Back in December, St. Louis Public Radio and the Beacon merged into a new organization. We know that you listen to us on air and check our website for news and information about our region, especially for news that you might not get elsewhere. We hope that you look at our website every day, but we know that's not always possible. So, once a week, on Friday, we will highlight some of the website's top stories of the week.
Education
On Monday, state education officials are meeting in Jefferson City to discuss the various proposals dealing with unaccredited districts and student transfers and to begin to craft their own. The hearing Wednesday night in the Normandy district, though, underscored the skepticism and mistrust some parents and educators have about some plans to dissolve failing school districts.
DESE Hears Pleas To Keep Public In Charge Of Public Schools
As Missouri education officials continue to gather public comment on what the state should do to help unaccredited school districts, one sentiment became clear Wednesday night: The public needs to have a strong voice in whatever plans are adopted.The public needs to have a strong voice in whatever plans are adopted.
Winter weather
Had enough of winter? The seemingly never-ending snow, cold and ice have played havoc with school days, commuting and life in general. The consequences for schools and traffic, though, will linger long after the ice has melted.
Parents, Schools Feel The Pain Of Latest Snow Closings
Ask any school superintendent how the decision is made to call off classes because of bad weather, and the answer is likely to be the same: It’s a tradeoff between wanting to make sure kids are learning and wanting to make sure they are safe. When the decision has to be made after those kids are already at school, other factors come into play: Will parents or caretakers get the word? Have alternate arrangements been made? Will the weather get worse before the kids can get home safely?
Winter Storms Blow Into Government Coffers
To understand just how much more expensive this winter is than previous years, Missouri Department of Transportation’s Elizabeth Wright provides some perspective. She says it’s cost the state around $40 million to plow snow off state roads so far. But MoDOT spends on average $42 million every year.
Addiction
The image of a heroin addict has traditionally been that a inner-city, black youth. But that stereotype is both out-of-date and wrong, as the death of Philip Seymour Hoffman tragically illustrates. Increasingly, heroin addicts are white and suburban, drawn to heroin because it's cheaper and more available than Oxycontin.
Actor's Apparent Heroin Overdose Points To Widespread Trend
Experts who study drug trends say the presumed fatal heroin overdose of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman shines the spotlight anew on the need for society to come to grips with widespread heroin abuse across the nation and in St. Louis.
Executions
After St. Louis Public Radio and the Beacon revealed the name of the compounding pharmacy providing execution drugs to Missouri, without being licensed to do business here, the pharmacy has taken steps to become licensed in Missouri.
After Supplying For Three Missouri Executions, Pharmacy Plans To Register In State
An Oklahoma compounding pharmacy has supplied Missouri with the drug it's used three times to execute inmates, despite the fact that the pharmacy isn't licensed here. Now the Apothecary Shoppe is attempting to become licensed in Missouri. An Oklahoma compounding pharmacy has supplied Missouri with the drug it's used three times to execute inmates, despite the fact that the pharmacy isn't licensed here.
Infrastructure
This weekend marks the long-awaited opening of the "Stan span" over the Mississippi River. Check out our interactive "By the Numbers" graphic on the bridge.