Sixth Ward Alderman Kacie Starr Triplett is featured in next month’s Ebony magazine as one their “30 Young Leaders on the Rise.”

“I am thrilled to be honored,” said Triplett, who is 27. “I look forward to many years of service and contribution to the St. Louis community.”

The annual feature recognizes exceptional men and women age 30 and under who are making a difference in their communities through their professional and charitable accomplishments.

On Friday, KMOV Channel 4 interviewed Alderman Kacie Starr Triplett, who is the new official local spokesperson for the Barack Obama presidential campaign, and PubDef.net editor Antonio French on the results of a new KMOV/Post-Dispatch poll showing Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani leading their primary races.

Residents of Lafayette Square got a first look tonight at plans for a new development on the site of the old Praxair chemical plant.

Located on the corner of Missouri and Chouteau Avenues in south St. Louis, the vacant three-block area was home to Praxair, which was leveled by explosions and fire in 2005.

The exact specifications have yet to be worked out, but developers Jeff Winzerling and Pete Rothschild have come up with a $41 million plan that would incorporate condos, town homes, parking lots, a community park and retail and office space into the now vacant area.

Click here to see the Lafayette Square neighborhood’s current urban plan.

Freshman alderman Kacie Starr Triplett will tackle one of the city’s most persistent issues
tonight as she hosts a forum on homelessness in the downtown portion of her ward.

Triplett has invited representatives from the Department of Health & Human Services; The Horizon Club, St. Louis’ first 24-7 safe haven for the homeless; the St. Louis Downtown Partnership; and the mayor’s office to discuss with residents of the 6th ward strategies for addressing downtown’s large homeless population.

“There has been a lot of time, effort and energy in improving downtown,” said Triplett. “However, problems with homelessness and crime still exist. This event will provide an opportunity for me to update the citizens of downtown on recent proactive developments as well as a forum for my constituents to share their concerns.”

The event is at the St. Louis Public Library, 1301 Olive, from 7:00 to 8:30 tonight.