Good morning, St. Louis! Today’s top story: control of the city firefighter pension board returns to union hands after 13 years, following new legislation signed by Governor Mike Kehoe. Read on for details.

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Firefighters Regain Pension Board Control

Gov. Mike Kehoe on Friday signed legislation restoring control of the St. Louis firefighter pension board to the union, ending a 13-year struggle that began after pension reforms in 2011. The law enacts a March 2024 city ordinance, previously passed over a mayoral veto, shifting management back to a board with a majority of firefighters.

The St. Louis Firefighters Association (IAFF Local 73) supported the change, citing lower administrative costs and improved morale, while city officials warned restoring the old board could worsen the city’s financial challenges. Pension reforms made in 2012 followed major market losses and shifted board authority to city appointees to contain rising costs, which once accounted for one-third of the fire department’s budget.

The new law does not change current benefits; any increases would require separate aldermanic approval. The local law required matching state legislation, which Kehoe signed at the St. Louis Fire Department headquarters. Read more about the firefighter pension board change.

AROUND TOWN

The U.S. Department of Education paused over $6 billion in K-12 funding, prompting state and local concern. Illinois and Missouri officials report the hold affects grants for teacher development, enrichment, English learners, and afterschool programs, totaling $64.3 million for Missouri and $218.7 million for Illinois. However, larger grants like Title I-A remain unaffected. The federal review follows this year’s change in presidential administration and delays programs that schools rely on for planning. Lawmakers and educators stress that the disruption comes as schools recover post-pandemic, and representatives demand an explanation from federal offices.

Missouri residents living in 21 ZIP codes are now eligible for $50,000 payments through the federal Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA), but Metro East Illinois residents were again excluded in the latest Congressional bill. The new expansion, signed into law recently as part of the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” allows compensation for those affected by Manhattan Project-era nuclear activities in St. Louis, St. Louis County, and St. Charles County. At the same time, Illinois' 62060 ZIP code—encompassing Venice and Madison—remains ineligible. Local advocates like Larry Burgan and U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-Springfield) are pushing to include Metro East in future legislation, citing historic cancer clusters and ongoing cleanup needs. In contrast, similar pushes are anticipated from other states left out of the latest RECA expansion. Read more about Missouri’s RECA expansion and Metro East’s exclusion.

Affinia Healthcare received a $25,000 grant from the Episcopal Presbyterian Health Trust for expanded outreach. The funding will support 12 scheduled events in 2024 aimed at increasing access to care for uninsured and underinsured St. Louis residents, with potential renewal for two more years, according to CEO Dr. Kendra Holmes. The outreach efforts include Medicaid enrollment, medical and dental services, and a monthly men’s mental health program. The St. Louis Community Foundation administers the grant; more information is available here.

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Centene Faces Federal Scrutiny

Centene, the largest U.S. Medicaid managed care provider based in Clayton, is bracing for financial challenges as the federal government plans to tighten Medicaid eligibility and reduce subsidies in the Affordable Care Act marketplace.

The company’s recent growth relied heavily on government programs; Medicaid made up 62% of Centene’s 2024 revenue. With enhanced premium tax credits set to expire and stricter enrollment rules taking effect, analysts expect out-of-pocket premiums could rise 40% or more, potentially leading to layoffs across Centene’s 3,300 St. Louis-area employees. Read more.

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SLU Lists Former Hospital Site

St. Louis University has put its 362,000-square-foot Salus Center and 18 adjacent acres at Interstate 44 and Grand Boulevard up for sale amid ongoing financial pressures. The building most recently housed the College for Public Health and Social Justice, which relocated earlier this year.

The property, marketed at 1640 South Grand, sits within the St. Louis Midtown Redevelopment Corp. district, which can grant tax abatements. SLU faces budget gaps, uncertain federal funding, and declining international student enrollment, prompting recent staff cuts and a hiring freeze. The sale does not list a price. Read more about the property and redevelopment plans here.

QUICK HITS

St. Louis City SC ended its five-game winless streak with a 2-1 comeback victory over Portland, moving to 14th in the Western Conference and remaining three points behind 13th-place Dallas.

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe signed Senate Bills 79 and 82 into law to expand rural health care access and establish water export regulations, aiming to support the state’s agriculture and protect Missouri resources for future generations.

St. Louis' 911 dispatch center resumed construction in July near the NGA campus, despite permit confusion and a project cost now listed at $45 million, with city officials aiming for a 2026 completion.

St. Louis red light cameras have not been installed more than a year after city officials approved their return and issued a vendor proposal, with no timeline for implementation as of July 2025.

University City High School will induct three Jewish alumni into its 2025 Hall of Fame during a ceremony on Oct. 16, with Alan Spector delivering the keynote address and honoring a total of 10 inductees.

GENERATING BUZZ

A recent community discussion centered on a persistent, severe illness described by one member experiencing fever, congestion, fatigue, night sweats, and cough since early July, with a similar case starting in late June. Both tested negative for COVID-19 despite symptoms resembling common COVID signs, including hoarseness. This aligns with ongoing challenges in identifying and managing COVID-19 and other viral illnesses in 2025, as symptoms often overlap and can linger for weeks. Researchers note that a subset of patients continue to experience symptoms or complications long after initial infection, emphasizing the complexity of viral illnesses today. Check it out.