TL;DR
This week in St. Louis: a record-threatening October heat wave gave way to a cooldown, City Hall floated a plan for clearing high-risk homeless encampments, St. Louis County weighed cutting 28 park ranger positions, and Session Taco (the former Mission Taco) announced it will close for good on Oct. 17. Also: SLPS proposed $25,000 retirement stipends, Missouri sued Temu, and Prop B for early childhood education heads to the Nov. 3 ballot. Coming up: Delish on Delmar (Oct. 16), SLAM’s Women Impressionists and the Land (opens Oct. 17), a Coltrane centennial with Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves (Oct. 18), GalaxyCon (Oct. 23–25) and the Kimmswick Apple Butter Festival (Oct. 24–25).
St. Louis News This Week
1. St. Louis flirts with an all-time October heat record
Forecasters called for 95 degrees on Tuesday, Oct. 13, which would top the city’s October record of 94, set in 1953. Monday hit 92 at Lambert, a daily record, and temperatures were expected to drop below normal later in the week.
Source: St. Louis Public Radio
2. City drafts a plan to clear high-risk homeless encampments
The city’s draft plan would score encampments on a 100-point risk scale. Sites rated high or critical would get 21 days of outreach and then a seven-day notice before any clearing. Six sites are named. Mayor Cara Spencer said action is expected next year, and the draft does not yet say where people would go.
Source: First Alert 4 (KMOV)
3. County Council looks for ways to save park rangers
County Executive Sam Page’s proposed budget would eliminate 28 park ranger positions and leave six. The budget committee chair said 19 of those positions are vacant, and council members are exploring alternatives, including selling small, unused parks.
Source: St. Louis Public Radio
4. Session Taco, formerly Mission Taco, is closing for good
The Tilford Restaurant Group will close its Delmar and Soulard Session Taco locations and LaPeZ Mod Mex after service on Saturday, Oct. 17. The owners pointed to the pandemic, rising costs and a rebrand forced by a trademark lawsuit.
Source: St. Louis Public Radio
5. SLPS proposes $25,000 stipends for retiring school leaders
About 28 principals, coaches and other leaders could qualify. If all of them take it, the district estimates it would save about $4.1 million a year. The proposal is part of the district’s “Future Ready” consolidation plan, which may close 14 schools.
Source: St. Louis Public Radio
6. Missouri sues Temu over data collection
The Missouri Attorney General’s lawsuit alleges that the shopping app can access users’ location, camera and microphone. These are allegations, and no court has ruled.
Source: St. Louis Public Radio
7. Fire damages Old Town Donuts in Florissant
A Wednesday afternoon fire damaged the rear of the well-loved shop on New Florissant Road. No one was hurt, and the cause is under investigation.
Source: KSDK
8. Prop B would fund early childhood education
The city measure on the Nov. 3 ballot would raise money for child care and early learning for kids 5 and under.
Source: St. Louis Public Radio
9. Demonstrators protest Ameren’s plan for data center power
More than 50 people marched to Ameren Missouri’s headquarters to oppose a 20-year plan that relies on new natural gas plants and longer-running coal plants to serve data centers. The plan needs state regulators’ approval.
Source: St. Louis Public Radio
10. Counterpublic brings public art across the city
The free triennial, titled “Coyote Time,” has work on view through Dec. 12 at sites including the riverfront, The Ville, Tower Grove Park and Laclede’s Landing.
Source: St. Louis Public Radio
Events Around Town (Oct. 16–25)
- Delish on Delmar, Fri., Oct. 16: a block party with food, makers and live music in the Delmar Maker District. Source: Explore St. Louis
- Women Impressionists and the Land, opens Sat., Oct. 17: about 70 works by Morisot, Cassatt and others at the Saint Louis Art Museum, through Jan. 10. Source: Saint Louis Art Museum
- Branford Marsalis & Dianne Reeves celebrate John Coltrane, Sun., Oct. 18, 7 p.m.: a centennial tribute at Powell Hall. Source: St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
- Edward Scissorhands in Concert, Oct. 23–25: the SLSO plays Danny Elfman’s score live to the film. Source: St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
- GalaxyCon St. Louis, Oct. 23–25: a three-day comics, cosplay and pop-culture festival at America’s Center. Source: GalaxyCon
- Kimmswick Apple Butter Festival, Oct. 24–25, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.: a fall tradition in historic Kimmswick. Source: Go Kimmswick
Looking for more? Browse our Top 10 St. Louis lists. Event details can change, so confirm with organizers before you go.
