Good evening, St. Louis. We’re wrapping up the day for you with the most important stories you need to know and your weather outlook.

 

The heat sticks around through early next week with highs in the mid-90s through Monday. The heat dome looks to break down by midweek as storm chances increase.  


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Today’s Big Stories

 

1. ‘Visioning’ process underway for possible Gateway Arch expansion into Illinois

The Gateway Arch Park Foundation has hired an architectural firm to work on a “visioning” and planning process as the idea of expanding the national park across the Mississippi River to East St. Louis takes more shape.
2. Missouri auditor probes SLMPD to review operations during transition from local control

Missouri State Auditor, Scott Fitzpatrick, announced he launched a performance audit of the Saint Louis Metropolitan Police Department operations during its transition from local control to a citizen-led board of police commissioners.  After getting a closer look, the auditor plans to provide the board a road map to improve accountability, effectiveness and efficiency of SLMPD.

3. Ex-catcher Yadier Molina returns to the Cardinals as a special assistant to the front office

Yadier Molina is rejoining the St. Louis Cardinals as a special assistant to the front office, where the longtime catcher will provide his thoughts on the club’s catching program, game strategy and day-to-day operations.

4. Mo. Independent: Bills legalizing driverless cars clear a Missouri House committee

The push to allow Waymo driverless taxis to operate in Missouri cleared its first hurdle Tuesday evening. The House Emerging Issues committee voted 7-4 Tuesday, along partisan lines, to advance two identical bills sponsored by Republican state Reps. Don Mayhew of Crocker and Brandon Phelps of Warrensburg.

5. St. Charles County adopts siren automation

Outdoor warning sirens will operate differently going forward as St. Charles County transitions to an automated, zone-based siren activation, just ahead of storm season. When the National Weather Service issues a Tornado Warning or a “Destructive” Severe Thunderstorm Warning, all the sirens of that zone within the warning will sound. As shown in the below image, the county is divided into four zones.

6. Four St. Louis restaurants on Yelp’s ‘Top 100 Places To Eat’ list

Each year, Yelp announces is “Top 100 Places to Eat” list and this year, four St. Louis restaurants have been recognized. The list offers an inside look at what spots the organization’s users love about various diners across the nation.

7. Bi-State sets February forums to explain Bus Rapid Transit

A series of open house events next month will give officials with Bi-State Development a chance to answer questions and solicit public feedback about the potential to pivot from a proposed “green line” expansion of the Metrolink system to a Bus Rapid Transit model that would be less costly, finished faster and more likely to score federal funding help.

The Saint Louis Blues add BetMGM as an official sports betting partner with a multi-year agreement.