2006

by Peter DownsThe St. Louis Board of Education on January 17 approved a fundamental change in the way students are admitted to magnet schools. The board voted 4-1 to give preference for admission to magnet…

Take a look at St. Louis a half a century ago in this 9 minute promotional video from the old St. Louis Community Chest fund. Keep up with St. Louis politics at www.pubdef.net Video_Reports

After one year and one month, it came down to there being just too few hours in the day. That's why this blog is being replaced by a new forum. I just couldn't give the…

Several African-American elected officials and community leaders have asked supporters of the extremely well-funded Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures why so little of their budget is being spent with and on the black community. “As…

Bill Bryan of the Post-Dispatch is reporting that a 17-year-old male Beaumont High School student was reported to be in stable condition at a hospital after he was shot in the stomach this morning during…

Superintendent Creg Williams may have overreached his authority when he made roughly 1,000 teachers reapply for their jobs a few weeks ago. The superintendent's contract expressly states that while he can recommend such firings or…

PUB DEF EXCLUSIVE Republican Sen. Jim Talent, in the middle of a very close campaign with Democrat State Auditor Claire McCaskill, took a few minutes yesterday to sit down with PUB DEF to discuss what…

E-DAY UPDATE… Election Board officials tell PUB DEF that only about 10% of St. Louis’ registered voters have gone to the polls so far. Look for a final turnout around 23%. Keep up with St.…

The first thing to make note of about this year's Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) test scores is that the grading is different. Instead of the usual five Achievement Level categories (Step 1, Progressing, Nearing Proficient,…

A story in today’s Kansas City Star examines how some of U.S. Senate candidate Claire McCaskill’s husband’s business dealings would create “several potential conflicts of interest” should McCaskill successfully unseat Sen. Jim Talent. Click here…