Today: St. Louis expands tornado aid with Rams settlement funds, while the Senate confronts Boeing over health care cuts during the ongoing strike. Plus: Affordable housing grants awarded, Biscuit Town returns, and SLPS names a new interim superintendent. Stay informed with key headlines across the metro area.

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Rams Funds Expand Tornado Aid

St. Louis officials announced Wednesday that the city will use $2.5 million from the Rams settlement to help rehouse residents displaced by the May 16 tornado. The program now includes for-profit developers and private landlords who own rental property in the city.

The Tornado Recovery Vacant Unit Turns Program provides grants of up to $10,000 per unit for repairs and updates to vacant homes. The city expanded eligibility to private landlords after hearing from small property owners interested in participating. Qualifying units must be occupied by impacted families by December 31, 2025.

For those seeking more details or to apply, the city provides program information online. The move is part of ongoing recovery efforts after the destructive spring tornado.

AROUND TOWN

Biscuit Town will open permanently inside Neon Greens at 4176 Manchester Ave. starting Thursday, Oct. 23. Chef Josh Smith, creator of Neon Greens, is bringing back his biscuit concept following a successful pop-up earlier this year, offering dine-in, pickup, or delivery from 8-11 a.m. Thursday through Monday. The menu features three biscuit sandwiches, two hash-brown options, and a dessert biscuit, with a focus on local ingredients and creative flavors. Visit Biscuit Town’s official website or read more about the opening online.

Danielle Wertz and Robbie Schaefer bring "Both Sides Now: The Music and Lives of Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen" to St. Louis on Nov. 5. The cabaret, blending storytelling and music, draws on the creative and spiritual connection between Mitchell and Cohen and reflects the duo’s evolving partnership since 2022. Staged at Blue Strawberry (364 N. Boyle Ave.) at 7:30 p.m., tickets range from $35 to $55. More details can be found at Blue Strawberry’s event page.

St. Louis University men’s basketball expects newcomer Paul Otieno to fill significant gaps from last season. Otieno, a transfer from Quinnipiac, joined SLU for the 2024-25 season and is already impacting the team’s performance at Chaifetz Arena. The forward’s rebounding and defensive skills drew notable attention during his Nov. 25, 2024, game against SLU, providing the Billikens with needed depth. Fans can follow SLU men’s basketball updates for team and player developments.

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Senate Grills Boeing Over Health Care Cut

A U.S. Senate committee sharply criticized Boeing on Wednesday for cutting off health care to 3,000 union workers striking at its St. Louis-area facilities. Lawmakers from both parties pressed the company during a hearing in Washington, D.C., as the strike entered its 12th week.

Union leaders testified that the gap between Boeing’s offer and the union’s request is less than half the cost of one F-15 fighter jet. After the hearing, Boeing presented a revised contract offer, but union representatives rejected it as inadequate. Negotiations continue, following mediation and mounting political pressure. Read more.

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Affordable Housing Funds Awarded

The City of St. Louis Community Development Administration and the Missouri Housing Development Commission announced on September 5, 2025, $2.6 million in new affordable housing funding for three city neighborhoods. The funding will support developments in The Ville, Greater Ville, Fox Park, Benton Park West, and Tower Grove East.

The projects will create or preserve over 130 homes, including significant renovations and new construction, with units offered at both 30 percent and 60 percent of the area median income. Construction on Fields Place at Natural Bridge will begin in April 2025. Learn more about the award recipients and project details.

QUICK HITS

St. Louis Public Schools board fired Superintendent Millicent Borishade after 15 months, appointing Myra Berry, a 20-year district veteran and interim chief of human resources, to the interim superintendent role effective immediately.

Shero Imaging breast care center in Creve Coeur, led by Dr. Tish Singer, offers advanced, patient-centered breast imaging without insurance, requiring a $4–$5 million investment and serving a growing, diverse clientele since July 2025.

St. Louis City Hall continues to require in-person building permit applications, creating delays and higher costs that complicate post-tornado home rebuilding, according to local homebuilders and city officials seeking to streamline the process.

Metro Transit saved more than $48,000 in the past year by using in-house 3D printing and rebuilding, as its St. Louis maintenance team drives efficiency, quality, and career opportunities across a 500-square-mile service area.

Florissant is proceeding with the purchase and demolition of long-vacant apartment buildings years after flooding left the properties empty and blighted.