Economic Issues

Brian Nieves V. United Nations: Why is Missouri GOP Worried About Sustainable Development?

Why are GOP lawmakers in Missouri worried about a 1992 United Nations agreement that the U.S signed alongside hundreds of other nations? Because they say have proof that this non-binding Agenda 21, a sustainable development effort, poses a serious threat to Missouri residents in 2013. "One of the ... More >>

All A Board

Half the Sky, All the Hope

A New Resolution

Little House in the Present: America's economic downturns run through Laura Ingalls Wilder's books like a big three-hearted river

Nation, St. Louis, Add More Poor People to Poorest Neighborhoods Over Last Decade

​A new report out by the Brookings Institution, an independent research group, shows that the number of Americans living in extreme concentrated poverty grew by a third over the past decade, climbing from 9.1 to 10.5 percent since 2000, according to census data. The jump in extreme concentra ... More >>

Local Control Will Likely Have to Wait, Again

Special Session in Jeff City is not going according to plan.​Remember the scene in Juice when Bishop, Q, Raheem and Steel rob the corner store? They had everything all planned out. They timed the police patrols. They brought gloves, masks, and a gun. They knew old man Quiles, the owner, would be ... More >>

Local Control Bill in Legislative Limbo as Senate and House Debate Economic Development Package

​The state Senate leadership, notably Senate President Pro Tem Rob Mayer, R-Dexter, has said that they will likely not be debating or voting on any other bills this special session until after the two legislative chambers pass the economic development bill. The economic development bill, they poin ... More >>

President Obama's Jobs Plan -- Voices from Barrister's

Albert Samaha"Stimulus has become a bad word," says Lasky (left).​Last Monday in his jobs speech, President Barack Obama made a serious effort to wrest control of the Narrative away from the Republicans.For months Democrats have complained about how they kept ending up negotiating on Republicans' ... More >>

The Downgrade -- Voices from The Royale

Somebody clearly messed up. But who will take the blame?​After S.& P. downgraded America's credit rating from AAA to AA , the political strategy on both sides of the aisle was clear: Blame the other guys.The irony of the situation, of course, is that Monday's stock market dip, partially sparke ... More >>

Jenny Turner of Boenker Farms On the Family's Plans to Open a Winery and Café

Image viaWe heard it through the grapevine that Jenny Turner plans to convert some of Boenker Farms' land into a winery.​In these uncertain times, opening a business is an intimidating venture. Jenny Turner and a handful of her ten siblings have persevered through years of waiting and cutting ... More >>

Todd Akin is One of Those Republicans Willing to See America Default on Debt

​Depending on which prominent economist you talk to, a failure to raise the debt ceiling by 12:00 a.m. (EST) August 2, 2011 would either be "doomsday," "calamitous," "a calamity," "serious, and we probably would be thrown into a recession," "could provoke a renewed financial crisis," or someth ... More >>

Will Debt Toast Quiznos?

​St. Louis has already said farewell to one fast-food chain restaurant this year when the area's only two Del Taco locations closed at the end of June. Now, the Wall Street Journal has word that the sandwich chain Quiznos is in deep debt trouble: Sandwich chain Quiznos made its name selling hot su ... More >>

Blame the Recession for Your Drinking Problem

​Has this ever happened to you?Your concerned friend/family member/bartender/bootlegger gives you big, sad eyes, puts a gentle hand on your elbow and says, in a hushed voice, "I just don't know, Daily RFT reader. You're still incredibly handsome, but you've changed. I think you have a drinkin ... More >>

A Good Day for Science in St. Louis -- Science Center, Danforth Center to Expand

danforthcenter.org​You may have already seen the news splashed across this morning's Post-Dispatch. The St. Louis Science Center will announce today that its moving ahead with a $9.5 million expansion to create a new exhibition hall. But that wasn't the only science-related news leaked yesterday. ... More >>

Artgasm: This Weekend's Art Openings, May 14 - 16, 2010

With great events like these, it's hard to pick just one. Hit up the Fine Print, Rare Book and Paper Arts Fair or the Grand Center Spring Art Walk, then get inspired at the Urban Renewal Project, showcasing work by Employment Connection clients -- homeless, U.S. Veterans and ex-offenders who took tr ... More >>

State Sues Paul McKee's NorthSide Regeneration

Paul McKee​Ever since Paul McKee revealed his plans for a massive redevelopment project in north St. Louis, residents of the neighborhood have feared the developer might use eminent domain to seize their properties. That hasn't happened -- not yet anyway -- though eminent domain is now officially ... More >>

St. Louis Wins Decision Vs. Eminent Domain Mural

ij.orgRoos and his sign.​The U.S. District Court of Eastern Missouri today ruled in favor of St. Louis City in a suit over a well-known sign south of downtown. In 2007 activist Jim Roos painted a mural on the side of a building with the message: "End Eminent Domain Abuse." At the time, the buildin ... More >>

North Side Rancor: A quartet of legal eagles aim to shoot down Paul McKee's grandiose vision to regenerate St. Louis

Kids Count Report: Every Day in Missouri ... 212,369 Children Live in Poverty

​Kids Count, a publication of Citizens for Missouri's Children, confirms that young people in the state are facing increasing challenges brought on by higher levels of poverty, a lack of affordable health care and a dearth of quality educational opportunities. The 2009 Kids Count Data ... More >>

Did A Vegas Casino Boss Try To Make A St. Louis County Councilman An Offer He Couldn't Refuse?

Image Via​Reporter Paul Hampel has an incredible story in today's Post-Dispatch about the CEO of Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. (the Vegas-based company that owns Lumiere Place, the Admiral and the new casino in Lemay) attempting to "muscle" a member of the St. Louis County Council before Tuesday's v ... More >>

St. Louis County Council Clears Way For North County Casino

Image Via​While thousands of St. Louis county voters took to the polls yesterday to decide important issues like a smoking ban and increased 911 funding, the fate of the largest stretch of undeveloped Mississippi River waterfront in the St. Louis region was left in the hands of six members of the ... More >>

No Justice: We've bailed out the banks. When do we go after the crooks behind our financial collapse?

FoodWire: Wm. Shakespeare's Gastropub Closed

​Just received a note from restaurateur Eddie Neill informing me that Wm. Shakespeare's Gastropub (601 North Grand Boulevard) has closed. It had been operating on greatly reduced "summer hours." Wm. Shakespeare's opened only last fall in the teeth of the economic downturn, and despite generally po ... More >>

A Sprawling Casino Next To A Conservation Area?

photo by Keegan HamiltonThe Columbia Bottom Conservation AreaLocated at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers just north of St. Louis, the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area is among the last stretches of undeveloped riverfront near the city. The Missouri Department of Conservation, t ... More >>

St. Louis Consulting Firm Declares Recession Over! Or Does It???

flickr.com/photos/carantiYou may have noticed the article Slate ran yesterday afternoon entitled "The recession is over! (Technically.)" You may have ignored the parenthetical and burst into a joyous rendition of "Happy Days Are Here Again". Or you may have become suspicious of the term "technical," ... More >>

Missouri's Eminent Domain Battles Caught on Film in "Begging for Billionaires"

www.ij.orgJim RoosBegging for Billionaires, a documentary feature examining eminent domain "abuse" in Missouri, makes its initial screening next month in (of all places) Minnesota.  The film -- nine years in the making -- debuts May 2 as a "Best of Fest" selection at the Minneapolis-St. Paul In ... More >>

Become a Writer for Gut Check!

NOTE: This is a sticky post. The latest Gut Check item follows.Recession? What recession? That's right: Gut Check is hiring! Specifically, we're seeking freelance writers who can offer unique and interesting takes on the St. Louis food and drink scene.What, exactly, do we want from you? You tell u ... More >>

Café Crumbles: Michael Lieb continues his fight to open a coffee shop in Belleville

The Morning Brew: Tuesday, 7.8

The Morning Brew: Wednesday, 5.14

The Morning Brew: Thursday, 4.24

Leave Greenberg's Art Alone

Hey America: Stop it with your eminent domain and wimpiness, already!

Tax Credit Update

The Grapes of Mirth

Jonathan Nossiter's wine documentary is subversive, funny and humane

Hell No, We Won't Go!

A south St. Louis neighborhood raises a ruckus over plans to demolish homes for a shopping center

Extreme Makeover

Rollin Stanley is a hotshot city planner -- which begs the question: What the hell is he doing in St. Louis?

Best Bureaucrat

Rollin Stanley

Passing Gas

Jackass-riding Alderman Tom Bauer and QuikTrip join forces to test the limits of eminent domain

The Greening of McRee Town

There was nothing wrong with the Missouri Botanical Garden's downtrodden neighbor to the north that a bulldozer couldn't fix

Palast Guard

Crusading investigative journalist Greg Palast looks out for the little guy

Selling Out

To save Maplewood, some residents have to go

Letters

Week of Sept. 5, 2001

The Gospel According to Paul

Developer Paul McKee Jr. envisions WingHaven as a "New Urbanist" planned community where everyone will live, work and get along. So why does it look so much like suburbia?

Wrecking Brawl

For eight years, the city has kept Mark Finney from replacing the historic Syndicate Trust Building with a parking garage. He says, "Buy it or get the hell out of the way." It's time to put up or shut up.

Letters

Week of December 6, 2000

Best Role Model

Bill Willert

Wages of the City

Even if the living-wage proposal passes, don't look for any drastic changes for many St. Louisans eking out a living on minimum pay

WAGE DELAY

Labor, ACORN and the city support a living-wage ordinance, but it's going nowhere fast

Bobby Watson and Horizon

Wednesday-Saturday, Oct. 13-16; Backstage Bistro