🌱 Health Department Says Stay Home + Missing Toddler Found Safe

Happy Friday, neighbors! Here's everything you need to know to get this day started. Here's everything worth knowing around town today.

First, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy and colder. High: 38 Low: 32.

Here are the top 3 stories in St. Louis today:

1. The St. Louis Public Health Department is now advising residents and visitors to avoid activities other than those deemed essential. In the last week, the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force has reported some of the highest hospitalization levels throughout the entire pandemic, prompting the new recommendation from the health department. For now, the only mandate in St. Louis City is masking. There are currently no limitations on capacity or other restrictions for businesses and restaurants. (KMOV.com)
2. One firefighter is dead and another is injured after a house fire in north St. Louis. The fire occurred at a vacant building in the 5900 block of Cote Brilliante, where the roof collapsed on the first-responders Thursday morning. The injured firefighter has been taken to the hospital, but the identity of the deceased firefighter has not yet been released. (KTVI Fox 2 St. Louis)
3. St. Louis County Police have arrested a man who allegedly took his daughter from a daycare Wednesday afternoon. Officers say 4-year-old Daisy Ware was taken from a daycare on St. Charles Rock Road at 3 p.m. by her father, 35-year-old Gregory Ware. Authorities found Daisy in Illinois on Thursday morning and have taken Ware into custody. (KMOV.com)

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Today in St. Louis:

• Speaker Series: Editorial Cartoons And The Weatherbird With Dan Martin At The Field House Museum (11:00 AM)

From my notebook:

• The St. Louis County Police Department welcomed three new Police Chaplains to the department. Thank you for serving, Christopher Keating, Jeanette Whitehead, and Father Zachary Povis! (Facebook)
• Congratulations to St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Music Director Stéphane Denève, who was named the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra’s new Principal Guest Conductor. (Facebook)
• The St. Louis County Parks Department announced that the Tails and Trails Dog Park will remain closed until further notice while the cement dries where new fence posts were placed. (Facebook)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today! See you all tomorrow morning for another 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.