COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said in a surprise announcement Monday that he would not seek a third term in the Senate, leaving the seat open…
Parade helps Ferguson cancer survivor celebrate 6th birthday
FERGUSON – Paydenn was turning 6 but couldn’t have a birthday party, between the coronavirus pandemic and the fact that she’s fighting cancer. So the Ferguson police chief threw her…
Jury selection is first battleground at trial in Floyd's death
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The fate of a former Minneapolis police officer who pressed his knee into George Floyd’s neck as the Black man said he couldn’t breathe will be decided…
Vaccine is slow to reach Black Missourians
When the pandemic hit St. Louis last March, it soon became clear that the majority of COVID hospital patients were coming from north St. Louis — where the state’s largest Black population…
Homeless Jesus is stolen from New Life Evangelistic Center
DOWNTOWN WEST (AP) — Some persistent thieves stole a statue of Jesus as a homeless man sleeping on a bench. The Rev. Larry Rice said the statue that was taken…
Year into pandemic, Missouri data miss 80,000 cases, 1,000 deaths
The Hickory County Health Department reported 853 total local COVID-19 cases in its weekly update Friday, five more than a week earlier. But residents of the southwestern Missouri county who check…
Open spaces, no pharmacies: Rural U.S. confronts vaccine void
SURRY, Va. (AP) — When Charlome Pierce searched where her 96-year-old father could get a COVID-19 vaccine in January, she found zero options anywhere near their home in Virginia. The…
Soccer facility will be unique, welcoming, officials and contractors pledge
ST. LOUIS – The buildings of the new St. Louis City SC soccer franchise will do more than provide the best facilities the management can provide to the team and…
Area researchers eye COVID-19-related disorder in children
(AP) — Medical researchers in St. Louis are trying to determine why a small percentage of children and young adults who test positive for COVID-19 develop a life-threatening condition that…
Tishaura Jones’ No. 1 election rank isn't surprising, UMSL professor says
CITY HALL – Tishaura Jones’ first-place finish in Tuesday’s primary election for mayor was no surprise to UMSL political science professor Terry Jones. Terry Jones is quick to point out…
Adding antigen tests to Missouri COVID-19 report will boost positive case counts
Data on COVID-19 infections that local health departments have been reporting for months – and telling their residents represent the most accurate picture of the virus’ spread – will be…
Parson visits to assess vaccination efforts here
ST. LOUIS – Gov. Mike Parson was in the area today taking stock of the vaccination efforts ongoing in the city and county. Parson’s tour today included stops at Pfizer…
Cardinals fans - 32% of them - can flock again to stadium
ST. LOUIS – Busch Stadium will once again be a sea of red this year as Cardinals fans flock together to watch games in person. The Cardinals have been approved…
Virtual job fair aids military members, families
A job fair for current and past military members is ready to help line them up with new employment, now or when the time comes. The DAV – Disabled American…
Vaccine-help group faces charges of politics, censorship
A Facebook group hailed by local media for helping St. Louisans find vaccination sites for scarce COVID-19 vaccines is facing criticism and defections for banishing group members who post about…
Incumbent aldermen come out on top in city primary election
CITY HALL – In the first round of the city’s elections for aldermen, the clear winners were incumbents. Only one of the 16 races for aldermen didn’t include the current…
St. Louis changes course; most eligible voters don't care
Whether St. Louis’s profound shift toward progressives in the March 2 primary can solve the city’s metastasizing problems is debatable. But what’s clear is that more than three-fourths of the…
Urban League recognizes Black communicators and journalists
FERGUSON – The Urban League of St. Louis recognized some of the top and most influential black journalists and communicators working in St. Louis at an event Saturday morning before…
Baby penguin at Zoo gets a name: Opal
FOREST PARK – “Opal” is the name of the penguin chick hatched Dec. 11 at the St. Louis Zoo. The female southern rockhopper penguin hatched at Penguin & Puffin Coast…
In blow for reform prosecutors, no new trial in 1995 murder case
Nearly two years ago, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner filed a motion for a new trial for Lamar Johnson, who has now spent 26 years in jail. Gardner alleged…
Tishaura Jones, Cara Spencer head for mayoral runoff
CITY HALL – A four-way mayoral race is now down to two candidates. Following the first nonpartisan election in St. Louis’ history, 20th Ward Alderwoman Cara Spencer will face Treasurer…
Aldermen could overturn mayor’s veto of firefighters retirement bill
CITY HALL – Mayor Lyda Krewson’s word may not be the final word. There should be enough votes on the Board of Aldermen to override her veto of a bill…
Spending bill for Medicaid expansion raises questions of intent
The $1.6 billion cost of expanding Medicaid to approximately 275,000 uninsured Missourians has been segregated from other spending in the upcoming budget year by moving it into a separate appropriation bill.…
Race data missing in half of vaccine records to CDC
ATLANTA — Three leading health organizations say stronger efforts are needed to collect and report race and ethnicity data about Americans receiving COVID-19 vaccinations. That information was missing in almost…
School choice bills face both success and gridlock
It was a mixed week for education reform in the Missouri legislature, with historic success in one chamber and gridlock in the other. An education savings accounts program managed to…
After vaccination outrage, Parson vows more urban events
Last week, multiple mass vaccination events in rural areas neared the end of the day with hundreds of doses still on hand — prompting health departments to take to social…
Bill would let Missourians keep unemployment overpayments
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missourians wouldn’t have to repay millions of dollars in federal unemployment benefit overpayments under legislation advanced in the GOP-led state House on Monday. At issue are…
Schools to get $123 million as Parson releases budget withholdings
Missouri public schools will receive $123 million withheld from the state education budget, as Gov. Mike Parson announced Monday that he had ended all restrictions on general revenue spending in…
J&J vaccinations to start Wednesday in Missouri
(AP) — Missouri vaccinators are expected to receive the first 50,000 doses of the newly approved Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine on Wednesday, and the state’s health director said the…
Krewson moves city toward all-electric vehicle fleet
ST. LOUIS – Mayor Lyda Krewson took major steps toward shifting to an all-electric city fleet when she showed off four new electric vehicles and signed an order requiring…