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Rep. Steve Butz, D-St. Louis, holds a significant fundraising lead in the race to replace state Sen. Karla May next year

Analysts say Republicans are scrambling to stop an effort to allow voters to weigh in on the gerrymandered congressional maps

As far as the Trump administration is concerned, there’s only one crime worth targeting: not being white. Despite ICE now being the best-funded federal law enforcement agency and military troops being scrambled to any area of the country that pisses Trump off, ICE is no closer to reaching White House advisor Stephen Miller’s baseline target […]

A St. Louis man appeared in court Thursday morning for allegedly stealing cars from a local auto repair shop earlier this week.

MATLAB allows matrix manipulations, plotting of functions and data, implementation of algorithms, creating of user interfaces, and interfacing with programs written in other languages. That’s all well and good, but it means nothing if you don’t have a firm grasp of the data types used within MATLAB. In the Complete MATLAB Programming Master Class, you’ll […]

GODFREY - "A rock is a rock, but there are different rocks and different uses for each." And, "When life hands you rocks, build a rock garden." If you are going to build a rock garden, or create an outdoor living space, Hindley Nursery and Stoneyard has the rocks, or plants, you need. On the highway toward Brighton, but still in Godfrey, there are ten acres of just about every kind of rock and stone imaginable. Unlike many other retailers, they have dozens of variations ranging in shapes, sizes and colors. Creating a pleasing outdoor living space is becoming very popular. “Outdoor living spaces expand the overall usable entertaining area of your home. They give you another place to go, another experience of your home, another place to gather— even another place to watch a movie,” says Stephen Block, president of Inner Gardens. Providing landscaping and gardening supplies and materials, the company had a humble beginning. Its "roots” go back to Tim an

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EDWARDSVILLE/CHOUTEAU - During their regular meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025, the Madison County Board voted to approve a special use permit for a commercial solar energy facility’s construction in Chouteau Township, about a half-mile north of Granite City. Roxford Solar A LLC applied for a special use permit to construct the commercial solar facility in an area zoned “R-3” Single-Family Residential District. The Madison County Zoning Board of Appeals initially denied this petition, a decision that was upheld by the Madison County Building and Zoning Committee. During the Madison County Board’s meeting on Sept. 17, 2025, the Board voted to send the application back to the Building and Zoning Committee for further review. On Oct. 15, Madison County Board member and Building and Zoning Committee Chairman Terry Eaker presented the new petition and the Committee’s recommendation to approve the petition with conditions. Madison County Board Chairman

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St. Louis police are working to determine exactly where and when a man who was shot after he turned up at the hospital Wednesday evening.

From Midwest Council ASA: Recent reports have highlighted serious concerns about the sale of substandard personal protective equipment (PPE) online, including through platforms such as TikTok Shop. Several products marketed as “safety shoes,” “safety belts,” and even respirators were recalled in the United Kingdom after failing basic safety tests. Although these recalls were outside the […]

The post Beware of Substandard/Fake PPE Products appeared first on Construction Forum.

The union representing St. Louis-area Boeing workers on strike has filed an unfair labor practice charge against Boeing.

SLATE Missouri Job Center is planning several Holiday Help Hiring Events to connect job seekers with employers.

The St. Louis County Police Department has opened a dedicated child care and early childhood education center at the Affton Southwest Precinct for the children of the department's officers.

Looking for some music to soundtrack your Halloween? A new playlist may just help set the mood.Concord Records has released a digital collection of Creedence Clearwater Revival classics with titles that seem…

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GRANITE CITY – A woman accused of breaking into a Granite City residence and throwing a knife towards an 11-year-old child remains in custody on felony and misdemeanor charges. Natasha N. Buckingham, 37, listed as homeless out of Granite City, was charged with one count each of residential burglary (a Class 1 felony) and aggravated assault (a Class A misdemeanor) on Oct. 7, 2025. Buckingham allegedly entered a Granite City residence on Missouri Avenue without authority and with the intent to commit a theft on Oct. 6, 2025. On the same day, she is also accused of throwing a kitchen knife in the direction of an 11-year-old child. “Victim reported that her 11-year-old son arrived home from school, finding the defendant unlawfully inside the residence,” according to the state’s petition to deny Buckingham’s pretrial release. “Victim's son reported that defendant refused to leave and when confronted, threw a knife at him,” the petition continues.

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From spooky Halloween parties and haunted school adventures to lively music performances and family-friendly markets, the diverse lineup of events offers something exciting for everyone this season. For a complete listing of upcoming happenings, be sure to visit https://www.riverbender.com/events/ and plan your next great outing! Featured Fall Reading Retreat invites you to get cozy at their Spooky Reading Retreat on October 17, 2025, at Hayner Library at Alton Square Mall in Alton. This perfect autumn evening allows you to curl up with eerie tales and immerse yourself in fall vibes. Whether you love horror, mystery, or ghost stories—or none of those—there’s something for every reader. Enjoy fall-themed treats and warm drinks, craft your own ghost garland to take home, and settle in for some quiet reading time. You can chat with fellow readers about what you’re currently reading or share favorite spooky stories. The open house-style event lets you come and

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Political campaigns are required to disclose fundraising and expense records

If fewer newspapers exist to request public records, does the government become less transparent? That’s the question at the heart of “Dark Deserts,” a new research paper by David Cuillier of the Freedom of Information Project at the Brechner Center for Advancement of the First Amendment and law student Brett Posner-Ferdman.

Cuillier, who’s taught more than 10,000 journalists, students, and citizens how to wrest public records from government agencies, told us about what he and Posner-Ferdman found and what it means for the public’s right to know.

Let’s start with the big finding of “Dark Deserts”: States with fewer local papers and weaker press associations are more likely to break public records laws. Why does that matter for everyday people?

This is incredibly important for all of us because we are reaching the transparency tipping point — where we will lose any effective ability to see what our governments are up to.

We know from research that public record laws directly lead to less corruption, cleaner drinking water, and safer restaurants. According to Stanford economist James Hamilton’s research, for every dollar spent on public records journalism, society benefits $287 in saved lives and more efficient government. Freedom of information ensures concrete benefits for all of us.

Yet, we are losing it very quickly. According to the Department of Justice’s own statistics, if you asked for a record in 2011, you would get it about 38% of the time. Now it’s down to 12%. We see the same downward trends in the states. What happens when it gets to 0%?

The death of transparency will affect all of us in the pocketbook, in the quality of government services we receive, and in the loss of liberties we hold sacred as Americans.

The death of transparency will affect all of us in the pocketbook, in the quality of government services we receive, and in the loss of liberties we hold sacred as Americans.

David Cuillier

Surprisingly, you found that having more digital-only media outlets doesn’t result in better public records request compliance. Why do you think that is, and what advice would you give to digital outlets trying to hold government accountable?

It is difficult to know for sure. For one, there aren’t as many data points to effectively measure their effects as well as we would like. For example, the Institute for Nonprofit News membership stands at about 500 so far and there are 3,143 counties in the country. A strong, local, independent digital outlet might have an effect on local compliance with public record laws, but there probably aren’t enough to have an impact on state agencies.

Also, while many are doing great work, I suspect they have less influence at a statewide level than newspapers. A lot of digital-only outlets don’t have the funds to sue for public records. Also, my sense is that government officials don’t take digital-only media outlets as seriously, and that politicians are essentially blowing them off and not considering them “real” journalism. That is too bad, because many are doing better journalism than legacy media.

Digital-only outlets will need to double down on public records. And support organizations like Freedom of the Press Foundation, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, MuckRock, state FOI coalitions, and others can help.

Beyond subscribing to their community’s newspaper or supporting funding for journalism, what can people who care about press freedom and transparency do to encourage state governments to take their public record laws seriously?

Of course, write to your local city council, legislator, governor, and congressional representatives. They listen if enough people speak up. But everyone says that, right? And how many people actually act?

The solutions will take much more work than strongly worded letters. It’s time for other institutions to fill the gap. Nonprofits with an agenda are probably our last hope — American Oversight, Heritage Foundation, Judicial Watch, ACLU, League of Women Voters, etc. A new citizen-driven nonprofit in Jacksonville, “Nassau County DOGE,” has been pushing for public records. Environmental groups and those seeking police reform and rights for transgender Americans are pushing for records. Whatever your passion is, join an organization that will fight for your right to know.

The solutions will take much more work than strongly worded letters. It’s time for other institutions to fill the gap.

David Cuillier

Then, we need strong coordinating bodies, such as state freedom of information coalitions, to help direct these energies toward real legislative reform and litigation. One thing I’ve noticed is that all it takes is one or two passionate people in a state to make a huge difference in freedom of information. It really is doable!

What states have the strongest public records law, and what sets them apart? If you had the power to rewrite public records laws, what’s the one thing you’d add or fix right away?

No state is perfect. But most of the studies indicate that the states with the best compliance overall with public record laws tend to be Washington, Idaho, Connecticut, and some others. The most effective changes to public records laws rely on four things.

First, we need mandatory attorney fee-shifting in every state, where agencies are required to cover the attorney fees of people who sue for public records and prevail. In the third of the states that have this, there are attorneys happy to sue on behalf of journalists and others, with the hope they will get paid.

Second, strong financial penalties for noncompliance are critically important. Washington is probably the most transparent state overall, because if an agency breaks the law, is sued, and loses, it can be forced to pay up to $100 per record per day that it dinged the requester around. That can add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Third, elimination of search and redaction fees, which are abused terribly. There are some countries where no fees are charged at all, and it works very well. In reality, fees collect very little of the actual cost of administering public record laws — less than 1%-3% according to most studies. Yet, they are wielded by agencies to make people go away, particularly journalists.

Lastly, and probably most importantly, we need alternative enforcement mechanisms in addition to court. Not everyone can afford to hire an attorney and sue. We need independent information commissions in every state to enforce the law and punish bad agencies, as they have in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, and in more than 51 nations across the planet.

You’re also a member of the federal Freedom of Information Act Advisory Committee. What’s something you’d fix in the federal FOIA?

So many fixes, so little time.

The FOIA Advisory Committee, since its inception in 2014, has provided 67 recommendations to improve the law and process, yet the most substantive suggestions have mostly been ignored. Amendments every decade or so tweak the law but are insufficient in keeping up with increasing secrecy.

I’ve noticed that in Washington, D.C., there tends to be a culture of exceptionalism, that we are the king of democracy in the world and have the best law on the books. In reality, FOIA’s strength on paper is rated in the bottom half of the 140 nations that have public record laws — 78th, to be exact. That is embarrassing. So many improvements could be made if we swallow our pride and look to other countries for guidance.

FOIA’s strength on paper is rated in the bottom half of the 140 nations that have public record laws — 78th, to be exact. That is embarrassing.

David Cuillier

For example, we need an independent agency with the power to enforce the law on behalf of citizens, like we see in dozens of other countries. We need stiff penalties — even firing and jail time — for intentional noncompliance of FOIA, as they have in Ghana, Barbuda, and Finland. We need direct funding of FOIA offices by Congress to carry out the FOIA mission, particularly now as agencies are gutting staff. We need better technology to search for records and redact. We need FOIA to be applied to all branches of government, and to private corporations that conduct taxpayer-funded business on behalf of the government, as in South Africa, Armenia, and Colombia.

A lot of people consider these ideas extreme, yet they are common in other countries. We can do better.