Good morning, St. Louis. Today’s top stories: Missouri House advances a proposal to make ballot initiatives harder to pass, St. Louis launches a zoning overhaul to address population loss, Catherine Hanaway named Missouri attorney general, and U.S. Steel shifts Granite City processing—plus news on WashU, local business, and sports.

MAIN STORY

Missouri House Advances Amendment Proposal

The Missouri House gave first-round approval Monday to a measure that would make it more difficult for constitutional amendments to pass through the initiative petition process. The proposed change would require amendments to win both statewide majority support and a majority in all 8 congressional districts.

The measure, sponsored by Rep. Ed Lewis, R-Moberly, passed 96-55 and requires another House vote before being sent to the Senate. Supporters argue it ensures a broader consensus, while critics, such as Rep. Eric Woods, D-Kansas City, say it unfairly limits citizen-led efforts and allows rural districts to overrule populous areas. The proposal would not affect legislatively referred amendments; only those placed on the ballot via petition would be affected.

If approved in the legislature, the change would go before Missouri voters. Similar efforts have failed in recent years, despite statewide votes approving issues like Medicaid expansion and legalizing marijuana. Read more about the proposal’s details and debate here.

AROUND TOWN

U.S. Steel will cease shipping steel slabs to Granite City in November, instead processing them in Indiana and Pennsylvania. The company, acquired by Japan’s Nippon Steel for $14 billion earlier this year, says this move will maximize production efficiency without layoffs for the 900 local employees, who will instead continue to maintain the facility and its ancillary operations. Concerns persist about the Metro East facility’s long-term fate, especially since the company has yet to reach a deal with SunCoke Energy to convert its blast furnaces. Local and federal representatives, including Rep. Nikki Budzinski, have criticized the decision and its potential consequences for the region. For more, visit the report on U.S. Steel's processing shift.

Washington University is transforming the former Goodwill Industries complex in the Central West End into Catalyst, a 163,000-square-foot startup hub focused on bioscience. Closed since 2019, the historic building—listed on the National Register of Historic Places—will offer labs, office space, and support for expansion-stage companies, with C2N Diagnostics as its first tenant by late 2026. The $100 million project, led by WashU affiliate BOBB LLC, will include a four-story addition to the original midcentury structure.

Dave’s Hot Chicken plans to open a second St. Louis-area location in Des Peres after debuting in Chesterfield in July. The Des Peres site, located at 1052 N. Ballas Road in the Des Peres Corners shopping plaza, will replace a recently closed Five Guys location, according to city filings. The move comes as Naperville-based franchiser The Hari Group eyes up to seven area stores. The city granted a conditional use permit in early summer. Read more about the Des Peres expansion.

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St. Louis Launches Zoning Overhaul

St. Louis officials began a long-awaited overhaul of the city’s 70-year-old zoning code last week, aiming to streamline development and address the decline in population. The 18-month plan, known as ZOUP, follows the city’s new Strategic Land Use Plan enacted in February.

Officials say outdated zoning rules hinder population density and slow new housing construction, with variances often taking months to obtain. St. Louis lost an estimated 21,700 residents from 2020 to 2024, according to a Census Bureau report. City leaders assert modern zoning is crucial for attracting development and reversing the city’s ongoing population loss. Read more about the ZOUP proposal.

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Hanaway Named Missouri Attorney General

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe named Catherine Hanaway as the next state attorney general on Tuesday. Hanaway will officially assume the role in September, following a public announcement in Jefferson City.

Hanaway’s appointment marks the first time a woman will lead Missouri’s attorney general's office in nearly two decades. She is a former U.S. attorney and a former speaker of the Missouri House. The announcement follows the departure of the previous attorney general. For more details, see the full report on her nomination.

QUICK HITS

Push for housing, pickleball on site of rare U. City forest raises new fear about flooding, as residents and environmentalists express concern that plans for new housing and pickleball courts could worsen flooding in University City, citing past flash floods and environmental impacts.

De Smet football defeated MICDS 31-14 on Friday as quarterback Gabe Rodriguez threw for 217 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, with running back Cam Sharp contributing 165 total yards and two scores.

Special School District of St. Louis County reassigned 36 teachers to north St. Louis County to address vacancies, but about half resigned after the relocation effort.

Understanding suicide prevention explores suicide risk factors, support strategies, and the critical role of compassionate conversations, emphasizing how connecting with others and accessible mental health care can save lives.