Jacob Barker

Gas station slot machine company misled public on its games, St. Louis jury finds A federal judge could rule next on whether the machines constitute illegal gambling after years of inaction from Missouri politicians.

Gas station slot machine company misled public on its games, St. Louis jury finds www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...

$11M food fraud? St. Louis nonprofit chief doubles down: 'Those are lies' Connie Bobo was indicted on charges of defrauding a program meant to provide meals for low-income children. Her expected guilty plea did not go as planned.

Something you see in movies about court but not actual court:

$11M food fraud? St. Louis nonprofit chief doubles down: 'Those are lies' www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...

After eminent domain threat, St. Louis negotiates for Paul McKee land around NGA The city could sue to take control of dozens of NorthSide Regeneration parcels relatively quickly. It's opting to negotiate to avoid lengthy litigation but has "no definitive timeline."

After eminent domain threat, St. Louis negotiates for Paul McKee land around NGA www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...

Washington Avenue food hall slated to open in downtown St. Louis Developer who has bought up downtown apartments said project will help reenergize area.

Washington Avenue food hall slated to open in downtown St. Louis www.stltoday.com/news/local/b...

St. Louis' ex-HR chief pressured staffer in 'campaign' to fire an employee, complaint says Sonya Jenkins-Gray tried to get a deputy who had complained about her fired, offering to connect another employee who had complained about him to a civil rights attorney.

St. Louis' ex-HR chief pressured staffer in 'campaign' to fire an employee, complaint says www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...

Feds said developers accused of fraud would repay tax breaks. The check only covers half. U.S. Attorney Thomas Albus hand-delivered the former criminal defendants' restitution check to City Hall.

Feds said developers accused of fraud would repay tax breaks. The check only covers half. www.stltoday.com/news/local/b...

St. Louis police foundation will not renew contract that boosts pay of chief Police board members sounded surprised by the news the foundation will not renew the chief's supplemental pay when informed at the end of a committee meeting.

Some in the department have made no secret of the fact that they would prefer an insider in the top job. The state takeover law even requires the next chief to come from within the ranks.
stltoday.com/news/local/c... via @stltoday.com

Feds drop charges against St. Louis developer represented by Pam Bondi's brother The brothers and their accountant led major regional developer Lux Living and landlords Asprient Properties and STL CityWide.

It was a reversal from the position of the U.S. Attorney's office weeks ago, when the prosecutor who brought the case argued that regardless of the DOJ's position on the city hiring program, it does not entitle people to "lie, cheat and steal."
www.stltoday.com/news/local/b...

Feds ask to drop charges against St. Louis developers accused of lying for tax breaks The prosecutor's motion came shortly after Sid Chakraverty hired U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi's brother, Washington D.C. lawyer Brad Bondi.

Albus' motion came shortly after Chakraverty hired U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi's brother, Washington D.C. lawyer Brad Bondi, to defend him in the case.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/b...

State funding cut to Missouri Technology Corp. adds to uncertainty for startups The Missouri Legislature stripped out $8.5 million for the state-sponsored venture capital fund amid federal funding uncertainty and struggles in the St. Louis entrepreneurship community.

State funding cut to Missouri Technology Corp. adds to uncertainty for startups www.stltoday.com/news/local/b... via @stltoday.com

As its leaders fight fraud charges, Lux Living sells U City apartments for $72 million he sale of the 251-unit McKenzie apartments at Delmar Boulevard and Interstate 170 in University City comes as Lux Living principals Vic Alston and Sid Chakraverty recently hired the U.S.

As its leaders fight fraud charges, Lux Living sells U City apartments for $72 million www.stltoday.com/news/local/b...

Holleman: St. Louis' ex-comptroller is back on the city payroll. No one is saying why. www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...

SLDC apparently got them for the construction project. These lawsuits are from the medical vendors

Lawsuits pile up over millions in unpaid bills at Paul McKee's Homer G. Phillips Hospital Eight lawsuits seek $3.5 million in unpaid invoices from shuttered north St. Louis clinic.

They claimed to be working with a copper company that was to sign an $800 million mining deal and use proceeds to finance the hospital.
“The gentleman and his company are real," Mark Vincent, general counsel of the hospital, wrote.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/b... via @stltoday.com

International Institute of St. Louis shifts focus after Trump ends key immigration programs The International Institute and its Latino Outreach initiative will work to lure those of Hispanic or Asian descent — with citizenship or a green card — to the region.

“I don’t want people to get so bogged down on ‘it’s the International Institute, so we’re bringing immigrants.’ I want people to understand we’re trying to bring population to St. Louis.”
www.stltoday.com/news/local/b...

Holleman: St. Louis trickles out a bit of transparency, but not without a fight Request for information tied to recent tornado in St. Louis finally was fulfilled — but not through system city uses to handle public’s Sunshine Law requests

After calling the mayor's office to get his Sunshine request fulfilled, the city's records portal, which had been processing his request for over a month, sent a message saying it needed another week to fulfill the request.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...

Among local govts, St. Louis is in a class by itself with its glacial handling of records requests.

For a 3rd straight year, the city took 100+ days to answer the Post-Dispatch's annual request for payroll data.

St. Louis County needed just 8.

www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...
@stltoday.com

Missouri regulators say they can’t revoke approval of Grain Belt Express energy project The project is an 800-mile, multi-state power line that would stretch from Kansas to Indiana.

Missouri regulators say they can’t revoke approval of Grain Belt Express energy project www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...

Indicted St. Louis apartment developer hires Pam Bondi’s brother, asks to dismiss charges Sid Chakraverty and brother Victor Alston argue the government’s case against them should be tossed because they are accused of defrauding an unconstitutional program to hire minority contractors in v...

“In this context, one has to be cognizant of the distinct possibility that this is about corrupt influence peddling rather than any kind of decision on the merits."
www.stltoday.com/news/local/b...

St. Louis aldermen asked for a state audit of the personnel department. It never started. The state audit would have examined the personnel department, whose director, Sonya Jenkins-Gray, was later fired. Gov. Mike Kehoe has since appointed her to the city's new police board.

St. Louis aldermen asked for a state audit of the personnel department. It never started. www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...

Missouri’s paid sick leave law to end next month after Republican-led repeal Gov. Mike Kehoe also approved cutting the state’s capital gains tax worth more than $400 million.

Missouri’s paid sick leave law to end next month after Republican-led repeal.
Also Thursday, Kehoe signed the capital gains tax cut on profits and earnings on the sale of stocks, cryptocurrencies, real estate and other valuables.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/g... via @stltoday

Tornado plan for damaged schools in doubt after St. Louis Board of Education rebuffs superintendent The SLPS board did not vote on the proposed relocation of Sumner, Soldan and Beaumont high schools or Yeatman-Liddell Middle School.

Tornado plan for damaged schools in doubt after St. Louis Board of Education rebuffs superintendent www.stltoday.com/news/local/e...

Work begins on new St. Louis apartment tower in Central West End The tower at Kingshighway and Lindell Boulevard will consist of 305 luxury apartments and 1,700 square feet of ground-level retail space.

Work begins on new St. Louis apartment tower in Central West End www.stltoday.com/news/local/b...

State takeover revives ‘good ol’ boy’ discipline process for St. Louis police, critic says Four years after city officials repealed them, summary hearing boards, which let police appeal discipline to a panel of other officers, are specifically mandated in the state takeover law.

“This has allowed for officers to significantly reduce, or even negate, discipline time and time again.” -- Former SLMPD Chief John Hayden.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...

No new apartments until July 2026 in this St. Charles County city "We are no longer the little bedroom community for O'Fallon — we're becoming O'Fallon," one Dardenne Prairie resident said.

No new apartments until July 2026 in this St. Charles County city www.stltoday.com/news/local/s...

Fireworks light up the St. Louis skyline and the Gateway Arch on Thursday, July 3, 2025. #STL More pix here www.stltoday.com/news/multime...

St. Louis city employee who was ‘right arm’ to former personnel director out after critical audit Anthony Byrd, the “right arm” to former Personnel Department Director Sonya Jenkins-Gray, was known for his frequent use of city vehicles. A city audit found a department employee put 5,700

St. Louis city employee who was ‘right arm’ to former personnel director out after critical audit www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...

Robert Tracy was the first outsider to lead St. Louis police. He may be the last. The law behind the state takeover of St. Louis police includes language that says the chief and assistant chief have to be “members of the force.”

“His performance has been lauded by both Republicans and Democrats and policing experts outside of St. Louis. Why would we preclude ourselves from hiring someone like Chief Tracy?”
www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...

New St. Louis police board members have ties to cops. Can they police the department? Critics of the new governor-appointed police board that will run the St. Louis Police Department raised questions about potential conflicts of interest and ties to the police union.

New St. Louis police board members have ties to cops. Can they police the department? www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...

‘We are in trouble.’ St. Louis region’s slowing population growth spurs call for action The East-West Gateway Council of Governments, the St. Louis region’s top planning group, is being urged to take the lead on addressing population growth.

‘We are in trouble.’ St. Louis region’s slowing population growth spurs call for action www.stltoday.com/news/local/m...