Kavahn Mansouri
@kavahnmansouri.bsky.social
Economic Development Reporter @ St. Louis Public Radio | Iranian American | St. Louis till I die. | #COYG | Have a tip? Let's chat. Kmansouri@stlpr.org
Looks like demolition has started on the historic Crunden-Martin complex that burned during a massive fire on Black Friday www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...
Fire engulfs old factory complex slated for redevelopment in downtown St. Louis
Crews were called to the fire near 2nd and Cedar streets at about 3 a.m., said St. Louis fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson. He said the buildings were part of the
stltoday.com
McKinley High School is among the schools the St. Louis Public Schools district could close by 2030. Its band students performed a protest against the plan Wednesday night. “I hope they heard us ... We should be able to have a say in if our school closes or not," one student said.
St. Louis Public Schools students protest against school closures. District says it's listening
In response to community pressure, SLPS officials said it plans to add more community meetings to gather feedback ahead of making a final decision about the district’s future.
stlpr.org
Detroit’s turnaround could offer a roadmap for St. Louis. Civic and philanthropic leaders gathered to explore whether the city can reverse population decline and neighborhood disinvestment.
Detroit had a big renaissance. Could St. Louis do the same?
St. Louis leaders say unity can lead the city in the same direction as Detroit, a city that turned around declining population, mass vacancy and the largest municipal bankruptcy ever filed.
stlpr.org
“There are these wonderful T-shirts that came out of the Detroit experience — Detroit versus everybody — it's kind of like St. Louis versus everybody.” www.stlpr.org/government-p...
Detroit had a big renaissance. Could St. Louis do the same?
St. Louis leaders say unity can lead the city in the same direction as Detroit, a city that turned around declining population, mass vacancy and the largest municipal bankruptcy ever filed.
stlpr.org
Fair housing advocates and legal groups are warning Metro East residents to be on the lookout for “bond for deed” scams that contain predatory terms that could leave homebuyers destined for eviction. @stlpublicradio.bsky.social www.stlpr.org/law-order/20...
Fair housing advocates warn of 'bond for deed' scams in Metro East homebuying
While there is nothing specifically illegal about buying a home using a “bond for deed” contract, housing advocates want homebuyers to be on the lookout for terms that could leave them evicted.
stlpr.org
Two diet cokes, a bag of peanut M&Ms and a dream.
After 16 years leading St. Louis Lambert International Airport, Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge is retiring. She reflects on rebuilding the airport’s reputation, the end of the TWA hub era and what’s next for Lambert’s future.
Lambert Airport Boss Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge prepares for takeoff after 16 years
The outgoing director reflects on privatization efforts, hub dismantling and how the region began rethinking its airport.
stlpr.org
NEW: Spencer says data center critics are "rooted in reality" but proposed zoning rules will safeguard city from bad actors. www.stlpr.org/government-p...
Spencer: Data center criticism is valid, but St. Louis shouldn’t be ‘NIMBY city’
St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer says data center critics have valid concerns about the controversial developments, but she says newly proposed zoning rules will help protect St. Louisans while weighing e...
stlpr.org
Wildfire smoke from Canada has made its way to the St. Louis region. 😷 The Metro East had the seventh-worst air quality index level in the U.S. in mid-morning, according to AirNow, the Environmental Protection Agency’s air quality tracker.
Wildfire smoke brings unhealthy air to St. Louis and the Metro East
The Metro East had the seventh-worst air quality index reading in the U.S. at mid-morning on Monday as wildfires in Canada sent smoke to the St. Louis region.
stlpr.org
NEW: A Midtown St. Louis building at the heart of a controversial data center project was pulled from a sheriff’s delinquent land tax sale Tuesday, despite its owner owing more than $2 million in property taxes. www.stlpr.org/government-p...
Last minute tax payment saves midtown St. Louis data center building from the auction block
A Midtown St. Louis property at the center of a controversial data center project was set to be sold at auction for delinquent tax payments. After a last minute payment and a delay, some anti-data cen...
stlpr.org
Hey, St. Louis, it's the closing days of the Mill Creek: Black Metropolis exhibit at @mohistorymuseum.bsky.social. Ends this Sunday, July 12th! mohistory.org/exhibits/mil...
mohistory.org
STLPR report on 7/7 #HUDZ by @kavahnmansouri.bsky.social “The Armory data center approval was already rammed through before regulations were in place,” said Kerry McCullen, a member of the Eco-Socialist Green Party, a group that has fought data center developments throughout the area. #BOAbb49
St. Louis Public Radio@stlpublicradio.bsky.social · 4w agoLong-in-development zoning rules for data centers in St. Louis cleared one of several final hurdles today after a year of tinkering, public comment and battles between pro- and anti-data center groups. Pro-data center lobbyists argue the rules are effectively a ban: www.stlpr.org/government-p...
Covered PrideFest today! Here's what we saw! www.stlpr.org/race-identit...
Photos: St. Louisans brought the love to PrideFest despite heat, ‘hateful’ political climate
As a weeklong heat wave settles on St. Louis, the city’s LGBTQ community was undeterred Sunday as thousands gathered to celebrate the 46th annual PrideFest downtown.
stlpr.org
There are more than 9,000 vacant buildings and over 24,000 vacant parcels in the city. They cost the city tens of millions of dollars every year in fees and lost tax revenue. www.stlpr.org/government-p...
Can $10M of Stan Kroenke and the NFL’s money help St. Louis tackle its vacant building issues?
A $10 million bucket of settlement funds from the NFL and Stan Kroenke could reenergize St. Louis’s efforts to tackle vacant properties haunting the city.
stlpr.org
Five St. Louis aldermen voted against the city's beleaguered budget, which will get a final vote Friday. One called the entire process rushed due to the state-run police board. www.stlpr.org/government-p...
Budget brouhaha: St. Louis alderman calls police raises 'undemocratic'
Tempers flared as the St. Louis Board of Aldermen voted to give initial approval to a budget impacted by raises for police and firefighters.
stlpr.org
The search begins for a successor to the airport's longtime director. www.stlpr.org/government-p...
St. Louis launching search to replace Lambert International Airport’s long-time executive director
In a statement, the mayor’s office said six experts in aviation, governance and corporate leadership will advise Spencer on selecting a new airport director.
stlpr.org
Preceding a data center summit in Jefferson City, roughly 100 Missourians gathered on Wednesday to rally against the development and construction of the centers across the state.
Missourians rally against data centers as officials gather to discuss them
Missourians from across the state, including residents of Festus, gathered to speak out against the development of data centers.
stlpr.org
Around 10:30 pm last night, the St. Louis Planning Commission voted out data center zoning recommendations. First, big kudos to the seriously substantial recommendations put forth by planning staff. Some important amendments were attempted and some succeeded!
The right side speaker in the Kennedy Room in City Hall is struggling today.
Data centers are on the fast track in communities across the Midwest and Great Plains, but rising concerns over water, energy and noise leave lawmakers rushing to catch up.
Data centers are raising concerns and sparking debate
Data centers are on the fast track in communities across the Midwest and Great Plains, but rising concerns over water, energy and noise leave lawmakers rushing to catch up. Plus: Supporters and opponents are debating a proposed data center in southwest Kansas.
kcur.org
A thousand threatening emails later, they did it.
North St. Louis residents took aim at the city's allotment of settlement funding directed toward revitalizing downtown and called for more money for tornado recovery. www.stlpr.org/government-p...
North St. Louis residents call for $150M of Rams settlement funds for tornado recovery
Residents of tornado-affected neighborhoods of north St. Louis say the city needs to allocate more of the Rams settlement toward recovery instead of downtown.
stlpr.org
Full statement of Scott Pelley after he's fired from CBS 60 Minutes, detailing the sort of corruption of journalism Bari Weiss has brought to CBS News:
According to WSJ, the five biggest home-insurers as a group didn’t pay out on more than 44% of claims resolved last year. STLPR interviewed dozens of residents who have struggled to get payouts from insurance companies following the May 16, 2025 tornado. www.wsj.com/finance/the-...
The Home-Insurance Coin Flip: Nearly Half of Claims Result in Zero Payout
Home insurers pitch policies as a financial peace-of-mind safety net, but in a disaster customers can find the apparent guarantee of compensation evaporates.
wsj.com
If things line up, this would be the first new office building in the city since 2019 www.stltoday.com/news/local/b...
City Foundry teases new St. Louis office development
The five-story development, called Two Foundry Way, would be built just east of the 270-unit apartment complex off Forest Park and South Vandeventer avenues
stltoday.com
Really terrific reporting from the Midwest Newsroom's Luke Nozicka. www.stlpr.org/law-order/20...
‘Welcome to hell': Kids allege physical, sexual abuse at Missouri treatment center
Fifteen people say they were physically assaulted by staff, and some sexually abused by other residents, at Change Academy at Lake of the Ozarks, a youth residential treatment center in Missouri that ...
stlpr.org
More than 20 restaurants opened their doors last month in the St. Louis region. Here's a full list of openings and the restaurants we bid farewell to in May:
Here’s what St. Louis restaurants opened and closed in May 2026
A celebrated ramen shop, the return of a beloved bar and a chess restaurant opened last month as the region saw a wave of new restaurant openings.
stlpr.org
Mayor Spencer named Stephen Davis to the newly created job today. The position was created during a reorganization of her office announced last August. www.stlpr.org/government-p...
Mayor Spencer appoints economic development officer to focus on St. Louis growth
Stephen Davis previously served as vice president of strategic partnerships and initiatives at the St. Louis Development Corporation.
stlpr.org
