u/Superdude717

I work at a metro paper and cover the city's surrounding suburb cities as the main part of my beat. Over the past year or so, it seems like the local officials' distrust of the media has skyrocketed. It was already bad for a long time, but now it's in overdrive.

Many elected officials refuse to talk to me or my fellow reporters anymore, and every city I cover, no matter how small, has hired a PR person to control access to staff. They refuse to answer basic questions, provide basic info and aid in my reporting at all. They prefer I say they have no comment in every story, no matter how controversial, rather than talk to me.

Recently, one mid-sized town has started kicking me out of city hall after public meetings so I can't ask the city council members questions. The first time, they escorted me out with police before even asking me to leave.

I've tried all the classic methods: I've tried to befriend the spox, asked officials out to coffee, etc. Nothing seems to work anymore.

Any advice on how to handle this?

I love Hasan and have been watching for years, but the streams and vods are becoming a bit exhausting. It seems like 90% of what Hasan covers anymore is Fox News or CNN or whoever talking about him. I get that hes at the height of his exposure, but it feels like there's a lot of other things he could be covering instead of regurgitating the same defenses and countering the same points over and over and over.

I live in St. Louis, voted for Cori, happily door knocked for her — but she was an abysmal candidate all around. People in the city genuinely dislike her, even progressives who largely share her opinions. If I had to describe to you the average Bush voter in STL right now, I don't think I could. There isn't one. There's just voters who are voting AGAINST Wesley Bell. And as we know from the establishment Dems, that's not a winning campaign strategy.

I'm disappointed to say the least. The Lou has real potential to be a source of progressive momentum. I hope that we can turn this ship around and the progressive powers that be (i.e. the national DSA) can find a real quality candidate in 2028 to throw their resources behind. This fruitless endeavor of continuing to clamor for Cori is just going to hurt our cause repeatedly in a city that could arguably be very important for the national movement.

There's plenty of local government progressives who could take up the mantle — Rasheen Aldridge and Meghan Green on the city council come to mind.

This is breaking my heart a little because I've had her for 16 years. She's my soulmate.

I took her to the vet a few days ago to get her checked out. All they did was give her some shots and draw blood. It stressed her out a lot but she took it like a champ. But ever since we got home, every time I come near her she runs and hides.

For 16 years she's been super comfortable with me, sleeping with me every night, etc. But her avoiding me has been happening for 6 days now, and something like this have never happened before. She's using her litterbox fine and eating and drinking fine, but if I stand up from my chair or walk in the room she bolts under a piece of furniture. She hasn't slept with me in those 6 days either.

What do I do to make her trust me again? This is so unusual and it's making me really sad.

I'm 22 and just moved to St. Louis. I graduates college 2 weeks ago and am starting a job here this week.

I don't know anyone in St. Louis and I'd like to start meeting people my own age. Where are some good places to go/things to get involved with where I can meet fellow young people?

Thanks!