Tornado

Mayor Cara Spencer's request for $19.2 million of Rams money and Community Development Block Grant funds now heads to the St. Louis Board of Estimate and Apportionment for final approval next week.

The funds are being dispersed to several organizations for rebuilding houses and family support efforts after the storm displaced hundreds and caused over $1 billion worth of damage.

Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Church is one of several Black churches in north St. Louis destroyed or severely damaged by the May 16 tornado. A rebuild could cost $15 million. The church pastor says the storm might have been a blessing in disguise.

Residents can use the funds for short-term housing and for replacing groceries, clothing and other items lost during the storm.

The funding was part of a three-year, $2 million grant that went toward outreach efforts at the Bullet Related Injury Clinic. The grant program began in October 2024 and was cut short in April.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department released an edited video showing body camera footage from the response to the May 16 tornado.

Thousands of St. Louisans impacted by the May 16 tornado are beginning to apply for aid programs provided by the city and the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The legislature met in early June for a special legislative session called by Kehoe. It took about two weeks to pass the three pieces of legislation.

Missouri House Speaker Jon Patterson and state Sen. Steve Roberts talked about the special legislative session on the "Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air."

The bills now go to Gov. Mike Kehoe, who is expected to sign all of them.