'Flu hit us early and hard this year,' hospitals in St. Louis nearing capacity with rise in flu cases

ST. LOUIS — "What can we really do?" asked Bob Swan. "This is kind of strange," said Russ Geminn. Strange or not, the big, suspected spy balloon from China is now moving across the United States, and it has captivated the world. It's also captured the attention of balloon...

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. — A new Aldi grocery store will replace one of a St. Louis County gym operator’s two locations, and the gym owner plans to relocate that site to St. Charles County, blaming past disputes with St. Louis County government. Batavia, Illinois-based grocery store chain Aldi...

FLORISSANT, Mo. — It's been a busy couple of days for dispensaries across Missouri. Sunday wrapped up the first full weekend of recreational marijuana sales. An amendment allowing for recreational sales in Missouri passed in November 2022, which paved a way for dispensaries to open across our area. Several...

EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. — A man is dead after a Saturday double shooting in East St. Louis. According to Illinois State Police, the shooting happened shortly after 2 p.m. in a vehicle at the intersection of 18th Street and Old Missouri Avenue in East St. Louis. 2 people...

ST. LOUIS — A double shooting left two women injured Monday morning in north St. Louis, according to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Officers received a call early Monday from a local hospital about a shooting that occurred at about 1 a.m. that morning. Two women, a 29-year-old and a 26-year-old, said they were in the parking lot of King Grill, located at 3741 St. Louis Ave., when they heard gunshots and felt pain in their legs.

ST. LOUIS — The City of St. Louis Department of Health will provide COVID-19 vaccines to anyone 5 years old and above at two locations in the next week. For individuals under 18 years old, a parent or guardian must be present to consent to the child receiving the vaccine.

ST. LOUIS — Valentine’s Day is for lovers, but Galentine’s Day is for girlfriends. Galentine’s Day, which falls on Valentine’s Eve, Feb. 13, originated on season two of the hit NBC sitcom “Parks and Recreation” in 2010. It’s a holiday devoted to celebrating and declaring love for female friendships and the women in your life over brunch.

ST. LOUIS — During Black History Month, 5 On Your Side is highlighting historic figures and sites across the St. Louis area. One nonprofit organization with roots in St. Louis is supporting the next generation of change-makers. Better Love Yourself is a nonprofit organization that awards first-year college students...

DEFIANCE, Mo. — A St. Peters man has died after a motorcycle crash in St. Charles County. The crash occurred shortly before 4:45 p.m. Monday at the intersection of Highway F and Defiance Road in Defiance, Missouri. A 2016 Harley Davidson Sportster 1200 was traveling eastbound on Highway F...

ST. LOUIS — Two critically endangered species recently moved between the Saint Louis Zoo and Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, Illinois. Twenty-six-year-old Jontu of the Saint Louis Zoo and 7-year-old Zachary of Brookfield Zoo, both western lowland gorillas, recently swapped homes for the conservation and survival of their species. Jontu's...

PARK HILLS, Mo. — This Valentine's Day is going to be one to remember for hundreds of Missouri seniors living in long-term care facilities. Residents will be getting a special gift that'll last a lifetime. Roses for Residents is an initiative based in Park Hills, Missouri. The project started...

ST. LOUIS — A teenager was fatally shot in the face Sunday evening in St. Louis, police investigators said. The fatal shooting happened shortly before 7:30 p.m. in the 800 block of O'Fallon Street, three blocks north of the Dome at America's Center in the city's Columbus Square neighborhood.

ST. LOUIS — St. Louis' tourism chief on Wednesday spelled out for the first time which elements of the downtown convention center expansion won't be completed without more funding. The comments from Kitty Ratcliffe, president of Explore St. Louis, came during a Board of Aldermen Convention and Tourism Committee...

FERGUSON, Mo. — Detectives with the St. Louis County Police Department's Bureau of Crimes Against Persons are investigating a man's death in Ferguson. According to St. Louis County Police Department, officers with the Ferguson Police Department responded to a welfare check call shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday in the 100 block of North Marguerite Avenue.

ST CHARLES, Mo. — In the St. Louis area, many kids grow up with dreams of hitting the ball at Busch Stadium for the Cardinals. Francis Howell North's Ritu Singh has similar dreams of crushing the ball. It's just that her choice of ball and bat look a bit different than those at Busch Stadium.

ST. LOUIS — Immersed in beauty, Douglas Feltch surrounds himself with his partner's favorite flowers. On Monday morning, Feltch walks through a room full of colorful orchids at the Missouri Botanical Garden. "Oh my, you are so beautiful," Feltch said as he was gazing at flowers. Feltch said he...

ST. LOUIS — A suspect has been charged in the killings of a 60-year-man and a 3-year-old girl earlier this week in St. Louis. The St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office on Saturday charged Henry Hughes, 55, of St. Louis with two counts of first-degree murder, armed criminal action, first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary and unlawful possession of a firearm by a dangerous felon.

ST. LOUIS — Automakers whose vehicles have been targeted by thieves inspired by social media challenges confirm to the 5 On Your Side I-Team that they are testing software upgrades that could stop their cars from being stolen and intend to provide them to drivers at no cost. Both...

ST. LOUIS — A Spire employee was struck by a fleeing car early Wednesday morning in south St. Louis. The St. Louis County Police Department said officers with the Affton Southwest Precinct responded to a report of tampering just after 6 a.m. in the 8000 block of Wynwood Drive. A witness told officers a black SUV pulling a trailer took the motorcycle.

ST. LOUIS — A St. Louis man already charged with a carjacking in August was indicted Wednesday on charges in connection to a fatal July carjacking in St. Louis County. The indictment alleges Loyse Dozier, 20, fired a gun during the deadly carjacking of a 2014 Mercedes sedan on July 10 at a market in the 300 block of Chambers Road in Riverview, according to U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Missouri Sayler Fleming's office.