West Insider

A “safe” seat flips, St Charles County sends shockwaves through long-held assumptions, and suddenly the map looks like it time-traveled. We’re reacting in real time to election results that surprised us both locally and nationally, starting with the races in St Louis County and West County that came down to narrow, sweaty margins. When incumbents who seemed untouchable start losing, it forces a to...

“Wait, isn’t abortion already legal in Missouri?” If that question has crossed your mind while scanning the ballot, you’re not alone and the confusion is exactly what we tackle here. We sit down to translate Missouri’s statewide amendments and propositions into plain English, flag the gotchas, and admit where even informed voters can get tripped up by recycled amendment numbers and messy wording....

A developer changes course and suddenly a big question lands on everyone’s doorstep: what kind of housing does West County actually want? We talk through the downtown Chesterfield residential proposal that shifts from multifamily rentals to attached single family villas, why that pivot is happening now, and what it could mean for density, traffic, downsizing, and the broader single family housing...

Debating license plate readers (like Flock Cameras) and the battle over the new congressional maps. West Newsmagazine Facebook | Instagram

Youth sports looks wholesome from the bleachers, but follow the minivans and you’ll find a serious economic engine. We sit down with O’Fallon Economic Development Director Patrick McKeehan, along with our own Dan Fox and reporter Elizabeth Carreno, to unpack the race to attract youth sports dollars across the St. Louis region. Chesterfield’s surge and O’Fallon’s investments show how sports tourism...

Tim Weber and Dan discuss the recent election results, highlighting the overwhelming rejection of Amendments 4 and 5 in Missouri, with Amendment 5 losing 83-16 and Amendment 4 losing 80-20. They note the failure of a tax increase for seniors and the passage of a parks tax renewal. Wesley Bell defeated Corey Bush, and Jake Zimmerman won the St. Louis County executive race. Steve Elman won his fifth...

West County Lanes in Ellisville reopened after an 18-month closure due to extensive repairs following a 2025 snowstorm. The family-owned business, established in 1961, faced engineering issues, insurance delays, and a need to update the electrical system from 1965. The repairs included reinforcing columns, pouring concrete, and installing steel plates. The bowling alley features 18-19 pinball mach...

The West Newsmagazine Insider Podcast hosts Dan Fox and Laura Brown discussed the upcoming July 22 issue, highlighting business profiles and an election Q&A. They emphasized the importance of supporting local businesses and being informed voters. They also covered proposed ordinances on electronic bicycles and motorized vehicles in Baldwin and Town and Country, including helmet requirements an...

The podcast episode discusses various local and state issues. Laura Brown covers the Missouri data center debate, highlighting the Governor's forum, the approval of $15 billion and $10 billion hyperscale data centers in Montgomery County, and the need for state regulations. Theo Cory explains Amendment One, which renews a 1/10 of 1% sales tax for parks and conservation, and Amendment Four, wh...

Overview The West and Mid Rivers Insider Podcast episode features a discussion with St. Charles County Police Sergeant Scott Ronald about the new Drones as First Responders program. The program uses automated drones for various law enforcement tasks, including traffic accidents, crowd control, and violent situations. The drones are equipped with advanced technology, including thermal imaging and c...

The West and Mid Rivers Insider Podcast discussed ongoing MoDOT projects in St. Charles County. The largest project, Improve I-70 East, spans from Warrenton to Wentzville, costing $609 million. It includes adding a third lane on 10 miles of I-64 and improving the I-70/I-64 interchange. The project is on schedule for completion by December 2028. Additionally, MoDOT is addressing safety concerns on...

The discussion on the West and Mid Rivers Insider PodCast focused on the growing importance and divisive nature of data centers. Tim Weber, Dan Fox, and Laura Brown explored the unique challenges and benefits of data centers, including their large footprints, high power and cooling requirements, and potential environmental impacts. They highlighted the lack of zoning classifications for data cente...

The podcast discussion centered on the impact of online reviews, particularly one-star reviews, on small businesses. The hosts debated the usefulness and fairness of online reviews, noting that negative reviews can significantly harm businesses despite the occasional valid criticism. They contrasted this with the importance of community input in decisions like MoDOT's concrete islands and dat...

CORRECTION: The Ellisville Ballpark proposition required 57% approval, and thus did not pass. The discussion covered the results of a fire district proposal in various counties, which failed by a 60-40 margin, except in Maryland Heights and two small St Charles districts. The proposal aimed to levy a 1% sales tax to reduce property taxes by 50%. In St Charles County, conservative candidates lost i...

The Western Mid Rivers Insider Podcast Special Edition discussed the St. Louis Cardinals' recent performance and future direction. The team has won both series they played, with notable players like JJ Weber and Jordan Walker showing promise. The conversation highlighted the team's youthful average age of 27 and the strategic rebuilding under new management. Financial challenges were not...

The conversation revolves around local tax issues and community activities. Speakers discuss their weekend activities, including visiting parks, bowling, and gardening. The main topic shifts to the upcoming April 7 election, focusing on Proposition EMS and Proposition F, which concern sales tax increases for ambulance districts to offset property taxes. The discussion highlights the potential impa...

The podcast discusses the Department of Justice's scathing report on the St. Louis County Special School District's use of seclusion and restraint, revealing over 300 students secluded nearly 4,000 times and 150 students restrained 777 times. The report criticizes the lack of context and calls for a ban on seclusion. The conversation also covers a proposed bill by Representative Brad Cri...

The discussion centered on the potential ban of social media for children under 13, prompted by Armstrong Williams' column and Scott Galloway's comparison of social media to harmful substances. The panelists debated the impact of social media on children's development, emphasizing the need for moderation and the potential benefits of age restrictions. They discussed the challenges o...

The team discussed the recent changes to their newspaper's cover design, emphasizing the shift towards more informative and local news content. They highlighted the importance of covering local stories in depth, such as city council meetings and community developments, which other media outlets often overlook. The new cover design aims to balance visual appeal with detailed headlines and stor...

The West and Mid Rivers Insider Podcast discussed the recent inclusion of St. Louis in the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) zones, affecting North County, parts of North St. Louis, and some of St. Charles County. Brent Trout and Mark Harder explained that individuals living, working, or attending school in these areas between 1940 and 1974 may be eligible for compensation due to radiatio...

Tim Weber and Dan Fox interview Dan Rolfes, head basketball coach at Incarnate Word Academy, about his coaching journey and the success of his team. Roefs has led the team to eight consecutive state championships and 14 overall titles. He shares his coaching philosophy, emphasizing consistency and player development. Rolfes discusses the challenges of balancing coaching with personal life, includi...

The discussion covered various local and regional issues for 2026. In St. Louis County, the county executive race saw unexpected announcements from Sam Page and Steve Elman. St. Charles County's race features Steve Elman against Jason Law and Bill Igle. Budget cuts in St. Louis County reduced a $40 million deficit to $1 million, using NFL Rams settlement money. The Francis Howell School Distr...

The West and Mid Rivers Insider Podcast discussed the results of the "Best of West County" awards. With 89,310 votes cast, notable winners included Lucky Dog Central (Best Coffee Shop), Clancy's Pub (Best Burger), and Faraci (Best Pizza). Other highlights included Friendship Village (multiple categories), Parkside Grill (Best Overall Restaurant), and Mulligan's (Best Sports Bar...

The West and Mid Rivers Insider Podcast discussed the decline in drug overdose deaths in the U.S., with 80,000 deaths in 2024 compared to 110,000 in 2023. Colin Dickey, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA St. Louis division, attributed the success to relentless enforcement, community education, and the use of Narcan. The DEA seized 586 pounds of fentanyl and 360,000 counterfeit pills in 2...

The Western Mid Rivers Insider Podcast episode features Tim Weber, Dan Fox, and Lou Countryman discussing the evolution of sports photography and the challenges of keeping up with technology. Lou, a retired biopharmaceutical professional, shares his journey into professional photography, highlighting his work with various sports teams and events. They discuss the upcoming Coaches vs. Cancer tourna...