News

The costs of goods and services in the St. Louis region rose 2.5 percent between the last six months of 2009 and the last six months of 2010 - more than double the national rate over that same time.

Though the Bureau of Labor Statistics data show electricity prices going up 13.1 percent and motor fuel going up 10.1 percent, bureau economist Jacqueline Michael Midkiff says they weren't the real drivers of the increase.

St. Louis foodies, this one's for you.

Four local culinary names have been designated James Beard Award semifinalists, the St. Louis Business Journal reports.

For those of you unfamiliar with the James Beard Award, the Journal says Time magazine called it the "Oscars of the food world."

• According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, officials at the John Cochran VA Medical Center in St. Louis say that despite recent sterilization problems, the hospital is safe. Officials say the biggest problem now is a crisis in confidence. Last June, the hospital sent letters to more than 1,800 veterans who were potentially exposed to HIV and hepatitis due to faulty sterilization in its dental clinic. And on Feb.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn gave his annual state budget address today in Springfield.

Join us tonight at 7 p.m.  for a broadcast the full address on 90.7 FM or online here.

You can also follow along and read the full text of the Governor's address here.

So far, here are some reactions to Quinn's budget: