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Jacob Barker @jacobbarker27.bsky.social · 1d

Gas station slot machine company misled public on its games, St. Louis jury finds www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...

Gas station slot machine company misled public on its games, St. Louis jury finds

A federal judge could rule next on whether the machines constitute illegal gambling after years of inaction from Missouri politicians.

www.stltoday.com

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Jacob Barker @jacobbarker27.bsky.social · 6d

Something you see in movies about court but not actual court:

$11M food fraud? St. Louis nonprofit chief doubles down: 'Those are lies' www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...

$11M food fraud? St. Louis nonprofit chief doubles down: 'Those are lies'

Connie Bobo was indicted on charges of defrauding a program meant to provide meals for low-income children. Her expected guilty plea did not go as planned.

www.stltoday.com

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Jacob Barker @jacobbarker27.bsky.social · 9d

After eminent domain threat, St. Louis negotiates for Paul McKee land around NGA www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...

After eminent domain threat, St. Louis negotiates for Paul McKee land around NGA

The city could sue to take control of dozens of NorthSide Regeneration parcels relatively quickly. It's opting to negotiate to avoid lengthy litigation but has "no definitive timeline."

www.stltoday.com

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Jacob Barker @jacobbarker27.bsky.social · 15d

Washington Avenue food hall slated to open in downtown St. Louis www.stltoday.com/news/local/b...

Washington Avenue food hall slated to open in downtown St. Louis

Developer who has bought up downtown apartments said project will help reenergize area.

www.stltoday.com

Jacob Barker @jacobbarker27.bsky.social · 16d

St. Louis' ex-HR chief pressured staffer in 'campaign' to fire an employee, complaint says www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...

St. Louis' ex-HR chief pressured staffer in 'campaign' to fire an employee, complaint says

Sonya Jenkins-Gray tried to get a deputy who had complained about her fired, offering to connect another employee who had complained about him to a civil rights attorney.

www.stltoday.com

Jacob Barker @jacobbarker27.bsky.social · 27d

Feds said developers accused of fraud would repay tax breaks. The check only covers half. www.stltoday.com/news/local/b...

Feds said developers accused of fraud would repay tax breaks. The check only covers half.

U.S. Attorney Thomas Albus hand-delivered the former criminal defendants' restitution check to City Hall.

www.stltoday.com

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Jacob Barker @jacobbarker27.bsky.social · Aug 29

Some in the department have made no secret of the fact that they would prefer an insider in the top job. The state takeover law even requires the next chief to come from within the ranks.
stltoday.com/news/local/c... via @stltoday.com

St. Louis police foundation will not renew contract that boosts pay of chief

Police board members sounded surprised by the news the foundation will not renew the chief's supplemental pay when informed at the end of a committee meeting.

www.stltoday.com

Jacob Barker @jacobbarker27.bsky.social · Aug 27

It was a reversal from the position of the U.S. Attorney's office weeks ago, when the prosecutor who brought the case argued that regardless of the DOJ's position on the city hiring program, it does not entitle people to "lie, cheat and steal."
www.stltoday.com/news/local/b...

Feds drop charges against St. Louis developer represented by Pam Bondi's brother

The brothers and their accountant led major regional developer Lux Living and landlords Asprient Properties and STL CityWide.

www.stltoday.com

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Jacob Barker @jacobbarker27.bsky.social · Aug 27

Albus' motion came shortly after Chakraverty hired U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi's brother, Washington D.C. lawyer Brad Bondi, to defend him in the case.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/b...

Feds ask to drop charges against St. Louis developers accused of lying for tax breaks

The prosecutor's motion came shortly after Sid Chakraverty hired U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi's brother, Washington D.C. lawyer Brad Bondi.

www.stltoday.com

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Jacob Barker @jacobbarker27.bsky.social · Aug 25

State funding cut to Missouri Technology Corp. adds to uncertainty for startups www.stltoday.com/news/local/b... via @stltoday.com

State funding cut to Missouri Technology Corp. adds to uncertainty for startups

The Missouri Legislature stripped out $8.5 million for the state-sponsored venture capital fund amid federal funding uncertainty and struggles in the St. Louis entrepreneurship community.

www.stltoday.com

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Jacob Barker @jacobbarker27.bsky.social · Aug 13

As its leaders fight fraud charges, Lux Living sells U City apartments for $72 million www.stltoday.com/news/local/b...

As its leaders fight fraud charges, Lux Living sells U City apartments for $72 million

he sale of the 251-unit McKenzie apartments at Delmar Boulevard and Interstate 170 in University City comes as Lux Living principals Vic Alston and Sid Chakraverty recently hired the U.S.

www.stltoday.com

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Jacob Barker @jacobbarker27.bsky.social · Jul 31

Holleman: St. Louis' ex-comptroller is back on the city payroll. No one is saying why. www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...

www.stltoday.com

Jacob Barker @jacobbarker27.bsky.social · Jul 30

SLDC apparently got them for the construction project. These lawsuits are from the medical vendors

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Jacob Barker @jacobbarker27.bsky.social · Jul 28

They claimed to be working with a copper company that was to sign an $800 million mining deal and use proceeds to finance the hospital.
“The gentleman and his company are real," Mark Vincent, general counsel of the hospital, wrote.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/b... via @stltoday.com

Lawsuits pile up over millions in unpaid bills at Paul McKee's Homer G. Phillips Hospital

Eight lawsuits seek $3.5 million in unpaid invoices from shuttered north St. Louis clinic.

www.stltoday.com

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Jacob Barker @jacobbarker27.bsky.social · Jul 22

“I don’t want people to get so bogged down on ‘it’s the International Institute, so we’re bringing immigrants.’ I want people to understand we’re trying to bring population to St. Louis.”
www.stltoday.com/news/local/b...

International Institute of St. Louis shifts focus after Trump ends key immigration programs

The International Institute and its Latino Outreach initiative will work to lure those of Hispanic or Asian descent — with citizenship or a green card — to the region.

www.stltoday.com

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Jacob Barker @jacobbarker27.bsky.social · Jul 22

After calling the mayor's office to get his Sunshine request fulfilled, the city's records portal, which had been processing his request for over a month, sent a message saying it needed another week to fulfill the request.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...

Holleman: St. Louis trickles out a bit of transparency, but not without a fight

Request for information tied to recent tornado in St. Louis finally was fulfilled — but not through system city uses to handle public’s Sunshine Law requests

www.stltoday.com

Reposted by Jacob Barker

Josh Renaud @kirkman.bsky.social · Jul 21

Among local govts, St. Louis is in a class by itself with its glacial handling of records requests.

For a 3rd straight year, the city took 100+ days to answer the Post-Dispatch's annual request for payroll data.

St. Louis County needed just 8.

www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...
@stltoday.com

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Jacob Barker @jacobbarker27.bsky.social · Jul 17

Missouri regulators say they can’t revoke approval of Grain Belt Express energy project www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...

Missouri regulators say they can’t revoke approval of Grain Belt Express energy project

The project is an 800-mile, multi-state power line that would stretch from Kansas to Indiana.

www.stltoday.com

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Jacob Barker @jacobbarker27.bsky.social · Jul 16

“In this context, one has to be cognizant of the distinct possibility that this is about corrupt influence peddling rather than any kind of decision on the merits."
www.stltoday.com/news/local/b...

Indicted St. Louis apartment developer hires Pam Bondi’s brother, asks to dismiss charges

Sid Chakraverty and brother Victor Alston argue the government’s case against them should be tossed because they are accused of defrauding an unconstitutional program to hire minority contractors in v...

www.stltoday.com

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Jacob Barker @jacobbarker27.bsky.social · Jul 14

St. Louis aldermen asked for a state audit of the personnel department. It never started. www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...

St. Louis aldermen asked for a state audit of the personnel department. It never started.

The state audit would have examined the personnel department, whose director, Sonya Jenkins-Gray, was later fired. Gov. Mike Kehoe has since appointed her to the city's new police board.

www.stltoday.com

Jacob Barker @jacobbarker27.bsky.social · Jul 11

Missouri’s paid sick leave law to end next month after Republican-led repeal.
Also Thursday, Kehoe signed the capital gains tax cut on profits and earnings on the sale of stocks, cryptocurrencies, real estate and other valuables.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/g... via @stltoday

Missouri’s paid sick leave law to end next month after Republican-led repeal

Gov. Mike Kehoe also approved cutting the state’s capital gains tax worth more than $400 million.

www.stltoday.com

Jacob Barker @jacobbarker27.bsky.social · Jul 10

Tornado plan for damaged schools in doubt after St. Louis Board of Education rebuffs superintendent www.stltoday.com/news/local/e...

Tornado plan for damaged schools in doubt after St. Louis Board of Education rebuffs superintendent

The SLPS board did not vote on the proposed relocation of Sumner, Soldan and Beaumont high schools or Yeatman-Liddell Middle School.

www.stltoday.com

Jacob Barker @jacobbarker27.bsky.social · Jul 9

Work begins on new St. Louis apartment tower in Central West End www.stltoday.com/news/local/b...

Work begins on new St. Louis apartment tower in Central West End

The tower at Kingshighway and Lindell Boulevard will consist of 305 luxury apartments and 1,700 square feet of ground-level retail space.

www.stltoday.com

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Jacob Barker @jacobbarker27.bsky.social · Jul 8

“This has allowed for officers to significantly reduce, or even negate, discipline time and time again.” -- Former SLMPD Chief John Hayden.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...

State takeover revives ‘good ol’ boy’ discipline process for St. Louis police, critic says

Four years after city officials repealed them, summary hearing boards, which let police appeal discipline to a panel of other officers, are specifically mandated in the state takeover law.

www.stltoday.com

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Jacob Barker @jacobbarker27.bsky.social · Jul 7

No new apartments until July 2026 in this St. Charles County city www.stltoday.com/news/local/s...

No new apartments until July 2026 in this St. Charles County city

"We are no longer the little bedroom community for O'Fallon — we're becoming O'Fallon," one Dardenne Prairie resident said.

www.stltoday.com