Missouri is under a drought alert, with new resources for affected residents. Also: a $16 million lawsuit hits a developer’s family, first responders are honored, Ambetter refunds $87.5 million to policyholders, and key gains for area colleges. Get the latest on crime, arts, and school closure updates.

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Missouri Declares Drought Alert

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed an executive order Tuesday declaring a drought alert for the entire state through Dec. 1. The order unlocks state funds for residents affected by ongoing dry conditions.

Currently, all or portions of 85 counties in Missouri face moderate, severe, or extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The governor’s office stated that the alert enables increased monitoring and directs resources to communities in need. Experts at the University of Missouri Extension report that August 2025 was the state’s second-driest August on record, with just 0.79 inches of precipitation statewide. Cities like Springfield and Columbia experienced some of their driest months on record.

Missourians are encouraged to report local drought impacts to help agencies respond. For more information, visit the governor’s drought resources page.

AROUND TOWN

Missouri’s largest individual insurer, Ambetter from Home State Health, must rebate $87.5 million to policyholders for failing to meet federal spending requirements on medical care. The Clayton-based Centene Corporation subsidiary began mailing rebate checks—equal to more than a month’s premium for most—after the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services found it spent only 71.4% rather than the required 80% of premium dollars on health care between 2022 and 2024. Since 2012, Missouri insurers have rebated $587.1 million to consumers, with the 2024 figure among the largest yet. Ambetter, which covers 46% of Missouri’s individual insurance market, is requesting a modest 1.9% average premium increase for 2025, compared to some rival insurers’ proposed increases of up to 29.2%. Read more about the rebates and marketplace changes here. Final premium rates for all insurers will be announced by October 31.

Nate Hayward, the new commissioner of the St. Louis Division of Corrections, is prioritizing reforms to the use of force and transparency. Hayward, who started on September 16 and brings 32 years of local corrections experience, plans to revise the St. Louis City Justice Center’s use-of-force policy and foster open communication with families, activists, and staff. The jail has faced scrutiny after 20 in-custody deaths since 2020, high leadership turnover, and persistent calls for cultural change among correctional officers. Read more about Hayward’s goals and background.

The St. Louis Shakespeare Festival closes its 25th season with “Power,” a play set in East St. Louis. Loosely based on “Richard III” and penned by DeAsia Paige, “Power” opens for three performances Sept. 25-27 at the House of Miles, Miles Davis’s childhood home, featuring community stories and exploring the city’s artistic legacy and history, including the 1917 race massacre. Learn more about the play or listen to the creators’ conversation on “St. Louis on the Air.”

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Bank Sues Developer’s Wife

A local bank has filed a lawsuit seeking $16 million in unpaid loans from Jane Morrell, the wife of Green Street principal Kevin Morrell, according to court documents. The complaint alleges Jane Morrell personally guaranteed several loans tied to projects by Green Street, a prominent St. Louis development group.

The suit focuses on multiple Green Street firms and highlights ongoing financial pressures in local real estate. Neither Boeing, another party named in business negotiations, nor the Morrells has commented on the case. Read more about the financial dispute here.

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Missouri Honors First Responders

Missouri first responders and several civilians were recognized Tuesday for their courageous actions at the annual public safety awards ceremony. The event highlighted instances from across the state, including an armed robbery stop in Hazelwood and a fatal I-70 crash in St. Louis.

Honorees included officers and paramedics who rescued fire victims and confronted armed suspects. Civilians Alan Crook and Luis Carlos Garza were thanked for intervening during an officer’s struggle on Lindbergh Boulevard. The sister of late St. Louis Officer David Lee accepted a posthumous award. Read more about the awardees’ stories at First Alert 4.

QUICK HITS

Three of five St. Louis-area universities improved their national rankings in the U.S. News & World Report's 2026 list, as Washington University reached No. 20, Saint Louis University rose to No. 102, and the University of Missouri-St. Louis advanced to No. 242.

Old Newsboys Children’s Charity will host its annual Charity Polo Match on September 27, 2025, at the August Busch Polo Club, raising funds to help thousands of at-risk children in the St. Louis area.

MetroLink officials report a 50% drop in law enforcement-reported incidents and a 315,000 increase in ridership from January to May over the previous year, following security upgrades at 11 stations under their $52 million Secure Platform Plan.

St. Louis Public Schools will resume community engagement events on potential school closures on Oct. 20, after tornado damage and a preliminary audit raised concerns about closures, repairs, and a looming $70 million deficit.

Madison County Sheriff Nic Adams recovered a stolen penguin statue in St. Louis, solving "The Case of the Missing Penguin" and returning it on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025.