Mark Maxwell

SLU reverses course on immigration enforcement recruiters after student pressure Federal agency had already registered before university responded to student concerns citing faith-based mission

Saint Louis University says Customs and Border Protection will not participate in its March 4 career fair after students circulated a petition objecting to the agency’s presence. www.ksdk.com/article/news...

St. Louis says it cleared 84% of murders. The fine print tells a different story. Police followed FBI rules. But “cleared” does not mean charged, convicted, or even closed. Here’s what the numbers actually say.

Police followed the rules. The math checks out. (Sort of… if you fudge the nominator).

But “cleared” doesn’t mean case closed, criminal charged, or convicted.

A closer look at St. Louis homicide stats.

www.ksdk.com/article/news...

With ICE protests planned for tomorrow, Ferguson police chief Troy Doyle is speaking out on the use of deadly force. “On the local level, we try to build relations while they’re destroying them on the federal level.” Calls it “frustrating” because “that trickles back down to us.”

Fallen Arches: A compendium of what (mostly) went wrong in 2025 in St. Louis Every year, we at the Post-Dispatch honor the St. Louis and Missouri people and institutions who stumble along their way — a misdeed here, a lapse of judgment there, even

In its snarky, irreverent ‘Fallen Arches’ awards column, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch looks back at 2025 and asks, “Are Missouri's politicians corrupt, or just stupid? Why not both?” www.stltoday.com/life-enterta...

Courts hit pause on St. Louis sheriff fight as state seeks TRO to block City Hall’s next moves Judges say the case isn’t ripe; the attorney general warns that rushed action could trigger chaos and cost taxpayers.

Big development: Public Safety Committee Chairman Bret Narayan says tomorrow’s hearing to interview potential “interim” sheriff candidates is now canceled. Reality sinking in at City Hall after a misguided, premature rush to hold a special election. www.ksdk.com/article/news...

St. Louis sheriff election push faces legal hurdles, $400K cost, and questions over who really decides Election officials say candidate filing has not started, even as City Hall pushes a March vote and racks up legal fees.

St. Louis sheriff election push faces legal hurdles, $400K cost, and questions over who really decides www.ksdk.com/article/news...

BREAKING: St. Louis County Executive Sam Page will not seek re-election in 2026

New records reveal Festus data center plans were kept behind closed doors by officials, developer and Gov. Kehoe Non-public conversations, a developer's input into data center rules, and Gov. Mike Kehoe swaying dissenting voices. Here's what new documents show.

The plans were "hypothetical." The cost to see them was $150.

A handful of Festus residents recently scraped together enough money to find out what was happening to their city. Here's what they found: www.ksdk.com/article/news...

Hawley calls it “a bad idea.”

“There needs to be accountability for the Biden DOJ’s outrageous abuse of the separation of powers, but the right way to do that is through public hearings, tough oversight, including of the complicit telecomm companies, and prosecution where warranted.”

Tucked inside the Senate’s 394-page shutdown deal: a clause that could give Hawley and others at least $1 million each A retroactive Senate provision could hand eight GOP senators million-dollar payouts, including Missouri’s Josh Hawley.

Tucked inside the Senate’s 394-page shutdown deal: a clause that could give Josh Hawley and seven other Republicans at least $1 million each.

House voting on the funding bill now.

www.ksdk.com/article/news...

Staunton restaurant owner’s detention sparks outrage as ICE cites 2008 DUI, repeated border crossings Federal agents seized Ismael Ayuzo Sandoval after he dropped his daughters at school; neighbors plan rally amid ICE pushback

A Staunton restaurant owner’s detention by ICE has divided a small town and reignited big political questions about immigration enforcement.
Full story: www.ksdk.com/article/news...

City sued Cori Bush over unpaid taxes; case dismissed after months of missed notices Court records show multiple failed attempts to serve Bush before she paid $6,390 in back taxes.

The City of St. Louis sued former Congresswoman Cori Bush over $6,390 in unpaid taxes. Court records show process servers tried three times to reach her before assigning a special server. Bush paid the balance last week, and the case will now be dismissed. www.ksdk.com/article/news...

Collinsville’s ‘Rosie the Riveter’ honored with Congressional Gold Medal for WWII service 98-year-old Betty Wrigley of Collinsville helped repair battleships during World War II after leaving her St. Louis home at 15.

They called her Rosie the Riveter, she was really Betty from down the block. She left lying about her age, returned with the kind of loss that makes you grow up too fast. Eighty years later, the country finally said thanks. She didn’t need it. But we did. www.ksdk.com/article/news...

Cori Bush’s husband seeks dismissal of federal fraud case, claims political prosecution Cortney Merritts says DOJ targeted him for politics as Bush launches comeback bid

The husband of former Congresswoman Cori Bush is asking a federal judge to throw out the fraud case against him, claiming he’s being prosecuted for political reasons. His attorneys argue no other pandemic era fraud cases this small have been charged. www.ksdk.com/article/news...

Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks National Guard Deployment in Illinois

Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks National Guard Deployment in Illinois

“I have seen no credible evidence that there is a danger of a rebellion in the state of Illinois,” a federal judge said.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/u... via @nytimes.com

Oklahoma’s Republican Governor Criticizes National Guard Deployment in Chicago

Oklahoma’s Republican Governor Criticizes National Guard Deployment in Chicago

“Oklahomans would lose their mind if Pritzker in Illinois sent troops down to Oklahoma during the Biden administration.”

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/u... via @nytimes.com

DNC launches pushback against Missouri GOP’s new congressional map National Democrats fund a petition drive to let voters decide on Governor Kehoe’s “Missouri First Map.”

The Democratic National Committee is wading into Missouri’s redistricting fight, announcing new investments to block what it calls “rigged” Republican maps signed into law this weekend by Gov. Mike Kehoe.

www.ksdk.com/article/news...

As a personal note, I always appreciated Governor Edgar’s warmth, candor, and patience. He’d always pick up the phone or call me back as soon as he could. No question was beneath him. In a field full of self-centered egos, he had a rare set of qualities. A true public servant.

Jim Edgar, who served two terms as Illinois governor, dead at 79 Edgar, a Republican, was elected governor in 1991 and served until 1999, when he opted not to run for reelection.

Jim Edgar, who served two terms as Illinois governor, dead at 79.

After leaving public office, Edgar devoted much of his life to teaching younger generations how they could meaningfully engage and impact public policy.

www.ksdk.com/article/news...

Sheriff cites DNA test to fight nepotism charge, seeks dismissal in ouster case Court ruling found Malik Taylor’s father is Mack Taylor, not Sheriff Montgomery’s

A sheriff's deputy just took a DNA test. Turns out, he's 100% not the son of Whitfield Montgomery.

Sheriff cites DNA test to fight nepotism charge, seeks dismissal in ouster case

www.ksdk.com/article/news...

Missouri leads nation in Black homicide rate as community leaders fight to stem violence A national study shows Black Missourians face the highest homicide risk in the U.S. Advocates say the fight begins at home.

Missouri leads the nation in Black homicide rates, with Illinois close behind. Inside the numbers and the fight to save lives. www.ksdk.com/article/news...

Billboard near Illinois high school promotes Proud Boys, drawing local outrage Parents and community leaders in Breese condemn the extremist group’s attempt to recruit teenagers through roadside advertising.

Parents and leaders in Illinois are denouncing a Proud Boys billboard near a Breese high school. “Dangerous, violent, extremist.” www.ksdk.com/article/news...

Some St. Louisans struggle to file tornado claims as FEMA urges seniors to act before deadline Missouri officials extend FEMA deadline as some seniors say the system is too hard to navigate alone

“I don’t even drink and I feel like I need a drink.”
Seniors like Glenise Walker say filing tornado claims is overwhelming, but help is out there.
NEW FEMA deadline: Aug. 26
🔗 www.ksdk.com/article/news...

China Turns to A.I. in Information Warfare

China Turns to A.I. in Information Warfare

“GoLaxy tracks & collects info on more than 2,000 American political & public figures, 4,000 right-wing influencers & supporters of President Trump, in addition to journalists, scholars & entrepreneurs.” www.nytimes.com/2025/08/06/u...

YouTube video by WCIA News House Democrats preview "preliminary" redistricting maps behind locked doors

Illinois gerrymandering is trending now that Texas Democrats have fled there to break a quorum and block a hardball remap ahead of the midterms.

Reminder: When he first ran for Governor in 2018, JB Pritzker vowed to back fair maps. Then Dems did this: youtu.be/uxx5faV4XF4?...

Governor JB Pritzker is in East St Louis criticizing President Trump’s cuts to SNAP. He slams tariffs as “a tax on us.” Rev. Gary Gaston opens the panel discussion telling Pritzker, “We need a president like you.”

Krishnamoorthi campaigns for downstate voters amid Illinois Senate race With Durbin stepping down, top Democrats compete for his seat — and his mantle as an advocate for downstate Illinois.

Who will claim Durbin’s downstate mantle? Krishnamoorthi courts labor as Stratton, Kelly eye blue-collar voters downstate. www.ksdk.com/article/news...

Trial of Janis Mensah enters final stage The jury trial of former jail watchdog enters second day; city of St. Louis rests its case

Mensah is expected to take the stand and testify after a one-hour lunch break. Attorneys for the city and the defense expect the jury could reach a verdict at some point on Thursday afternoon.

www.ksdk.com/article/news...

St. Louis Police Board approves $6M body cam deal amid questions over oversight and vendor vetting The mayor raised concerns about transparency as the state-appointed board approved a multimillion-dollar contract without a full product evaluation.

The new St. Louis police board greenlit a $6M body cam deal under deadline pressure while lobbyists were in the room and no policy vetting in place. www.ksdk.com/article/news...

'It just seems kind of predatory': Missouri businesses receive legal threats over website accessibility from out-of-town lawyers A Kansas City attorney threatens lawsuits on behalf of a blind man, prompting concerns about legal tactics and true accessibility.

Are ADA lawsuits helping blind users or just enriching attorneys? A Missouri story with nuance, ethics, and sandwiches. www.ksdk.com/article/news...