The Gateway

The Trump Administration is using a legal shortcut to make it easier to cut down trees in national forests. Illinois’ Shawnee National Forest, the state’s only national forest, is an early battleground against the increasingly popular tactic to fast track timber sales across the country.

A Scout from Missouri did more than just make Eagle Scout - he earned every one of the possible 140 merit badges, joining a rare group to ever complete the feat.

This week the Missouri State Board of Education voted to lower St. Louis Public Schools’ accreditation status to “provisional.” On the same day, Governor Mike Kehoe signed an executive order requiring state education leaders to create a new way to evaluate school districts. Education reporter Hiba Ahmad breaks down a big week of education news.

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe gave his second State of the State speech on Tuesday. He says he has wants to eliminate the state income tax, reduce government spending, and allocate more funds to St. Louis for tornado relief. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg sat down with Kehoe after his speech to discuss his priorities for 2026.

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe said in his State of the State Address that he wants Missourians to decide whether to eliminate the state income tax. Plus, allergic reactions from alpha-gal syndrome can be physically dangerous — even deadly. But it can also impact their mental health by making some of their favorite activities more dangerous. Rebecca Smith reports.

Midwestern scientists say the Trump administration has brought big changes to their fields in the last year - especially when it comes to climate change.

More than a year after Planned Parenthood sued to overturn Missouri’s abortion ban, the issue heads to trial this week. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jonathan Ahl spoke with health reporter Sarah Fentem about what to expect.

Maria Alexandra Machado moved to St. Louis several months ago, after fleeing political persecution in Venezuela under Nicolás Maduro’s regime in 2017. Machado is the daughter of a former military intelligence director in Venezuela. She spoke with STLPR's Lacretia Wimbley about her experiences in her home country and perspective on what comes next.

Despite difficulty finding a place to perform, Canaan Wellspring will put on its biggest performance yet to display Palestinian culture — on its own terms. STLPR's Lara Hamdan reports.

Today marks the beginning of the 2026 Missouri Legislative Session. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg reports, tax cuts and a smaller state budget are major issues this year, though the specifics of both are yet to be known.

The University of Missouri has lost almost a third of its Black student population over the last decade, and students say a lack of Black faculty is part of the reason. Lilley Halloran reports faculty say hostility from university leadership makes it hard to stay.

Missouri and Illinois Republicans praised President Donald Trump’s early Saturday morning decision to invade Venezuela and apprehend its president, while Democrats condemned the strike. Plus, we hear from a figure skater competing for a spot on Team USA in St. Louis this week.

Climate change is affecting many area species. SLU researchers have found for a small bug called the treehopper, it is finding a way to adapt.

For a special edition of The Gateway Podcast, Abby Llorico sits down with STLPR's Visuals Editor, Brian Munoz, for a closer look at the stories behind some of the most poignant and important images from our team this year. We'll be back in your feed with news storytelling January 2.

Economists estimate that it takes six months for college graduates to get a job offer, but with slowing job creation now, that search takes longer. The Midwest Newsroom’s Daniel Wheaton checked in with twelve traditional 2025 graduates to understand what the job search looks like for first-timers.

A hub of arts activity grows on Grand Center’s eastern edge, after the Kranzberg Arts Foundation spent $50 million dollars repurposing old buildings there. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin reports, the nonprofit says it has set the stage, and now it’s time for more public and private dollars to take a leading role.

As St. Louis Public Schools continues to develop a plan to consolidate buildings, a student at Washington University has created an exhibit to remember one school that was closed in 2003. St. Louis Public Radio’s education reporter Hiba Ahmad takes us to the exhibit in this report.

St. Louis musicians have historically made their mark on the holidays — now Kris Kringle and the Jolly Jingles are putting their ‘North Pole Rock’ twist on Christmas classics. St. Louis Public Radio’s Brian Munoz hoped to speak with band founder Joe Bubenick about their unique sound, new song, and pandemic-era beginnings. But he wasn’t free. So here’s Kris Kringle instead.

St. Louis band Foxing has grown from indie newcomers into one of the most lauded emo revival bands out of the Midwest. But after more than a decade, the band is saying goodbye, at least for now. St. Louis Public Radio’s Chad Davis went to meet the devoted fans who traveled miles to see one last show, and the guitarist who is grateful for their support.

The St. Joseph Housing Initiative revitalizes vacant properties in underserved St. Louis neighborhoods and renovates them before selling to first-time homebuyers. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Lacretia Wimbley reports, the program is making homebuying dreams come true, one renovation at a time.