Jonathan Riley

2 days ago | emissourian.com | Jonathan Riley

Large crowds are expected to converge in downtown Washington this weekend as the annual Art Fair & Winefest is set for another run May 16 to 18. As in years past, organizers predict the 44th edition of Art Fair & Winefest will draw visitors from across the Midwest. kA 4=2DDlQA`Qm{@?8E:>6 72?D @7 E96 2??F2= 46=63C2E:@? @7 2CE 2?5 H:?6 :? E96 962CE @7 |:DD@FC: H:?6 4@F?ECJ D9@F=5 ?@E 6IA64E 2?J D:8?:7:42?E 492?86D 7C@> A2DE 76DE:G2=D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ $2> p52>D[ 6G6?E 4@@C5:?2E@C H:E9 s@H?E@H?

2 days ago | emissourian.com | Jonathan Riley

A year into implementation of Washington’s 10-year comprehensive plan, the city has made significant progress on some of the goals outlined, while work remains to be done on others. Economic Development Director Aaron Griesheimer and City Planner Sarah Skeen provided an update Monday to the Washington Planning & Zoning Commission on the “Grow WashMo” plan. The commission initially approved the document, developed in coordination with consultant H3 Studio Inc., in May of last year.

4 days ago | emissourian.com | Jonathan Riley

A 33-year-old man was arrested in the early hours of Monday morning following a standoff with the Franklin County SWAT Team in Labadie. “Citizens in the area of Hwy MM, Labadie, might have noticed an increased police presence during the evening hours of May 11, 2025, along with the additional resources of the Franklin County SWAT Team, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and Metro Air Support of St. Louis,” the sheriff’s office said in a release. kAm$9@CE=J 367@C6 g A]>] $F?52J[ uC2?<=:?

5 days ago | emissourian.com | Jonathan Riley

An area man convicted last year on a federal child sex crime charge is facing new felony charges in Warren County in connection with the same or related incidents in 2023. Brandon D. Espinoza, 21, pleaded guilty in December to a federal charge of sexual exploitation of a child in connection with an incident on June 10, 2023, when he filmed himself sexually assaulting a five-year-old boy he was babysitting. kA 4=2DDlQA`QmtDA:?@K2 H2D 492C865 |2J ` :? (2CC6?

5 days ago | emissourian.com | Julie Patton |Jonathan Riley

Over the last year, volunteers for Project Linus of Franklin and Crawford Counties have lovingly created blankets to comfort local seriously ill or traumatized children in need. The nonprofit chapter’s “blanketeers” have provided hundreds of handmade, knotted fleece blankets and afghans to youths since founding the group last April. kA 4=2DDlQAbQm“~FC 7:CDE J62C 92D 366? 2 A@H6C7F= C6>:?56C @7 H92E’D A@DD:3=6 H96? A2DD:@?2E6 A6@A=6 4@>6 E@86E96C 7@C 2 4@>>@? 42FD6[ :?