The Gateway

As the race for the next mayor of St. Louis heads to the finish line, we preview candidate Cara Spencer. The 20th Ward alderwoman is running against city Treasurer Tishaura Jones in Tuesday’s election.

As the race for the next mayor of St. Louis heads to the finish line, we preview candidate Tishaura Jones. The city treasurer is running against Alderwoman Cara Spencer in Tuesday’s election.

The Fabulous Fox Theatre and Opera Theatre St. Louis will host live performances after a year of cancelations. The changes come after a tumultuous year where productions were canceled because of the pandemic.

The Illinois Department of Corrections halted in-person visitations last March to try and prevent the spread of COVID-19. As more people get vaccinated, advocates and people with incarcerated loved ones say the state needs to figure out a way to allow in-person visits again.

As Missouri adds new groups to vaccine eligibility lists, many city residents continue to make long drives to rural towns to find appointments for the shots. Ever since the vaccine arrived in the state, there have sometimes been more doses than demand in rural areas, while urban centers have found themselves far short.

Some Black Metro East residents are running for city offices to make local government more diverse. In many cases, they are running against white incumbents who have held power for years.

A St. Louis Public Radio investigation in collaboration with APM Reports finds St. Louis officials may have put the city’s homeless population in even greater jeopardy during the pandemic. They cleared homeless encampments last spring and moved residents into temporary shelters including hotels.

The two candidates for St. Louis Mayor have ideas on how to improve the relationship between the city and county, including whether a merger will ever be discussed again. It's a key issue heading into next month's election between St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura Jones and Alderwoman Cara Spencer.

Several groups in the St. Louis region have released sweeping economic development plans over the last year centering on the idea of inclusive development. Black-led organizations say the initiatives are on the right track, but there is a need to rebuild trust in the community.

How to pay for Medicaid expansion is possibly the most contentious issue lawmakers will tackle as they return to the Missouri state capitol this week. Other big items include a statewide prescription drug monitoring program and increasing the gasoline tax.

Artist Aaron Fowler’s first major exhibition in his native city is the culmination of a year-long residency at The Luminary. Fowler is combining 12 projects into what he describes as a “dream space” filling every inch of the gallery.

Former members of fraternities and sororities at Washington University are pushing to abolish Greek life from the campus. The number of active members in the university’s Greek organizations is already falling.

A push to use technology to track livestock is meeting strong resistance. Supporters say it can better ensure the safety of meat and protect businesses. Small cattle producers say it will increase costs.

Thousands missed out on summer camp last year because of COVID-19 cancelations. This year, camp directors want to reopen and welcome children back.

Missouri residents who the state says “keep the essential functions of society running” are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. That includes educators, child care providers and critical infrastructure workers. Also, more students are returning to schools today.

A Des Moines-based artist is returning to St. Louis with a new project that includes the Close the Workhouse campaign.

On the year anniversary of the WHO declaring a pandemic, Sarah Fentem talks to those who are still suffering months after being infected with the coronavirus.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the demand for backyard chickens and other birds. For hatcheries, getting newborn chicks to their owner is a race against time. Extreme weather, like the snow storm that hit Missouri in February, make that process more challenging.

Arts organizations, alumni, and Harris-Stowe State University are rallying to save historic Sumner High School. The St. Louis School board could vote this evening on whether to permanently close the oldest high school for African Americans west of the Mississippi.

Tourism is being hit hard during the pandemic. Many attractions throughout the region have gone through a huge drop in business but are planning to bounce back.

Teachers want to skip standardized state examinations for the second year and focus on getting students caught up and back in the classroom. Some administrators worry about how testing would work for those learning remotely. The state education department in Missouri insists exams are necessary to pinpoint learning loss.

Story Stitchers’ latest project examines everyday life in five St. Louis-area neighborhoods and municipalities: the Ville, West Side, University City & Delmar Loop, Walnut Park, and Ferguson. The initiative includes an album celebrating life in St. Louis, and a podcast about the city’s music scene hosted by rapper Ntegrity.

Environmental activists say the concern over demolishing a shuttered East Alton coal plant is only the beginning. They say there are few state or federal rules and more coal plants will go offline as demand continues to drop.

The director of the film “America’s Last Little Italy: The Hill” was concerned the lack of in-person festivals during the pandemic would hurt distribution. But Joseph Puleo says online streaming helped attract a wide range of viewers in cities like Chicago and New York.

A Black St. Louis-based chemical engineer has played a key role in battling COVID-19. Paul Mensah led the team that developed Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. He says the shots are critical to ending the pandemic.