Not your Chicago Bears...

Good morning STL and happy Thursday! Hope you didn't stash those summer clothes too deep because guess what? The 90-degree temps are BACK, BABY! Looking back at last year, we saw a similar surge in temps around this same time. And if you’re the proud owner of a pool, enjoy your brief reign as the coolest friend—unless it’s heated, then congrats, you’re basically royalty. Mind if we crash your next pool party? Asking for a friend... who really loves pools.

WEATHER AND SPORTS

AROUND TOWN
A fed bear is a dead bear

Prepare to hear of more bear sightings in the STL area as the bear population continues to grow due to conservation efforts. Another week, another black bear sighting in a residential area. It’s not that bears are new to St. Louis, but more like they are back to reclaim their rightful homes.

According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, black bears used to be abundant in the state, but were nearly eliminated by 1931 due to logging and people hunting them for food and fur. Conservation efforts in Arkansas have actually helped to indirectly increase the bear population in Missouri as the bears naturally travel and migrate. The black bear population in Missouri has been growing by 8% yearly and is expected to continue on this trajectory.

How many black bears call Missouri home? Probably not as many as you’d think. According to MDC, only 800-1,000 black bears live in the entire state.

While black bears are typically not aggressive towards people, they need a lot of calories, and are highly motivated by food. As the bear population continues to increase in the metro area, the MDC suggests practicing good bear awareness protocols and avoid leaving them easy access to food. This means storing all food (including pet food) inside, and to properly secure trash in locked bins rather than outside with easy access. Once a bear realizes that it has easy access to food via humans, it can become aggressive and dangerous, and once this happens, the bear must be killed. Hence the term, “a fed bear is a dead bear”.

To stay ahead of the rising bear population, the MDC has some recommendations. Those who moved to STL from Alaska, the PNW, and California can skip this next section. You are bear experts as far as the typical STL resident is concerned.

The bear necessities:

• Never feed a bear on purpose or by accident

• Odors attract bears— keep a clean campsite and store all food in vehicles

• Empty the trash as much as possible and clean and disinfect the can itself to cut down on food odors

• Don’t store or leave pet food outside

• Hang bird feeders at least 10 feet high

• If confronted by a bear, clap, sing, or yell loudly

• Keep dogs leashed when walking on trails

• If all else fails, put your arms up and walk away slowly without turning your back to the bear— do not run

Do some of these suggestions feel like overkill right now? Maybe. However, the bear population in Missouri is expected to double in the next 10 years, and triple in the next 15. It never hurts to prepare early!

STL to lose a company headquarters

First off, did you know that STL is home to two of the largest coal companies in the US— Peabody (downtown) and Arch Resources (Creve Coeur)? Arch Resources (fka Arch Coal) announced this week that they are combining forces with rival coal company Consol Energy to form a new $5B coal behemoth, Core Natural Resources. As part of the deal, the new company’s headquarters will be based out of Western Pennsylvania where Consol Energy is currently headquartered. This means Arch Resources’ Creve Coeur office will lose its HQ branding. While the company said it will still maintain a St. Louis presence, the question is: for how much longer? Losing an HQ is hard enough, but could they have at least kept “Arch” in the new name?

Speaking of coal, it’s like the old habit the world can’t quit. No matter how shiny and new our cleaner and renewable energy sources get, it keeps sticking around. Its endurance can be attributed to a few key factors:

• Established Infrastructure and Economic Dependencies - transitioning to renewable sources requires substantial $$$ for new technologies and grid modification. Also, there are still a lot of jobs that rely on coal such as mining, shipping, equipment manufacturing, etc., that create economic stability.

• Reliability and Consistency - coal provides a stable supply of energy that is not subject to intermittency issues that other energy methods face such as wind and solar.

• AI - AI continues to insert itself into the conversation 🙄 . In this context, the rise of new data centers to support AI and other technological advancements require massive amounts of energy to convert to computing power. These data centers can be built much quicker than the renewable energy systems needed to power them. The easy and quick answer is coal power.

While coal’s long-term outlook is uncertain, it’s here to stay for the time being.

WEEKEND WONDERS
What to do this week

Thursday

🤠 Dierks Bentley at Riverport: You don’t need to be “Drunk on a Plane” to catch Dierks Bentley at Riverport on Thursday. Touring to promote his 10th studio album, “Gravel and Gold”, the show starts at 7pm with opener Chase Rice.

😆 Dan Alten at the Platypus: Catch the comedian, Dan Alten for free on Thursday at the Platypus in the Grove. The show starts at 7:30pm and is open to all ages. The best part is it’s a good time guaranteed, because if you don’t like him, he says you can push him in the river.

Friday

🥁 Jammin’ at the Zoo (21+): Sip and savor adult beverages and enjoy live entertainment at this adults-only event. Jammin’ at the Zoo is hosted by the Zoo Young Professionals, a group of adults in their 20s and 30s dedicated to the continued success of the Zoo. Includes wine and beer tastings from 6-10pm. The train ride will be runnin’ and the DJ will be spinnin’.

🔪 Murder Mystery at Lemp Mansion: Great for groups, grab tickets for this interactive murder mystery dinner at the (haunted) Lemp Mansion. Feel free to participate as much or as little as you’d like— a three course dinner is included. Maybe you’ll see some ghosts?

Saturday

🐎 STL Derby at Fairmount Park: The highlight of this year’s racing calendar, don’t miss the hat contest and mega-bet contest. Showcasing top thoroughbreds competing in a fast-paced, exhilarating race that has become a local favorite. Food, beer, horses: the best trifecta.

🎸 The Doobie Brothers at Riverport: Listen to the Music at Riverport with the bros and Steve Winwood. These guys may be in their 70s, but they are still rocking and put on a great show. Was anyone at the show in ‘73 at Kiel Auditorium with ZZ Top?

Sunday

🎉 Festival of Nations at TGP: This two day annual event brings in over 100k visitors. Food, dance, art, culture, vendors, and much more. Celebrate unique identities representing over 80 nations. Free to attend, but VIP passes also available.

😍 Anything Goes at the Muny: All aboard for the last show of the 106th Muny Season! If you were wanting to go to the Muny this year, this weekend is your last chance! Catch this comedy last seen on stage in 1999. It should be a tap-dancing delight!

ARCHWAY ARCADE
Poll question of the week

Winner of last week’s poll question:

McGurks was voted best patio!

Did you know?

Did you know that the term "Hoosier" is a term of endearment in Indiana, used to proudly describe someone from the state? However, in St. Louis, the word has taken on a different meaning entirely, often used as a slang term for someone who is unsophisticated or a "redneck." This shift in meaning likely began in the early 20th century when Indiana workers moved to St. Louis for jobs, and locals began using "Hoosier" as a pejorative. Over time, the term evolved within St. Louis culture to describe anyone perceived as unrefined or working-class. Despite the negative connotation in St. Louis, many Hoosiers still wear the term as a badge of pride.

Trivia

William Clark of the expedition duo, “Lewis and Clark” is buried in which local cemetery? answer below

SHARING IS CARING
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Trivia Answer: Originally buried on his nephew, John O’Fallon’s property which is now known as “O’Fallon Park”, he was later moved and buried at Bellefontaine Cemetery where he remains to this day.