ST. LOUIS – We’re wrapping up the most popular stories of the week for you.
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This Week’s Big Stories
1. 12-year-old, 2 teens ID’d in fatal fire near Troy, Ill. Madison County authorities have identified the three people killed near Troy Sunday morning in a house fire and a series of explosions.
2. St. Louis Public Schools names Myra Berry as permanent superintendent The St. Louis Public Schools Board of Education Thursday unanimously appointed Myra Berry as the district’s permanent superintendent. Berry replaced former Superintendent Millicent Borishade as interim back in October. She has been working in the district for more than 20 years in teaching and leadership roles.
3. City of St. Louis files suit over SLMPD state takeover St. Louis City is suing the state and the St. Louis Police Board over state control of the police department. The suit argues the HB 495, known as the state takeover law, is unconstitutional because it’s an unfunded mandate in violation of the Missouri Constitution.
4. St. Louis County jury finds Yahya Maly guilty on 17 counts of sexual assault St. Louis County jury today found Yahya Maly guilty of 17 counts including rape and sodomy. The Ballwin man was accused of sex crimes against seven women between March 2023 and February 2025. The jury found Maly not guilty on the remaining four counts against him, which include two kidnapping and two assault charges. The jury waived sentencing, meaning the judge will decide how long Maly will be in prison at a later date.
5. Argument at Steak ‘n Shake drive-thru leaves one dead Police are looking for the person who killed a Steak ‘n Shake employee and injured another during a dispute at the restaurant’s drive-thru window in Spanish Lake late Wednesday night. Police say an argument broke out at the restaurant on the 11000 block of Bellefontaine Road between the employees and a customer. The customer pulled out a gun and shot the two workers.
6. Bell calls for Trump’s removal over ‘disgusting’ Iran social media threat One day after an announcement of a ceasefire deal in the Iran war staved off a threat by President Donald Trump that “a whole civilization will die”, Congressman Wesley Bell, D-St. Louis, reiterated his call for Trump’s impeachment or for the cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove him from power over the social media post.
7. Torch extinguishes Missouri operation amidst state order Torch Electronics told all of its Missouri customers to shut off their Torch slot machines by Friday, April 10. The unregulated Torch games in St. Charles had their plugs pulled last week to abide by state law. As of now, it is illegal to offer access to unregulated gambling machines in Missouri.
8. Four Festus council members ousted week after data center approved A week after the Festus City Council approved a data center, residents voted out all city council incumbents in Tuesday’s general municipal election. The incumbents who lost their seats were Jimmy Collier, Ward 1, Brian Wehner, Ward 2, Bobby Venz, Ward 3, and Jim Tinnin, Ward 4.
9. Budget frustrations boil over at St. Louis County Council meeting Frustrations began flaring up during public comment in last night’s Saint Louis County Council meeting since news broke that the budget crisis worsened. Sam Page, St. Louis County Executive, stated during a press conference earlier in the day that Chris Howard, the County Council’s Budget Policy Coordinator, made miscalculations in the budget. He added that the county needs $6.39 million as soon as possible to avoid furloughs and other service reductions.
10. Gov. Kehoe signs criminal justice reform bill Besides the database for law enforcement, the bill allows anyone under 18 who is taken into custody for serious crimes to have their fingerprints included in the state database. It also changes how juveniles are tried as adults.
If you’ve ever planned to motor west and take the highway that’s the best, this might be the time: Route 66 turns 100 this year.
