Rev. Darryl Gray

The jail director, who reports to St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, was known to be at odds with the city's Detention Facility Oversight Board over the lack of transparency and conditions at the City Justice Center.

The Rev. Darryl Gray said he is more hopeful for reform after a recent conversation with Commissioner of Corrections Jennifer Clemons-Abdullah.

The governor's office said Roberts, D-St. Louis, advocated for a paid position for himself on the Public Service Commission and for his dad to receive a spot on the UM Board of Curators.

Mayor Tishaura Jones first appointed members of the Detention Facilities Oversight Board in 2022, but legal battles and a failure to complete required training meant the board could not access the downtown jail until now.

A new law on oversight took effect in 2022 but immediately faced legal challenges. The work has also been delayed by disputes over access to complaints and to the City Justice Center, St. Louis’ jail.

Two inmates with a history of disciplinary problems took the guard, a man in his 70s, hostage during breakfast service around 6 a.m. A police SWAT team had to use less-than-lethal force to rescue him.

Protesters gathered in front of St. Louis Police headquarters shortly after the release of videos that showed five Memphis police officers beating Tyre Nichols, who later died.

The sweeping elections bill not only contains the requirement of a government issued photo-ID to vote, it also adds restrictions to election processes like voter registration. Those against the bill say it violated Missouri’s constitutional right to vote.

Justin King, 28, was killed by a neighbor. The county prosecutor says the shooting was self-defense under Missouri law.

After a jury found the former Minneapolis police officer guilty on all counts, activists gathered in downtown St. Louis to call for continued action against police brutality.