Extra Officers On Patrol + Monkeys Move Into Florissant

Welcome back, St. Louis! It's Monday, so let's get you started with everything you need to know going on around St. Louis today.

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First, today's weather:

Possible light rain overnight. High: 84 Low: 69.

Here are the top stories today in St. Louis:

1. 30 additional police officers are now patrolling downtown St. Louis in hopes of curbing violent crime. The patrols are part of the new Downtown Engagement and Public Safety Initiative. St. Louis City Spokesperson Angela Pearson said: "I know based off of the data, that we'll have them in centralized spots that we believe are kind of hot spots and popular areas where people tend to congregate." For now, officers will focus on areas such as Kiener Plaza, City Garden, and Washington Avenue. (KSDK.com)
2. Monkeys suddenly moved into a quiet St. Louis County neighborhood with warning signs they may bite. Residents reported seeing a mover drop off animal cages at a new neighbor's house last month on Old Halls Ferry Rd., just down the street from the Florissant city line in unincorporated St. Louis County. The owner of the monkeys, Texanne McBride, has previously received a citation for "erecting a monkey cage without a permit." (KTVI Fox 2 St. Louis)
3. An SUV got stuck after colliding with a train on the tracks near 7th St. and Gratiot St.(KMOV.com)
4. Makisha Gurlly has been charged after shooting and killing local woman Destiny Smith in an East St. Louis robbery. (KMOV.com)
5. Better Life, a St. Louis social services nonprofit, receives a $50,000 donation from Charter Communications in its Spectrum Community Assist initiative. (fox2now.com)

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