Daily Brief: Monday, July 27, 2026

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

After voucher data leak, Missouri treasurer’s office pointed at its contractor

Newly released emails show that when the Missouri State Treasurer’s Office learned in April that spreadsheets on its website unintentionally exposed the names of students receiving private school… — Missouri Independent

Former DOJ lawyer blames Missouri senators for inciting death threats against her

WASHINGTON — Former Justice Department lawyer Elizabeth Oyer has posted a video to YouTube blaming Missouri Republican Sens. Eric Schmitt and Josh Hawley for an onslaught of hate messages and death… — Missouri Independent

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

The weird world of Missouri campaign B-roll

It’s one of my favorite times of the election year: B-roll season. Across Missouri, candidates are posting B-roll — the wordless, context-free footage ad-makers layer under narration — so the… — Missouri Independent

Racial healing starts with honest conversations

As a child, Jacinay Coleman-Shelton struggled to understand her racial identity, but her curiosity often led her to ask outspoken questions when racial issues arose.  Shelton, of both Black and… — St. Louis American

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

Jordan Walker leads call for more Black youth in baseball 

Shortly after Jordan Walker’s 12th and clinching blast of the Home Run Derby final against hometown hero Kyle Schwarber had landed among bitter fans at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, the St.… — St. Louis American

📼 From the PubDef archive: “Blunt Grants Christmas Pardons” (Dec 2007)

‘Good Times’ theme song vocalist Jim Gilstrap dies at 79

Jim Gilstrap, whose voice became a fixture on some of the most memorable recordings of the past five decades, has died of natural causes. He was 79. Gilstrap was the co-lead vocalist on the theme… — St. Louis American

📼 From the PubDef archive: “VIDEO: Why Bush was good for Al-Qaida recruiting and why they fear Obama” (Nov 2008)

For some divorced members, church becomes another loss 

For nearly a decade, Kimmoly LaBoo poured herself into her Baltimore-area church, completing leadership training and mentoring others. But when her marriage began falling apart, she said she… — St. Louis American

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