of the St. Louis Jewish Book Festival & Speaker Series. Tickets are $38.92.

Going? Settle your Shake Shack order first.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Chesterfield's pool vote, and a tax-bill glitch for seniors

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Every source in this edition18 links · 9 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. KSDKksdk.com
  3. KMOVfirstalert4.com
  4. STLtoday.comstltoday.com
  5. FOX 2fox2now.com
  6. STLPRstlpr.org
  7. KSDKksdk.com
  8. STLtoday.comstltoday.com
  9. West Newsmagazinewestnewsmagazine.com
  10. STLPRstlpr.org
  11. stlamerican.comstlamerican.com
  12. STLPRstlpr.org
  13. KMOVfirstalert4.com
  14. KMOVfirstalert4.com
  15. FOX 2fox2now.com
  16. STLtoday.comstltoday.com
  17. STLtoday.comstltoday.com
  18. Chesterfield events calendardailychesterfield.com

Past issues

  1. Mon., Nov. 2Webster Groves eyes a condo plan, and its library turns 75
  2. Sun., Nov. 1Chesterfield's Alzheimer's walk raises more than $1.3 million
  3. Sat., Oct. 31Property tax bill warning, a Chesterfield Valley training center and Tuesday's vote
  4. Thurs., Oct. 29Chesterfield's pool vote, and a tax-bill glitch for seniors
  5. Wed., Oct. 28State auditor probes St. Louis County property tax appeals
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Daily Chesterfieldto me · Fri., Oct. 306:00 a.m.

Husband and wife now face murder charges in I-170 teen's death

Plus, Kirkwood residents sue over a nearly 15% electric rate hike and City SC raises its banner.

The TLDR

  1. Taiya Herndon now faces murder charges in the I-170 killing of a teen
  2. Kirkwood residents sue over a nearly 15% electric rate hike
  3. St. Louis City SC raises its first championship banner
Read this edition

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From Daily Chesterfield’s other editions

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BallotProposition A on the Nov. 3 ballot will decide whether Missouri's 2025 congressional map takes effectIf you're deciding on Proposition A, know that the 2022 map is the one in use for the Nov. 3 election. The U.S. Supreme Court locked it in after the Missouri Supreme Court ruled the referendum could go before voters. The vote decides whether the 2025 map takes effect after the 2026 election cycle.Wednesday’s editionRead DiningChevys Fresh Mex in Olivette has closed, but the South County location is still openIf you've been meaning to stop by Chevys on Olive Boulevard, you're too late. The Olivette restaurant closed after service Sunday, Oct. 25, FOX 2 reports. St. Louis Magazine says it ended a run of more than 30 years.Tuesday’s editionRead

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