Jim Salter

ST. LOUIS — Strong storms sweeping across the Midwest damaged homes and businesses in St. Louis, toppled mobile homes and ripped the roof off a Missouri church, while burying other areas in more than a foot of snow.

ST. LOUIS — Kwamain Mitchell recalled the first time Rick Majerus visited his home, trying to recruit him to Saint Louis. Mitchell’s mother made a big meal and after a plate Mitchell was full.

Majerus wasn’t, took a look at Mitchell and said, “With that body you can eat three or four more plates.”

ST. LOUIS — The FBI is hunting for a serial bank robber suspected in heists in eight states and whom the agency dubbed the “Bucket List Bandit” after he passed a note to a teller claiming he had only months to live.

ST. LOUIS — Missouri Rep. Todd Akin apologized Monday for his televised comments that women’s bodies are able to prevent pregnancies if they are victims of “a legitimate rape,” but he refused to heed calls to abandon his bid for the Senate.

Appearing on former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee’s radio show, Akin said rape is “never legitimate.”

“It’s an evil act. It’s committed by violent predators,” Akin said. “I used the wrong words the wrong way.”

Calls for Akin’s exit from the race grew Monday, with at least two Republican senators — Scott Brown of Massachusetts and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin — saying he should resign the party’s nomination.

BRANSON, Mo. — A powerful storm system that produced multiple reports of tornadoes lashed the Midwest early Wednesday, roughing up the country music resort city of Branson and laying waste to small towns in Illinois and Kansas. At least 13 people were killed.

ST. LOUIS — A crude new method of making methamphetamine poses a risk even to Americans who never get anywhere near the drug: It is filling hospitals with thousands of uninsured burn patients requiring millions of dollars in advanced treatment — a burden so costly that it’s contributing to the closure of some burn units.

So-called shake-and-bake meth is produced by combining raw, unstable ingredients in a 2-liter soda bottle. But if the person mixing the noxious brew makes the slightest error, such as removing the cap too soon or accidentally perforating the plastic, the concoction can explode, searing flesh and causing permanent disfigurement, blindness or even death.

"I think this just feels like it's time to end it," the 67-year-old La Russa said at a news conference at Busch Stadium.

The World Series win over Texas was the third of La Russa's 33-year career. The manager guided the Cardinals to the championship despite being 10 1/2 games behind Atlanta on Aug. 25 for the final playoff spot in the National League.

La Russa retires third on the all-time wins list, 35 behind second-place John McGraw. In addition to this season, he won titles in Oakland in 1989 and St. Louis in 2006. He is the first manager to retire immediately after his club won the World Series, according to STATS LLC.