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Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis invests $10.6 million in federal funding to spur economic recovery and tourism in St. Louis

2 weeks 5 days ago
After a historic 18-month regional advocacy campaign, the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis (RACSTL) received $10.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding from the city of St. Louis last summer. More than 100 arts organizations and countless artists and residents across St. Louis united to press local elected officials to allocate funds to RACSTL to support the sector’s recovery from the negative financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. A trusted, long-term public funder of…
Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis

Purina goes back to school to help students manage stress during final exams

2 weeks 5 days ago
This May, Purina is working with Duo Dogs, a St. Louis-based nonprofit that trains and connects dogs with people to cultivate positive change, to position touch therapy teams on local high school campuses in support of youth mental health. The teams, many of them Purina employee volunteers with their trained and certified therapy dogs, will interact with teenage students to educate them on the mental and physical benefits of pets and help ease their stress during final exam week. The event is part…
Nestlé Purina PetCare Company

5 key traits to seek in a general contractor for your commercial project’s success

2 weeks 5 days ago
In the ever-changing market of commercial construction, selecting the right general contractor is pivotal for project success. Engaging a construction partner is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and it’s important to seek out an experienced general contractor that is detail-oriented and able to support your business needs when you’re ready to enter the market. Navigating the current commercial construction market can be daunting, but considering these key factors when selecting a trusted construction…
ARCO Construction Company

Early-stage entrepreneurs: Overcome barriers with these inclusive St. Louis programs

2 weeks 5 days ago
Ben Molina understands that when people think of the support early-stage entrepreneurs need to bring their visions into focus, they tend to concentrate on things like identifying target markets, finding access to capital or proving concepts. These are important, Molina says, but they don’t give the full picture of the entrepreneur as a whole person — one who might be facing barriers that make it difficult for them to even begin thinking of their prospective business. “We want to learn not…
Cheryl Baehr

Companies tied to out-of-state firms appeal revocation of social-equity cannabis licenses

2 weeks 5 days ago
Two Missouri social-equity licensees connected to a Michigan company that used Craigslist to recruit applicants have appealed the state’s decision to revoke their dispensary licenses. The Michigan company, Canna Zoned, was behind two of the 16 microbusiness dispensary licenses issued by lottery in October — Frankenstein Enemy LLC in Columbia and Seashore Rhythm LLC in Arnold. Both licenses were revoked on March 27. Their appeals will be argued before the Administrative Hearing Commission on…
Rebecca Rivas

Congress to require new air refund rule, add flights at Washington National in FAA deal

2 weeks 5 days ago
Key members of Congress announced an agreement Monday on a $105 billion bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration for five years ahead of a May 10 deadline. The 1,000-page bill would raise hiring targets for air traffic control and would codify in law a rule the Biden administration introduced this month requiring airlines to offer refunds for canceled or significantly delayed flights, among other consumer-focused provisions. The legislation also would add flights to Ronald Reagan…
Jacob Fischler

Monarch Fire Protection District says residents face longer 911 wait times due to lack of equipment

2 weeks 5 days ago
The Monarch Fire Protection District serves several different municipalities in west St. Louis County, and right now, it's facing challenges. Among them is not having enough equipment or equipment that's too old. So the district formed a community-led effort is called "Monarch NEXT" and is holding public meetings this week on a possible property tax increase. The district says some residents have to wait more than 10 minutes when they call 911. Monarch serves 80,000 residents in a nearly 63-mile…
Diamond Palmer and Robert Townsend

Missouri House ethics panel drops probe of Dean Plocher after blocking push to release evidence

2 weeks 6 days ago
An investigation into accusations of misconduct by Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher was dismissed Monday at the end of a tense hearing where members of the ethics committee blocked the chair from reading an email about how Plocher’s office had allegedly intimidated possible witnesses. The email, obtained by The Independent through an open records request, was from Lori Hughes, director of administration for the Missouri House. In it, Hughes detailed events over several months that she said…
Rudi Keller

Missouri bill would loosen child labor law by removing work permit requirements

2 weeks 6 days ago
A push to eliminate Missouri’s requirement for children under 16 to obtain official work permits before they can begin a job could be debated by the House this week.  In order to work in Missouri, 14 and 15 year olds must obtain a certificate issued by their school, with information from their prospective employer about the details of the job as well as parental consent and age verification. The child’s school, or if they are homeschooled, a parent, must review that information to ensure…
Clara Bates