St. Louis

A school librarian recalls ‘surreal’ police visits at a Missouri high school library. And a revolt is brewing at Emporia State University after 33 staff members were laid off due to budget cuts.

The visits from law enforcement didn’t result in any actions, but they highlight the potential stakes of Missouri’s new law criminalizing certain books in schools.

The attorney general is suing St. Louis over its plan to use federal funds to support abortion access. But after the case was moved to federal court, reproductive rights groups worry that a ruling could further curtail abortion access for the entire region.

The International Institute of St. Louis is ready to welcome more Afghan families and refugees from other countries. Officials with the U.S. State and Health and Human Services departments and the International Nonprofit Immigrant Organization met with International Institute officials Monday.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt sued the city of St. Louis to block it from using federal funds to support access to abortion. The city argues that the law he cites violates the First Amendment and the supremacy clause.

Over 700 Missourians have applied to sponsor Ukrainians statewide. But Ukrainians don’t qualify for the benefits that other refugees receive, leaving local agencies and American sponsors scrambling to help them.

A $1.2 billion plan dubbed the Gateway South Project would see the land south of the St. Louis Arch grounds transformed into entertainment, residential, recreation and industry space.

Good Development Group owns or controls approximately 50 acres of "potential development site" located south of Interstate 64 and proposes developing the location into a residential, retail, entertainment, office and industrial area.

The approval comes just under two weeks after historic flash flooding hit the St. Louis area, damaging more than 750 homes and over 130 businesses.

Last week’s flooding in the St. Louis region damaged homes and businesses. Missouri is going through the process of seeking a federal disaster declaration, which would provide money for repairs and cleanup.

With a fraction of millions of American Rescue Plan Act dollars allocated or spent, the city and groups serving the homeless face each other across a divide of paperwork and procedures.

Camila Cage is one of hundreds of St. Louis-area residents who had to seek shelter after torrential downpours and flooding forced them from their homes.