Daily Brief: Saturday, July 18, 2026

St. Louis news worth your time today — curated by PubDef, with receipts from the archive. Click through for the full stories.

DHS boss Mullin warns of possible prosecution for election officials over voter roll access

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin threatened on Friday to prosecute election officials in states that don’t “participate in securing the elections” ahead of the November midterms. … — Missouri Independent

📼 From the PubDef archive: “Irene, Maida and Mike — a Tale of Delusion, Promise and Possibility” (Nov 2008)

Lawsuit seeks to block Missouri ban on intoxicating hemp products

A coalition of hemp businesses filed a federal lawsuit Thursday in an attempt to halt a statewide ban on intoxicating hemp products from going into effect in November. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S.… — Missouri Independent

📼 From the PubDef archive: “Man-Made Missouri Flood Fight” (Mar 2008)

New Missouri law requires drunk drivers to pay child support if they kill a parent

In the spring of 2021, Cecilia Williams lost her son, daughter-in-law and grandson to a drunken driver. Williams, who lives in Bonne Terre, is now raising the two orphaned grandchildren who survived,… — Missouri Independent

Trump cites potential hack of US elections in speech slammed for stoking voter fears

The nation’s election infrastructure is vulnerable to cyberattacks by foreign actors, President Donald Trump said during a primetime address Thursday night, citing a batch of documents he… — Missouri Independent

📼 From the PubDef archive: “Tear Down the San Luis for a Parking Lot on Lindell?” (Mar 2008)

A golden Black Rep

Black theater in America is alive, vibrant and viable — it just isn’t funded.  That reminder from August Wilson framed Ron Himes’ reflections as The Black Rep announced its 50th anniversary season.… — St. Louis American

📼 From the PubDef archive: “Irene, Maida and Mike — a Tale of Delusion, Promise and Possibility” (Nov 2008)

Jay-Z’s Yankee Stadium run included a high-profile haircut, and a long delay 

Before the start of his three-night Yankee Stadium residency this weekend, Jay-Z received a haircut from wife Beyoncé as they sat inside the venue. Footage of the trim was released on their… — St. Louis American

📼 From the PubDef archive: “The Obama Speech Everyone’s Talking About” (Mar 2008)

King of Broadway

(New York, NY) – New York City may have the highest concentration of theater lovers per capita, but much of the crowd lining both sides of West 47th Street on Wednesday night was likely drawn to the… — St. Louis American

📼 From the PubDef archive: “Irene, Maida and Mike — a Tale of Delusion, Promise and Possibility” (Nov 2008)

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