A St. Louis County woman pleaded guilty in federal court today for defrauding various COVID-related emergency rental assistance programs to the tune of $267,239 over the course of ten months in 2021. In January of that year, Semaj Portis, 42, admits that she registered with the Missouri Secretary of State's office a company called Forever Riding. Between then and October of 2021, she submitted 52 applications for rental assistance in which she listed herself or Forever Riding as the landlord.
Satisfied stoners, pot-loving patients and enterprising entrepreneurs aren't the only ones celebrating the success of Missouri's decision to legalize medical marijuana — add to that list the state's many military veterans. According to information from the Missouri Department of Senior Services, some $5 million has been transferred this spring from the state's medical marijuana program to the Missouri Veterans Commission, a state agency that provides aid to veterans and their families. This marks the third such transfer of funds into MVC's coffers since the program got up and running, bringing the total haul to $13,978,820 so far. “Today, patients are being served by more than 180 dispensary facilities in Missouri — a 20 percent increase from last fall,” Lyndall Fraker, director of the DHSS Section of Medical Marijuana Regulation, says in a statement.
As they say, nothing’s more American than grabbing a slice of pizza and heading to Busch Stadium to cheer on the St. Louis Cardinals. Actually, the saying is about hot dogs, but in St. Louis, pizza fits the bill and, as everyone knows, there's no team more baseball than the Cards. But anyway, soon, St. Louis residents will be able to enjoy an upgraded version of that slice thanks to Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria.
Baseball historian Brian Flaspohler says the first fully professional baseball game in St. Louis happened on May 4, 1875. St. Louis won — and lost. The St. Louis Brown Stockings defeated the St. Louis Red Stockings 15 to 9.
In a timeworn taxi station, its walls trimmed parakeet green, two men argue over a game of checkers. A rotary telephone hangs on the left wall; to the right of the door hangs a blackboard with a list of drivers’ names.
St. Louis Burger Week returns July 18-24, but a new app with all the insider info and a special giveaway is available for download now on Android and iOS. During St. Louis Burger Week, participating restaurants offer $8 burgers. Restaurateurs do their own take on the American classic, with some places offering off-menu specialties and gourmet blends.
In almost any other police department in America, St. Louis County Lieutenant Mike Reifschneider would be treated like the hero that he is. Just not in the one controlled by County Executive Sam Page. Reifschneider was reportedly promised a promotion to captain and a Distinguished Service Citation for Valor after having helped save the life of a woman who was shot by her estranged husband on January 23, 2020.
Torrential rains and severe thunderstorms hit St. Louis during rush hour yesterday, and an EF-0 tornado swept through Kirkwood traveling northeast to Warson Woods in an evening of severe weather. The National Weather Service says the tornado had winds of up to 80 miles per hour and was on the ground for five minutes. The tornado had a maximum width of 75 yards.
Extend the weekend just a little bit longer for two can't-miss shows including Valerie June on Sunday, May 22, and Dubb Nubb Fest on Monday, May 23. Valerie June w/ Rachel Maxann
On a recent sunny afternoon, Angie Swyers sits down at a picnic table in front of her Soulard bakery, Mauki's, and apologizes to a reporter for the frequent interruptions caused by the steady stream of customers entering her shop. The bakery normally isn't this busy at this time of day, she explains, before acknowledging that it's not a bad problem to have. "Not right now, that's for sure," she says.
This excerpt comes from Ben Westhoff's new book, Little Brother: Love, Tragedy, and My Search For the Truth, about his relationship with his mentee in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, Jorell Cleveland. When Cleveland was killed near his home in Ferguson in 2016 at age 19, Westhoff set out to find the killer. I hadn’t seen Jorell in a couple months.
Reservations will no longer be required to visit the Saint Louis Zoo (1 Government Drive, 314-781-0900) starting Monday, May 23. The reservation system started as a way to control capacity at the zoo while St. Louis faced COVID-19 restrictions.
This story was originally published by the Missouri Independent. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced Thursday that his office has filed six new lawsuits challenging school masking requirements.
The bustle of staff, a crowd of to-be diners chatting softly among themselves and shifting around as they eagerly await their orders, bakery cases filled with temptations, and sugary, perfumed air greets visitors at the door of Winslow’s Table Market & Bakery. But take a right before the cashier, go through the doorway and descend a staircase into the historic building’s basement, and a different but complementary space opens up. Here, in The Cellar Shop at Winslow’s Table (7213 Delmar Boulevard, 314-725-7559, winslowstable.com/cellarshop), the sounds of the breakfast and brunch spot fade into a soft patter, and the scents of the bakery become a sweet, French-toast-like hint.
Last night, KMOV reported that 4,415 criminal cases are currently in legal limbo at the City of St. Louis Office of the Circuit Attorney. The cases are classified as pending application of warrant, or PAW, meaning the police department's work is essentially done. Evidence has been collected, a suspect has been identified and the police have filed an application for a warrant with the Circuit Attorney's Office.
The Loop Trolley — that seemingly unkillable basher of parked cars and crasher of innocent bicyclists that has haunted Delmar Boulevard for what seems like centuries now — will resume operation this summer, because man is a fallible creature apparently doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over again in the face of all logic and reason. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the cursed trolley will resume service on August 4. In a fun twist on an old theme, it will now be headed up by Bi-State Development, which also runs the MetroBus and MetroLink.
Ka-kawlling all St. Louis football fans: It's looking increasingly likely that your beloved Battlehawks will be returning to the turf next spring. KSDK reports that the Dome at America's Center, better known (probably, hopefully) as "the Nest" among fans of St. Louis' bygone XFL team, has set aside five weekend dates in the spring of 2023 for possible XFL home games. That should come as potentially great news to the rabid fan base that made St. Louis the league's leading market during its brief 2020 run.
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