The Insider PodCast discussed the reintroduction of the Better Together bill by Ian Mackey, proposing a merger of St. Louis City and County. The 2019 attempt failed due to opposition from West County municipalities and legal challenges. The merger aims to consolidate 88 municipalities into one government, potentially saving $250 million annually. Key concerns include the impact on local identities, police training, and education reform. The panel debated the benefits of regional cooperation versus maintaining local autonomy, citing examples like Indianapolis and Nashville. They emphasized the need for efficient governance and collaboration to address St. Louis's declining population and financial issues.

Transcript

https://otter.ai/u/KGphtyC9F-odxEnDVN0YBUsHAkM?view=transcript

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Tim Weber, publisher of West and Mid Rivers News Magazine, interviews Donna Deck, the advertising graphic designer and co-chair of the party planning committee. They discuss several updates, including an audit of the tax increment financing for downtown Chesterfield's development, which has attracted $300 million. Donna expresses excitement about the new restaurants and entertainment spaces. They also discuss an E. coli outbreak linked to pre-packaged lettuce from Taylor Farms, affecting over 100 people in two counties. Donna shares her concerns about food safety and changes in her shopping habits. Lastly, they touch on holiday preparations and New Year's resolutions, with Donna admitting to being disorganized and Tim aiming to read more.

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• The podcast hosts discussed their favorite Christmas movies, with Tim Weber arguing that The Nightmare Before Christmas and Die Hard are the greatest Christmas movies.
• The main topic was the teacher shortage and staffing challenges facing public schools in Missouri. Key points:
• Missouri currently has around 3,000 vacant or inappropriately certified teaching positions, especially in subjects like science, math, and foreign languages.
• Low teacher pay, challenging working conditions, and lack of respect/support from parents and students are driving the teacher shortage. COVID-19 has exacerbated these issues.
• Proposed solutions include increasing teacher salaries, providing alternative certification paths, and improving transparency/communication between schools and parents.
• The hosts emphasized the need for parents to engage constructively with schools and teachers, rather than being confrontational. Using technology to improve transparency was also suggested.
• The episode also briefly discussed some local holiday events and warned about issues with the "Jingle" holiday event in O'Fallon, Missouri.

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• The podcast discusses a local E. coli outbreak in the Rockwood School District in St. Charles County, Missouri, where over 100 cases have been reported and 13 students were hospitalized. 
• The outbreak appears to be linked to events catered by a local company called Andres Banquets and Catering, though the source has not been definitively identified.
• The discussion covers what E. coli is, how it can contaminate food, and food safety practices to prevent outbreaks.
• Several lawsuits have been filed against Andres Banquets, though the hosts express concern the lawsuits may be premature.
• The podcast also briefly discusses a cannabis tax policy dispute between St. Charles and St. Louis counties.
• Additionally, the podcast previews an upcoming feature on local holiday cookie and candy makers.

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1. The episode discusses a story about the "yips" - a psychological barrier that can affect athletic performance, even in high school and college athletes. The story explores how sports psychology can help athletes overcome these mental blocks.
2. The podcast also covers the evolving role of local libraries, which now offer much more than just books - including a "library of things" where people can check out items like cake pans, fishing poles, and telescopes. Libraries also provide services like notary, passport applications, and educational programming.
3. A major infrastructure project, the $600 million I-70 improvement project in St. Charles County, is discussed. This long-term project aims to add lanes and address bottlenecks along the interstate.
4. The podcast also examines Proposition A, Missouri's recently passed minimum wage increase and sick leave requirement. The hosts discuss how this voter-approved measure passed despite Missouri's Republican leanings, suggesting economic issues may transcend party lines.
5. Finally, the episode highlights various holiday events and activities happening around St. Charles County that listeners are encouraged to check out.

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• The podcast is discussing the recent local elections in St. Charles County, Missouri. They note that many state-level offices flipped from one party to the other, so there will be a lot of new faces in Jefferson City.
• The sports betting amendment (Amendment 2) passed, but with a surprisingly narrow margin, despite heavy promotion from major sports teams. The panel suggests voters may have been skeptical of claims that it would significantly benefit schools.
• Two local fire departments (Cottleville and Lake St. Louis) were able to pass tax increases, which the panel says is often an easier sell with voters when it comes to public safety.
• The Fort Zumwalt school district has named a new superintendent, Dr. Henry St. Pierre, who has worked his way up through the district over the past 25 years.
• The CEO of the St. Charles City-County Library District, Jason Kuhl, has stepped down from his position.

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