Dawn Chapman

People walk atop a stone-covered landfill on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at the Dept. of Energy’s Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center in St. Charles County. The landfill was the backdrop for a press conference conducted by politicians and local activists, regarding new reporting on ongoing radioactive contamination in the St. Louis area. During the press conference, those speaking said that they held it at the landfill intentionally, as it had previously been a site of radioactive contamination.

Radiation exposure funding isn’t in the final defense bill. What’s next for St. Louisans?

Kate Grumke

An amendment that extended the funding and expanded it to include parts of St. Louis did not make it into the final defense funding bill. Now St. Louis-area advocates are figuring out their next steps.

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, center, on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at the Dept. of Energy’s Weldon Spring Site Interpretive Center in St. Charles County. Wednesday, after new reporting on ongoing radioactive contamination in the St. Louis area, Hawley introduced legislation to create a fund for those impacted by the contamination. Also pictured, from left, is Rep. Tricia Byrnes, R-Wentzville, Just Moms STL founders Dawn Chapman and Karen Nickel, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Springs, and Rep. Richard West, R-Wentzville.

Government, Politics & Issues

Hawley hopeful radioactive waste compensation plan can withstand legislative headwinds

Jason Rosenbaum

The Republican senator teamed up with Democrats on a proposal that could compensate people sickened by radioactive waste in the St. Louis area.

The West Lake Landfill, seen from St. Charles Rock Road in Bridgeton.

Health, Science & Environment

EPA To Conduct More Testing At West Lake Landfill, Delay Cleanup Of Radioactive Waste

Eli Chen

The Environmental Protection Agency has decided to conduct additional tests for radioactive contamination at the West Lake Landfill, which would delay its…

Albert Kelly, former head of the EPA's Superfund Task Force, and EPA Region 7 administrator Cathy Stepp attend a town hall in Bridgeton about the West Lake Landfill Superfund site in October 2017

Health, Science & Environment

Residents fear for West Lake Landfill plan after Superfund chief resigns

Lindsay Toler

The head of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund Task Force resigned Tuesday after one year in the role, leaving residents in northwest St.…

The West Lake Landfill in Bridgeton, seen from St. Charles Rock Road.

Health, Science & Environment

EPA proposes partial removal of West Lake Landfill nuclear waste

Eli Chen

Updated at 3 p.m. to clarify how much waste would be removed and with additional reaction — The Environmental Protection Agency has decided on a partial…

Health, Science & Environment

Breaking it down: Renewed concerns over radiation at Bridgeton landfills

Kelly Moffitt

On Thursday’s “St. Louis on the Air,” host Don Marsh brought together several different parties to talk about ongoing community concerns over radioactive…