St. Clair County Sheriff's Department

Why did the number of DUI cases drop in St. Clair, Madison counties?

BY BRIAN BRUEGGEMANN - News-Democrat

The number of DUI cases dropped in both St. Clair and Madison counties in 2009.

Though the decreases are relatively small, they do suggest a leveling-off in the number of DUI arrests in the metro-east.

St. Clair County had 1,747 DUI cases filed in 2009, compared with 1,804 in 2008 and 1,749 in 2007.

Madison County had 1,658 DUI cases filed in 2009, compared with 1,796 in 2008 and 1,689 in 2007.

Kristi Hosea, a victim-services specialist with Illinois Mothers Against Drunk Driving, said stepped-up efforts by police have been helpful, but there won't be a significant decrease in drunken driving until breath-alcohol ignition interlocks are more widely required in vehicles.

Self defense: A right with a responsibility?

Recent cases show possible dangers of confusion

Suburban Journals

By Scott Cousins
Sunday, January 10, 2010 12:36 AM CST

As the old adage about protecting one's property says, "A man's home is his castle."

What's not said is exactly how far he (or she) can go to safeguard a home - or even more vaguely, a car or family.
It's a complex question, as evidenced by two high-profile area cases in recent weeks.

The first, on Dec. 27, involved a St. Louis man who allegedly shot and killed an 18-year-old who was attempting to steal the man's truck.

The next day, two St. Louis police officers shot and killed a man who they said fired at them, but who may have believed he was shooting at an intruder.