Monica Obradovic
@monicaobradovic.bsky.social
Education reporter covering St. Louis and St. Charles counties for @stltoday.com
Division 26 staff in the St. Louis circuit court want you to "enjoy your stay" 😊
September 15, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Division 26 staff in the St. Louis circuit court want you to "enjoy your stay" 😊
Just when St. Charles thought their school boards would calm down... The House passed a bill that will move school board elections in the county from April to November. Candidates will now have the option to declare party affiliation on ballots.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...
www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...
Lawmakers agree to move St. Charles County school elections to November
The measure, which will go into effect in the 2028 election cycle, is aimed at boosting turnout, but opponents countered that it will introduce partisanship into races for school boards.
www.stltoday.com
May 15, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Just when St. Charles thought their school boards would calm down... The House passed a bill that will move school board elections in the county from April to November. Candidates will now have the option to declare party affiliation on ballots.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...
www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...
A year after the tornado, only a few hundred St. Louis homes are being repaired, by @ahuguelet.bsky.social and @kirkman.bsky.social
www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...
www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...
A year after the tornado, only a few hundred St. Louis homes are being repaired
Of the nearly 5,000 occupied homes and businesses seriously damaged, about 330 — one in 15 — have seen a building permit filed for fixes.
www.stltoday.com
May 14, 2026 at 4:32 PM
A year after the tornado, only a few hundred St. Louis homes are being repaired, by @ahuguelet.bsky.social and @kirkman.bsky.social
www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...
www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...
Reposted by Monica Obradovic
Reposted by Monica Obradovic
Just really excellent accountability reporting from my @stltoday.com colleagues @monicaobradovic.bsky.social & @katiekull1.bsky.social www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...
Businessman is first, and so far only, donor to St. Louis police chief's UMSL job
Emerson, the Clayton-based technology and automation company, said it also plans to help in coming weeks.
www.stltoday.com
April 20, 2026 at 3:18 PM
Just really excellent accountability reporting from my @stltoday.com colleagues @monicaobradovic.bsky.social & @katiekull1.bsky.social www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...
"Elisabeth Bennett said, 'I really love my sleep but I love my community more. And that's why I'm still here at 4 a.m.'"
I wonder if she also loves long walks.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...
I wonder if she also loves long walks.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...
Data center opponents speak for 10 hours at Franklin County meeting that ends at 4:39 a.m.
No votes were taken and the three items in front of the commission will come back at a future meeting.
www.stltoday.com
March 18, 2026 at 7:24 PM
"Elisabeth Bennett said, 'I really love my sleep but I love my community more. And that's why I'm still here at 4 a.m.'"
I wonder if she also loves long walks.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...
I wonder if she also loves long walks.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...
Gotta represent
March 3, 2026 at 5:03 PM
Gotta represent
Breaking exclusive: Federal officials are calling for sweeping reforms at the Special School District of St. Louis County after an investigation concluded the district restrained or secluded students at alarming rates.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/e...
www.stltoday.com/news/local/e...
DOJ orders reforms at Special School District over 'dangerous' use of seclusion, restraint
Federal officials are calling for sweeping reforms at the Special School District of St. Louis County.
www.stltoday.com
February 23, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Breaking exclusive: Federal officials are calling for sweeping reforms at the Special School District of St. Louis County after an investigation concluded the district restrained or secluded students at alarming rates.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/e...
www.stltoday.com/news/local/e...
A great read from intern Natanya Friedheim this morning with photos from Liz Rymarev 💪
www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...
www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...
Inside Missouri's prison nursery, some women finally find the help they need
Feb. 1 marked the one-year anniversary of Missouri’s only prison nursery program at the state lockup for women in Vandalia.
www.stltoday.com
February 20, 2026 at 5:07 PM
A great read from intern Natanya Friedheim this morning with photos from Liz Rymarev 💪
www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...
www.stltoday.com/news/local/c...
Just got rickrolled at Missouri School for the Blind
February 18, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Just got rickrolled at Missouri School for the Blind
Only at the south St. Louis YMCA will you hear a man ranting about a sinkhole to an alderperson across the gym as he rides an elliptical and she a stair master at 9:45 p.m. on a Monday.
February 3, 2026 at 4:12 AM
Only at the south St. Louis YMCA will you hear a man ranting about a sinkhole to an alderperson across the gym as he rides an elliptical and she a stair master at 9:45 p.m. on a Monday.
Reposted by Monica Obradovic
Chief Robert Tracy's $100,000 contract with UMSL, which @stltoday.com obtained through a public records request, stipulates his compensation is contingent on "funding availability from external gift or grants." It's not clear what the external source would be. From @monicaobradovic.bsky.social
St. Louis police chief to earn $100,000 a year from UMSL consultant job
The amount offsets the loss of private donations that supplemented Tracy's salary since he came to St. Louis from Delaware three years ago.
www.stltoday.com
January 7, 2026 at 9:50 PM
Chief Robert Tracy's $100,000 contract with UMSL, which @stltoday.com obtained through a public records request, stipulates his compensation is contingent on "funding availability from external gift or grants." It's not clear what the external source would be. From @monicaobradovic.bsky.social
Public schools bore the brunt of St. Louis County's senior tax freeze. Across the county, school districts will receive $19.6 million less in revenue this year. That amount is more than half of the total $30 million seniors saved in the first year of the tax break.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/e...
www.stltoday.com/news/local/e...
St. Louis County senior tax freeze will cost public schools millions of dollars
The freeze comes as many area school districts grapple with budget shortfalls amid rising supply prices, higher healthcare and staffing costs, declining enrollments and the end of pandemic relief fund...
www.stltoday.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Public schools bore the brunt of St. Louis County's senior tax freeze. Across the county, school districts will receive $19.6 million less in revenue this year. That amount is more than half of the total $30 million seniors saved in the first year of the tax break.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/e...
www.stltoday.com/news/local/e...
This graphic in a Riverview Gardens budget presentation oh my god
November 10, 2025 at 4:55 PM
This graphic in a Riverview Gardens budget presentation oh my god
Reposted by Monica Obradovic
Rents across the #STL region are soaring, but nowhere more than neighborhoods that have become targets of real estate investors.
Four of the ZIP codes with the top increases in rent since 2023 are in a swath of North County from the airport to the Mississippi.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...
Four of the ZIP codes with the top increases in rent since 2023 are in a swath of North County from the airport to the Mississippi.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...
Rents soar across St. Louis region, especially where investors buy homes
Rents across the region are soaring, but nowhere more so than neighborhoods that have become the targets of real estate investors.
www.stltoday.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Rents across the #STL region are soaring, but nowhere more than neighborhoods that have become targets of real estate investors.
Four of the ZIP codes with the top increases in rent since 2023 are in a swath of North County from the airport to the Mississippi.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...
Four of the ZIP codes with the top increases in rent since 2023 are in a swath of North County from the airport to the Mississippi.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...
Reposted by Monica Obradovic
To understand the Trump administration’s vision for American education, @megomatz.bsky.social and I studied dozens of hours of political appointees’ speeches and podcasts and essays. What emerged is a desire to dismantle the nation’s system of public schools.
These Activists Want to Dismantle Public Schools. Now They Run the Education Department.
Under Trump, the Department of Education has been bringing in activists hostile to public schools. It could mean a new era of private and religious schools boosted by tax dollars — and the end of publ...
www.propublica.org
October 9, 2025 at 2:37 AM
To understand the Trump administration’s vision for American education, @megomatz.bsky.social and I studied dozens of hours of political appointees’ speeches and podcasts and essays. What emerged is a desire to dismantle the nation’s system of public schools.
A new record for expired tags in STL
October 5, 2025 at 10:10 PM
A new record for expired tags in STL
U.S. congressman Bob Onder and Missouri state Sens. Nick Schroer and Adam Schnelting are working with a conservative PAC to give Francis Howell high schoolers $1,000 to set up Turning Point USA chapters
www.stltoday.com/news/local/e...
www.stltoday.com/news/local/e...
Francis Howell students offered $1,000 to start Turning Point chapters after Kirk's death
A U.S. congressman and two state senators are offering a $1,000 gift to Francis Howell School District high schoolers to set up Turning Point USA chapters.
www.stltoday.com
September 21, 2025 at 9:13 PM
U.S. congressman Bob Onder and Missouri state Sens. Nick Schroer and Adam Schnelting are working with a conservative PAC to give Francis Howell high schoolers $1,000 to set up Turning Point USA chapters
www.stltoday.com/news/local/e...
www.stltoday.com/news/local/e...
Reposted by Monica Obradovic
The Dunklin School District said the employee's comment on her personal Facebook account did "not align with the mission of our district."
Jefferson County school aide resigns over comment celebrating death of Charlie Kirk
The Dunklin School District said the employee's comment on her personal Facebook account did "not align with the mission of our district."
www.stltoday.com
September 15, 2025 at 8:49 PM
The Dunklin School District said the employee's comment on her personal Facebook account did "not align with the mission of our district."
I talked to over a dozen students in St. Louis about what school has been like under Missouri's cell phone ban. To my surprise, a lot of them are enjoying phone-free days.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/e...
www.stltoday.com/news/local/e...
Missouri school cellphone ban: Fewer fights, less anxiety, more 'boredom' for students
Missouri educators report more social interaction. Students play games or read books instead of scrolling on social media. And handwritten notes are back.
www.stltoday.com
September 15, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I talked to over a dozen students in St. Louis about what school has been like under Missouri's cell phone ban. To my surprise, a lot of them are enjoying phone-free days.
www.stltoday.com/news/local/e...
www.stltoday.com/news/local/e...
Me: flips a light switch on
Ameren: 🫴🏻 that’ll be $5 🫴🏻
Ameren: 🫴🏻 that’ll be $5 🫴🏻
August 28, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Me: flips a light switch on
Ameren: 🫴🏻 that’ll be $5 🫴🏻
Ameren: 🫴🏻 that’ll be $5 🫴🏻
Reposted by Monica Obradovic
NEW @chronicle.com: I sat down with the chancellors of Vanderbilt and WashU to talk about how they believe #HigherEd should respond to Trumpism, and the pushback that stance has gotten from their peers. #AcademicSky
Two Chancellors Push Back Against Claims They’re Dividing the Sector Amid Trump Threats
They argue that this is a moment of structural change for higher ed’s relationship with the government.
www.chronicle.com
August 21, 2025 at 3:41 PM
NEW @chronicle.com: I sat down with the chancellors of Vanderbilt and WashU to talk about how they believe #HigherEd should respond to Trumpism, and the pushback that stance has gotten from their peers. #AcademicSky
The first day of classes was not without glitches. Dozens of buses were delayed up to an hour or longer. Several students showed up to schools not knowing they were closed due to tornado damage. None of the school buses appeared to be even half-full.
stltoday.com/news/local/e...
stltoday.com/news/local/e...
Plenty of buses for fewer students on first day of classes in St. Louis Public Schools
Expectations are high for new transportation provider Zum Services after the chaos of last year with 19 different vendors including taxis.
stltoday.com
August 18, 2025 at 6:07 PM
The first day of classes was not without glitches. Dozens of buses were delayed up to an hour or longer. Several students showed up to schools not knowing they were closed due to tornado damage. None of the school buses appeared to be even half-full.
stltoday.com/news/local/e...
stltoday.com/news/local/e...
