Bar K, a popular dog park and bar in St. Louis, has permanently closed all locations. Catch up on what this means for members and the local pet community in today’s news roundup.

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Bar K Dog Bar Closes

Bar K, a popular dog park bar concept with locations in St. Louis, Kansas City, and Oklahoma City, permanently closed all operations Tuesday, according to a statement on its website. The closure is effective immediately, following nearly a decade in business.

Bar K had expanded to St. Louis in 2021 and was recognized in 2024 as one of the nation’s top dog bars by USA Today. Owners cited a mix of challenges, including inflation, a difficult labor market, declining consumer spending, and construction disruptions—especially at its Kansas City flagship. The company completed a funding round in summer 2024 and recently saw the departure of its CEO, Tim Schoenfelder.

It is unclear what will happen to Bar K’s sites or members now that operations have ended. The owners expressed gratitude to customers for their support. Read more.

AROUND TOWN

Spire will acquire Tennessee’s largest investor-owned gas utility, Piedmont Natural Gas, for $2.5 billion. St. Louis-based Spire announced Tuesday the deal is expected to close in early 2025, pending regulatory approval, and will expand its customer base by over 200,000 in the Nashville area. The acquisition, following prior purchases in Alabama and Missouri, continues Spire’s aggressive southern growth strategy. Piedmont, a Duke Energy subsidiary, will be renamed Spire Tennessee after the transaction completes. Read more on Spire's expansion.

A weekend fire at Manor Chemical in Affton is fueling renewed resident concerns over safety and transparency. The blaze, which authorities quickly contained Saturday and deemed non-suspicious, follows an EPA report in 2022 citing violations at the facility, including failures in chemical storage and spill planning. Although Manor Chemical settled with a $7,500 fine in 2024, neighbors say company communication remains lacking, with questions surfacing about environmental impacts and community notification. As more residents voice worries, State Rep. Michael Burton plans a town hall in the coming weeks to address these ongoing issues.

St. Louis CITY SC hosts Premier League club Aston Villa on Wednesday at Energizer Park. The rare international friendly will feature top Aston Villa players, including new signings Donyell Malen and Ollie Watkins and World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, as the English side prepares for its August 16 league opener. CITY SC’s squad, led by caretaker manager David Critchley after Olof Mellberg’s recent firing, hopes to build chemistry before facing Nashville SC. Read more about the matchup and festivities.

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Counties Advance Police Training Center

The St. Louis County Council on Tuesday approved an agreement with St. Charles and Franklin counties to build and operate a regional police training facility. The Jefferson County Council will vote on the deal Aug. 11.

Funded by a $50 million state grant, the proposed center would serve hundreds of law enforcement officers across the metro area. An eight-member commission would oversee the project’s development and operations. If additional funding is needed, the group may seek more state or federal grants, and then private donations. Councilwoman Lisa Clancy was the lone dissenting vote. The city of St. Louis is not involved. Read more details.

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Ivory Triangle Redesign

St. Louis officials have begun a resurfacing project in the Patch neighborhood to reconfigure the “Ivory Triangle” intersection, closing streets to create a new pedestrian plaza and outdoor dining space. Changes began after city studies revealed over a dozen crashes at the site across four years and widespread failure by drivers to obey stop signs.

Alderwoman Anne Schweitzer, who championed the redesign, said the project aims to make travel safer and more accessible for pedestrians and motorists. The effort aligns with St. Louis’s draft Transportation and Mobility Plan, its first such comprehensive strategy since 1948.

QUICK HITS

Nearly 10 inches of rain in Lincoln County early Sunday triggered a state of emergency, 42 water rescues, and left many Elsberry residents without flood insurance or aid, as officials cite discrepancies in FEMA flood maps.

St. Louis Public Schools saw its director of safety and security, Terrell Baker, resign after eight months, marking the second leadership departure in less than a year as the district prepares for the new school year.

Planned Parenthood Great Rivers will temporarily avoid the impact of a federal Medicaid funding ban after a judge indefinitely blocked the new congressional restriction on reimbursements to abortion providers, which could affect 200 clinics nationwide.

Missouri’s State Treasurer’s Office permanently removed donor information for the MOScholars private school tax-credit scholarship program from the state transparency portal in July 2024 after a media report detailed top corporate and family contributors.