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The Rundown: Bridgeton Landfill, Normandy School Stay In The News

Bridgeton Landfill
Véronique LaCapra, St. Louis Public Radio

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.

The first thing we'd like to point you to is in the spirit of the holiday weekend: a look at how beer is brewed at Anheuser Busch and at a local craft brewery: Bud Vs. Microbrew: How Beer Is Made (In GIFs!)

But not all was lighthearted:

State Concerned About Potential For Surface Fire At Bridgeton Landfill

State agency officials are concerned that the underground fire at the Bridgeton Landfill could break through to the surface. Landfill fire expert Todd Thalhamer, who has been consulting for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, said some of the highest underground temperatures so far had been recorded at the landfill in May and early June.

Thalhamer was particularly concerned about measurements at one temperature monitor, where readings above 200ºF were recorded just nine feet below the landfill’s surface.

Education

New Normandy Begins With Advice, Determination To Change

As of midnight Monday, the old Normandy school district disappeared. But members clearly had the big picture in mind. Sheila Williams, who was on the elected board and is not on the appointed board said:

“I am looking at this as a reset for the district. I’m looking at it as an opportunity to effect really deep change in our school district. It’s not just a change in name or a change in personnel or a change in strategy, but rather a deep change that really means that we are altering our paradigm, our expectations and our culture," Williams said.

Nicastro Explains Normandy Decisions; Ferguson-Florissant Drops Normandy Transfers

The Missouri education commissioner said the decisions that have been made represent the best available from a list of bad options. Francis Howell is joined by University City, Ferguson-Florissant and others in declining to readmit transfers from Normandy.

Politics

The primary is a month away and the legislature is not in session but issues haven't faded from public view. Plus Glendale Republican Eric Schmitt throws his hat in for one of the statewide posts. Among the stories are:

Credit Jason Rosenbaum | St. Louis Public Radio
Eric Schmitt

Missouri Ends Fiscal Year With Less Income Than Expected, Threatens Spending Plans

Area State Senator Announces GOP Bid For Missouri Treasurer In 2016

Nixon Vetoes Bill Mandating 72-Hour Waiting Period For Abortions

Five Things You Need To Know About Transportation Tax

Supporters say Missouri needs more money for its aging transportation infrastructure. With gas tax revenue dwindling and federal funding uncertain, some policymakers see the sales tax as a guaranteed way to fund transportation needs.

But the proposal has attracted opponents from all sides of the political spectrum. Some on the right have bristled at the sheer size of the tax hike. Others on the left argue that sales taxes fall disproportionately on the poor and elderly. And then there are those who don’t like that most of the tax proceeds would go roads and highways – as opposed to other forms of transportation.

Hot Dogs and Socks: Exploring Crowdfunding in St. Louis

Crowdfunding is becoming an increasingly popular way for entrepreneurs to get money. Crowdfunding websites brought in about $5 billion globally in 2013. In this area, projects have raised more than $4.2 million on Kickstarter since it began in 2009.

The top categories in St. Louis are music, film and publishing.

Forget About The 250th Birthday. Historical Photos Show St. Louis Celebrating Its 150th

Credit Missouri History Museum, St. Louis
The view of the crowd from the stage of the Pageant and Masque held in Forest Park from May 28-31, 1914. The production brought to life the story of the founding of St. Louis 150 years earlier.

Some seem to be obsessing about the crowds expected in Forest Park as the Fair St. Louis Independence Day celebration moves from the riverfront. But the party 100 years ago brought in more people then than are expected now – and the park held up just fine.

Visually Appealing: STL’s Contemporary Art Museum Wants Your Cat Videos

OK, so this isn’t one of the big stories of the week, but you don’t want to miss the chance to make your cat a star.

Donna Korando started work in journalism at SIU’s Daily Egyptian in 1968. In between Carbondale and St. Louis Public Radio, she taught high school in Manitowoc, Wis., and worked at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. She was the copy editor and letters editor for the editorial page from 1973-77. As an editorial writer from 1977-87, she covered Illinois and city politics, education, agriculture, family issues and sub-Saharan Africa. When she was editor of the Commentary Page from 1987-2003, the page won several awards from the Association of Opinion Page Editors. From 2003-07, she headed the features copy desk.