Woops! Apologies for mixing up yesterday’s delivery to the PM! Let’s not do that again.

Headlining today: St. Louis County expands its senior property tax freeze, regional leaders approve a new police training center, and Nordstrom closes at the Galleria. Plus, pain relief advances at Affinia Healthcare, Amur leopard cubs arrive at the zoo, and new crosswalks improve Gravois Avenue safety.

MAIN STORY

St. Louis County Expands Senior Tax Freeze

The St. Louis County Council voted this week to expand its senior property tax freeze, extending relief to cover the full tax bill for eligible homeowners. The change could impact more than 80,000 applicants in the county.

Previously, the freeze applied only to part of the tax bill, but the new measure follows a 2023 Missouri law that allows freezes on entire tax bills, including debt payments collected by schools and other local entities. The move comes amid lawsuits arguing the county’s earlier approach did not comply with state law. County Executive Sam Page has two weeks to veto the council’s change, although the unanimous vote means the council could override any veto.

Under the revised bill, the county will review the program’s impact in five years, rather than automatically ending it. Read more about the property tax freeze changes here.

AROUND TOWN

Affinia Healthcare is now offering Cetacaine numbing spray as a pain relief option for OB-GYN patients. The topical spray is available at all St. Louis-area centers for standard in-office procedures, including IUD insertions, endometrial biopsies, and colposcopies, alongside options such as oral medication and local anesthesia. Affinia aims to address pain equity, particularly for Black women, by encouraging patient autonomy and informed consent amid new ACOG guidelines calling for better pain management. For more information, visit Affinia’s OB-GYN page.

The Saint Louis Zoo announced the birth of two Amur leopard cubs, a critical event for the endangered species. Amur leopards Dot and Samson welcomed the cubs on August 13, with only about 100 remaining in the wild worldwide. Zoo staff will monitor the cubs in a private den and plan a wellness check in the coming weeks to determine their sex and names. This marks the parents’ second litter, supporting the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan for these rare cats. For more details, visit the Saint Louis Zoo’s announcement.

Marathon Petroleum has rapidly expanded into the St. Louis area, rebranding several local gas stations. The Ohio-based company, now present in 41 states, converted at least seven former locations of brands such as Casey’s, BP, Circle K, and Phillips 66 across both Missouri and Illinois since February 2024. The rebranding includes sites in Alton, Florissant, St. Charles, and northern St. Louis, with additional transitions likely to follow. Read further details in the full story on business rebranding in St. Louis.

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Regional Police Training Center Approved

Elected officials from St. Louis, St. Charles, Franklin, and Jefferson counties signed an agreement Wednesday to build a multi-million-dollar regional police training facility, a project 17 years in the making. The Missouri Department of Public Safety awarded $50 million in funding earlier this year.

The facility will feature a 20-lane firing range, shoot houses, simulators, classrooms, and more, with St. Louis County as the primary tenant. Some residents and officials voiced concerns about costs and necessity, referencing similar projects that exceeded budgets. An eight-member commission will seek bids and oversee next steps.

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Nordstrom Leaves St. Louis Galleria

The Nordstrom store at the St. Louis Galleria closed on Sunday, marking the end of nearly 14 years of business at the Richmond Heights mall. Shoppers continued arriving days later, expressing disappointment at the closure.

Nordstrom officials cited a shift toward digital shopping and the need to maintain other local stores, such as the West County Center location. The Galleria has experienced declining foot traffic and public safety concerns in recent months. Dick’s House of Sport plans to occupy the former Nordstrom space with an interactive retail concept, though no opening date has been announced. Read more about the Galleria’s next steps.

QUICK HITS

Protect, Restore, Forever, Celebrate Sumner Inc. is renewing its campaign for National Historic Landmark status for Sumner High School, citing its 150-year legacy as the first high school west of the Mississippi to graduate African American students, following tornado damage in May.

Missouri public schools in St. Charles, Franklin, and Jefferson counties could lose millions in annual revenue after a new state law requires April ballot measures asking voters whether to freeze property taxes, sparking legal and school board challenges.

Missouri Tigers will open the 2025 football season with a quarterback competition between Beau Pribula and Sam Horn, a debut for key transfers, and a defense aiming for a potential shutout against Central Arkansas.

Gravois Avenue features new crosswalks as city and state agencies pursue safety upgrades after a MODOT study recorded 22 fatalities and 77 serious injuries on the corridor since 2020.

Nikki Glaser, a comedian and Kirkwood High School alum, will be honored with a bobblehead at Busch Stadium on Sept. 1 for "Nikki Glaser Day" as she wraps up her sold-out tour with two Fox Theatre shows in October.