Explore St. Louis’s hip-hop legacy with a new exhibition, get updates on the ongoing Boeing strike, see how a Swansea restaurant is helping Scott Air Force Base, and read about the latest on the Lincoln University shooting, Cardinal Ritter controversy, sports upsets, and more in today’s headlines.

MAIN STORY

St. Louis Hip-Hop on Display

A new exhibition, “To STL With Love: A Celebration of St. Louis Hip-Hop Culture,” is now open at Sophie’s Artist Lounge. Curated by Kris Blackmon, the show highlights St. Louis’s contributions to hip-hop and will run through January 2026.

The exhibition honors well-known figures like Nelly and The St. Lunatics as well as influential pioneers such as DJ G Wiz and Sylk Smooth. It also represents contemporary artists and examines the city’s wider role, including being home to the first commercial radio station to play a rap record. Organizers hope the display spurs reflection on the diversity and influence of local hip-hop over five decades.

Visitors can explore personal stories, musical memorabilia, and multimedia installations. More information is available at Kranzberg Arts Foundation’s website and in recent coverage of the exhibition.

AROUND TOWN

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump will represent 23 Cardinal Ritter College Prep football players and their families after a pepper spray incident in Ohio earlier this month. Crump and Ohio-based lawyers are taking legal action after Massillon police used pepper spray on the St. Louis team following an Oct. 3 altercation, sparking outrage that only Cardinal Ritter players were targeted. Families demand an apology and an investigation, as the parties plan a news conference Monday at Cardinal Ritter College Prep, the nation’s only co-ed, all-Black Catholic high school.

A shooting at Lincoln University during Homecoming weekend left one dead and at least six injured, officials said. The incident occurred on Oct. 26 outside the campus’s International Cultural Center, where students and alumni were gathered. Chester County authorities arrested one person with a firearm but have not ruled out additional suspects, and there is currently no active threat to campus, said District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe. Classes are suspended Oct. 27 for healing and reflection; anyone with footage is urged to contact the FBI. Read more about the investigation.

Lafayette’s young field hockey team upset Kirkwood 2-1 Saturday to reach the state quarterfinals. No. 10 Lafayette (15-5), led by sophomore Emily Williams and freshman Reese Kenkel, edged No. 7 Kirkwood at John Burroughs School, avenging a September loss. Williams tallied her 28th goal of the season, while defensive stops and key saves by Lafayette held off a late Kirkwood push. Lafayette faces No. 2 John Burroughs (21-1) at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday in Maryland Heights. See the full game photo gallery here.

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Boeing Strike Continues

St. Louis Boeing workers rejected the company’s fourth contract offer on Sunday, extending their strike into its 84th day. Nearly 3,200 IAM District 837 members voted, with 51% voting against the latest deal.

Union leaders said Boeing’s offer did not address members’ core priorities, despite the company's proposed wage and bonus increases. Boeing called the vote “disappointing” and pointed to rising interest from employees willing to cross the picket line. The strike began Aon ugust 4, and negotiations are expected to continue as both sides remain at an impasse.

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Swansea Restaurant Expands Food Aid

As the government shutdown continues, Marco’s Express Restaurant in Swansea, Illinois, is expanding its “Currency of Caring” initiative to support Scott Air Force Base personnel and the local community. Owner John Michel, a retired Air Force general, said the program has distributed 700 to 1,000 free meals since the shutdown began.

The “Currency of Caring” allows the public to buy $8 meal tokens for service members, addressing food insecurity that affects 26% of active-duty personnel. Food trucks and the St. Louis Area Food Bank also partner in weekly distributions. Learn more about the restaurant’s outreach efforts.

QUICK HITS

Muny Garage Sale drew crowds on Oct. 25, 2025, as thousands of fans lined up before dawn to sift through more than 5,000 costumes, props, and set pieces from the theater’s two prop warehouses.

East St. Louis mother Markeisha Allen lost her only vehicle early Sunday after a fire, sparked by a dispute involving others, destroyed both her and her neighbor's cars, leaving her family without transportation.