a Better Bubble™

Aggregator

St. Louis Planners Eye Zoning Updates to Draw New Residents

11 months ago
From St. Louis Magazine:  The St. Louis region’s continued struggles to retain and attract new residents are nothing new. It’s become an annual ritual of holding our collective breath to see just how bad the damage is when the U.S. Census Bureau releases its population estimates each spring. St. Louis city and county officials believe […]
Dede Hance

Granite City Family Faces Home Loss After Tornado Damage

11 months ago
GRANITE CITY - Christina Koontz is organizing a fundraiser to assist a family whose home was destroyed by a tornado in Granite City on May 16, 2025. The family reported that a tree on the property, which they had repeatedly requested management to remove, fell on their home during the storm. "Management has declined to repair the damage, citing the tornado as an act of God, and has given the family 30 days to make repairs," Koontz said. The destruction has left the family seeking a safe place for their children to stay. Koontz's fundraiser aims to provide financial support for the necessary repairs and help the family recover from the damage caused by the tornado. Click here for the GoFundMe for Christina Koontz's family: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-a-family-displaced-by-tornado

Continue Reading

MCT and Local Libraries Still Collecting Bikes Through May In National Bike Month For St. Louis BWorks

11 months ago
PONTOON BEACH – There’s still time to donate! Madison County Transit (MCT) and local libraries across Madison County are continuing to collect bicycles throughout the month of May in celebration of National Bike Month. So far, MCT has collected more than 120 donated bicycles—and there’s still time to add to that number! All bikes will go to St. Louis BWorks, a nonprofit organization that empowers local youth through its “Earn-A-Bike” program. The program teaches students bicycle safety, maintenance, and teamwork. Upon completion, participants earn a free bike, helmet, and lock. Drop-Off Locations (During Regular Business Hours) MCT Administration Building – 1 Transit Way, Pontoon Beach Collinsville Memorial Library – 408 W. Main St., Collinsville Edwardsville Public Library – 112 S. Kansas St., Edwardsville Hayner Public Library (Downtown Alton Branch) – 326 Belle St., Alton Maryville Community Library – 15 Professiona

Continue Reading

Panda Express Announces Glen Carbon Grand Opening

11 months ago
GLEN CARBON – Panda Express will open its first-ever Glen Carbon location on Friday, May 23, 2025. At 10 a.m., the well-known American Chinese eatery will open its doors at 2337 Troy Road in Glen Carbon. Lucky customers will be surprised throughout the day with Panda Express giveaways, including T-shirts and other Panda Express merchandise. Panda Express Spokesperson Brittany Rouse said the Glen Carbon location features the new “Panda Home” restaurant design, which she described as “distinctly American Chinese.” “Just like Panda Express, design elements bridge the East and the West,” she said. “Inside, you’ll find nods to traditional Chinese architecture like red lanterns, a moon gate portal and vibrant Chinatown signs. Outside, customers will enjoy a convenient drive-through.” The Glen Carbon Village Board approved a site plan for the new restaurant in April of 2024, as previously reported on Riverbender.com . Panda Expres

Continue Reading

UMSL Will Overhaul South Campus. Research, Health Care, Maybe a Coffee Shop

11 months ago
From St. Louis Post-Dispatch:  An overhaul of the University of Missouri-St. Louis includes plans to revamp much of the school’s southern campus over the next several years. UMSL plans to demolish old buildings there and develop a workforce district with retail and businesses where students can learn on the job. The university hasn’t finalized what […]
Dede Hance

Maryville Driver Severely Injured After Deer Collision Seeks Help

11 months ago
MARYVILLE — Maryville's Taylor Hollenback is seeking assistance after a collision with a deer left her car severely damaged and she was seriously injured. Now it has complicated her ability to get to work. Hollenback recounted the incident, saying, “I was driving home, and out of nowhere, a deer darted right in front of my car. I slammed on the brakes, but there was just no avoiding it so I ended up sliding on all gravel. The car’s pretty banged up, like, totally banged up.” The accident has left Hollenback without reliable transportation, prompting her to reach out for financial support. “If you’re able to chip in, even a little bit it would mean the world to me and get me back on the road,” she said. She also expressed willingness to work in exchange for help, and said, “I’ll do anything to work for a new car or anything that helps.” Hollenback can be contacted through her Facebook profile under her name, Taylor

Continue Reading

Worker Safety is in Jeopardy if We Don’t Protect NIOSH

11 months ago
From Construction Dive:  On April 1, thousands of Health and Human Services workers arrived at work to find their identification badges failed to let them into their jobsite. They were placed on administrative leave with a letter of termination set for June 2. Employees at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health were among […]
Dede Hance

Country Star Jake Owen To Headline Illinois State Fair Grandstand

11 months ago
SPRINGFIELD – Country music hitmaker Jake Owen will headline the Illinois State Fair Grandstand on Friday, August 8, 2025. With 10 No. 1 singles and more than 2.5 billion U.S. on-demand streams, Owen is a standout performer in the country music scene. His laid-back style and chart-topping songs like “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” “Beachin’,” and “The One That Got Away” have made him a household name. “August 8 is Agriculture Day at the Illinois State Fair, and this is the perfect way to celebrate,” said Jerry Costello II, Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture. “Country artists are a crowd favorite in central Illinois, and we are excited to bring Jake Owen to the Grandstand.” The gold and platinum-selling recording artist, and ACM award winner, has released nine studio albums. He also appeared in the film Our Friend (2019). Jake is currently in the recording studio preparing to release two new projects

Continue Reading

St. Louis Rallies to Fund Life-Saving Research and Patient Care Services at Susan G. Komen® MORE THAN PINK Walk

11 months ago
ST. LOUIS – Susan G. Komen® , the world’s leading breast cancer organization, today announced it will host a MORE THAN PINK Walk this spring. The 2025 Komen Greater St. Louis MORE THAN PINK Walk will take place on Saturday, June 7, 2025 uniting survivors, families and advocates in a powerful movement to fund research, provide patient support and drive meaningful change for those impacted by breast cancer. Every 12 minutes, a woman in the U.S. dies from breast cancer, and new data reveals a troubling increase in diagnoses among younger women. In 2025 alone, an estimated over 6,000 women in Missouri will be diagnosed with breast cancer and over 1,000 will lose their lives to the disease. While we've made tremendous progress—the breast cancer death rate has dropped 44% since 1989 —far too many lives are still being lost. In fact, experts estimate that one-third of breast cancer deaths could be prevented if every patient had access to timely, high-quality care

Continue Reading

No Foreigners at Harvard!

11 months ago
Today on TAP: Trump, Miller & Co. tell Harvard it can’t admit foreign students, for fear they may increase our store of knowledge.
Harold Meyerson

St. Louis Firms Rush to North City: ‘Helping People Get Secure’

11 months ago
From St. Louis Business Journal:  With public services pushed to the limit by the May 16 tornado that hit St. Louis, some of the region’s largest companies are pitching in to do what they can to help in the immediate aftermath, especially in North City. The Regional Business Council, a business advocacy group, immediately donated […]
Dede Hance