Dennis Hancock

The county council voted unanimously last week to override St. Louis County Executive Sam Page’s veto, passing a bill that raises adoption fees at the shelter from $40 to $80.

A grand jury indicted the Democratic county executive last week over a public campaign on a proposition that would have substantially curbed his power.

The current deadline to apply for the tax relief is June 30, but the county council will introduce a bill Thursday that might extend it to mid- or late July.

Missouri Republicans are gearing up for an unusual 2026 election cycle in which state legislative and countywide contests and ballot items could take precedence over statewide races.

St. Louis County Third Ward Councilman Dennis Hancock, R-Fenton, will cover his own legal costs from the effort to oust him for nepotism and has promised to never hire another relative.

Dennis Hancock, R-Fenton, hired his stepdaughter as an administrative assistant, in violation of a state constitutional ban on nepotism. Members of the council staff then allegedly engaged in a coverup to make it look like she had never been employed by the county.

As recently as Monday, prosecutors had been arguing for a St. Louis County judge to act immediately to throw Dennis Hancock, a Republican from Fenton, off the county council. He is accused of violating the state’s nepotism prohibition.

A judge barred St. Louis County Councilman Dennis Hancock from participating in Tuesday’s meeting for hiring his relative as an assistant. Hancock says the move is politically motivated.

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page says the budget cuts will result in a reduction or elimination of some county services.

County Executive Sam Page said he has issues with the state law that allows for such measures but elected to not veto the property tax freeze on some seniors’ homes.