🌱 Jul. 4 St. Louis Dumpster Fires + Former Police Chief's Car Stolen

Hello, everybody! It's me, Helen Eckhard, your host of the Daily. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening in the community today.

First, today's weather:

Very hot with a stray t-storm. High: 102 Low: 81.

Here are the top three stories in St. Louis today:

1. The St. Louis Fire Department responded to 75 dumpster fires and 18 trash fires this Fourth of July holiday. Last year, the department responded to only 54 dumpster fires. The city is currently dealing with a trash collection staff shortage coupled with a collection equipment shortage. (Riverfront Times)
2. A former St. Louis Police Chief had his car stolen on Saturday. Former chief John Hayden's vehicle was stolen from the 4000 block of Westminister Place in the Central West End around 9:00 p.m. His vehicle was reportedly discovered the next day by the department. A juvenile was arrested for stealing the vehicle. (KMOV4)
3. St. Louis' dangerous heat wave is expected to last till Thursday. The city's heat index will top 110 degrees in the afternoon hours. The National Weather Service issued an Excessive Heat Warning for the region until late Thursday. The heatwave will impact the elderly, outdoor workers, and those without reliable air conditioning the most. A front should slowly push through the area on Thursday. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

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Today in St. Louis:

• Oasis Tutoring At The Mid-County Branch Library (9:30 AM)
• Summer Lunches At The Weber Road Branch Library (12:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Saint Louis Zoo reminds the community that American Sign Language is offered at multiple summer events, including the Jul. 8 concert. Click to learn more about the service. (Saint Louis Zoo via Facebook)
• St. Louis County Parks is inviting the community to explore caves with its Park Rangers on Jul. 23 and Aug. 26. Register for the event by contacting 314-615-8822. (St. Louis County Parks via Facebook)
• St. Louis County's Financial Transparency Report can be viewed online. Click to view. (Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Online Webinar with specialists for roof repair in St. Louis (July 15)
• Add your event

Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you tomorrow for your next update.

— 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.