Good morning, St. Louis. Today’s newsletter covers the indictment of County Executive Sam Page on felony theft and election charges tied to his use of public funds in a recent ballot campaign.

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Sam Page Indicted

A St. Louis County grand jury indicted County Executive Sam Page on Wednesday, charging him with felony theft and election offenses for allegedly using over $35,000 in county funds to oppose Proposition B ahead of the April election.

Prosecutors allege Page spent public money on mailers and flyers urging residents to vote against the measure, which would make it easier for the County Council to dismiss department heads. Missouri law bars elected officials from using taxpayer dollars to campaign for or against ballot issues. Page said the materials were only informational. The case was transferred to the Missouri attorney general due to a conflict of interest with the local prosecutor. Some council members, including Rita Days and Gretchen Bangert, say Page should consider stepping down, while others urge due process.

Page, elected county executive in 2020 after his predecessor’s corruption conviction, is scheduled for arraignment on Aug. 29. Read more details on the indictment here.

AROUND TOWN

Extreme summer heat in St. Louis is causing lower foot traffic and revenue concerns for local small businesses. Owners like Marquita Mahon of STL Steak and Cake and Amy Guo of Sando Shack report noticeable declines in customers during recent heat waves, with factors like inconsistent air conditioning compounding problems. Industry sources, including OpenTable data, cite a national 5% drop in seated diner traffic during major heat events, and nearly 90% of restaurant operators confirm that weather significantly influences turnout. A recent local poll found that most respondents are dining out less than they did earlier this year, prompting business owners to urge continued community support as they adapt to challenging conditions; read more details here.

Developer Paul McKee’s NorthSide grocery store and gas station face foreclosure after loan default. McKee opened Greenleaf Market and Zoom in 2019 with a $10 million loan, pitching the projects as part of NorthSide Regeneration to revitalize north St. Louis. Greenleaf Market closed in 2024 and faces auction on Aug. 6, while Zoom remains open. The properties join a track record of incomplete projects, unpaid taxes, and lawsuits totaling over $3.5 million.

A multi-week resurfacing and safety upgrade project is underway along Kingshighway Boulevard in St. Louis. City crews are installing new pavement, curb bump-outs, and pedestrian medians, with funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, aiming to address reckless driving and frequent crashes; over 5,000 incidents were reported in four years on the corridor. Some local residents and advocates support the safety measures, but several business owners and drivers worry about traffic disruptions and lost parking. The city says similar projects are planned for Grand and Jefferson in the coming years. Read more at the Kingshighway repaving project announcement.

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Beyoncé Gifts STL Grandmother Tickets

St. Louis grandmother Ida Mae Macklin received floor seats to Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter Tour” in Washington, D.C., after her viral plea for tickets caught the singer’s attention. Beyoncé gifted the tickets just in time for the Fourth of July weekend.

Macklin’s video, filmed by her granddaughter Gabrielle, has been viewed over 7 million times across Instagram and TikTok. During the concert, Beyoncé shouted out, “I love you, grandma, wherever you are,” recognizing Macklin from the stage. Read more about Macklin’s journey and Beyoncé’s response.

ALSO READ

Missouri Crown Act Protects Natural Hair

Missouri salons and residents are celebrating after the state enacted the Crown Act in July, making it the 28th state to ban discrimination against natural hairstyles in publicly funded schools. Signed into law this summer, the measure protects students like Cornelius Mitchell, a Raymore-Peculiar High School junior with locs, from discipline or exclusion based on their hair.

The law's passage comes amid growing concerns about bias against Black hairstyles and new studies linking chemical straighteners to higher uterine cancer rates among Black women. Local ordinances in St. Louis and Kansas City go further, also protecting Black employees in workplaces. Read more about the Crown Act and its impact here.

QUICK HITS

Plaza Frontenac will fill its former movie theater space with Talbots and Abercrombie & Fitch by the end of 2025, following the theater's early 2024 closure after a rent dispute.

Humane Society of Missouri’s Animal Cruelty Task Force rescued an estimated 150 malnourished dogs from a Christian County hoarding situation Wednesday, marking its largest rescue operation in more than 10 years.

Saint Louis Public Schools announced its director of public safety, Terrell Baker, resigned, and the district will begin recruiting a replacement before the new school year begins on Aug. 18.

Illinois authorities have charged Joshua J. Morrison with a hate crime in addition to aggravated arson and battery, after a July 19 attack that severely injured 22-year-old nursing student Winston Rulo in Bethalto.

Faith leaders and the NAACP are collaborating to address insurance discrimination and support long-term recovery in North St. Louis following the EF-3 tornado that struck on May 16, 2025, causing $1.6 billion in property damage.