Good evening, St. Louis. We're wrapping up the day for you with the most important stories you need to know and your weather outlook.
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Today's Big Stories
1. Hawley wants funding for radiation victims in foreign military aid bill
Advocates from the St. Louis region returned to Washington, D.C. this week, pressing Congress to reauthorize and expand a federal program set to expire later this year that provides payments to victims of radiation exposure. Efforts to expand the Radioactive Exposure Compensation Act or RECA Trust Fund to include Missourians in 20 ZIP codes in the St. Louis area and other regions nationally failed when the provision was removed from the National Defense Reauthorization Act late last year. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told reporters Thursday he’ll try to add it as an amendment to an aid bill that passed a procedural vote Thursday for $96 billion in military support for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
2. Missouri Senate votes against allowing abortion in cases of rape and incest
Missouri senators on Wednesday voted against amending the state's strict law against abortions to allow exceptions in cases of rape and incest. The state banned almost all abortions after the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 overturned Roe v. Wade. Abortions currently are only legal “in cases of medical emergency.”
3. One abortion-rights initiative petitions is ending in Missouri as another kicks into gear
One of two campaigns hoping to amend the state constitution to roll back Missouri’s abortion ban is giving up its push to reach the 2024 ballot. Jamie Corley, a longtime GOP Congressional staffer, is withdrawing an initiative petition she helped craft that would have added rape and incest exceptions to Missouri’s abortion ban and legalize the procedure up to 12 weeks. It also would have protected doctors and pregnant patients from prosecution.
4. Here are the top four priorities residents want city to consider for Rams settlement
The public has spoken and replacing water mains was the top way residents want the Board of Aldermen to look into spending the Rams settlement funds on in the city. More than 12,400 responses came in during the latest round of voting that wrapped up on Feb. 2. Residents could chose from 20 ideas and could vote for multiple of them. Read the story to learn the other top ideas.
5. Trump ballot disqualification greeted with skepticism at the Supreme Court
Conservative Supreme Court justices expressed skepticism during oral arguments Thursday that Colorado has the authority to remove former President Donald Trump from the state’s ballot over his actions leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
6. Mardi Gras 2024: How to celebrate in St. Louis and St. Charles
In celebration of Mardi Gras set for next Tuesday, many events are taking place this weekend around the St. Louis area.
7. From Uber Eats' 'Friends' reunion to Bud's Clydesdales, here are the buzziest Super Bowl ads so far
Many companies now release ads ahead of the game in the hope of capitalizing on the buzz that builds as the game approaches. They hope to recoup some of the reported $7 million that's the going rate for a 30-second spot by capturing pre-game attention. Get a peek of some that will have the biggest buzz.
Solar Eclipse
Countdown begins for April's total solar eclipse. What to know about watch parties and safe viewing
The sun is about to pull another disappearing act across North America, turning day into night during a total solar eclipse.
