Here’s what’s happening around St. Louis today — a major federal grant for city police, a trade mission to Africa, rising local prices, a new CEO at a St. Louis data-center company, the Blues back home tonight, and the holiday pop-up bar season.
St. Louis Police to Receive $68 Million Federal Grant
U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche announced Monday at Kiener Plaza that St. Louis will receive more than $68 million over three years through the Department of Justice’s Model Cities Initiative. The money is slated for police recruitment, officer pay and wellness, academy improvements, and technology upgrades including the Real-Time Crime Center, radio communications, and emergency response drones. St. Louis was one of four jurisdictions selected from 47 applicants, alongside Jacksonville, Jackson, Mississippi, and East Baton Rouge Parish.
Why it matters: It’s the largest federal public-safety investment in the city in years — but one open question is who controls the spending, since the mayor’s office says it wasn’t part of the grant application.
St. Louis Delegation in Africa as Kigali Becomes 17th Sister City
A delegation of more than 35 local business owners and civic leaders is on a nine-day trade mission to Kigali, Rwanda, and Nairobi, Kenya, led by World Trade Center St. Louis. The trip will formalize a new sister-city relationship between St. Louis and Kigali — the city’s first new sister city in more than a decade. Mayor Cara Spencer is among the travelers, and the group includes leaders from crop science, transportation, advertising, and local restaurants.
Why it matters: The mission aims to open trade and investment ties with two of Africa’s fastest-growing economies — and puts St. Louis cuisine on the table at embassies in both capitals.
St. Louis-Area Prices Rose 1.4% in September and October
The Consumer Price Index for the St. Louis area increased 1.4 percent for the two months ending in October 2026, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Energy prices rose 7.3 percent over the period, food prices rose 1.0 percent, and the index for all items less food and energy rose 1.0 percent. The figures are not seasonally adjusted, so some of the two-month change reflects seasonal patterns.
Read more: https://www.bls.gov/regions/mountain-plains/news-release/consumerpriceindex_stlouis.htm
Why it matters: Energy costs are driving the local increase, which shows up directly in household utility and gas bills.
TierPoint Names Craig Cowden as Next CEO
TierPoint, the St. Louis-based data center and cloud solutions provider, has named Craig Cowden as its next chief executive, effective January 4, 2027. Cowden succeeds founding CEO Jerry Kent, who will become executive chairman of the board. TierPoint operates 40 data centers in 20 U.S. markets and has seen growing demand for its digital infrastructure.
Why it matters: A leadership handoff at one of St. Louis’s largest homegrown tech employers as demand for data centers keeps climbing.
Blues Host Red Wings Tonight for Salute to Military Night
The St. Louis Blues return to Enterprise Center tonight after a four-game road trip that ended with a 3-1 loss in Nashville, wrapping up the season series against the Detroit Red Wings. Defenseman Logan Mailloux is set to make his season debut after hand surgery in late September. The Blues are also hosting their annual Salute to Military Night, presented by Boeing. Puck drop is 7 p.m. CT, televised nationally on TNT and HBO Max.
Read more: https://www.nhl.com/blues/news/preview-blues-vs-red-wings-11102026
Why it matters: The Blues won the first meeting 5-4 in Detroit on Oct. 31 — tonight is a chance to sweep the season series in front of a home crowd.
Holiday Pop-Up Bars Are Back — Plus Diwali and a Wine Dinner Tonight
St. Louis’s holiday pop-up bar season is underway, with The Chalet at Le Méridien Clayton, Up on the Rooftop at Three Sixty downtown and in Westport, Cocktails and Claws at 4 Hands + Peacemaker in Kirkwood, and the returning Sleigh Shed. Tonight also brings a Diwali celebration at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Bridgeton, with an Annakut food offering at 11:30 a.m. and cultural programs through 7 p.m., and a Slugger Wine Dinner at The Clydesdale featuring James Beard Award-winning Chef Kevin Nashan.
Read more: https://explorestlouis.com/events/category/food-drink/
That’s St. Louis today. Check back tomorrow afternoon for the next roundup.
