CITY HALL – In one more indication of tension, First Ward Alderwoman Sharon Tyus spent more than five minutes yelling at two members of her Engrossment, Rules, Resolutions and Credentials…
Author: Jim Merkel
southsidemerkel@gmail.com
Born and raised in St. Louis, Jim Merkel covered communities throughout the area from 1991 to 2013 for the old Suburban Journals of Greater St. Louis. He is the author of four books about the Gateway City published by Reedy Press. He and his wife, Lorraine, live in the Bevo Mill neighborhood of south St. Louis. For more about Jim, visit www.jimmerkelthewriter.com.
New city law cracks down on police use of force
CITY HALL – A new St. Louis law on use of force by city police officers really only codifies policy going back years. The Board of Aldermen approved on July…
Aldermen spar over role of rules committee
CITY HALL – First Ward Alderwoman Sharon Tyus claims that bills headed for passage didn’t get the kind of final checkover they needed before she was named chair of the…
Sheriff hopefuls clash after candidate forum
DUTCHTOWN – There was some kind of confrontation between Democratic candidates for city sheriff at a recent public meeting, but differences remain about how serious it was. A video of…
New budget becomes law without final vote
CITY HALL – Without the final approval of the Board of Aldermen, a $1.116 billion St. Louis budget package for 2020-21 became law on July 1. The package, down 3.4…
Airport privatization election bill gets initial OK
CITY HALL – To its backers, a bill on the potential privatization of the St. Louis-Lambert International Airport would provide a chance for the public to vote on the concept…
'Black flight' is new, troubling problem for St. Louis
ST. LOUIS – As middle-class African Americans left the city for a better life elsewhere, young whites moved in for the urban lifestyle. The two factors combined to bring an…
Reed introduces bill to close workhouse
CITY HALL – Two bills introduced in the Board of Aldermen by Aldermanic President Lewis Reed call for closing the city’s controversial Medium Security Institution and using the money saved…
Demands for mayor's resignation draw worldwide attention
ST. LOUIS – Mayor Lyda Krewson has succeeded in bringing nationwide and worldwide attention to St. Louis, but not the kind she might want. Since she disclosed the names and…
1,000 federal jobs will boost Downtown activity, energy
CITY HALL – A deal with the federal government will enable about 1,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture workers to stay within St. Louis, city officials announced this week. The workers…
Summer movie series first step to opening post-COVID-19 microcinema
BEVO MILL – Keith Watson and Sarah Baraba were busy preparing for opening night in a new bar-minicinema on Gravois Avenue when COVID-19 shut them down. Now they’re trying again,…
'No-knock' warrants bill sparks clashing opinions
CITY HALL – A proposal to ban “no knock” warrants for drug cases brought sharply different opinions at a Board of Aldermen committee meeting this week. A city police officer…