Maria Altman

St. Louis is one of the few cities in the U.S. that does not control its own police department.

On Tuesday, Missouri voters will decide whether the city should regain oversight of its police force for the first time in 151 years.

But as St. Louis Public Radio’s Maria Altman reports there’s disagreement over Proposition A within the city.

Anything but simple

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department is right across the street from City Hall.

Several Metro East communities want to negotiate electricity supply costs for their residents and businesses.

A 2009 law allows Illinois cities and counties to contract with suppliers in order to negotiate prices with electric utilities.

It’s called "municipal aggregation" and referendums are on the ballot in Belleville, Collinsville, and Edwardsville. Click here for a complete list.

Nearly 250 Illinois municipalities already have done so, including Alton and Glen Carbon.

In the upcoming election, Missouri voters will decide whether to change how judges are chosen in the Show Me State.

More than 70 years ago Missourians voted for a nominating system that strove to take political influence out of the judiciary.

But as St. Louis Public Radio's Maria Altman reports, Constitutional Amendment 3 made it to November's ballot after increased criticism of that plan in recent years.

How it all works - now

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay announced Thursday that three new charter schools will open next fall.

That will bring to 18 the number of schools that have gone through the screening process put in place by the mayor's office.

The mayor says quality education is critical to keeping families in the city.

Since last fall, the St. Louis Police Officers Association has supported a ballot initiative to bring local control of the department back to the city.

But this week the union’s president publicly urged members to vote “no” on Prop A.

Dave Bonenberger said in his "Message from the President" column that local control would lead to political influence in the department and loss of police pensions.