Posted 8:39 a.m. Sat. July 4 - Click on the headline for more photos by Maren Leonard and a story that explains a new place to watch the Fair St. Louis fireworks.
Posted 6:20 p.m. Thurs., July 2 - Gov. Jay Nixon, Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright and more than 40 child anti-smoking advocates teamed up Thursday morning to try to strike out youth smoking. They gathered at KETC Channel 9 to film a public-service announcement geared at encouraging kids to avoid tobacco. In the spot, children will appear in Cardinals regalia with Wainwright and Nixon.
Posted 12:40 p.m. Thurs., July 2: If Gov. Jay Nixon is successful, the statue of former U.S. Rep. Francis Preston Blair (right) will soon be ousted from the U.S. Capitol to make way for the bust of the Show-Me State's only president, Harry S Truman. On the eve of the July 4th holiday, Nixon formally made the request to remove the visage of Blair, a Civil War general and unsuccessful vice presidential hopeful, so Give 'Em Hell Harry gets his deserved place in the Washington spotlight. Each state is allowed only two statues in the Capitol's Statuary Hall. Not under threat: the bust of former Sen. Thomas Hart Benton.
Posted 9:09 a.m. Fri., June 3 - In this Independence weekend installment: An iconic hip-hop magazine bites the dust; the effects of a smoking ban elsewhere; marriage is doing just fine, thank you; young, single and narcissistic?; squabbling in D.C. (not what you think); a fashion trend that leaves room to breathe.
Posted 2:25 p.m. Thurs., July 2 - Efforts to save a sculptor's studio in Chesterfield from a flood-protection project have yielded one new proposal, but fans of the studio are pushing for something better. At an outdoor meeting and rally at Don Wiegand's studio Wednesday night, more than 100 people heard updates on the drive to prevent the Army Corps of Engineers from razing the building where he works and lives, on the eastern edge of Chesterfield Valley. (Photo of Wiegand by Dale Singer | Beacon staff)
Posted 1:53 p.m. Fri. July 3 - Johnny
Depp brings charisma to Michael Mann's fine, visually arresting,
viscerally exciting new movie. “Public Enemies” moves along without becoming nothing more than a series of violent bank robberies and jail breaks.
Posted 10:45 a.m. Fri., July 3 - Don't have a primary care doctor? Have one, but can't get in as quickly as you'd like? If you are like many Americans, no worries, just head to the nearest emergency room. They'll see you…they have to. But with such convenience comes a hefty price: What happens to those who really have an emergency, cast alongside countless others who do not? You may just need to wait your turn -- the inn could very well be full.
Updated 2:45 p.m. Thurs. July 2 - Want to find places beyond the obvious for interesting art work? Check "Bright spots" for Ivy Cooper's tidbits covering shows and things around town.
Recommended: Good Citizen Gallery | Khara Koffel
Editors' Picks
- Top News
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Palin's surprise resignation splits GOP: Foes cite the unorthodox way she announced she would leave as governor, but backers say it shows her independence from party leaders and business as usual. | Politico
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N. Korea tests ballistic missiles: It fired into the sea, flouting the UN and sending the U.S. a message on independence Day. | New York Times
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Palin to resign as Alaska's governor: The move later this month will clear the way for the Republican vice presidential nominee to run for president. | Anchorage Daily News
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Fenton Chrysler plant shuts down a week early: The last Dodge Ram rolled off the line on Thursday, ending an era. | STLtoday
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- Region
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Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine ceases publication: Like other home publications, it was hit by a downturn in advertising. | Maryengelbreit.com
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NRC halts review of AmerenUE's application for second nuclear plant: The utility had asked for the action, saying it was not prudent to continue the review. | STLtoday
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Man freed after serving 31 years for 1977 St. Louis murder: The sentence of Michael Ford Sr. was commuted by then-Gov. Bob Holden in 2004. | Columbia Daily Tribune
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St. Louis is on Forbes list of 10 most family-friendly U.S. cities: Rankings are determined by how much of a family's budget is eaten up by daily essentials. | Forbes
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- Science
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Robotic "rat" can feel through rubble: The whiskered robot could be used to located survivors of natural disasters or building collapses. l New Scientist
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Why your gut is more ethical than your brain: A provacative study shows your gut is more trustworthy than your brain. l Fast Company
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Plants saved Earth from an icy fate: Plants kept CO2 levels from dropping low enough to create an icehouse. l New Scientist
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Do brain-training games and software work?: The research on the effectiveness of software and games promising to boost brain power is murky. l Scientific American
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- A+L
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Opera Theatre St. Louis garners good reviews: " 'Ghosts' emerged as a more intimate, more enjoyable, more dramatically viable show" | Chicago Tribune,
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Tthe galleries at the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 5 (the first Sunday of the month). Bring your out-of-town guests and enjoy Ideal (Dis-)Placements: Old Masters at the Pulitzer.
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Come to the “Healthy you, healthy planet festival” at the Missouri Botanical Garden, from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. July 18. Start with the biggest stretch and learn about cooking and participate in health screenings. www.mobot.org ; www.siteman.wustl.edu ; 314-577-9400,
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The St. Louis Art Museum presents “Phèdre” at noon, July 11 in the auditorium. Phèdre will be performed live in London and filmed in high definition. It stars Helen Mirren in the title role. $15 ($10 for members). www.metrotix.com .
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- Voices
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Sarah Palin turns pro: In resigning from office with 17 months to go in her first term, the Alaska governor has made herself the bull goose loony of the GOP. | Paul Begala/Huffington Post
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Lousy president, terrible precedent Even though the Honduran president ignored the constitution, a military coup was no better. | The Economist
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Words and history Peggy Noonan looks at the words we celebrate on July 4 and at the historian who makes the story accessible to us. | Wall Street Journal
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New Haven firefighters case shows seamy side of racial politics: It demonstrates how politics can get in the way of the words of the Civil Rights Act. | Michael Barone/Rasmussen Reports
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Honor flights
Reporter Dale Singer travels with his father in law, who is one of a group of World War II veterans who are honored for their service and flown to Washington, D.C., to visit monument to their war. Read the story and see a bigger version of the video.
Voices
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Beacon Columnists
Posted 6 a.m. Fri. July 3 - Christina Romer's remarks as head of the Council of Economic Advisers go against her writings as an economic historian. R.W. Hafer says that her own studies have shown that monetary policy ends recessions, not fiscal policy such as President Obama's stimulus package.
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Beacon Columnists
Posted 6 a.m. Thurs. July 2 - From "Cash for Clunkers" to higher interest rates on credit cards, M.W. Guzy sees some problems with the way the "recovery" is progressing, as well as ideas such as cap and trade.
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Beacon Columnists
Posted 12:32 p.m. Wed. July 1 - What good is a test that neither helps you rank candidates for promotion nor provides meaningful information about who is qualified or not? Not much. Kira Hudson Banks notes, however, that the emphasis is on the impact, not the faulty instrument.
Editorial Cartoons
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Posted 9:48 a.m. Fri. July 3 - Cartoonists head into the holidays by taking aim at childish politicians (Chris Britt), a wise Latina (Scott Stantis) and public officials with private problems (John Sherffius and Bruce Beattie).
About Flyerboard
In the style of the community bulletin board, Flyerboard offers an affordable way to get the word out about your event, business or service. Download the Flyerboard overview (PDF)Editor's Hotseat
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Posted 9:12 a.m. Tues. June 30 - We apologize for problems that may have kept you from viewing the Beacon site Monday.
Lawscoop
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Posted 12:11 p.m. Thurs. July 2 - Much has been made about David Souter's courtly, poetical farewell from the bench earlier this week. But a passage in…
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