St. Louis to end alley recycling in favor of drop-off sites. Also: Record Missouri teacher turnover; Boeing machinists seek senator support; Festival of the Little Hills draws crowds; and a St. Louis teen brings his product to Walmart. Read these stories and more in today’s news roundup.

MAIN STORY

St. Louis Ends Alley Recycling

St. Louis officials announced plans Thursday to eliminate single-stream alley recycling citywide within the following year. The decision, presented to the Public Infrastructure and Utilities Committee, aims to reduce contamination and improve recycling outcomes.

City data showed that over 50% of materials collected through all recycling methods from January to May were rejected for contamination. Recent pilot data from July found contamination rates dropped to 25% or less when alley collection was excluded. Some environmental groups criticized the move, saying many residents—especially seniors and those without transportation—may have less access to recycling.

The city will relabel blue alley bins as regular dumpsters and expand recycling drop-off sites, targeting a location within a mile of every residence in the next 90 days. The change will not affect residents with roll carts, about 20% of the population. St. Louis enacted single-stream recycling in 2011 and has periodically suspended the program due to staffing and recent storms. Read the full story.

AROUND TOWN

Boeing’s machinists’ union is urging Sens. Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt to help resolve contract talks. Frustrations persist after more than a week of strikes by St. Louis-based Boeing workers, who are demanding better wages and job security. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers asked for intervention, highlighting what it sees as stalled negotiations. Boeing and the union have not set a date for new talks. Read more about the dispute’s background and potential outcomes here.

The Veterans Community Project is expanding its St. Louis tiny home village with Phase II, adding 16 new transitional houses for veterans. Located in the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood, the expansion aims for 50 homes, supporting veterans transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing. Each home offers case management, mental health services, and job training, with some units already occupied. Since August 2023, nearly 500 veterans have been served. Learn more about the project’s impact and community involvement opportunities.

Missouri’s teacher turnover rate reached 14.6% in 2023-24, more than double the national average. A report from St. Louis University’s PRiME Center cited low salaries, pandemic stress, and inflation as drivers behind Missouri’s rising turnover, with the state ranking 49th for teacher pay nationwide. Lawmakers passed SB 727 to raise minimum teacher salaries to $40,000 by 2025, but experts worry that new grant funding remains uncertain year to year, and issues like discipline persist.

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Teen Entrepreneur’s Product Hits Walmart

St. Louis teen Joshua Danrich, age 15, secured a deal in August 2025 to sell his homemade air freshener, Mr. Fresh, in over 150 Walmart stores across Missouri and some in Illinois. Danrich began selling his product six years ago, inspired by his love for cars.

Joshua earned his spot after pitching Mr. Fresh at Walmart’s Open Call event, where thousands of entrepreneurs competed. He now uses his platform to mentor young men and hopes to expand Mr. Fresh further. Read more about his business journey and mission in this feature on his Walmart success.

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Festival of the Little Hills Returns

The Festival of the Little Hills is set to draw an estimated 300,000 visitors to historic St. Charles this summer. The event features hundreds of craft booths and food vendors along Main Street.

This annual festival has become one of the region’s largest, highlighting local artisanship and community spirit. Last year’s event attracted similar crowds, providing a significant boost to area businesses and tourism. For more details, visit the official event website. Organizers expect increased attendance, as interest in regional festivals continues to rise.

QUICK HITS

St. Louis residents face an August deadline to apply for FEMA tornado recovery aid, as many affected homeowners remain uncertain about rebuilding three months after the disaster.

The Hub STL will host its second annual Battle of the Bands in The District of Chesterfield each Wednesday in September, with 10 bands competing to raise funds for three local charities through audience voting.

St. Louis man remains committed to his home and neighborhood as he works to rebuild after a recent tornado, emphasizing resilience in the wake of storm damage.

St. Louis County leaders announced the expanded Radiation Exposure Compensation Act now covers residents of eligible St. Louis-area ZIP codes, offering those exposed to radioactive waste since 1949 one-time payments of $50,000 or medical expense reimbursement.

St. Louis City SC earned its fifth win of the season with goals from Orozco, Klauss, and Jeong in a 3-1 victory over Nashville at Energizer Park.