But now there's another option for emergency contraception if you want to get it for free or without an appointment. Missouri Family Health Council and the St. Louis County Department of Health have stepped up to help get free emergency contraceptive kits to you in person and in the mail.

“In March, I signed an executive order committing St. Louis County to the reproductive and sexual health services it currently provides while working to expand services in an equitable way to address health and racial disparities,” County Executive Dr. Sam Page said. “Making emergency contraception free and accessible is a responsible public health decision. Thank you to the Missouri Family Health Council for making this possible.”

Des Peres will be the first city in the region to ask residents whether they want to ban recreational marijuana businesses next year, even as the first and only pot store in the city of 9,100 residents nears its grand opening.

Des Peres aldermen voted 5-0 Monday to give voters the option on Nov. 5, 2024, the first date allowable by Missouri law. Alderman James Osherow was absent.

The move was cheered by about 50 residents who have for months raised concerns over the dispensary’s proximity to a youth math tutoring center and that it could increase crime by becoming a target for burglaries.

“Just say no to drugs,” said Kevin Quigley, who was among eight residents who spoke during nearly two hours of public comment Monday.

With another summer comes another eclectic, enticing lineup of Muny musicals in Forest Park. The outdoor theater’s 105th season, featuring seven shows, kicks off with “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” and concludes with “Sister Act,” both Muny premieres.

When Nick Akers set out to buy a business in late 2021, his search process had a 24-month timeline attached to it. He figured he wouldn’t need that much time, hearing that those in a similar situation typically are successful around the year and a half mark.

“That’s exactly how mine panned out,” Akers said.

Akers in May wrapped up his acquisition search, closing on a purchase of Chesterfield-based IT managed services provider STL Communications Inc. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The most difficult part of the new rule is allowing parents to challenge the aged designation of any item in the library. Some libraries are receiving lists of 100 or more books and challenges overall are increasing, Moeller said.
“Most of the items being included in these lists relate to identity, race or sexual orientation,” she said. “What we really seeing is the ones that relate to identity are being called ‘inappropriate.’”

Anyone have any spots to add to the list?

"Forbes Contributor" (read: blogger) says STL is the "most exciting emerging arts district", then goes on to describe art & culture... that we've always historically had? 🤔

cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/609991

In today's "No Shit Sherlock" news...

I guess it's always good that they "run reports" on this stuff, however. Then maybe someday they can continue to do not much about it.

In today's "No Shit Sherlock" news...

I guess it's always good that they "run reports" on this stuff, however. Then maybe someday they can continue to do not much about it.

cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/609939

Missouri teachers who quit their jobs on short notice face increasingly severe consequences, as school districts facing staffing shortages impose financial penalties as high as $10,000 or seek to suspend the teaching licenses of teachers who break their contracts.

Missouri teachers who quit their jobs on short notice face increasingly severe consequences, as school districts facing staffing shortages impose financial penalties as high as $10,000 or seek to suspend the teaching licenses of teachers who break their contracts.

It was the first time members of the Public Safety Committee got to hear and give comment on Spencer’s recent ordinance proposal, board bill 29. The bill aims to tackle the proliferation of guns in the city by requiring anyone who openly carries a gun in the city to have a permit or endorsement.
[...]
Spencer says in speaking with the city attorney, she feels confident this bill does not go against state laws so long as it is not infringing upon the rights of people to still own a gun without a permit. However, she plans to take out an existing part of the ordinance dealing with the confiscation of weapons if someone is found in violation of carrying openly without a permit. Instead, officers would temporarily remove the gun and safeguard it and have the opportunity to get it at a later time.
[...]
Other concerns raised by city leaders include whether this ordinance will disproportionally target communities of color, and if it would put officers in even more danger approaching those who are openly carrying a weapon.