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Eads at 150

8 months ago

In celebration of the 150th anniversary of the completion of the iconic Eads Bridge, Eads Bridge at 150 examines the complexities of its design, its construction, and the role it has played since it opened […]

The post Eads at 150 appeared first on Explore St. Louis.

Myranda Levins

Creating a Capsule Wardrobe for Spring: Simplifying Style with Purpose

8 months ago
Did you know that the average person wears only 20% of their wardrobe 80% of the time? This staggering statistic highlights a common dilemma: we often find ourselves overwhelmed by choices yet stuck in a cycle of wearing the same few pieces repeatedly. This is where the concept of a capsule wardrobe comes in—a curated collection of versatile clothing items that can be mixed and matched to create numerous outfits without the clutter. For those looking to refresh their style this spring, a capsule wardrobe offers a practical and efficient approach to dressing with intention. Understanding the Capsule Wardrobe Concept A capsule wardrobe is more than just a trend; it's a lifestyle choice that promotes simplicity and sustainability. Originating in the 1970s, the idea is to select a limited number of clothing items that harmonize with each other, allowing for endless outfit combinations. The appeal lies in reducing decision fatigue, saving time, and minimizing clutter while still

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This Day in History on March 18: Alexei Leonov Completes First-Ever Space Walk

8 months ago
March 18 has seen its fair share of significant events that have shaped the world in numerous ways. One of the most noteworthy events in history on March 18 occurred in 1965, when cosmonaut Alexei Leonov made the first-ever spacewalk. This groundbreaking achievement was part of the Soviet Union's Voskhod 2 mission and marked a significant milestone in the Space Race during the Cold War. Leonov spent 12 minutes outside his spacecraft, floating in the vacuum of space, and his successful extravehicular activity (EVA) paved the way for future space exploration. The event not only showcased the technological prowess of the Soviet Union but also inspired generations to dream of the stars. Fast forward to 1990, when the world witnessed a pivotal moment in the fight for global democracy. On this day, the Lithuanian parliament declared independence from the Soviet Union. As the first Soviet republic to assert its sovereignty, Lithuania's move was a significant step towards the dissolution

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Wired is dropping paywalls for FOIA-based reporting. Others should follow

8 months ago

The news business isn’t just any business — it serves a vital role in our democracy, recognized by the First Amendment. But media outlets can’t serve that role if they’re bankrupt. And as a result, news readers often find themselves blocked by paywalls from reading important stories about government business.

That experience is particularly frustrating for readers who are unable to access the groundbreaking investigative reports outlets like Wired magazine have been publishing, particularly over the first couple months of the Trump administration. Fortunately, Wired has a solution — it’s going to stop paywalling articles that are primarily based on public records obtained through the Freedom of Information Act.

This approach makes a lot of sense from the standpoint of civil duty. They’re called public records for a reason, after all. And access to public documents is more important than ever at this moment, with government websites and records disappearing, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency doing its best to operate outside the public’s view, and the National Archives in disarray.

But some may argue that, from a business standpoint, not charging for stories primarily relying on public records automatically means fewer subscriptions and therefore less revenue. We disagree. Sure, the FOIA process is time- and labor-intensive. Reporters face stonewalling, baseless denials, lengthy appeals processes, and countless other obstacles and delays. Investigative reports based on public records are among the most expensive stories to produce and share with the public.

And yes, publishers rely on subscriptions to cover those costs — which will only increase as a result of anti-press attacks by the Trump administration. But while some readers might not subscribe to outlets that give away some of their best journalism for free, it’s just as possible that readers will recognize this sacrifice and reward these outlets with more traffic and subscriptions in the long run.

We commend Wired for tipping the balance that all for-profit media outlets must strike between public interest and business more toward the public interest. We hope others will follow its lead (and shoutout to outlets like 404 Media that also make their FOIA-based reporting available for free).

We also hope those who stand to benefit from these outlets’ leadership (that’s you, reader) will do their part and subscribe if you can afford it. They’re not asking for an arm and a leg. Wired is offering digital subscriptions for $10 annually at the moment. You probably spent that on a mediocre sandwich this year.

The Fourth Estate needs to step up and invest in serving the public during these unprecedented times. And the public needs to return the favor and support quality journalism, so that hopefully one day we can do away with those annoying paywalls altogether.

Editor’s note: Katie Drummond, global editorial director of Wired, is a board member at Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF).

Freedom of the Press Foundation

1,000 Books Before Kindergarten

8 months ago
Remember, if you have not yet registered, there are two ways to participate in 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten: You can visit a Library location to receive a p
digitalweb

Proud to Serve: SIUE sergeant receives $500 for years of service

8 months ago
Each month on FOX 2, we salute local first responders, military, or veterans with our Proud to Serve award.  This month, we shine the spotlight on Kasey Hoyd, who serves his community of East St. Louis at SIUE as a police Sergeant and as an SRO at the East St. Louis Charter High School.
Ty Hawkins

Flu deaths rise as anti-vaccine disinformation takes root

8 months ago
As vaccine skepticism gains a greater foothold in the Trump administration and some statehouses, some Americans may already be paying the price, with deaths from influenza on the rise. Flu-related deaths hit a seven-year high in January and February, the two months that usually account for the height of flu season, according to a Stateline […]
Tim Henderson