Hundreds protest a $1.5B Midtown data center plan as city leaders weigh its impact. Also: Hazelwood considers changes to special education oversight, Williams Temple tackles community health, Stifel trims IT jobs, and Affton residents return home after a train derailment. Catch all the latest St. Louis updates here.

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Residents Oppose Armory Data Center

More than 200 people gathered at St. Cronan’s Church on Sunday afternoon to protest a $1.5 billion proposal for two new data centers at the former Armory building in Midtown St. Louis. The event marked the second in a planned series of town halls focused on the project.

Seventeen local environmental and labor groups helped host the meeting, urging city officials, including Mayor Cara Spencer, to stop the Armory project and enact a one-year moratorium on new data centers. Community members voiced concerns about electricity costs, water use, and environmental impact. A similar project in St. Charles paused after community pushback and a temporary ban. Developers claim a new state law protects consumer rates, but the Missouri Public Service Commission says new centers could still raise electric bills by $22 million per year.

Developers must secure a conditional use permit through a public hearing, which was recently postponed. City officials are reviewing a 44-question survey before considering next steps. Read more on the data center debate.

AROUND TOWN

Stifel has reduced its St. Louis-based IT workforce by nearly 60 employees as part of a restructuring. The financial services firm confirmed Monday it has made a “small restructuring within our technology group,” though specific details were not disclosed. Stifel, headquartered downtown, has seen steady technology investment in past years; this layoff marks one of its largest local IT cuts. Impacted workers have not been publicly identified, and the company has not announced further layoffs or a broader reorganization. Read more in the full article.

Evacuated Affton residents have been allowed to return home after a train derailed near Weber Road. The derailment occurred on October 10, 2025, near New Hampshire Avenue, prompting an emergency response and a temporary evacuation. According to the Affton Fire Protection District, cleanup crews quickly secured the scene and reported no hazardous materials. Officials stated that all safety protocols were followed, and an investigation is underway. For more details, see the local coverage of the incident.

New St. Louis Blues coach Jim Montgomery commands confidence and underscores the importance of veteran leadership after a rough opener. In a pregame ceremony before Thursday’s regular-season opener at Enterprise Center, Montgomery received the loudest ovation from a sellout crowd, as he began his five-year contract aiming to drive the current core toward a playoff berth in 2025-26. Following a 5-0 loss to the Minnesota Wild, Montgomery emphasized forward net-front presence and defensive accountability at Friday’s practice, urging top players Brayden Schenn, Robert Thomas, and others to set the tone. The Blues seek quick improvement with Saturday’s game against the Calgary Flames; read more about the team’s leadership focus in this analysis.

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Hazelwood Eyes Split From Special School District

The Hazelwood School District is considering leaving the St. Louis County Special School District, which would make it the first district in the area to do so. The school board has begun discussions but has not yet made a decision.

Hazelwood’s move comes as debates over special education governance and funding increase across Missouri. Supporters say increased autonomy could benefit local students, while critics warn of disruptions to services. Any change would require approval from both the state and local governments before it could take effect.

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Church Champions Community Health

Williams Temple Church of God in Christ is confronting chronic disease and food insecurity in North and Central St. Louis by integrating faith, fitness, and compassion into its ministry. Led by Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten and Evangelist Shirley Wooten, the church provides residents with no-cost food, health screenings, and mental health resources.

Research shows faith-based wellness programs can boost diet and exercise while reducing stigma around mental health. Williams Temple’s model, including year-round nutrition and exercise classes, offers a blueprint for other congregations. Read more about their community health initiatives.

QUICK HITS

Boots to the Ground Line Dance Event will bring St. Louis seniors together at The Ambassador on October 31 for three hours of music, dancing, and community, with $25 tickets benefiting the 13th Ward Organization.

St. Louis City SC's Simon Becher has struggled to find the back of the net this season, facing strong defensive efforts, such as Jonathan Bond's performance for Dynamo FC on August 30, 2025.

December 5th Fund coordinated with Core & Main on Saturday to provide home repairs and yard work for a Des Peres family affected by metastatic cancer, joining more than 125 families aided in the St. Louis region.

DED’s Office of Broadband Development will host the 4th Annual Connecting All Missourians Broadband Stakeholder Summit on Oct. 23, 2025, to discuss $700 million in BEAD funding for connecting 200,000 homes and businesses statewide.

St. Louis County Police are investigating a fatal crash on Lusher Road near Victorian Village Drive, where a man died in the hospital after being struck by a car shortly after 1:30 a.m. Sunday.