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Plows have been busy in St. Charles County, with MoDOT highway signs advising motorists to stay off the roads if they don’t have to be out and about.

We’ve all probably had this experience at some point: a news story discusses a government document the reporter has managed to obtain and that we’d like to read as well. But, after scouring the article for a link to said document, it becomes clear that it’s not there.

This used to be a minor annoyance. Why not let people see public source material for themselves? No matter how thorough journalists may be, they often don’t have room to tell us all the document might. Plus, as law professor Sarah Fackrell noted, reporters might miss something about a court filing a lawyer would pick up on, something about a public health document a doctor might catch, and so on.

But the stakes are higher now, as government websites and records disappear, agencies are haphazardly folded, lawless oligarchs shield their shady quasi-governmental operations from view, and the future of the National Archives is uncertain.

It’s on all of us to preserve the public domain. Everyone should be getting into the habit of archiving any government record they access online so it’s not lost. But the press should help lead the charge. Or, at the very least, when they obtain government documents, they should let news readers share the wealth.

That means news stories should include links to public documents (hosted somewhere other than government sites from which they might disappear). It also means not paywalling them.

Ideally, we’d like to see news outlets not paywall any government records-based reporting (if a small independent outlet like 404 Media can do it, others can too). It’s a problem that misinformation is free and real news isn’t. But if that’s not economically feasible, at least let people access the records themselves for free. They’re public records, after all.

News isn’t just any business, it’s a constitutionally protected public service. And the moment calls for the Fourth Estate to do whatever it can to preserve transparency.

News outlets could even take it a step further: proactively post all newsworthy public records they find during their reporting, whether online, through the Freedom of Information Act, or otherwise. We’re not asking them to forfeit scoops: They can wait till they’ve either reported on the records or decided they’re not going to anytime soon.

We get it: News outlets expend significant resources in pursuit of government records, sometimes litigating FOIA cases for years before finally getting what they’re after. Why should people get to piggyback off those efforts for free?

Well, because news isn’t just any business, it’s a constitutionally protected public service. And the moment calls for the Fourth Estate to do whatever it can to preserve transparency.

But beyond that, what’s to say that sharing public records is bad for business? What’s more likely to entice someone to subscribe: brief previews of articles that offer no assurance that the rest is worth reading, let alone paying for? Or the clearly newsworthy — but often dense — records the articles explain?

Most people don’t want to read, synthesize, and contextualize public records themselves — they rely on journalists for that. If journalists show them what records they’re digging up, they might gain respect for the work reporters do and want to know what they have to say about them.

Over the next few years, a lot of people and industries will have to put aside assumptions and norms from a bygone era and do what’s needed to preserve American democracy (or at least a record of what once was). Sharing public records with the public is one low-cost, low-risk strategy for journalists to do their part. Who knows, it might even be profitable.

From Webster-Kirkwood Times:  The Webster Groves City Council on Feb. 4 held a public hearing on a conditional use permit for a banquet facility at Webster’s Yorkshire Village. Applicant Desirra McFadden wants to transform the former Ravens Ridge MMA site to an event center for weddings, receptions, showers, small parties and more. Council members evaluate […]

The NYPD is proving it’s impossible to fix an entity that doesn’t want to improve. It has engaged in more than a decade of straight-up ignoring court-ordered reforms of its stop-and-frisk program. The program’s original form was declared unconstitutional in 2013. Since then, it has only marginally improved. And much of that improvement is probably […]

From First Alert 4:  Trade careers aren’t always what people think of when they hear about high school education, but that’s exactly what Ritenour School District is hoping to provide through a new program supported by green energy companies and local unions. “This is a lot of exploration, cause I don’t know exactly what I […]

Most schools have closets for students to hang coats. But a closet to give away coats? That’s another story, one that plays itself out at nearly three dozen schools in seven different districts in the St. Louis area.

It's unclear what county and city initiatives are affected by the order.

he Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) issued its safety advisory for locals to consider amidst this winter storm, lasting through Thursday. The department urges Missourians to minimize their risks for weather-related injuries, as the winter weather can bring unpredictable situations, such as power outages and travel risks.

Nolan Arenado, after an offseason filled with trade speculation, is back for his fifth season with the St. Louis Cardinals. While his return gives the Cardinals stability at third base, it could have a ripple effect on the playing time of younger teammates looking to carve out everyday roles.

ALTON - The Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club's 39th Annual Chili Chowdown is set for Monday, March 3 at Main Street United Methodist Church in Upper Alton. The popular fund-raising event features all-you-can eat chili, beverage, and dessert for just $10.00. Serving hours are 11 a.m. through 1 p.m. and again 4:30 p.m. through 7 p.m. Diners may eat-in or carry-out. The secret Rotary chili recipe is guarded by event chairman Dennis Wilson. He says the recipe originated with the late Don Johnson, proprietor of DJ's Bar and Grill in Upper Alton. Members of the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club prepare and serve the chili. The Chili Chowdown is held at Main Street United Methodist Church which affords ample parking, ease of egress, and plenty of room for diners. Tickets for the annual Chili Chowdown are available from any member of the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club and will also be sold at the door. The annual event raises funds for local Rotary projects, including the annual scholarships given in conjunction

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A bill to protect one of the world’s largest chemical companies from charges it didn’t warn customers that one of its most popular products causes cancer won first-round approval Tuesday in the Missouri House. The legislation, sponsored by Republican state Rep. Dane Diehl of Butler, would make the label required by federal pesticide regulators “sufficient […]

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe issued an executive order Tuesday that directs all Missouri state agencies to eliminate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

The Missouri Department of Transportation is now treating the roads ahead of this second wave of snow, unlike its earlier plan to hold off on treatment over fears of refreezing.

Colder temperatures usually result in more snow per inch of water. Here's why.

COLLINSVILLE - IDOT Operations Engineer Joe Monroe has been out throughout the entire region today on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, observing the various state routes. When interviewed in the late morning, he said while high-volume interstate routes are generally in good shape, ramps were at that time somewhat hazardous due to snow accumulation and ongoing weather conditions. Monroe noted that the heaviest snowfall was occurring in the southern part of the region, with varying accumulation levels reported to the north. “If you are driving defensively, you can get where you need to go,” he advised. Traffic levels are crucial, he said, when it is this cold because sufficient vehicles moving at adequate speeds can help prevent snow from accumulating on the roads. As of early Tuesday afternoon, Interstate 255 was in decent condition, with plowing efforts ongoing in areas such as Homer Adams Parkway in Alton, which experienced more significant snowpack compared to other routes, Monroe

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by Dr. John Gaal Editor’s Note: Each week, Dr. John Gaal, director of worker wellness for the Missouri Works Initiative, a non-profit workforce formed by the Missouri AFL-CIO, collects and comments on news and trends in workforce wellness and life balance. Construction Forum carries the Worker Wellness & Well-Being Blog as a regular feature. The […]

Republican lawmakers in the Missouri Senate vowed to keep fighting against a voter-backed abortion rights amendment that passed in November.

KISS is commemorating the 50th anniversary of their classic track “Strutter” with a set of brand-new precious metal collectibles.The band has teamed with Precious Sound to release both pure gold and…

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