Good morning, St. Louis. Toyota invests $57 million in Troy, three tornado-damaged schools set reopening timelines, and holiday festivities fill the metro. Plus, Missouri’s court strikes down a book ban law, and the new Brickline Greenway section advances. Stay informed with today’s top local updates.

MAIN STORY

Toyota Expands Troy Plant

Toyota announced Tuesday it will invest $57 million and add 57 new jobs at its casting plant in Troy, Missouri, as part of a national hybrid vehicle production expansion. A new production line for hybrid cylinder heads is expected to come online in 2027.

The Troy plant’s increased output will boost cylinder head production by more than 200,000 units per year, supporting Toyota’s plan to invest $912 million and create 252 jobs across five U.S. plants. State officials, including Gov. Mike Kehoe, praised the move as evidence of Missouri’s role in the auto industry. Employees at the Troy facility currently use recycled aluminum to produce thousands of cylinder heads daily.

Toyota employs more than 1,000 people at the Troy location. The investment is part of the company’s broader plan to invest $10 billion in the U.S. over the next five years. Read more about Toyota's national hybrid strategy.

AROUND TOWN

The Missouri Historical Society Library and Research Center received a new copper dome following tornado damage in May. Workers from DHA Sheet Metal began installing 88 copper panels on the roof at 225 South Skinker Boulevard after flying debris punctured the original dome on May 16, 2025. Crews expect the dome restoration to finish by January. The building, a local landmark, had not undergone major storm repairs for several decades before this project began.

Biscuit Town, once a pop-up inside Neon Greens, is now a permanent breakfast fixture in Tower Grove. Owner Josh Smith announced on Show Me St. Louis that Biscuit Town now offers its signature biscuit sandwiches, made with locally sourced ingredients from Janie’s Mill and Buttonwood Farms, Thursdays through Mondays, 8–11 a.m. Customers can order in person at Neon Greens, online for pickup, or request delivery. For menus or ordering, visit the Biscuit Town STL website. More details here.

Smooth jazz fans can enjoy Pieces of a Dream and Four 80 East at The Sovereign on Nov. 28, 2025. The After Thanksgiving Holiday Jazz Jam, presented by The Sound and 88’ WSIE, offers two shows at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m., with doors opening one hour prior, just east of The Fabulous Fox Theatre in Grand Center. Tickets are available at Vintage Vinyl and Etix.com, with a cash bar on site and more information at 314-588-0505.

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St. Louis Tornado-Damaged Schools to Reopen

Three St. Louis public schools damaged by a recent tornado are set to resume classes in January 2025, but with fewer students enrolled.

Soldan and Sumner high schools suffered the most extensive damage and are not expected to reopen until spring 2027. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced that it will delay using this year’s test scores to evaluate accreditation status until another academic year of data is gathered. Read more details about school reopening plans.

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St. Louis Holiday Events Guide

St. Louis residents can explore a range of holiday events, festivals, and light displays across the metro area this season, according to a newly published local events guide. The guide details activities for families and individuals happening through December.

Many annual favorites return, including elaborate light shows and winter festivals at area parks, gardens, and cultural sites. Organizers encourage early ticket purchases for popular events that historically attract high attendance. Additional updates on event times and safety protocols are available via event websites and local news outlets.

QUICK HITS

Jackson County Circuit Court struck down a 2022 Missouri law criminalizing school employees for providing “sexually explicit material” to students, ruling it unconstitutionally vague and overbroad in a five-page decision Monday.

Erika Sinner, founder of Directorie and chief empathy officer at TinySuperheroes®, discussed how the St. Louis nonprofit empowers children with critical illnesses through superhero-themed experiences during Show Me St. Louis's Giving Week coverage.

Health care providers in St. Louis are experiencing changes in business and patient volumes following regional policy updates as they adjust to evolving industry regulations and market demands.

Brickline Greenway will open a new section in spring 2025, aiming to connect 14 neighborhoods, spur local business, improve pedestrian safety, and commemorate displaced Mill Creek Valley residents with art installations along Market Street.

Covenant House Missouri will host its annual Sleep Out St. Louis event on Nov. 20 at STLCC - Forest Park, inviting local business leaders to raise awareness and support for youth homelessness.