Desmond Tutu, South African equality activist, dies at 90
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Desmond Tutu, South Africa’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist for racial justice and LGBT rights and retired Anglican…
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Pope demands humility in new zinger-filled Christmas speech
ROME (AP) — Pope Francis urged Vatican cardinals, bishops and bureaucrats to embrace humility this Christmas season, saying their pride,…
Many churches cancel in-person Christmas services
(AP) — Amid the surge of coronavirus cases across the U.S., numerous churches have canceled in-person Christmas services, disappointing pastors…
Redistricting efforts hit snags in state legislature
JEFFERSON CITY (AP) — A House panel agreed Thursday on two tentative plans for redrawing Missouri’s state legislative districts, while…
Schools could be required to filter drinking fountains for lead
Thousands of Missouri school buildings are probably not testing their water for lead. A Missouri House bill would require them…
St. Louis area ‘not as safe’ as Omicron COVID cases soar, health officials say
CLAYTON (AP) — St. Louis-area health officials said Thursday that the highly transmissible Omicron variant of the coronavirus appeared to…
Experts warn of ‘perfect storm’ in Missouri as virus cases jump
ST. LOUIS (AP) — New cases and hospitalizations from COVID-19 are surging throughout Missouri, and health leaders are warning of…
Judge denies effort by local health agencies to intervene, appeal Missouri COVID ruling
A Cole County judge denied on Wednesday the efforts by local health departments and the state’s two largest counties to…
More than 120 K-12 education bills already filed for 2022 Missouri legislative session
During the past year, concerns about COVID policies, critical race theory and controversial books have highlighted tension in public education.…
Missouri redistricting panels pushing up against deadline
JEFFERSON CITY (AP) — The commissions in charge of redrawing Missouri’s state House and Senate districts based on new census…
Judge clears 1955 court record of civil rights pioneer
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A judge has approved a request to wipe clean the court record of a Black woman…
What’s your religion? In U.S., a common reply now is ‘None’
Nathalie Charles, even in her mid-teens, felt unwelcome in her Baptist congregation, with its conservative views on immigration, gender and…
Missouri judge to rule in January on legality of electronic raffle games
A protracted court battle over what is and is not an illegal gambling machine will be decided in early January, just a…
Next child tax credit payments dependent on U.S. Senate negotiations
Families received on Wednesday what might be the final monthly check from the expanded child tax credit program. The expanded child…
As overdose deaths surge, advocates push for over-the-counter naloxone
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Louise Vincent figures her group, the North Carolina Survivors Union, saves at least 1,690 lives a year.…
Schools must comply with COVID ruling to win state treasurer’s approval of bond deals
If school districts want to take advantage of a lower interest rate on bonds, Missouri Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick is requiring…