Daily Brief: Wednesday, October 21, 2026

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

Missouri’s Amendment 3 would allow some abortions. Whether women could get them is unclear.

After Missouri banned nearly all abortions in 2022, Valerie Weaver began noticing a troubling change in some of the pregnant patients she cared for in Kansas City. They were arriving to her sicker.… — Missouri Independent

📼 From the PubDef archive: “Hubbard Fights Back Against Hypocritical Attacks” (Jul 2008)

Commentary: Missouri faces growing North American trade uncertainty

Just as hopes grew for a breakthrough in United States–Mexico trade talks, an Oct. 15 report by The Wall Street Journal, subsequently reported by Reuters, revealed another roadblock. The two… — Missouri Independent

📼 From the PubDef archive: “FLASHBACK: Ed Martin: “No Bailout!”” (Oct 2008)

Trump’s DOJ steps up pressure on California over noncitizen voters 2 weeks from election

The U.S. Department of Justice is intensifying its campaign against voter fraud with a spree of arrests in the final weeks before Election Day, an effort that voting rights advocates warn risks… — Missouri Independent

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

Missouri education chief resigns amid controversy over A-F ratings for public schools

Missouri interim Commissioner of Education Stacey Preis resigned Tuesday after just four months on the job amid speculation she was about to be fired. Speaking to reporters while the State Board of… — Missouri Independent

State says Missouri’s marijuana market is competitive. But who owns it?

Missouri regulators say the state doesn’t need to issue more licenses to grow, manufacture or sell marijuana because the legal cannabis market is meeting consumer demand. But the statewide study… — Missouri Independent

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

Gallery: 39th Annual Salute to Excellence in Education

View the full photo gallery on Flickr. Beautiful people and a spirit of celebration filled St. Louis Union Station Hotel for The St. Louis American Foundation’s 39th Annual Salute to Excellence in… — St. Louis American

📼 From the PubDef archive: “Thousands in St. Louis protest California’s gay marriage ban” (Nov 2008)

Tamiko Armstead | 2026 Lifetime Achiever in Education

Tamiko Armstead, president and CEO of Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School, receives the 2026 Lifetime Achiever in Education Award from The St. Louis American Foundation. This honoree profile was… — St. Louis American

📼 From the PubDef archive: “VIDEO: McCaskill on Equal Pay” (Apr 2008)

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