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Design STL editor-in-chief Veronica Theodoro reflects on takeaways from a recent family trip.

A multitude of dogs runs around off-leash and chase after each other and tennis balls. Not far away, their humans sit back, conversing with friends and family while having a cool drink.…

Even minor census undercounts could have substantial knock-on effects and deprive needy communities of investment and representation.

WBEZ's Dave McKinney investigates the financial holdings of Ken Griffin, Illinois' wealthiest person and the financier of a challenger to Gov. JB Pritzker.

Sammy Hagar knows a thing or two about what makes a great cocktail, having launched a number of popular liquor brands over the years, so it seems natural that the…

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Congressional Democrats are defunding vaccines long before the pandemic is over. Unacceptable.

Unionized workers at Warren Buffett’s BNSF Railway are angry about a new attendance policy that incentivizes coming to work sick or fatigued.

by Lylla Younes and Al Shaw

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Today ProPublica is releasing the data behind our investigative series “Sacrifice Zones,” which revealed more than 1,000 hot spots of cancer-causing industrial air pollution around the country. Researchers can now download the principal data files behind our investigation from our Data Store.

The data that we used for the analysis is based on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Risk Screening Environmental Indicators model, a tool that estimates concentrations of toxic chemicals in the air around industrial facilities. ProPublica mapped and published this information for the first time, giving readers a neighborhood-level view of their estimated cancer risks from industrial air pollution.

We are releasing three geographic files: one for the perimeters of each of the toxic hot spots identified in ProPublica’s analysis (hot spots are defined as contiguous grid squares with estimated excess cancer risk above 1 in 100,000); one containing the grid squares within each of those hot spots; and one containing the point locations for facilities included in our analysis. Users are encouraged to read our methodology and watch our guide for investigating hot spots before working with these files to better understand the strengths and limitations of RSEI data.

We are also updating our interactive map in two important ways.

First, we have updated the data files and map with corrections for errors in EPA’s data. The RSEI model relies on data from the Toxic Releases Inventory, a federal database containing emissions information submitted annually by companies operating large industrial facilities in the U.S. As we revealed in our series, the EPA does a poor job of verifying the accuracy of the industry-reported data in the TRI. Before we published the map, we independently fact-checked data from and contacted 200 facilities in our analysis to ensure that they had submitted correct emissions data for the five-year period of our analysis. While many companies responded to our inquiries, a number did not get back to us by our deadline. After we published, we heard from additional companies that wished to correct the TRI data reflected in our map. We also corrected the locations for a small number of facilities.

Second, we added Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to the map. In doing so, we identified three new hot spots, which are included in our data update.

Do You Live Near an Industrial Facility? Help Us Investigate.

The next Madison County primary election is officially underway, following Monday’s deadline for candidates to file their intent to run. Madison County will see some competition over a few offices and county board seats on June 28. Republicans Mike Walters and Linda Andreas will compete for the office of Madison County Clerk, while incumbent Debbie Ming-Mendoza will run unopposed for the Democratic ticket. Doug Hulme will challenge incumbent Chris Slusser for County Treasurer, both Republicans. Two Republicans will also face off to become County Sheriff, Jeff Connor and Jeff Larner. There will also be some competition over several Madison County Board seats this year. In the county’s 2nd District, incumbent Stacey Pace will be challenged by Christopher J. Willis for the Republican ticket. Democrat Charles “CJ” Metheney will run unopposed. Districts 7 and 8 will both see their incumbent candidates challenged. In the 7th District, incumbent Ray Wesley

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John O’Fallon barely knew his father James, but the lingering tales of his father as a “reckless, debt-ridden adventurer” certainly contributed to John’s lifelong obsession with business success. While in his early 20s, John heard from his famous uncle William Clark about the incredible amount of goods moving through St. Louis, and headed there in …

Continue reading "The Namesake of O’Fallon, Missouri"

The Owner of the Goldsmith Studio Had Disappeared On A Fishing Trip Readers with most of, or at least a large part of, their memory cells intact may recall that at the end of my last post about the images from Goldsmith Studio, the proprietor had gone missing. Eager to confront this mystery, I launched […]

Will Kohlenberger of Washington, MO joined the Real Rock Army today

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A few years ago a friend of mine got cataract surgery. He had worn glasses since childhood, but after the surgery he had perfect 20/20 vision and great reading vision. That sounded awesome, and naturally I wanted this surgery too even though I didn't have cataracts. I grumbled a bit about that and then forgot ...continue reading "Health Update, High Tech Optics Edition"

Some Bellfontaine Neighbors city leaders are raising questions over a special meeting that was supposed to happen Tuesday evening.

Sadly, several animals have already died. Others are being treated right now.

St. Louis County Councilman Ernie Trakas confirmed his office received a tip about trash billowing out of Republic Services Southside facility off Interstate 55 and Bayless Avenue.

ST. LOUIS - St. Louis County Police Department Crimes Against Persons detectives are currently investigating a homicide in the 1400 block of Dunn Road which resulted in the death of an adult male. On March 15, 2022, at approximately 2:20 PM, St. Louis County Police Officers from the North County Precinct responded to a call for service for a sudden death in the 1400 block of Dunn Road, the Budget Inn. Officers discovered an adult male deceased in a room in the hotel. Further investigation revealed the death to be a homicide. The investigation is very active at this time. Additional information will be disseminated as it becomes available. Please contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210 to speak to investigators if you have any information regarding the incident. To remain anonymous or potentially receive a reward, please contact CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-TIPS (8477) if you have any information regarding the incident.

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EDWARDSVILLE – Following reports of a 165,000-gallon crude oil spill affecting Cahokia Creek, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) has referred an enforcement action against Marathon Pipe Line LLC (Marathon) to the Illinois Attorney General’s office. Sierra Club supports the decision of the IEPA, and the commitment of Attorney General Raoul to ensure that Marathon remediates the spill. In addition to immediate cleanup response, Sierra Club urges the Attorney General’s office to hold Marathon responsible for identifying the cause of the spill, and for investigating and remedying the long-term effects that the spillage of crude oil in groundwater and soil may have on the health and safety of the community, environment, and Cahokia Creek. The Marathon Pipe Line leak was first reported the morning of Friday, March 11, when residents identified the strong odor of crude oil. The leak began in Edwardsville near IL-143 & Old Alton Edwardsville Road, and entered

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