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First marijuana dispensary opens soon in downtown St. Louis

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ST. LOUIS – The Downtown West neighborhood has undergone a transformation over the last few years. Besides a brand-new Major League Soccer stadium, parking garage, and refurbished businesses, one that hopes to turn heads is the latest entrance to the budding cannabis industry.

Former NBA players Al Harrington and Larry Hughes, along with Abe Givens and Dan Pettigrew, are behind the new business that promises jobs, diversity, and inclusion.

“Larry already doing all the stuff in the community with his basketball stuff, and I know he does a lot with the homeless and all these different things,” said Al Harrington, chairman, and CEO of Viola STL. “Obviously, this is just a match made in heaven.”

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The store, located in the 2000 block of Olive Street, will be the only black-owned dispensary in downtown’s central business district.

“Historically, cannabis has been used to destroy the black community,” Harrington said. “You know, 85% of the drug arrests in the black community for the last 40 or 50 years have been cannabis-related. Only four percent of these companies are owned by people of color.”

The transformation of the former Imo’s into a marijuana dispensary, just steps from police headquarters and across the street from CITYPARK Stadium, is just one of the many changes that have occurred in the Downtown West neighborhood.

“I’m in favor of the legalization of marijuana, and I’m a child of the 60s, so it’s not new to me,” said Bob Schmidt, a St. Louis resident.

Maggie O’Brien’s has changed as well in the past year, and they welcome their new neighbors.

“I don’t really see a problem with it,” said Cameron Snively, a manager of Maggie O’Brien’s. “Doesn’t really affect us in any way. People get jobs there, and it’s good for St. Louis. So, that’s all that matters at the end of the day.”

Viola STL says it plans to add more than 200 jobs between the downtown location and another Viola STL in the 3400 block of Iowa Street in the Cherokee district.

The store will open on Jan. 27.

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Man attacks Jeff Co. deputy with screwdriver during attempted arrest

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JEFFERSON COUNTY, Mo. – Two people are behind bars after a man reportedly attacked a Jefferson County deputy with a screwdriver during an attempted arrest over the weekend.

Prosecutors have charged Nicholas Davis, 47, and Amanda Davis, 45, of Dittmer, Missouri, with felonies in the investigation.

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The alleged attack followed a traffic stop of a driver in the 9500 block of Jones Creek Road on July 7, though the driver was not Nicholas or Amanda.

According to court documents obtained by FOX 2, Nicholas reportedly came out of his nearby home, yelled at a deputy and started approaching him while holding a screwdriver. The deputy initially ordered Nicholas to back away, then used pepper spray.

Per court documents, the deputy attempted to arrest Nicholas, who then struck him in the chest with the screwdriver. Amanda reportedly approached the deputy and pulled him away from Nicholas before both ran inside their home.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says the situation prompted an hours-long standoff involving negotiators, a SWAT team and a K-9 deputy. The situation led to Nicholas refusing warnings and being bitten by a K-9.

Nicholas and Amanda are both jailed in the Jefferson County Jail without bond. Nicholas is charged with first-degree assault on a special victim and armed criminal action. Amanda is charged with resisting/interfering with arrest.

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St. Louis Public Schools superintendent to be sworn in

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ST. LOUIS — The new St. Louis schools superintendent will be officially sworn into office today. Dr. Keisha Scarlett took over the job in July after the retirement of Dr. Kelvin Adams. She was assistant superintendent in the Seattle Public School District. The installation ceremony is at 6:15 p.m. before the regular school board meeting.

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Gas tanker crashes into St. Louis Metro transit center

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ST. LOUIS — A gasoline tanker truck crashed into a Metro transit center near Riverview and Hall Streets early Tuesday morning and knocked over a power pole. The pole is leaning on other power lines. Police have the area blocked off here because there is a downed power line. Ameren and Metro crews are also on the scene.

The incident happened around 12:30 a.m. It’s still unclear exactly what caused the crash, but we do that there was a second vehicle somehow involved. The airbags on that second vehicle did deploy.

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Police at the scene have not been able to give us a lot of details. Metro officials tell FOX 2 that the transit center here is operating this morning for passengers and buses. Access to certain areas will be limited here as clean up unfolds.

A Metro spokesperson says half of the station isn’t being used right now because of safety issues. It isn’t impacting overall bus operations, everything is just happening on the other side of transit center.

The extent of the damage to the actual transit center is still unclear, but I’m told it does not appear to be extreme. A Metro spokesperson tells me there were no injuries to any metro workers or passengers. The tanker driver also was not injured.

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