🌱 New Vaccine Incentives + STL Ranks #1 For Minority Businesses

Up and at 'em, St. Louis! Let's get you all caught up to start this day off on an informed note. Here's everything happening around St. Louis today.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 44 Low: 32.

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

1. The St. Louis Department of Health announced Wednesday that the city is expanding its COVID-19 gift card incentive program. Beginning Feb. 9, residents who receive a COVID-19 vaccine or booster at participating sites will receive a $100 gift card. A complete list of participating vaccination sites is available on the health department website. (KSDK.com)
2. A new study ranked St. Louis as the number one city where minority-owned startups thrive. According to the report from JobSage, 25 percent of startups in the city are currently minority-owned. Fresno, California; San Antonio, Texas; and Orlando, Florida, followed St. Louis in the list. (fox2now.com)
3. St. Louis police are looking for the owner of suspected stolen property that was recovered during a Feb. 8 investigation in the Vandeventer neighborhood. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department released photos of the recovered objects, which include guns, cameras, and camera equipment. To recover the property, the victims will need to have filed a report prior to Wednesday's announcement. (KSDK.com)

From our sponsor:

Hey St. Louis, are you looking to buy a house, refinance or just explore your options? Check out the new Patch Mortgage Center for all your home financing needs!

Today in St. Louis:

• St. Luke's Mammography Van At University City High School (8:00 AM)
• COVID-19 Testing At Walnut Park Branch Library (12:00 PM)
• Green Practices Commission Meeting At Heman Park Community Center (5:30 PM)

From my notebook:

• Join the City Foundry STL this weekend for the 7th Annual Cycle Showcase. The event will feature over 50 rare and custom bikes from all over the world! (Facebook)
• Not one, but four St. Louis Symphony Orchestra soloists share the stage in concerts this Friday morning and Saturday night. Join them as they team up on Joseph Haydn's Sinfonia Concertante. (Facebook)
• Ready for Tunnel of Love this weekend at the City Museum? The special Valentine's Day feature is free with General Admission. Get your tickets in advance at the City Museum website. (Facebook)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Lowered Costs for 2022, Get Your Cannabis Card from Home! (February 12)
• Add your event

Loving the St. Louis Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

• Send a friend or neighbor this link so they can subscribe
• Get your local business listed in front of readers

Alrighty, you're all good for today! I'll see you around.

— 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.