The Gateway

The seats at Busch Stadium are not totally empty during the pandemic. Many fans have sent in pictures of themselves or loved ones that have been slapped on cardboard cutouts and placed throughout the ballpark.

Many Black seniors in north St. Louis are worried about November’s election. There were broken voting machines, long lines, and no curbside voting attendees during the last primary. They are hoping change will come to their community when it comes to casting ballots.

The new owners of the Webster-Kirkwood Times realize they are in for a challenge because of the pandemic and overall tough newspaper climate. But they strongly believe there is enough community support to make a print edition successful in today's digital media world.

Teachers starting their careers this fall are dealing with more challenges than expected. A couple of them share their thoughts on being a new educator during a pandemic.

Renters who can’t pay are receiving some help during the coronavirus outbreak. There are state and national orders preventing evictions during the pandemic. But they are causing problems for landlords who are concerned about not being able to keep up with mortgage payments.

An illustrator and Washington University professor has composed an anti-Trump project in the form of an ABC book for young readers. D.W. Dowd says he developed the idea after coming across a 1946 booklet that included a guide to proper behavior for children.

Doctors say the upcoming cold weather will put more people at risk of catching the coronavirus. They say it will likely spread more easily as people move to poorly ventilated indoor spaces to socialize.

The pandemic is causing a backlog of thousands of cases in municipal courts. They haven’t convened in-person for six months. Now, the courts are finding ways to operate virtually in the era of COVID-19.

Local producers have competed in a battle of songs in front of a crowd of hip-hop fans for a decade. This year the beat battle is online because of the pandemic. But producers will still have a platform to share music and connect with other musicians.

There is a national moratorium on evictions during the COVID-19 outbreak. That means people facing evictions have until December 31 to find rental or housing assistance. But African American and Latino neighborhoods in the St. Louis region are expected to be hardest hit if the ban is lifted at the end of the year.

Two of playwright Melda Beaty’s plays will be streamed this month by The Black Rep. Both focus on the experiences of older Black Americans. Also, we remember the attacks of September 11, 2001.

How people speak, and how other people react to it is a major cause of racism and sexism, according to an English professor at Missouri S&T. Sarah Hercula has written a book advocating for English teachers, people who study linguistics and others to tear down stereotypes of language as part of the overall effort to combat systemic racism and sexism.

Midwest states rely on private insurance companies to provide healthcare to people on Medicaid. Now in Illinois, thousands of foster children are being switched into this new system.

Many students are more than a week into remote learning because of the pandemic. It’s been chaotic for many families, but there are some success stories. Also, we remember one of the greatest Cardinals of all time.

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page just won the Democratic primary and is facing minimal opposition in November. But he is also being heavily criticized on a number of fronts.

The Mount Pleasant Homing Pigeon Club has been racing pigeons in St. Louis for more than a century. Members release their pigeons hundreds of miles from St. Louis and then track how long it takes them to make it home. The brawny birds are bred to fly long distances and can be worth thousands of dollars.

African Americans have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus and its economic impact. Black families in the St. Louis region are facing unprecedented hurdles as the virus worsens already stark disparities.

A group of stakeholders is gathering input on ideas to solve problems in the city's core. Members are planning to deal with several issues including, infrastructure, property maintenance, and safety.

Businesses featuring live music in the St. Louis region have been hit hard by the pandemic. Regulations allow those locations to open their doors with new guidelines. Now, many owners are deciding if the timing is right to reopen.

Craft brewers thrive on being local. That has prompted the University of Missouri to study the feasibility of growing certain varieties of hops in the state. And in southern Illinois, the owners of a microbrewery are using unusual ingredients to flavor their beer.

Stray Rescue is calling the last few months, "the summer of violence." The no-kill animal rescue organization in St. Louis says it's receiving more requests for help with cases of abuse than usual, and those cases are more severe.

There is excitement in the birdwatching community about a rare sighting in Missouri. Officials say a bird usually found in other areas has been spotted in the state for the first time.

Researchers at the University of Illinois are figuring out how to expand a new saliva-based COVID-19 test to other colleges and universities throughout the state. The Food and Drug Administration has given emergency authorization to the technology developed on the Urbana campus.

The school year is starting remotely for many students after pushback from parents and teachers. Online learning during the pandemic could be a different experience now, compared to the spring.

MBz Live has been blending rapping and melody to make party music for years. But the south St. Louis rapper’s latest work is focused on police brutality. He says living in a region plagued by inequality and racial divisions has inspired his new music.