We know that you listen to us on air and check our website for news and information about our region. 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.
Ripples from Ferguson
Civil Rights Advocates Renew Push To End Racial Profiling
Civil rights advocates hope to build on the public awareness surrounding the deaths of Michael Brown, Treyvon Martin and others to push for a federal ban on racial profiling and to strengthen laws across the country. While Missouri ranks among those states with one of the more comprehensive laws on the books, it falls short of what advocates say is necessary to combat racial profiling effectively.
The History Behind The St. Louis Symphony Protest Song
Last Saturday night a group of protesters interrupted the St. Louis Symphony at the very end of intermission. The protesters sang an adaptation of the old folk song “Which Side Are You On?” They dubbed the performance “Requiem for Mike Brown” and began their protest shortly before the Symphony began Brahms' German Requiem.The musical protest at the St. Louis Symphony on Oct. 4 included banners. This song wasn’t picked at random.
St. Louis Unions Launch Program To Recruit Women And Minorities Into Trades
The Building Union Diversity has about $100,000 in local and federal funds to help African-Americans get full-time union jobs. Anybody who’s interested can go to the St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment. After getting assessed on math and reading, they’ll then go through an interview process to get into a class of 15 people. Those who finish the eight-week program get an interview for a full-time union job.
Lessons worth learning
'What's It Like Here?' Fourth Graders Give Author The Scoop On Schools
When writer and educator Inda Schaenen wanted to find out what really goes on in Missouri’s schools, she decided to ask those who are closest to the action – students, and more specifically fourth-grade students. So she traveled throughout the state, talking with fourth-graders in public, private and parochial schools, in rural, urban and suburban areas. She asked: “What’s it like here?” The result is her new book, “Speaking of Fourth Grade: What listening to kids tells us about school in America.”
McCaskill Seeks Stronger, More Sympathetic Response To Victims Of Campus Sexual Assault
As far as sexual assaults on a college campus are concerned, U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill says no news is definitely not good news. McCaskill, D-Mo., wants to strengthen colleges’ responses to sexual assault – responses that she says too often are half-hearted or even harmful to the victim. She says, too many campuses want to make themselves look good by claiming they had no sexual assault investigations over the past five years, when she knows that such a situation rarely if ever exists.
General election 2014
Once Reliably Democratic, Illinois 12th District Now Competitive Battleground For Enyart, Bost
U.S. Rep. Bill Enyart's re-election campaign against Republican state Rep. Mike Bost is one of the most competitive contests in the nation. Enyart's name can now be seen on on lists of the most endangered congressional incumbents in the country.
Missouri's 'Safe' Congressional Districts Result In Little Competition
Missouri voters will make decisions this fall on who will fill all eight of the state’s congressional districts. But as it stands, there’s little debate over who likely will win. All eight of the state’s incumbents in the U.S. House are in seats that – thanks to the 2011 redistricting – heavily favor one party or the other. As a result, none of them faces well-funded challengers this fall.
Art matters
How Murals Help Define, Strengthen St. Louis And The People Who Live Here
Fifteen years ago, the area of St. Louis now known as The Grove was a place many people avoided. By 2004, things were getting better, but the area teetered precariously on the edge of revitalization. One of the tools of revitalization was encouraging wall murals. Now several dozen murals by Grace McCammond — both artistic and commercial — dot the bustling strip.
After Legal Dispute, Busch Stadium Birthday Cake Won't Return
Although the St. Louis Cardinals have returned to Busch Stadium for a playoff run, one thing is still missing: The fiberglass cake that was originally placed at the stadium celebrating St. Louis’ 250th anniversary.And, there’s no longer a question of whether the cake will return before the end of year. It will not be available to the public in any capacity.
