Illinois is on the verge of once again allowing midwives without nursing degrees. The state stopped licensing them in 1965 and outlawed midwifery in 1992. A measure to restore the practice is awaiting Governor JB Pritzker's signature.

The Rolla School District has a big construction project underway, and students enrolled in vocational classes are taking on some work as part of their training. They are alongside recent graduates employed by local construction firms.

The stakes for reshaping the St. Louis County Council’s seven districts are low. There’s no chance of drawing a map where anybody but Democrats would hold a majority. But the commission responsible for the process has been full of drama.

President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan includes proposals to expand subsidized child care, free school meals, and a plan to establish universal preschool. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona says the childcare provisions could help many parents return to the workforce.

Missouri had one of the highest rates of anxiety medication prescriptions in the country before the pandemic. The research from a leading pharmacy benefits management company comes as the state deals with a shortage of mental health care providers.

Schools in the Ritenour district are closed today, so stressed teachers, other staff, and students can focus on their mental health. The pandemic and the return to in-person learning have caused more stress than usual.

A Washington University professor says Missouri has an opportunity to evaluate its cybersecurity practices after a flaw on a state-run website exposed the personal information of thousands of workers.

The new director of the St. Louis Art Museum wants to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion at the 142-year-old institution. Min Jung Kim is the first woman, the first immigrant, and the first person of color to lead the institution permanently.

The St. Louis Department of Health’s new leader plans to tackle continuing vaccine hesitancy and pandemic complacency. Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis is also dealing with a department suffering from high burnout rates, increasing staff turnover, and lack of funds.

The Missouri legislative redistricting commission is holding hearings to help determine future state House and Senate maps. Similar panels in the past have deadlocked along party lines, sending the issue to the courts.