Here’s what’s happening around St. Louis today — from a long-awaited homecoming to a dramatic playoff-clinching win, plus new homes for a long-vacant mall site and a look at the month’s restaurant openings and closings.
Ferguson activist Josh Williams released from prison nearly 12 years after arrest
Ferguson activist Joshua “Josh” Williams is home after nearly 12 years behind bars. Williams, who was 19 when he was arrested in December 2014, pleaded guilty to first-degree arson, second-degree burglary and stealing in connection with a fire at a QuikTrip in Berkeley during protests that followed the fatal police shooting of Antonio Martin. Originally sentenced to eight years, he served additional time after receiving charges while incarcerated; his sentence had drawn criticism from civil rights advocates who called it excessive. The St. Louis Anti-Imperialist Collective announced Friday that Williams had returned home.
Why it matters: Williams became a symbol of the Ferguson uprising era, and his release closes a chapter that has followed St. Louis for more than a decade.
Lukas MacNaughton’s stoppage-time winner sends St. Louis CITY SC into playoffs as West’s No. 3 seed
St. Louis CITY SC needed a miracle in Houston on Saturday night — and got one. With the match scoreless deep into stoppage time, Lukas MacNaughton finished a ball slipped into the box by Alexandru Mățan in the seventh minute of added time, lifting CITY to a 1-0 win over Houston Dynamo FC. The goal was CITY’s only shot on goal of the night, but it locked up third place in the Western Conference heading into the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Why it matters: A third-place finish means home-field advantage in the first round — and a dramatic finish to carry into the postseason.
McBride plans housing at former Jamestown Mall
The long-vacant Jamestown Mall site in north St. Louis County is finally headed for redevelopment. McBride Homes has reached an agreement with the St. Louis County Port Authority to build on the 144.5-acre property, with plans calling for 540 single-family homes, 192 apartments, retail space and recreational areas. Construction is expected to take about eight years and could create more than 300 jobs, according to developers, with community meetings planned to gather residents’ input.
Why it matters: The mall has sat empty for years as a symbol of north county decline — this is the biggest concrete step yet toward bringing it back to life.
Read more: https://www.stlamerican.com/news/mcbride-plans-housing-at-former-jamestown-mall/
Jason Driver named St. Louis Public Library CEO
The St. Louis Public Library has its next leader. Jason Driver, a veteran library administrator with more than 27 years of experience who has led Kitsap Regional Library in Washington state since 2022, will take over Jan. 4, 2027, succeeding Waller McGuire, who retired in October after 37 years with the system, including 22 as its leader. Driver inherits a 15-location system serving more than 135,000 active cardholders — one just named Missouri’s 2026 Library of the Year, in part for its response to the May 2025 tornado.
Why it matters: The library system is a lifeline for neighborhoods still recovering from the tornado, and its next chapter starts with new leadership.
Read more: https://www.stlamerican.com/news/local-news/jason-driver-named-st-louis-public-library-ceo/
Saint Louis University Billikens defeat Missouri Tigers 90-84 in Show Me Showdown
SLU earned its first statement win of the college basketball season Friday night, beating Missouri 90-84 at Enterprise Center in the first meeting between the two in-state programs in 25 years. The Billikens led nearly from start to finish in front of a huge crowd, shooting 52 percent from the field and a sizzling 56 percent from three-point range. Five Billikens scored in double figures, led by Amari McCottry and Ishan Sharma with 17 points each, as SLU improved to 2-0.
Why it matters: Bragging rights in a rivalry that hadn’t been played in a quarter-century — and an early signature win for the Billikens.
Here’s what St. Louis restaurants opened and closed in October 2026
October was a busy month for the St. Louis dining scene. New arrivals included Loba & Lore in Midtown, Damn Fine Anytime in The Grove, and Bukchon Kimbap, a new matcha and kimbap shop in University City, while Blood & Sand reopened in Downtown West after a construction closure. On the other side of the ledger, Colombian café Maize & Wheat closed Oct. 17 and Cured and Cultured in Belleville shuttered as well — a reminder of how quickly the local restaurant landscape keeps turning over.
Why it matters: If you’re planning where to eat this month, the list of new spots — and the ones that are already gone — is worth a scan before you go.
That’s today’s roundup. Check back tomorrow afternoon for the next St. Louis Today.
