Daily Brief: Friday, June 19, 2026

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

What the 1.5% actually buys: A promise of quality for Missouri families

A recent commentary in The Missouri Independent asked what the Missouri Charter Public School commission (MCPSC) is doing with the 1.5% sponsorship fee it receives under state law. It is a fair… — Missouri Independent

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

Missouri judge strikes down nearly all state abortion regulations

Many of Missouri’s abortion regulations, including laws that Planned Parenthood said made it impossible for providers to prescribe medication abortion, were struck down in a ruling Thursday by a… — Missouri Independent

Elder abuse reports in Missouri continue to rise. Experts still consider them an undercount

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services received and investigated 43,208 reports of Missouri seniors and adults with disabilities being abused or neglected in 2025. That’s about 1,300… — Missouri Independent

📼 From the PubDef archive: “Harris Gets the 25th, Koster Gets the 16th” (Apr 2008)

Remembering freedom

Elizabeth Nash was well into adulthood before she heard much about Juneteenth. Her family’s understanding of freedom began instead with survival — escaping the 1917 East St. Louis Race Massacre. As… — St. Louis American

Check This Out: Juneteenth Reads with the St. Louis Public Library

As Juneteenth approaches, it’s a great time to learn more about the holiday and its significance. Jaelyn from the St. Louis Public Library recommends two books that help readers of all ages better… — St. Louis American

📼 From the PubDef archive: “How to disenfranchise (um, disenchant) a voter in 59 easy steps” (Nov 2008)

The Black Rep’s golden season

The Black Rep’s golden season. When I tell you I was outside this weekend – I’m talking all over this town, all weekend long. I got things started in Lafayette Square – where me and several of my… — St. Louis American

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

Fatherhood in action

Learning how to stay calm under pressure and show up consistently for his children was one of the biggest lessons Mikhail Foster Sr. took away from six weeks in the Responsible Fatherhood program at… — St. Louis American

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