St. Louis Call Newspapers

State audit finds Stenger enabled by council, county auditor, Charter

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway announces that she will perform an audit of St. Louis County at the St. Louis County Library headquarters May 15, 2019, after the County Council voted unanimously to approve an audit May 7. Former County Executive Steve Stenger requested an audit of the county two years ago, but then-council Chairman Sam Page, now the county executive, declined.

September 22, 2020

Poor oversight by the County Council, an auditor who doesn’t audit and a county Charter that tilts the balance of power in St. Louis County to the county executive all contributed to the lack of oversight that allowed former County Executive Steve Stenger to pull off his corruption schemes, a draft repor...

St. Louis County school districts, including Mehlville and Lindbergh, weigh whether to postpone fall sports as parents protest

The rain-delayed matchup between Lindbergh High School and Mehlville High School Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, had all the ingredients of a state playoff game, despite being the first week of the 2019 season. Mehlville fell to Lindbergh 17-10. Photo by Bill Milligan.

By Gloria Lloyd, News Editor

September 15, 2020

St. Louis County school districts, including Mehlville and Lindbergh, are weighing whether to postpone fall sports to the spring as parents protest the county’s sports restrictions aimed at preventing COVID-19 among teenagers. Surrounding counties such as Jefferson and St. Charles have started their...

Green Park candidate was ousted from ballot; mayor appoints another replacement

Pictured above: Green Park City Hall as seen on Google Maps.

By Erin Achenbach, Staff Reporter

September 2, 2020

Green Park Mayor Tim Thuston appointed a new Ward 1 alderman at the August Board of Aldermen meeting — the second alderman he’s appointed since being elected mayor last year— after no candidate ran for the seat in the June municipal elections. Thuston appointed Esad Softic to the position of ...

History shows one vote makes a difference

By Carl Hendrickson, For the Call

August 28, 2020

I am sure many readers know of someone who did not vote this month. The familiar excuse is: “I am only one person. What difference can I make?” But isn’t each of us one person? Why should anyone feel shortchanged or ineffective because he or she is only one person? From the moment of birth to o...

No bond issue in November: Mehlville measure is on hold

Workers make repairs and repaint the Mehlville School District pool. Photo courtesy of the Mehlville School District.

By Erin Achenbach, Staff Reporter

August 24, 2020

The Mehlville Board of Education declined last week to place a no-tax-rate-increase bond issue on the Nov. 3 ballot. The board cited concerns that the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the decision to start the school year virtually would present challenges for successfully con...

Clancy will drop proposal for early-childhood education sales tax

Fifth District Councilwoman Lisa Clancy speaks at her town hall over the fate of Tower Tee at the Affton Community Center March 20, 2019. Photo by Erin Achenbach.

By Gloria Lloyd, News Editor

August 24, 2020

St. Louis County Councilwoman Lisa Clancy, D-Maplewood, said she will drop a proposal to ask voters to approve a half-cent sales tax for early-childhood education from the agenda at Tuesday’s County Council meeting, after pushback about the timing and behind-the-scenes crafting of the bill. Clancy...

Mehlville school board decides not to place bond issue for facilities on November ballot

Pictured above, Superintendent Chris Gaines asks supporters at a 2015 rally for Prop R to help him get out the vote so that he can hire reading coaches and keep experienced teachers in the district. Behind him are the Mehlville High School Pantherettes and the Oakville High School Golden Girls.

By Erin Achenbach, Staff Reporter

August 20, 2020

The Mehlville Board of Education declined Thursday night to place a no-tax-rate-increase bond issue on the Nov. 3 ballot, citing concerns that the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic as well the district’s decision to start the school year virtually would present challenges for successfully ...

Mehlville Board of Education votes on possible bond issue tonight

By Erin Achenbach, Staff Reporter

August 20, 2020

The Mehlville Board of Education will vote tonight — Thursday, Aug. 20 — whether to place a 12-cent no-tax-rate-increase bond issue on the ballot for the Nov. 3 election. The Board of Education will consider Superintendent Chris Gaines’ recommendation for a no-tax-rate-increase ballot measure for the upcoming...

Judge throws out Nov. 3 ballot language on Amendment 3, says it misleads on Clean Missouri

Voters check in to cast their ballots at the Sunset Hills Community Center during the April 2019 election.

By Gloria Lloyd, News Editor

August 17, 2020

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates. A judge in Cole County struck down ballot language placed on the November ballot by Republican Missouri lawmakers for Amendment 3, calling the ballot summary of the revision to the “Clean Missouri” amendment “misleading, unfair, and insufficient...

Take our poll: Do you agree with the election of County Executive Sam Page in the Democratic primary Aug. 4?

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page, right, and his wife, Jennifer, head to the polls Tuesday morning in Creve Coeur to vote for Page in the Democratic primary. Jennifer Page was dressed in scrubs to head to her job at Mercy Hospital South.

August 15, 2020

St. Louis County voters most likely gave County Executive Sam Page two more years in office by handing him a commanding victory in the Democratic primary Tuesday in a four-way race with two well-known opponents. With 70,500 votes for 38 percent of the total vote, Page fended off well-funded ch...