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Might want to read something other than Al Jazeera and RT, which tend to spin things into an anti-US view when this as an example has a very simple explanation that has historical and safety precedence.
It is normal practice to limit airspace access over areas that police helicopters are being used, to reduce the potential for mid-air collisions in uncontrollable airspace with police and news helicopters flying all around in every direction and altitude (usually in the dark but also during daylight hours) without the ability to prevent them from making course or altitude changes at will, which is because mid-air collisions and near collisions have happened in the past. This is done in many areas, including the liberal havens of California, New York and so on.
Here's just one example: 2007 Phoenix news helicopter collision - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
From the OP's quote: "...audio recordings obtained by The Associated Press show that local authorities privately acknowledged the purpose was to keep away news helicopters.The new revelation is fresh evidence of the tension between law enforcement and media in the St. Louis suburb, where reporters and photographers said they suffered harassment by police while covering protests..."
Also, I have personally seen at least four newscopters hovering in the air above several large protests.