Good morning, St. Louis. Today’s top story: the city’s Civilian Oversight Board halts operations amid new state control of police, sparking debate and legal challenges over local versus state authority.

MAIN STORY

St. Louis Police Oversight Halted

St. Louis’ Civilian Oversight Board has been ordered to cease operations following a directive from City Counselor Mike Garvin, citing Missouri’s new law that places the city’s police department under state control. Garvin’s letter, sent this week, warned the board against interfering with the latest state police board appointed by Gov. Mike Kehoe.

The law allows for penalties against individuals who impede or hinder state oversight. Local officials, including Board of Aldermen President Megan Green, have criticized the directive. Green is among the plaintiffs in lawsuits challenging the takeover, arguing it violates free speech and local ordinances. The controversy comes as the city has also taken steps to reduce the role of the Detention Facilities Oversight Board, which monitors jail operations.

Both lawsuits and public debate continue, as the city adjusts to changes in police oversight. The legal process could establish precedents for the exercise of municipal and state power in Missouri. Full story here.

AROUND TOWN

Federal officials have approved 10 additional years of mining leases for Doe Run operations within the Mark Twain National Forest. The Bureau of Land Management granted 36 lease renewals covering lead, zinc, and copper mines in the Viburnum Trend, sweeping several southeast Missouri counties. Doe Run’s mining, ongoing for over 50 years, is projected to generate millions in federal revenue and provide Missouri 25% in royalties. Public comments on the environmental assessment are open through Sept. 2. Read more about the lease extensions.

Harriet Tubman Transportation & Beyond, a St. Louis non-profit, will offer student-focused bus service for the new school year. Founded by Bill Monroe, a veteran and former police officer, the company will operate licensed, insured 13-passenger minibuses equipped with GPS, serving schools, churches, and youth organizations throughout St. Louis city and county. Parents can monitor rides in real time via a secure app. Applications for bus drivers and aides ($25 and $15 per hour) are currently open. Learn more about the service and driving jobs.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis and Chase Bank will distribute 1,000 free backpacks at a local event. On August 2, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., the Mathews-Dickey Club, located on N. Kingshighway Blvd., will host a Back-to-School event for families, featuring school supply giveaways. The collaboration aims to alleviate costs for St. Louis-area students, highlighting both organizations’ commitments to youth support. Attendance is open to the public; call 314-680-7998 for details.

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Walgreens Pharmacies Face Closures

Several Walgreens pharmacies across the St. Louis area have experienced unexpected closures in July due to ongoing pharmacist staffing shortages, with some locations shutting down for hours or entire days.

Walgreens confirmed that its Lafayette Avenue pharmacy closed for four hours on July 18, and the Hampton Village location was closed all day July 19, impacting hours through August 1. Local pharmacists warn that limited access can jeopardize patient care, especially in North St. Louis. GreaterHealth Pharmacy plans to open a second location next year to address pharmacy deserts in the region.

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Film Productions Boost St. Louis Economy

The St. Louis Film Office supported more than 50 productions in the past year, generating $12 million in combined budgets that fueled local jobs, hotels, and production companies. The first year of Missouri’s Motion Media Tax Incentive, passed in 2023, proved vital in attracting these projects.

About 1,500 filming days delivered $6 million in wages and over 2,500 hotel room nights across St. Louis City and County. Sony Pictures acquired the locally filmed Soul on Fire for national release, and the Film Office expects to register at least 40 new projects for the upcoming year. Read more about St. Louis film growth here.

QUICK HITS

Donald Danforth Plant Science Center has named renowned plant geneticist Giles Oldroyd as its new president, set to take over in fall 2024 and continue expanding St. Louis's global leadership in plant science research and innovation.

Mann Meats and other St. Louis small businesses have adjusted their hours or temporarily closed in late July due to the severe heat, which has compounded ongoing challenges from rising operating costs.

Missouri Department of Conservation has issued an emergency fishing order at a St. Louis park lake due to ongoing sinkholes, suspending catch limits and permitting all fishing methods through Aug. 14 as an investigation begins.

Sumner High School alumni are celebrating the school's 150th anniversary while pursuing a National Historic Landmark designation, backed by a new $28,000 federal grant to support preservation efforts and national recognition.

A St. Louis man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder in the 2023 shooting death of convenience store clerk Mack Wagner in the Dutchtown neighborhood.