🌱 Middle School TikTok Bullying + Man Stuck In Mud For 4 Hours

Hello again, St. Louis! Important update: You all, as readers, have made the St. Louis Daily so successful that it is my honor to announce the next stage of the newsletter. Patch is looking for a local writer and entrepreneur to take the helm of the St. Louis Daily. Although I have loved getting to know this community, we want to pass the torch to someone truly local to write about St. Louis long term. So if you’re interested in earning extra income while making this newsletter a more valuable resource for your neighbors, learn more and apply here.

First, today's weather:

Plenty of sun, but chilly. High: 40 Low: 25.

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

1. The popular social media app TikTok has suspended an account that was being used to bully students at Parkway West Middle School. District officials say they were made aware of the account last week and reported it to the social media platform for removal. The school principal also sent a letter to families addressing the incident and asking parents to talk with their students about "healthy uses of social media." (KTVI Fox 2 St. Louis)
2. A new memorial at St. Louis Circuit Court will debut this summer to honor the enslaved men and women who sued for freedom before the Civil War. Funds for the project were raised by a committee of lawyers through the St. Louis Bar Foundation. Artist Preston Jackson has been commissioned to design the memorial statue, which depicts an enslaved woman approaching the courts. (St. Louis American)
3. A man in north St. Louis County was rescued after being stuck inside a muddy trench for nearly four hours on Thursday. The 30-year-old man was taking a shortcut through a pair of homes near Shepley Drive when he sunk into the waist-deep mud and became trapped. It took fire crews nearly an hour to rescue the man, who authorities say suffered from hypothermia and several injuries to his lower extremities. (KTVI Fox 2 St. Louis)

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Today in St. Louis:

• Speaker Series: Across the Field Collections Mini-Series Part 1 At Field House Museum (1:00 PM)
• COVID-19 Testing At Walnut Park Branch Library (2:00 PM)
• Grab And Go After School Meals A Lewis And Clark Branch Library (3:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Coming soon to the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra: a free digital concert experience of Sergei Prokofiev’s beloved orchestral story Peter and the Wolf, featuring a virtual adventure to the Endangered Wolf Center in Eureka. (Facebook)
• Looking for something “out of this world” to do over the long weekend? Come to a McDonnell Planetarium Star Show at the Saint Louis Science Center for a stellar experience you won’t soon forget! (Facebook)
• Have you heard about the new exhibit, Salutary Sculpture, at Laumeier Sculpture Park? The newest exhibition features the work of eight artists across various mediums. (Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Lowered Costs for 2022, Get Your Cannabis Card from Home! (February 19)
• Learn How To Reduce Your Risk For Heart Disease During American Heart Month (February 28)
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Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with 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.