Bobby Taylor, beloved rock drummer, dies at 58 after cancer battle

Bobby Taylor, the St. Louis drummer behind multiple local rock bands including Rebel Train, has died at 58 after a five-year cancer battle . Taylor's wife, Jami Taylor, announced his death in a Facebook post on Nov. 5. "Love is… knowing when to let go," she wrote. "Rest in peace, my sweet beautiful husband. You don't have to fight or suffer anymore. Fly high, my love. We WILL be together again one day." Bobby Taylor was the drummer behind many St. Louis groups, including the Whitesnake tribute band Slide It In, Ragdoll 2.0, Mean Street, Fallen Angel, Pyromaniacs and Foreplay, according to St. Louis Today . Taylor, who was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in 2021, detailed his stage four cancer diagnosis on the St. Louis podcast "The End is Near so, Let’s Drink Beer" in November 2025. Squamous cell carcinoma is commonly known as a type of skin cancer, but SCC can also form in the lung, mouth and throat, anus or other organs, according to the Cleveland Clinic . "I had a lump under my jaw. And then they turned into other lumps and then it got into the lungs. And then I've done radiation five times I've

Mary Engelbreit, whose illustrations touched on cuteness and protest, donates work to WashU

For years, Mary Engelbreit's work was defined by cheery, bright colors of "children and butterflies." But when Michael Brown Jr. was killed by a police officer in 2014, she felt a call to be more political in her work. "I didn't really care if I lost followers at that point,"...

Saint Louis Zoo welcomes first Przewalski horse foal

The Saint Louis Zoo Wildcare Park welcomed its first Przewalksi horse foal, Aylin, marking a significant milestone in the conservation of the species.

This Former Missouri Library Is Now A Record Shop Where You Can Flip Through The Albums You Grew Up With

The old library shelves are long gone, but the stacks are still here. Only now they hold LPs, 45s, 8-tracks, and cassettes instead of books. This 1961 mid-century modern building once served readers as a public library branch. Today it’s a used record store packed from floor to ceiling.

FoodieLand, massive food festival, coming to St. Louis region next year

FoodieLand, a massive food festival featuring hundreds of vendors, is coming to the St. Louis region next summer.

Route 66 Turns 100, and St. Louis Is Suddenly Packed With World Travelers

St. Louis is having a moment as Route 66 marks its 100th birthday this week, with the Gateway Arch, a 97-year-old frozen custard stand, and a sprawling transportation museum all reporting a noticeable uptick in visitors from around the globe. The Mother Road, which stretched from Chicago to Santa Monica and once cut straight through downtown St. Louis, is pulling international travelers to the city's most iconic stops even without a single confirmed visitor count yet on the books.

Kay Weber on Belleville’s 46th Annual Thanksgiving Art and Craft Fair

WonderLight’s Christmas in St. Louis Returns

MADISON, Ill. – A Christmas tradition and fan-favorite is returning soon to the Gateway City this holiday season. WonderLight Productions announced the return of WonderLight’s Christmas in St. Louis. From Nov. 13 to Jan. 3, 2027, visitors will once again be immersed in a dazzling holiday display right on the World Wide Technology Raceway. The […]

Meet the photographer who captured the human spirit after devastating St. Louis tornado

More than a year after the powerful tornado ripped through the area leaving destruction, heartbreak, and loss in its wake, Sprengeler is sharing the stories behind the images he captured that continue to move him deeply.

St. Louis Couple Turn Lucas Avenue Building Into Soil & Oil Art Space

Doug and Kirsten Weaver spent the summer sanding floors in 100-degree heat inside a building on Lucas Avenue, turning the second-floor space above a beauty supply store into something downtown St. Louis didn't quite have yet: an art gallery built around the idea that creative space shouldn't cost artists money they don't have. They're calling it Soil & Oil.

SLIFF documentary gives Black Vietnam veterans the chance to tell their own story

A conversation in the waiting area of a South County Costco laid the foundation for what became Brothers in Blood: Black in Vietnam. Filmmaker Joseph Puleo was waiting on repairs in September 2022. So was Vietnam veteran Edward Drew. They talked for more than an hour. Drew shared stories about serving in Vietnam as a Black soldier.

Adam Pearson on St. Louis’ Code Blue outreach

In this episode of The 314 Podcast, host Sarah Fenske talks with Adam Pearson. The director of the Human Services Department for the City of St. Louis last year launched the Code Blue operation, which works proactively to bring homeless people into shelter when temperatures drop below freezing. He discusses what they learned last year and what’s on his mind as we head into another winter. And speaking of winter, SLM staff writer Ryan Krull shares how the city is preparing to navigate a new complication this winter: miles of traffic-calming infrastructure that snow plows will have to avoid—or risk damage to themselves and the streetscape. Listen and follow The 314 Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever podcasts are available.

Saving the Spiral: the old Famous Barr parking garage

Though the garage, completed in 1962, is slated for demolition, one iconic portion of it may be worth saving, according to designers at the world-renowned, St. Louis-based, design and architectural firm HOK.

Sauget’s historic Statue of Liberty replica stands tall once again

After major repairs, a century-old Statue of Liberty replica is standing tall once again in Sauget, Illinois.

Anagnorisis ‘Caregriever’ LP Out Now Plus Announced Midwest Tour

Louisville, Kentucky-based black metal crew ANAGNORISIS announces a Midwest tour of the US in December, supporting their acclaimed fourth LP, Caregriever, which is out now. Beginning December 8th, the Seasonal Depression Tour will see ANAGNORISIS delivering the material from Caregriever to audiences in Memphis, Nashville, St. Louis, Davenport, and Indianapolis, ending with the band’s first hometown show in a decade on December 13th. ANAGNORISIS will be joined by Plaguewielder on all dates.

Your guide to holiday events around St. Louis

ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - With the start of winter and the excitement of multiple holidays approaching soon, here is where you can enjoy all that the St. Louis Metro has to offer. Cardinals. The St. Louis Cardinals are bringing back their Holiday Season Opener, where fans can...

Step into a Storybook Christmas on This 200-Year-Old Missouri Main Street

With apologies to Nat King Cole, Jack Frost might not actually be nipping at your nose in St. Charles, Missouri—but you can run into him dashing down Main Street amidst revelers at the Saint Charles Christmas Traditions festival, celebrating its 52nd season in 2026. Just 30 minutes northwest of...

Micky Dolenz bringing 60 years of Monkees hits to St. Charles

Fans of classic pop music will get a nostalgic trip back to the 1960s when Micky Dolenz brings his "Celebrating 60 Years of The Monkees" tour to The Family Arena in St. Charles.

New headstone placed on Civil War veteran’s grave

A new headstone was recently placed on the grave of a local man, William Barklage, who served with the eastern Missouri militia during the Civil War and was killed Sept. 10, 1863 in a skirmish with a band of Southern guerrillas, known as bushwhackers, west of Wright City. While attending...

The Black Rep turns 50 and brings down the house with ‘Tell Me Somethin’ Good’

Some anniversaries are marked with speeches, flowers and candles. The St. Louis Black Repertory Company is celebrating its 50th anniversary the way it knows best: with powerhouse vocals, legendary music and an evening guaranteed to have audiences singing along and dancing in their seats.