The Gateway

Veterans suffering from certain medical conditions became eligible for “presumptive” VA disability benefits last year. But their claims are adding to the agency’s huge backlog.

After three attempts to qualify for the Olympics, St. Louis-area native and speedskater Ian Quinn is competing for Team USA in Beijing. He is focusing on possibly winning a medal and the pandemic.

Some rural Missouri counties have COVID-19 vaccination rates as low as 12 percent. That is fueling some of the largest coronavirus outbreaks in the country. Political beliefs and a distrust of government are some reasons why people are not getting the shots.

The pandemic has exacerbated the growing gap between people with extreme wealth and those struggling to make ends meet. What does wealth inequality mean and what does it look like in St. Louis?

The director of African American Studies at St. Louis University says the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s calls for economic equality and workers’ rights have been diluted around the famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Christopher Tinson discusses why politicians ignore King’s call for economic rights.

A shortage of MetroBus drivers has prompted the suspension of six routes and changes to dozens of others. As a result, riders are waiting longer at bus stops in the often bitter cold or missing work when buses don’t show up.

Coyotes have become fixtures of American life, from the biggest cities to the open range. The number of coyotes in Kansas has nearly tripled since the 1980s and they're unwelcome around ranches, farms and homes. One response is to hunt them, but the canine still finds ways to survive. Listener note: This story includes the sound of gunfire and depictions of hunting animals.

Workers at the Endangered Wolf Center in Eureka are working to educate people about the animals. The operation includes some American Red Wolves, which are the most endangered in the world.

The new president and CEO of one of the oldest arts organizations in St. Louis want to make sure the Muny is welcoming to people of all backgrounds. Kwofe Coleman is the first Black person to lead the 103-year-old theater in Forest Park.

There are many projects governments create to help rural areas. But there are dozens of definitions of rural. That means tiny communities far from urban areas can be left out of initiatives like grant programs.

Missouri service providers are working long hours and consolidating services as they grapple with a shortage of workers during the pandemic.

Schools are reporting widespread staffing issues because so many people are out sick. But so far, many districts have not moved back to online learning.

Cahokia Mounds has a new way to experience the heritage site. It’s an augmented reality app that can show what the area looked like at the height of the Mississippian culture about 1,000 years ago.

Job turnover, vacancies and competition from the private sector are just some of the reasons Missouri Governor. Mike Parson and others want pay hikes for all state employees. House Budget Committee members heard testimony on the proposal yesterday.

Illinois is a Democratic state, but Republicans have strong support in most areas outside Chicago and nearby counties. That divide will shape this year's race for governor.

Snow days are becoming a thing of the past. After more than a year of practicing virtual learning, school districts can now send students home with work if a winter storm is on its way.

There have been four directors of the St. Louis County jail in the past three years. Scott Anders is now in the role and is dealing with COVID, court delays, re-entry for inmates, and recent jail releases.

Missouri's 2022 legislative session opens today with lawmakers having to decide how to spend billions in federal COVID relief and infrastructure money. They also need to redraw the state's congressional districts.

Missouri health officials say even though homicides reached record levels in 2020, there were more suicides that year throughout the state. Some Black gun owners are taking more steps to protect themselves and that has others stepping in before more people possibly take their own lives.

The Asian population in the St. Louis region increased significantly between 2010 and 2020, according to the most recent Census. Most of the growth is concentrated in St. Louis and St. Louis and St. Charles counties. In St. Louis County, Asians now account for nearly 5% of the total population. Who is deciding to move here and why?

A look back at the biggest local and state political stories of 2021 and how some, like the politicization of the coronavirus pandemic and the race to fill U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt’s seat will play out in 2022.

Families are preparing to gather for the Christmas holiday as COVID cases surge and new variant looms. But doctors say simple precautions can reduce the risk.

St. Louis Public Radio's Chad Davis and Jeremy Goodwin look back on how artists and arts organizations adapted during a second pandemic season.

Large slaughterhouses can profit by selling parts of cows like tongues and livers. But small processors struggle with what to do with parts of a cow that aren't steaks or can be used in ground beef.

Miranda Walker Jones has spent almost two decades working in public service in St. Louis. Now, she’s starting a new role as CEO of the Little Bit Foundation, which helps break down learning barriers for students living in poverty.