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		<title>The police crashed into a bar. St. Louis taxpayers paid $4.2 million for it.</title>
		<link>https://www.pubdef.net/2026/10/30/the-police-crashed-into-a-bar-st/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Antonio French]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2026 17:33:14 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Antonio D. French]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[Twenty-two seconds. Illustration generated with AI for this column. That&#8217;s how long it took a St. Louis police officer to put a bar owner in handcuffs on his own sidewalk, minutes after a police SUV had come through the front of his bar. In the early morning of Dec. 18, 2023, a probationary officer named [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Twenty-two seconds.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://www.pubdef.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/barpm-hero-1024x576.png" alt="Illustration of a police SUV crashed through the shattered front window of a red-brick neighborhood bar at night on a rain-slicked South St. Louis street, emergency lights glowing." class="wp-image-2630" srcset="https://www.pubdef.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/barpm-hero-1024x576.png 1024w, https://www.pubdef.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/barpm-hero-300x169.png 300w, https://www.pubdef.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/barpm-hero-768x432.png 768w, https://www.pubdef.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/barpm-hero.png 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Illustration generated with AI for this column.</figcaption></figure>
<p>That&#8217;s how long it took a St. Louis police officer to put a bar owner in handcuffs on his own sidewalk, minutes after a police SUV had come through the front of his bar.</p>
<p>In the early morning of Dec. 18, 2023, a probationary officer named Zachary Thompson tore through south St. Louis behind the wheel of that SUV. At trial this week, <a href="https://www.stlmag.com/news/barpm-trial-begins/">St. Louis Magazine reported</a>, he agreed that he had run red lights and driven well over the limit, as fast as 65 mph on Germania Street, before he crashed into Bar:PM on South Broadway in Carondelet. He also admitted, according to the magazine, that he lied on video that night, blaming the wreck on a dog that never existed. Nobody gave him a toxicology test.</p>
<p>Co-owners James Pence and Chad Morris, who are married, live upstairs. Pence came down first. Then-Officer Ramelle Wallace showed up, cigar in his mouth, and asked for ID. Pence, standing on a public sidewalk, refused and raised his voice. On his body camera, Wallace can be heard telling Pence, &#8220;You&#8217;re not going to act a fool,&#8221; as he cuffs him. Pence was never charged with a crime.</p>
<p>Morris went to find out why his husband was in handcuffs. He says Wallace beat him. He was arrested, jailed and charged with felony assault on an officer and resisting arrest. Those charges hung over him for 22 months, <a href="https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/st-louis-bar-pm-owner-case-dismissed-police-crash-into-building/63-37a001b2-f082-4656-a77d-c1f4aa65e6f7">KSDK reported</a>, until Circuit Judge Rochelle Woodiest <a href="https://www.stlpr.org/law-order/2025-10-31/judge-throws-out-charges-against-st-louis-man-arrested-after-police-drove-into-his-bar">threw out the case on Oct. 31, 2025</a>, after prosecutors and police repeatedly failed to hand over evidence, including texts from the officers who responded that night.</p>
<p>On Wednesday, with the civil trial underway, <a href="https://www.stlpr.org/news-briefs/2026-10-28/owners-of-south-st-louis-bar-settle-case-against-st-louis-police-officers-for-4-2m">the city agreed to pay $4.2 million to settle the lawsuits from both men</a>. The money comes in installments: $1 million within 30 days, $1 million a year for three years, then a final $200,000 in fiscal 2030. St. Louis will be paying for that night for years.</p>
<p>What changed? Wallace testified. On the stand Tuesday, he insisted he isn&#8217;t the kind of officer who assaults people without a reason. That opened the door to his record. <a href="https://www.stlmag.com/news/barpm-trial-begins/">According to St. Louis Magazine</a>, jurors watched video of Wallace throwing the first punch in a 2023 fight with a detainee at the city jail. They saw an Internal Affairs finding that he used excessive force on a 17-year-old and made false statements about it, the same month as the crash. &#8220;Every single other officer who testified in this case said that &#8230; Wallace was wrong,&#8221; Pence&#8217;s attorney, Javad Khazaeli, <a href="https://www.stlmag.com/news/james-pence-barpm-settlement/">told reporters afterward</a>.</p>
<p>Let me be clear: most St. Louis officers would never do what Wallace did. But a department that kept him on the street through complaint after complaint has a discipline problem. And somebody has to pay for it.</p>
<p>That somebody is you.</p>
<p>Bar:PM is not an outlier. In September, the Post-Dispatch reported, <a href="https://hoodline.com/2026/09/st-louis-family-to-get-nearly-1-7m-over-2019-fatal-police-shooting/">a judge approved a $1.69 million settlement</a> with the family of Cortez Bufford, who was shot and killed by a St. Louis officer in 2019. In March, <a href="https://www.firstalert4.com/2026/03/28/jury-awards-37-million-man-shot-by-st-louis-police-teen/">a jury awarded $37 million to Tyron Edwards</a>, shot in the back by police at 14 in Walnut Park. On the last day of that trial, the city&#8217;s final offer was $1.5 million. Mansur Ball-Bey&#8217;s family won $18.75 million from a jury in 2025 over his 2015 killing. <a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/column/tony-messenger/article_b2df1003-92cb-4227-a8b9-bab4d0491a91.html">A judge later cut that to $8.25 million</a>, which is now on appeal. And dozens more police lawsuits are still waiting their turn, <a href="https://www.stlmag.com/news/state-control-of-st-louis-police-costs/">St. Louis Magazine has reported</a>.</p>
<p>Outside the courthouse Wednesday, in remarks captured in <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DfDJl7KCTkt/">a St. Louis Magazine video</a>, Khazaeli offered his own tally. By his math, he said, the city has agreed over the last month and a half to pay &#8220;over $30 million&#8221; for police misconduct. I can&#8217;t reproduce that number from the public record. But just the cases above add up to more than $50 million in settlements and verdicts.</p>
<p>Now here&#8217;s where the state takeover comes in.</p>
<p>Since March 2025, the St. Louis police have been run by a board appointed by the governor. Under the current arrangement, as the Post-Dispatch and <a href="https://molawyersmedia.com/2026/08/14/missouri-supreme-court-city-indemnification-holmes-case/">Missouri Lawyers Media have reported</a>, the city still pays for misconduct that happened before the takeover, while lawyers from the Missouri attorney general&#8217;s office defend the officers in court. The state sits at the defense table. City taxpayers cover the check.</p>
<p>Khazaeli blamed the slow settlement on that split. With the state running the police, he said, there are &#8220;too many cooks in the kitchen.&#8221; <a href="https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/crime/bar-pm-settlement-st-louis-police-crash/63-06171732-0c5c-4fd3-832e-942c66fdcd55">He told KSDK</a> that the state wanted to settle sooner and the city took longer to catch up. That&#8217;s one lawyer&#8217;s account. But the Edwards case shows what delay can cost: a $1.5 million offer became a $37 million verdict. And the state wasn&#8217;t the one left holding that bill.</p>
<p>It gets worse. In June, the state board gave double-digit raises to police lieutenants and above. The city charter ties fire pay to police pay, so the city had to find about $1.4 million, <a href="https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2026-06-18/st-louis-uses-police-department-lawsuit-settlement-fund-for-fire-department-raises">St. Louis Public Radio reported</a>, to match those raises in the Fire Department. Part of it came from the $1 million the city had set aside in its budget for police lawsuit judgments. The state handed out the raises. Money meant for police lawsuits helped pay for them.</p>
<p>When the city ran the department, voters could at least fire the people in charge of it. Now officers answer to a board that answers to Jefferson City, their lawyers answer to the attorney general, and the bill goes to City Hall. None of the people who decide whether an officer like Wallace stays on the street have to face the voters who pay when he doesn&#8217;t.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s not accountability. It&#8217;s a tab with nobody&#8217;s name on it.</p>
<p>The city should demand that the state share the cost of any case its lawyers take to trial. It should stop draining the settlement fund to pay for raises it didn&#8217;t choose. And it should publish every police payout as it happens, so taxpayers can do the math themselves.</p>
<p>Twenty-two seconds to cuff an innocent man. Twenty-two months to clear his husband. And years more for St. Louis to finish paying for it.</p>
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		<title>Daily Brief: Friday, October 30, 2026</title>
		<link>https://www.pubdef.net/2026/10/30/daily-brief-friday-october-30-2026/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Daily Brief]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 30 Oct 2026 12:02:03 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Daily Briefs]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[St. Louis news worth your time today &#8212; curated by PubDef, with receipts from the archive. Click through for the full stories. Judge rejects constitutional challenge to Missouri property tax caps tied to stadium bill A Cole County judge on Wednesday rejected a constitutional challenge to property tax caps lawmakers added to a bill aimed [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>St. Louis news worth your time today &mdash; curated by PubDef, with receipts from the archive. Click through for the full stories.</em></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/30/judge-rejects-constitutional-challenge-to-missouri-property-tax-caps-tied-to-stadium-bill/">Judge rejects constitutional challenge to Missouri property tax caps tied to stadium bill</a></h3>
<p>A Cole County judge on Wednesday rejected a constitutional challenge to property tax caps lawmakers added to a bill aimed at keeping the Kansas City Chiefs in Missouri. The caps, structured as… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/25/irene-maida-and-mike/">&ldquo;Irene, Maida and Mike — a Tale of Delusion, Promise and Possibility&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/29/repub/trump-cancels-weekend-kansas-rally-5-days-ahead-of-election/">Trump cancels weekend Kansas and Iowa rallies 5 days ahead of election</a></h3>
<p>WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s rally in Salina, Kansas, on Saturday is canceled, the Kansas Republican Party confirmed to States Newsroom. An appearance scheduled for Sunday in Dubuque, Iowa,… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/03/30/san-luis-or-parking-lot/">&ldquo;Tear Down the San Luis for a Parking Lot on Lindell?&rdquo; (Mar 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/29/judge-upholds-missouri-law-allowing-charter-schools-in-boone-county/">Judge upholds Missouri law allowing charter schools in Boone County</a></h3>
<p>A 2024 law that allowed charter schools to open in Boone County is not an unconstitutional “special law,” a Cole County judge ruled Thursday. Columbia Public Schools challenged the statute, arguing… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/25/irene-maida-and-mike/">&ldquo;Irene, Maida and Mike — a Tale of Delusion, Promise and Possibility&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/29/missouri-marijuana-businesses-await-irs-rules-on-promised-federal-tax-relief/">Missouri marijuana businesses await IRS rules on promised federal tax relief</a></h3>
<p>Missouri marijuana businesses had reason to celebrate in April when the federal officials moved medical marijuana into a less restrictive category of controlled substances. The federal order could… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/news/editorials/the-st-louis-americans-voter-recommendations/">The St. Louis American’s voter recommendations</a></h3>
<p>State ballot measures Measure Recommendation Proposition A: Congressional map Vote NO Amendment 3: Abortion and gender transition restrictions Vote NO Amendment 6: Citizen initiative protections Vote… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/25/irene-maida-and-mike/">&ldquo;Irene, Maida and Mike — a Tale of Delusion, Promise and Possibility&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/business/business-news/arch-grants-fuels-economic-development-in-st-louis/">Arch Grants fuels economic development in St. Louis</a></h3>
<p>Arch Grants continues to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses by providing funding without requiring them to give up ownership, along with resources and support. The organization supports local… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/26/video-blunt-on-pay-increases-pardons/">&ldquo;VIDEO: Blunt on pay increases, pardons&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/sports/sports-columnists/inside-sports/madison-farr-shines-on-the-softball-diamond/">Madison Farr shines on the softball diamond</a></h3>
<p>Madison Farr of Hazelwood West is one of the bright young softball prospects in the St. Louis area. She just completed her freshman season as one of the top hitters in the St. Louis area. She… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2006/10/24/jackson-denounces-quest-for/">&ldquo;Jackson Denounces Quest for Accreditation&rdquo; (Oct 2006)</a></p>
<hr>
<p><em>The Daily Brief runs every morning. Headlines and excerpts belong to the linked outlets &mdash; click through and support them. Missouri Independent stories are republishable under Creative Commons.</em></p>
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		<title>Daily Brief: Thursday, October 29, 2026</title>
		<link>https://www.pubdef.net/2026/10/29/daily-brief-thursday-october-29-2026/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Daily Brief]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2026 12:02:02 +0000</pubDate>
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					<description><![CDATA[St. Louis news worth your time today &#8212; curated by PubDef, with receipts from the archive. Click through for the full stories. DHS targeting naturalized Americans in voter investigations, civil rights groups say The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is unlawfully scrutinizing naturalized U.S. citizens and placing them at risk of disenfranchisement, civil rights groups [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>St. Louis news worth your time today &mdash; curated by PubDef, with receipts from the archive. Click through for the full stories.</em></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/29/repub/dhs-targeting-naturalized-americans-in-voter-investigations-civil-rights-groups-say/">DHS targeting naturalized Americans in voter investigations, civil rights groups say</a></h3>
<p>The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is unlawfully scrutinizing naturalized U.S. citizens and placing them at risk of disenfranchisement, civil rights groups alleged in a lawsuit Wednesday, less… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/17/thousands-in-st-louis-protest-californias-gay-marriage-ban/">&ldquo;Thousands in St. Louis protest California’s gay marriage ban&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/29/missouri-passed-a-law-to-compensate-the-wrongfully-convicted-now-it-doesnt-want-to-pay/">Missouri passed a law to compensate the wrongfully convicted. Now it doesn’t want to pay.</a></h3>
<p>After Missouri lawmakers expanded eligibility for wrongfully convicted people to receive compensation last year, Dale Helmig thought he could get nearly $1 million for the more than 14 years he spent… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/29/why-missouris-doctors-and-lawyers-hide-burnout-until-it-breaks/">Commentary: Why Missouri’s doctors and lawyers hide burnout until it breaks</a></h3>
<p>Burnout among Missouri’s doctors, lawyers and executives rarely announces itself. It shows up as a surgeon in Kansas City who stops sleeping through the night, a litigator in Clayton who adds a… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/10/03/flashback-ed-martin-in-april-no-bailout/">&ldquo;FLASHBACK: Ed Martin: “No Bailout!”&rdquo; (Oct 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/28/repub/courts-to-decide-fate-of-trumps-latest-push-to-control-voting-as-election-day-nears/">Courts to decide fate of Trump’s latest push to control voting as Election Day nears</a></h3>
<p>Less than a week before Election Day, President Donald Trump’s unprecedented drive for power over elections has set the stage for a series of courtroom fights that could quickly lead to a high-stakes… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/10/01/red-light-money-grab-postponed/">&ldquo;Red Light Money Grab Postponed&rdquo; (Oct 2008)</a></p>
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<p>The Rev. Alex Bryant set a goal for 2026: Talk to 200 Missouri pastors about abortion.  Bryant, an Assemblies of God pastor in Springfield, began traveling across Missouri to sit across from his… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/gallery/this-weeks-photos-october-29th-2026/">This Week’s Photos: October 29th, 2026</a></h3>
<p>This week’s photo gallery highlights care, civic engagement and St. Louis nightlife. Meet Angela Talton of MEDA Spa in Florissant, where primary care, aesthetic treatments and a membership for… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/25/irene-maida-and-mike/">&ldquo;Irene, Maida and Mike — a Tale of Delusion, Promise and Possibility&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/sports/coleman-making-early-impression-at-illinois/">Coleman making early impression at Illinois</a></h3>
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<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/25/irene-maida-and-mike/">&ldquo;Irene, Maida and Mike — a Tale of Delusion, Promise and Possibility&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<hr>
<p><em>The Daily Brief runs every morning. Headlines and excerpts belong to the linked outlets &mdash; click through and support them. Missouri Independent stories are republishable under Creative Commons.</em></p>
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		<title>Daily Brief: Wednesday, October 28, 2026</title>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Daily Brief]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Oct 2026 12:02:03 +0000</pubDate>
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					<description><![CDATA[St. Louis news worth your time today &#8212; curated by PubDef, with receipts from the archive. Click through for the full stories. Early voting surges in midterm elections as millions cast their ballots WASHINGTON — Tens of millions of Americans have already made their way to the ballot box as early voting is underway in [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>St. Louis news worth your time today &mdash; curated by PubDef, with receipts from the archive. Click through for the full stories.</em></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/28/repub/early-voting-surges-in-midterm-elections-as-millions-cast-their-ballots/">Early voting surges in midterm elections as millions cast their ballots</a></h3>
<p>WASHINGTON — Tens of millions of Americans have already made their way to the ballot box as early voting is underway in a midterm election that will determine control of the House and the Senate,… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/25/irene-maida-and-mike/">&ldquo;Irene, Maida and Mike — a Tale of Delusion, Promise and Possibility&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/27/repub/trumps-doj-sends-1000-election-monitors-to-50-states-locations-not-yet-disclosed/">Trump’s DOJ sends 1,000 election monitors to 50 states; locations not yet disclosed</a></h3>
<p>The U.S. Department of Justice plans to send election monitors to every state ahead of Election Day, expanding a long-standing practice that’s spurred concern this year among Democrats and voting… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/03/30/san-luis-or-parking-lot/">&ldquo;Tear Down the San Luis for a Parking Lot on Lindell?&rdquo; (Mar 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/27/missouri-appeals-court-rejects-prison-math-that-turned-23-year-sentence-into-40-years/">Missouri appeals court rejects prison math that turned 23-year sentence into 40 years </a></h3>
<p>A Missouri man who should have been eligible for release in 2024 remains in prison because the state miscalculated his credit for time he had already served, the Missouri Western District Court of… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/27/denny-hoskins-denies-whistleblower-lawsuit-allegations-from-former-employee/">Denny Hoskins denies whistleblower lawsuit allegations from former employee</a></h3>
<p>Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins has responded a lawsuit filed by his former director of election integrity alleging he was fired after reporting illegal and unethical conduct. The secretary… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2006/06/17/principals-recognized-by-state-union/">&ldquo;Principals Recognized by State, Union&rdquo; (Jun 2006)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/news/editorials/parents-deserve-vaccine-clarity-not-confusion/">Parents deserve vaccine clarity, not confusion</a></h3>
<p>Keeping children healthy has never been the responsibility of parents alone. It requires families, caregivers, health care providers, schools and communities working together to create the conditions… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/18/lame-duck-gov-makes-a-few-appointments/">&ldquo;Lame Duck Gov makes a few appointments&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/news/dont-believe-the-hype/">Don’t believe the hype</a></h3>
<p>Missouri lawmakers tried to pull a fast one on voters with Amendment 3. They emphasized that the amendment would ban gender transition care for minors, even though state law already restricts that… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/business/darrwin-e-perkins-ii-and-alexi-julia-smith-have-joined-lewis-rice-as-associates-in-the-law-firms-corporate-department/">Darrwin E. Perkins II and Alexi-Julia Smith have joined Lewis Rice as associates in the law firm’s corporate department</a></h3>
<p>Darrwin E. Perkins II and Alexi-Julia Smith have joined Lewis Rice as associates in the law firm’s corporate department. Perkins maintains a general business law practice focused on corporate… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2006/11/01/carnahan-weighs-in-on-boe-letter/">&ldquo;Carnahan Weighs in on BOE Letter &rdquo; (Nov 2006)</a></p>
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<p><em>The Daily Brief runs every morning. Headlines and excerpts belong to the linked outlets &mdash; click through and support them. Missouri Independent stories are republishable under Creative Commons.</em></p>
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		<title>Daily Brief: Tuesday, October 27, 2026</title>
		<link>https://www.pubdef.net/2026/10/27/daily-brief-tuesday-october-27-2026/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Daily Brief]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 27 Oct 2026 12:02:03 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Daily Briefs]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.pubdef.net/2026/10/27/daily-brief-tuesday-october-27-2026/</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[St. Louis news worth your time today &#8212; curated by PubDef, with receipts from the archive. Click through for the full stories. Missouri congressional map fight reaches voters as Republican campaign goes quiet Missouri Republicans spent more than a year fighting to put a new congressional map into effect, including a costly campaign to prevent [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>St. Louis news worth your time today &mdash; curated by PubDef, with receipts from the archive. Click through for the full stories.</em></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/27/missouris-congressional-map-fight-reaches-voters-as-republican-campaign-goes-quiet/">Missouri congressional map fight reaches voters as Republican campaign goes quiet</a></h3>
<p>Missouri Republicans spent more than a year fighting to put a new congressional map into effect, including a costly campaign to prevent voters from having the final say. Now that voters have that… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/07/video-peter-kinders-victory-speech/">&ldquo;The Tale of Peter Kinder&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/27/want-to-end-redistricting-wars-start-by-uncapping-the-us-house/">Commentary: Want to end redistricting wars? Start by uncapping the US House.</a></h3>
<p>Missouri’s congressional redistricting battle has taken voters on a dizzying tour of the court system leading up to the midterms. After trips to the Missouri Supreme Court and federal district court… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/10/03/flashback-ed-martin-in-april-no-bailout/">&ldquo;FLASHBACK: Ed Martin: “No Bailout!”&rdquo; (Oct 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/26/repub/trump-dojs-suit-over-california-vote-counting-meets-a-doubtful-appeals-court-panel/">Trump DOJ’s demand for emergency order in California vote counting dismissed by appeals court</a></h3>
<p>President Donald Trump’s 11th-hour campaign to intervene in California’s vote counting encountered its first resistance from federal courts on Monday, with appellate judges ruling against the effort.… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/03/30/san-luis-or-parking-lot/">&ldquo;Tear Down the San Luis for a Parking Lot on Lindell?&rdquo; (Mar 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/26/mike-kehoe-keeps-saying-hes-running-again-why-does-everyone-keep-asking/">Commentary: Mike Kehoe keeps saying he’s running again. Why does everyone keep asking?</a></h3>
<p>Election Day is less than two weeks away, so naturally we’re talking about 2028. More specifically, the question that’s been making the rounds in Missouri political circles for months: Will Gov. Mike… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/10/03/flashback-ed-martin-in-april-no-bailout/">&ldquo;FLASHBACK: Ed Martin: “No Bailout!”&rdquo; (Oct 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/26/missouri-to-raise-speed-limit-to-75-mph-on-stretches-of-four-interstates/">Missouri to raise speed limit to 75 mph on stretches of four interstates</a></h3>
<p>Missourians will soon be able to drive a bit faster on some rural roads. The Missouri Department of Transportation has selected portions of four interstates where drivers can go 75 mph, rather than… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/news/police-board-attorney-quits-during-pay-probe-city-pauses-tracys-raise-as-outside-firm-launches-pay-investigation/">Police board attorney quits during pay probe, City pauses Tracy’s raise as outside firm launches pay investigation</a></h3>
<p>The attorney for the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners has resigned as the city pauses Police Chief Robert Tracy’s salary increase and an outside law firm prepares to investigate whether… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/17/thousands-in-st-louis-protest-californias-gay-marriage-ban/">&ldquo;Thousands in St. Louis protest California’s gay marriage ban&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/video/video-rakim-brings-a-hip-hop-masterclass-to-city-winery/">Video: Rakim brings a hip-hop masterclass to City Winery</a></h3>
<p><img src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/72x72/25b6.png" alt="▶" class="wp-smiley" style="height: 1em; max-height: 1em;" /> Rakim performs at City Winery St. Louis. Click the image to watch the video on Instagram. Rakim took St. Louis fans on a trip through hip-hop history at City Winery, bringing his unmistakable flow… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/26/video-blunt-on-pay-increases-pardons/">&ldquo;VIDEO: Blunt on pay increases, pardons&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<hr>
<p><em>The Daily Brief runs every morning. Headlines and excerpts belong to the linked outlets &mdash; click through and support them. Missouri Independent stories are republishable under Creative Commons.</em></p>
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		<title>Daily Brief: Saturday, October 24, 2026</title>
		<link>https://www.pubdef.net/2026/10/24/daily-brief-saturday-october-24-2026/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Daily Brief]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 24 Oct 2026 12:02:05 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Daily Briefs]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[St. Louis news worth your time today &#8212; curated by PubDef, with receipts from the archive. Click through for the full stories. Follow the money: Who’s bankrolling Missouri’s final election push? Missouri Democrats confidently predict voter discontent will deliver victories in tight legislative races, but campaign finance reports show Republicans well provisioned for defense. And [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>St. Louis news worth your time today &mdash; curated by PubDef, with receipts from the archive. Click through for the full stories.</em></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/23/follow-the-money-whos-bankrolling-missouris-final-election-push/">Follow the money: Who’s bankrolling Missouri’s final election push?</a></h3>
<p>Missouri Democrats confidently predict voter discontent will deliver victories in tight legislative races, but campaign finance reports show Republicans well provisioned for defense. And Republicans… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/18/lame-duck-gov-makes-a-few-appointments/">&ldquo;Lame Duck Gov makes a few appointments&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/sports/luther-burden-iii-posts-130-yards-td-in-chicago-bears-win-over-patriots/">Luther Burden III posts 130 yards, TD in Chicago Bears’ win over Patriots</a></h3>
<p>St. Louisan Luther Burden III turned in a standout performance in the Chicago Bears’ 30‑24 victory over the New England Patriots Thursday night in Chicago. The former East St. Louis and Cardinal… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/18/lame-duck-gov-makes-a-few-appointments/">&ldquo;Lame Duck Gov makes a few appointments&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/news/kehoe-seeks-probe-of-police-chiefs-295k-pay/">Kehoe seeks probe of police chief’s $295K pay</a></h3>
<p>Gov. Mike Kehoe is calling on the Missouri Attorney General’s Office to investigate whether the St. Louis Board of Police Commissioners violated the state’s Sunshine Law when it approved a new… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/business/deadline-nears-for-water-bill-relief/">Deadline nears for water bill relief</a></h3>
<p>St. Louis residents affected by last year’s devastating tornado have until Oct. 31 to enroll in a city program that cuts their water rates in half and provides financial relief to households… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/04/how-to-disenfranchise-um-disenchant-a-voter-in-59-easy-steps/">&ldquo;How to disenfranchise (um, disenchant) a voter in 59 easy steps&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/news/columnists/how-republicans-lost-the-map-battle/">How Republicans lost the map battle</a></h3>
<p>You may know that the 2022 Missouri map will be used for the Nov. 3 election. What you should also know is how the state’s top Republican lawmakers conspired against the voters’ wishes and their… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/07/shields-engler-to-lead-state-senate/">&ldquo;Shields, Engler to lead State Senate&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/news/city-of-legends-celebrates-st-louis-icons/">City of Legends celebrates St. Louis icons</a></h3>
<p>From Chuck Berry and Tina Turner to Ozzie Smith and Dr. Donald M. Suggs, some of St. Louis’ most celebrated figures are getting a new place of honor — high above downtown streets. Twenty-eight… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/25/irene-maida-and-mike/">&ldquo;Irene, Maida and Mike — a Tale of Delusion, Promise and Possibility&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<hr>
<p><em>The Daily Brief runs every morning. Headlines and excerpts belong to the linked outlets &mdash; click through and support them. Missouri Independent stories are republishable under Creative Commons.</em></p>
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		<title>Daily Brief: Friday, October 23, 2026</title>
		<link>https://www.pubdef.net/2026/10/23/daily-brief-friday-october-23-2026/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Daily Brief]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:02:03 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Daily Briefs]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[St. Louis news worth your time today &#8212; curated by PubDef, with receipts from the archive. Click through for the full stories. Trump set to campaign in tight US Senate contests in Iowa, Texas, Ohio, Michigan WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s midterm travel blitz will continue in the coming days, with Election Day on Nov. [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>St. Louis news worth your time today &mdash; curated by PubDef, with receipts from the archive. Click through for the full stories.</em></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/22/repub/trump-set-to-campaign-in-tight-us-senate-contests-in-iowa-texas-ohio-michigan/">Trump set to campaign in tight US Senate contests in Iowa, Texas, Ohio, Michigan</a></h3>
<p>WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s midterm travel blitz will continue in the coming days, with Election Day on Nov. 3 now less than two weeks out, headlining rallies in several states hosting… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/03/30/san-luis-or-parking-lot/">&ldquo;Tear Down the San Luis for a Parking Lot on Lindell?&rdquo; (Mar 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/22/repub/judge-blocks-homeland-security-from-conducting-election-related-sweeps-in-9-states/">Judge blocks Homeland Security from conducting election-related sweeps in 9 states</a></h3>
<p>A federal judge on Wednesday night blocked the Department of Homeland Security from conducting election-related field operations that could sweep up U.S. citizens in nine states. Judge Araceli… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/25/irene-maida-and-mike/">&ldquo;Irene, Maida and Mike — a Tale of Delusion, Promise and Possibility&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/22/missouri-child-welfare-workers-say-restructuring-is-putting-childrens-safety-at-risk/">Missouri child welfare workers say restructuring is putting children’s safety at risk</a></h3>
<p>By late afternoon on Sept. 25, Missouri’s Children’s Division was struggling to find enough workers to respond to reports of suspected child abuse and neglect. According to an email obtained by The… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/arts-and-entertainment/cause-of-diddys-head-injury-revealed/">Cause of Diddy’s head injury revealed</a></h3>
<p>Sources revealed to Page Six the reason Sean “Diddy” Combs was briefly hospitalized last weekend. According to the celebrity news and gossip outlet, the injury was the result of him hitting his head… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/18/poll-should-the-govt-rescue-the-auto-industry/">&ldquo;POLL: Should the Gov’t rescue the auto industry?&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/sports/sports-columnists/angel-reese-makes-history-as-atlanta-dream-takes-2-1-lead-in-wnba-finals/">Angel Reese makes history as Atlanta Dream takes 2-1 lead in WNBA Finals</a></h3>
<p>The Dream scored a convincing 97-71 victory over the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday night in Game 3 in front of a sellout crowd at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. With the victory, the Dream have… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/17/the-grinch-is-coming-to-south-grand/">&ldquo;The “Grinch” is coming to South Grand&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/news/jail-escape-exposes-security-failures/">Jail escape exposes security failures</a></h3>
<p>A 71-year-old man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly helping a detainee escape from the St. Louis City Justice Center on Sunday, as jail officials acknowledged security failures and began reviewing… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/17/60000-pages-of-emails-but-no-smoking-gun-yet/">&ldquo;60,000 pages, but no smoking gun — yet&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/arts-and-entertainment/nelly-and-ashantis-reality-show-returns-next-month/">Nelly and Ashanti’s reality show returns next month</a></h3>
<p>Nelly and Ashanti are back for season two of Nelly &amp; Ashanti: We Belong Together. The couple is still juggling life as in‑demand performers while raising their young son, whose identity they continue… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/07/22/donnelly-calls-for-new-independent-investigation-of-police-dept/">&ldquo;Donnelly Calls for new Independent Investigation of Police &rdquo; (Jul 2008)</a></p>
<hr>
<p><em>The Daily Brief runs every morning. Headlines and excerpts belong to the linked outlets &mdash; click through and support them. Missouri Independent stories are republishable under Creative Commons.</em></p>
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		<title>Daily Brief: Thursday, October 22, 2026</title>
		<link>https://www.pubdef.net/2026/10/22/daily-brief-thursday-october-22-2026/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Daily Brief]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Oct 2026 12:02:10 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Daily Briefs]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[St. Louis news worth your time today &#8212; curated by PubDef, with receipts from the archive. Click through for the full stories. New temporary leader selected for Missouri education agency A day after the surprise resignation of Missouri’s interim commissioner of education, the State Board of Education announced a new interim leader for the state’s [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>St. Louis news worth your time today &mdash; curated by PubDef, with receipts from the archive. Click through for the full stories.</em></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/21/new-temporary-leader-selected-for-missouri-education-agency/">New temporary leader selected for Missouri education agency</a></h3>
<p>A day after the surprise resignation of Missouri’s interim commissioner of education, the State Board of Education announced a new interim leader for the state’s public school oversight agency. Lisa… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/21/repub/dems-sue-trump-alleging-election-interference-as-doj-battles-with-california/">Dems sue Trump, alleging election interference, as DOJ battles with California</a></h3>
<p>National Democrats are suing President Donald Trump, accusing his administration of intimidating election officials and asking a federal court to block him from interfering in the midterm elections.… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/03/election-night-parties-you-dont-want-to-miss/">&ldquo;Election Night parties you don’t want to miss&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/21/missouri-media-organizations-sue-highway-patrol-over-redacted-crash-reports/">Missouri media organizations sue highway patrol over redacted crash reports</a></h3>
<p>Four media organizations, including the Missouri Broadcasters Association and the Missouri Press Association, have filed a lawsuit against the Missouri State Highway Patrol alleging the patrol’s… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/21/repub/how-nebraska-helped-turn-2026-into-the-year-of-the-independent-us-senate-candidate/">How Nebraska helped turn 2026 into the year of the independent US Senate candidate</a></h3>
<p>HYANNIS, Neb. — With 19 days until Election Day, Dan Osborn sat across from three skeptical voters in a conference room in this blink-and-you-miss-it rural Nebraska town.  Osborn, a bearded former… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/04/02/aclu-hosting-affirmative-action-talk-2/">&ldquo;ACLU Affirmative Action Talk&rdquo; (Apr 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/gallery/this-weeks-photos-october-22nd-2026/">This Week’s Photos: October 22nd, 2026</a></h3>
<p>This week’s photo gallery highlights legends onstage and voices making an impact, from Rakim’s City Winery performance filled with hip-hop classics to D.L. Hughley’s conversation with Mike Claiborne… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/25/irene-maida-and-mike/">&ldquo;Irene, Maida and Mike — a Tale of Delusion, Promise and Possibility&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/arts-and-entertainment/keffe-d-gets-40-years-to-life-for-tupac-murder/">Keffe D gets 40 years to life for Tupac Murder </a></h3>
<p>Duane “Keffe D” Davis has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for orchestrating the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur — a crime that’s fueled nearly three decades of speculation, conspiracy… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/08/22/favazza-not-a-fat-bastard-but-possibly-a-mayoral-candidate/">&ldquo;Favazza Not a “Fat Bastard”, But Possibly a Mayoral Candidate&rdquo; (Aug 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/arts-and-entertainment/stephanie-mills-calls-lady-gaga-a-culture-vulture/">Stephanie Mills calls Lady Gaga a ‘culture vulture’</a></h3>
<p>During an appearance last Wednesday on BET’s The Jason Lee Show, Grammy winner Stephanie Mills revisited an encounter from years ago when her team asked her to surprise Lady Gaga by singing “Home.”… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/08/21/clay-on-the-death-of-stephanie-tubbs-jones/">&ldquo;Clay on the Death of Stephanie Tubbs Jones &rdquo; (Aug 2008)</a></p>
<hr>
<p><em>The Daily Brief runs every morning. Headlines and excerpts belong to the linked outlets &mdash; click through and support them. Missouri Independent stories are republishable under Creative Commons.</em></p>
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		<title>Daily Brief: Wednesday, October 21, 2026</title>
		<link>https://www.pubdef.net/2026/10/21/daily-brief-wednesday-october-21-2026/</link>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Daily Brief]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Oct 2026 12:02:05 +0000</pubDate>
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					<description><![CDATA[St. Louis news worth your time today &#8212; curated by PubDef, with receipts from the archive. Click through for the full stories. Missouri’s Amendment 3 would allow some abortions. Whether women could get them is unclear. After Missouri banned nearly all abortions in 2022, Valerie Weaver began noticing a troubling change in some of the [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>St. Louis news worth your time today &mdash; curated by PubDef, with receipts from the archive. Click through for the full stories.</em></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/21/missouris-amendment-3-would-allow-some-abortions-whether-women-could-get-them-is-unclear/">Missouri’s Amendment 3 would allow some abortions. Whether women could get them is unclear.</a></h3>
<p>After Missouri banned nearly all abortions in 2022, Valerie Weaver began noticing a troubling change in some of the pregnant patients she cared for in Kansas City. They were arriving to her sicker.… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/07/30/hubbard-campaign-fights-back-against-hypocritical-attacks/">&ldquo;Hubbard Fights Back Against Hypocritical Attacks&rdquo; (Jul 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/21/missouri-faces-growing-north-american-trade-uncertainty/">Commentary: Missouri faces growing North American trade uncertainty</a></h3>
<p>Just as hopes grew for a breakthrough in United States–Mexico trade talks, an Oct. 15 report by The Wall Street Journal, subsequently reported by Reuters, revealed another roadblock. The two… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/10/03/flashback-ed-martin-in-april-no-bailout/">&ldquo;FLASHBACK: Ed Martin: “No Bailout!”&rdquo; (Oct 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/20/repub/trumps-doj-steps-up-pressure-on-california-over-noncitizen-voters-2-weeks-from-election/">Trump’s DOJ steps up pressure on California over noncitizen voters 2 weeks from election</a></h3>
<p>The U.S. Department of Justice is intensifying its campaign against voter fraud with a spree of arrests in the final weeks before Election Day, an effort that voting rights advocates warn risks… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/03/30/san-luis-or-parking-lot/">&ldquo;Tear Down the San Luis for a Parking Lot on Lindell?&rdquo; (Mar 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/20/missouri-education-chief-resigns-amid-controversy-over-a-f-ratings-for-public-schools/">Missouri education chief resigns amid controversy over A-F ratings for public schools</a></h3>
<p>Missouri interim Commissioner of Education Stacey Preis resigned Tuesday after just four months on the job amid speculation she was about to be fired. Speaking to reporters while the State Board of… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/20/state-says-missouris-marijuana-market-is-competitive-but-who-owns-it/">State says Missouri’s marijuana market is competitive. But who owns it?</a></h3>
<p>Missouri regulators say the state doesn’t need to issue more licenses to grow, manufacture or sell marijuana because the legal cannabis market is meeting consumer demand. But the statewide study… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/25/irene-maida-and-mike/">&ldquo;Irene, Maida and Mike — a Tale of Delusion, Promise and Possibility&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/gallery/gallery-39th-annual-salute-to-excellence-in-education/">Gallery: 39th Annual Salute to Excellence in Education</a></h3>
<p>View the full photo gallery on Flickr. Beautiful people and a spirit of celebration filled St. Louis Union Station Hotel for The St. Louis American Foundation’s 39th Annual Salute to Excellence in… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/17/thousands-in-st-louis-protest-californias-gay-marriage-ban/">&ldquo;Thousands in St. Louis protest California’s gay marriage ban&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/video/tamiko-armstead-2026-lifetime-achiever-in-education/">Tamiko Armstead | 2026 Lifetime Achiever in Education</a></h3>
<p>Tamiko Armstead, president and CEO of Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School, receives the 2026 Lifetime Achiever in Education Award from The St. Louis American Foundation. This honoree profile was… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/04/23/video-mccaskill-on-equal-pay/">&ldquo;VIDEO: McCaskill on Equal Pay&rdquo; (Apr 2008)</a></p>
<hr>
<p><em>The Daily Brief runs every morning. Headlines and excerpts belong to the linked outlets &mdash; click through and support them. Missouri Independent stories are republishable under Creative Commons.</em></p>
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		<title>Daily Brief: Tuesday, October 20, 2026</title>
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		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Daily Brief]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:02:27 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Daily Briefs]]></category>
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					<description><![CDATA[St. Louis news worth your time today &#8212; curated by PubDef, with receipts from the archive. Click through for the full stories. Republicans pour $300,000 into defense of GOP-leaning Senate seat in northwest Missouri Donald Trump carried Missouri’s 34th Senate District by 11 percentage points in 2024. The incumbent Republican state senator won re-election two [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>St. Louis news worth your time today &mdash; curated by PubDef, with receipts from the archive. Click through for the full stories.</em></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/20/republicans-pour-300000-into-defense-of-gop-leaning-senate-seat-in-northwest-missouri/">Republicans pour $300,000 into defense of GOP-leaning Senate seat in northwest Missouri</a></h3>
<p>Donald Trump carried Missouri’s 34th Senate District by 11 percentage points in 2024. The incumbent Republican state senator won re-election two years earlier by 18 points. Yet with Election Day… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/07/shields-engler-to-lead-state-senate/">&ldquo;Shields, Engler to lead State Senate&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/20/missouri-task-force-drafts-new-child-safety-rules-for-courts-caseworkers/">Missouri task force drafts new child safety rules for courts, caseworkers</a></h3>
<p>Missouri child welfare workers and courts would be required to use the same standards to determine when children are unsafe and what must change before they can return home under draft legislation… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/20/pain-from-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-is-coming-after-the-midterms-missouri-isnt-ready/">Pain from the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ is coming after the midterms. Missouri isn’t ready.</a></h3>
<p>The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the legislation President Donald Trump called the “One Big Beautiful Bill” would increase the federal deficit by $3.4 trillion over a decade, despite… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/18/green-announces-run-for-mayor-no-not-that-green/">&ldquo;Green announces run for mayor (No, not that Green)&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/10/19/repub/with-2-weeks-until-midterms-analysts-say-dems-still-on-track-to-win-us-house-majority/">With 2 weeks until midterms, analysts say Dems still on track to win US House majority</a></h3>
<p>Democrats have used President Donald Trump’s unpopularity to expand the midterm map, and analysts project the party carries momentum heading into the final two weeks of the election cycle, even as… <em>&mdash; Missouri Independent</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/03/election-night-parties-you-dont-want-to-miss/">&ldquo;Election Night parties you don’t want to miss&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/video/video-celebrating-excellence-at-the-2026-education-gala/">Video: Celebrating excellence at the 2026 Education Gala</a></h3>
<p>Highlights from The St. Louis American Foundation’s 39th annual Salute to Excellence in Education Gala, held Oct. 17 at the St. Louis Union Station Hotel. The celebration honored outstanding… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/26/video-blunt-on-pay-increases-pardons/">&ldquo;VIDEO: Blunt on pay increases, pardons&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/news/black-voices-untold-stories-take-center-stage/">Black voices, untold stories take center stage</a></h3>
<p>Ten Black media professionals were honored by the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis for careers devoted to informing the public, amplifying community voices and expanding representation in… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/25/irene-maida-and-mike/">&ldquo;Irene, Maida and Mike — a Tale of Delusion, Promise and Possibility&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<h3><a href="https://www.stlamerican.com/your-health-matters/a-new-chapter-in-black-medical-education/">A new chapter in Black medical education</a></h3>
<p>As of last week, the nation has its fifth medical school at a historically Black college or university — and notably it’s in the largely Black city of New Orleans. The Xavier Ochsner College of… <em>&mdash; St. Louis American</em></p>
<p>&#128252; <strong>From the PubDef archive:</strong> <a href="https://www.pubdef.net/2008/11/25/irene-maida-and-mike/">&ldquo;Irene, Maida and Mike — a Tale of Delusion, Promise and Possibility&rdquo; (Nov 2008)</a></p>
<hr>
<p><em>The Daily Brief runs every morning. Headlines and excerpts belong to the linked outlets &mdash; click through and support them. Missouri Independent stories are republishable under Creative Commons.</em></p>
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