Daily Brief: Wednesday, July 29, 2026

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

Since death penalty’s return 50 years ago, Missouri executes prisoners at high rate

For more than two decades, Vincent McFadden has been sitting on Missouri’s death row. He’s watched a steady stream of his friends get marched off to their executions — and he’s waiting for his own as… — Missouri Independent

📼 From the PubDef archive: “POLL: Should the Gov’t rescue the auto industry?” (Nov 2008)

Rural Missouri’s future depends on its public schools

Next month, a child waiting for the bus in a rural district may stand beside a two-lane road, looking across land that has been in one family for generations. But more and more, that will not be the… — Missouri Independent

📼 From the PubDef archive: “Blunt to Professor: Missouri McCain supporters aren’t racists” (Nov 2008)

Missouri Republicans threaten library funding over ‘rainbow story time’

Missouri Republican officials threatened Tuesday to cut state funding for Columbia’s public library after staff held a reading of LGBTQ+ children’s books last week. Secretary of State Denny Hoskins… — Missouri Independent

📼 From the PubDef archive: “Shields, Engler to lead State Senate” (Nov 2008)

Missouri hospitals seek to address workforce challenges as turnover rates rise

About five years after hospitals were hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, workforce trends appear to be stabilizing. In 2021, overall vacancy rates for hospital positions in Missouri were at 17%, but… — Missouri Independent

FEMA awards $2.9 million to St. Louis for continued tornado recovery casemanagement

The City of St. Louis has received $2.9 million in federal grant funding from theFederal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to continue longterm recoveryservices for residents affected by the May 16… — St. Louis American

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

Community rallies around young lemonade entrepreneur

An 11-year-old Dellwood entrepreneur whose lemonade stand was shut down over what city officials later acknowledged was a misunderstanding is back in business after the mayor apologized and the city… — St. Louis American

📼 From the PubDef archive: “Green announces run for mayor (No, not that Green)” (Nov 2008)

Still believing in the ‘American Dream’

The promise of America was that the policies were supposed to support the people. It’s not really a question of left or right. It’s about whether we believe in this American promise — a place where… — St. Louis American

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

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