The Gateway

A large number of Missourians and Illinoisans say college is still worth it. That’s according to a new report from the Strada Education Foundation. The State Opportunity Index calculates a positive return on investment score for each state.

An ancient farming practice is getting a new life. Biochar is gaining traction as a regenerative agriculture practice that could help improve soil and sink carbon. Efforts are underway to introduce more farmers to biochar.

Ferguson Police Chief Troy Doyle says one of his first goals as head of the department was to convince officers that the federal consent decree they’re under is a good thing. He is also focused on recruitment of officers and improving community relations.

A U-S Supreme Court decision last year stripped most federal protections from wetlands. That’s made cooperation between federal, state and local conservation groups more important than ever. A nature preserve along the Illinois River may serve as a template of how to move forward.

Last year was the deadliest, on record, for people walking in St. Louis County. The data reinforces a reputation that St. Louis is not the safest place to walk or bike. The St. Louis-based nonprofit Trailnet recently released a report that presents key findings about STL’s traffic violence during 2023.

Over the last two decades, the number of newspapers in the U.S. has dropped by nearly a third. Rural areas have been especially impacted. But newspapers are experimenting with different strategies in an effort to keep local news alive.

Last fall, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency appointed a federal coordinator to oversee the response to Cahokia Heights’ ongoing sewer and water issues. The inaugural coordinator is EPA scientist Beth Murphy. She’ll leave the position at the end of the month.

A team of behavioral health clinicians is working to bridge the gap in local policing by helping meet the mental and emotional needs in St. Louis. They’re known in St. Louis as the Purple Shirts.

Over the last month, Muslims across the world have observed the holy month of Ramadan with fasting, gatherings for meals, community prayer, and intentional giving. And yesterday marked Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of Ramadan. We hear from with a range of St. Louis area Muslims about the way they’ve experienced Ramadan this year:

Some property equity firms buy lots of single family homes and rent them out. Ohio based VineBrook Homes is one of the larger companies. Many of its renters claim VineBrook neglects its properties and renters which the firm denies. Now it faces another problem–and is selling hundreds of properties in order to pay off a huge debt.