Good morning, St. Louis. Today’s top stories: St. Charles halts data center projects after public concern, Wentzville debuts an inclusive playground, and tornado relief efforts continue. Plus: downtown apartments, Chess Club expansion, a controversial billboard, rural maternity care shortages, and a major Meramec River cleanup.

MAIN STORY

St. Charles Halts Data Center Projects

The St. Charles City Council voted Friday to impose a one-year moratorium on all data center projects, following significant community pushback against the proposed Project Cumulus facility on the city’s west side.

The moratorium affects new data centers and expansions, citing concerns about floodplain risks, water quality, and transparency. Hundreds attended recent meetings to voice opinions both for and against the project, which had promised job creation but also faced criticism due to its proposed location near Highway 370 and Harry S. Truman Boulevard. St. Charles Regional Chamber President Scott Tate cautioned that the pause could signal uncertainty to potential investors.

City officials say the pause gives staff time to research best practices and consider updating zoning, health, and environmental guidelines. The developer behind Project Cumulus withdrew the current proposal, citing plans to revise it and address residents’ concerns. Read more on the moratorium details.

AROUND TOWN

Work has begun to convert the Farm and Home Savings and Loan Association Building into 60 apartments. Blackline Design + Construction is redeveloping the structure at 1001 Locust St., adding apartments ranging from 600 to 1,500 square feet, along with 8,400 square feet of commercial space for up to two tenants. Rents are set to start at $995 per month, with construction, financed by Southern Bank, scheduled for completion in about 14 months. The total development cost is estimated at $15.5 million.

The Saint Louis Chess Club will reopen its expanded Central West End facility this fall. The newly renovated 30,000-square-foot campus, which includes a chess-themed restaurant, expanded classrooms, and a high-caliber tournament hall, aims to accommodate larger events and outreach. Founded by Rex Sinquefield in 2007, the club took over three additional storefronts for the $20,000-square-foot expansion in late 2019. Enhanced technology features, such as a broadcast studio, will enable expanded live-stream coverage of tournaments. Learn more here.

A billboard urging people to join the Proud Boys appeared near Breese Central High School, then was removed after public outcry. The advertisement, visible from Old U.S. Highway 50 and on private land across from the Metro East school, sparked dozens of complaints at a Clinton County Board meeting this week. The billboard promoted the self-described “Western chauvinists” group labeled as extremist by the Southern Poverty Law Center. After mounting criticism from residents and parents, the sign was taken down. Read more in this local crime report.

ALSO READ

Inclusive Playground Opens

More than 60 people attended the recent groundbreaking for Jake’s Field of Dreams Playground in Wentzville, set to open this summer. The park is designed for children with and without disabilities.

Inspired by Natalie Mackay’s son, the playground includes accessible features like ramps and spongy surfaces. Jake’s Field of Dreams follows the example of similar inclusive spaces in St. Louis County. These playgrounds aim to give all children the chance to play together regardless of ability. For more on the project, visit the article on STLToday.

QUICK HITS

Althoff High School senior Tyler Birdsong describes balancing family and athletics while playing soccer for his father, Skip Birdsong, who serves as the team’s head coach.

Missouri faces growing maternity care deserts, with 41.7% of counties lacking local obstetric care—well above the national average—as Medicaid cuts and rural hospital closures force families to travel farther for high-risk pregnancies and delivery.

Operation Clean Stream drew more than 1,000 volunteers in 2023 to clear over 39 sites and remove thousands of pounds of debris from the Meramec River and its tributaries, continuing a 58-year tradition.

A woman in custody at a St. Louis jail was hospitalized in critical condition after a "medical emergency," authorities said Wednesday.

Benton Park Lake in St. Louis rapidly drained after sinkholes formed beneath the 1-acre body of water, prompting city crews to address widespread sinkhole issues affecting other local sites.