Hancock And Kelley

The showdown over President Joe Biden’s sweeping student loan forgiveness plan took center stage in St. Louis federal court. Missouri and six other states are seeking an injunction to stop the plan from moving forward. The judge will issue his ruling within two weeks. ... There are calls for the resignation of long-time St. Louis tourism chief Kitty Ratcliffe, the president of Explore St. Louis, amid continued delays and cost overruns in the convention center expansion project. ... St. Louis Alderwoman Cara Spencer officially launches her campaign for mayor. Her event drew a crowd four to five times larger than Mayor Tishaura Jones’s re-election launch party weeks earlier. ... Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signs a record $53 billion budget, with much of the increase funded a large tax increase on sports betting companies. Illinois continues to gain millions in tax revenue from Missouri bettors in the St. Louis area, who cross the river to place bets every day. ... President Joe Biden does an