Missouri responds to SNAP benefit suspensions with emergency food aid. Plus, St. Louis grants $1.1M for neighborhood projects, Anselm Kiefer’s monumental art fills SLAM, Nicky Slices opens on the Hill, and more top headlines in city services, business, and community stories.

MAIN STORY

Missouri Announces Food Aid

Gov. Mike Kehoe announced Wednesday that Missouri will provide emergency funding to support food aid programs as November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are suspended nationwide due to the federal government shutdown.

The state will allocate $10.6 million from the Senior Services Growth and Development fund to Missouri Area Agencies on Aging for senior meals. An additional $5 million from Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) will go to Missouri food banks. Kehoe noted the state cannot fully replace lost federal SNAP benefits because no mechanism exists in state appropriations to do so.

The Missouri Department of Social Services is prepared to issue November SNAP benefits if the federal government reopens. For more information on the policy announcement, visit the detailed update on state aid allocations.

AROUND TOWN

Cult-favorite pizza pop-up Nicky Slices opens its first permanent location on the Hill this week. Founded by Nick Williams during the pandemic, Nicky Slices is known for its Instagram-driven hype and inventive Detroit-style pizzas. The new shop at 2240 Edwards St. will debut Thursday, Oct. 30, with classics like Trophy Slice, and its menu will soon expand to cheesesteaks and wings. Preview the launch and menu details via Sauce Magazine’s coverage.

Travis Brown, a revered St. Louis Public High League icon, left an indelible legacy across sports and education. Brown, born October 16, 1950, died last Thanksgiving but led Sumner to a 1969 state basketball title and set records at Missouri Baptist University. Inducted into multiple halls of fame, Brown also served a pivotal administrative role in SLPS, coached over 200 basketball games, and was honored for his integrity, advocacy, and mentoring impact throughout 30+ years of service. Read more about Travis Brown’s legacy.

Herman Thomas Jr. was named St. Louis foster care director at Lutheran Family and Children's Services in August. With more than 20 years of experience, Thomas now oversees challenges at a time when Missouri’s foster care population increased 2% year-over-year to 11,639 children statewide, while adoptions fell 10%. He described critical shortages of placement homes, recent cases where children slept in offices, and the impact of May’s tornado, which displaced families and strained resources. Learn more about his new role and the region’s foster care needs here.

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St. Louis Awards $1.1M for Neighborhood Projects

St. Louis awarded $1.14 million to four community projects across seven neighborhoods on Wednesday, according to city officials. The city's Community Development Administration selected the grant recipients based on priorities set in earlier neighborhood plans.

Funding, drawn from 10% of the city’s economic development sales tax, will support initiatives including a pilot business incubator along the Brickline Greenway, new wayfinding signs Downtown, and public space redevelopment in the Skinker DeBaliviere and West End neighborhoods. Leaders say more future neighborhood plans could receive funding as the city’s planning process continues.

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Kiefer’s Monumental Art Fills SLAM

The St. Louis Art Museum is showcasing “Becoming the Sea,” a new exhibit featuring several 30-foot-tall paintings by German artist Anselm Kiefer. The show, which opened last month, marks Kiefer’s first American survey in 20 years.

Museum Director Min Jung Kim curated the exhibit, which draws inspiration from the Mississippi and Rhine rivers. Kiefer, known for both his massive scale and experimental use of materials, often exposes his works to harsh elements before display. For more on Kiefer’s techniques and the exhibit, visit “St. Louis on the Air” or see the official exhibition page.

QUICK HITS

APA of Missouri broke ground Wednesday on a $27 million campus in north St. Louis County, which will include veterinary care, pet adoption services, and support programs, with completion expected in 2027.

St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer's new recycling program reduced city spending on recycling by 65 percent in one month while successfully recycling 222 tons of material, down just 20 percent from the previous system.

Boeing is stepping up efforts to bring in replacement workers as the ongoing St. Louis strike continues to affect production and operations at its local facilities.

St. Louis Galleria plans to sell six acres at a high-profile corner of its property, marking a significant redevelopment opportunity for the Richmond Heights retail complex.

Saint Louis Chess Club has reopened after extensive renovations, now offering over 30,000 square feet of upgraded space and expanded programs for all ages, and hosted the Clutch Chess: Champions Showdown finale yesterday.