🌱 Man Pleads Guilty to Ballwin Murder + Interstate 55 Closure

Happy Saturday, St. Louis! Here's everything you need to know about what's happening in town today.

First, today's weather:

A passing shower. High: 61 Low: 55.

Here are the top stories in St. Louis today:

1. A man has pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting two women and killing a third at a St. Louis Catholic Supply store in Ballwin. Former pastor Thomas Bruce entered the plea Friday to first-degree murder and other charges in the 2018 attacks. The plea requires a sentence of life without parole. (ABC17News.com)
2. All lanes of westbound Interstate 55 toward St. Louis will be closed from Friday evening through early Monday morning due to construction. The lanes west of the junction at Interstates 64 and 70 will close at 9 p.m. and reopen at 5 a.m. Monday. The Illinois Department of Transportation advises motorists traveling through St. Louis this weekend t0 seek alternate routes. (Belleville News-Democrat)
3. Police have increased the reward to find the suspects who killed a St. Louis man in September to $10,000. (KTVI Fox 2 St. Louis)
4. An onion recall due to salmonella has impacted the supply chain for St. Louis restaurants, including The Fountain on Locust. (KTVI Fox 2 St. Louis)
5. Chef Ben Welch will represent St. Louis at the inaugural Bayhaven Food & Wine Festival this weekend. (Riverfront Times)

Today in St. Louis:

• Electronics Recycling Event - University City Meetings (9:00 AM)
• Carving Pumpkins? Carve Out a New Tradition by Volunteering With the Red Cross! (10:00 AM)
• Indian & Syrian Drive-Thru Dinner (4:30 PM)
• One Brick Shy Episode 3 "GHOSTRIDER" Premiere (7:30 PM)

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Events:

• Psychic Medium John Edward live in St. Louis, MO! (November 4)
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Alrighty, you're all good for today. I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with another update! If you're loving these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Helen Eckhard

About me: Helen Eckhard is a marketing assistant at Lightning Media Partners. She is a self-professed logophile who is currently pursuing her master’s degree in library science. Outside of work, you can find Helen constructing crossword puzzles, knitting, or devising increasingly crafty ways to kill off characters in her mystery novels.