Daily Brief: Monday, October 19, 2026

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

Missouri Democrats gain ground in polls, but congressional races remain uphill battles

Missouri Republicans’ advantage among voters has narrowed sharply this year, but that shift may do little to change the state’s congressional delegation on Nov. 3.  An August St. Louis… — Missouri Independent

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

Six years in, The Missouri Independent is growing because of you

Six years ago, when we launched The Missouri Independent, I made what was probably a pretty lousy sales pitch. Don’t trust us. Not yet, anyway. I asked Missourians to judge us by our work. To hold us… — Missouri Independent

📼 From the PubDef archive: “McCain narrowly wins Missouri (maybe) as the state goes from red to purple” (Nov 2008)

Guest Conductor Kristiina Poska and Pianist Marie‑Ange Nguci Shine bring gifts to SLSO

The guest conductor tradition is a lifeblood of the symphony orchestra. Guest conductors cross‑pollinate orchestras, composers and repertoire. They bring local premieres of fresh work by their… — St. Louis American

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

$1.8 million in scholarships highlight education gala

Hundreds gathered for The St. Louis American Foundation’s 39th annual Salute to Excellence in Education Gala, where $1.8 million in scholarships were awarded to students and eight education and… — St. Louis American

Escaped St. Louis inmate captured in county

An inmate who escaped from the St. Louis City Justice Center early Sunday was captured about 14 hours later in south St. Louis County, ending a manhunt that prompted police to warn residents to lock… — St. Louis American

📼 From the PubDef archive: “O'Brien Asks State to Step In” (Nov 2006)

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