On April 21st, 2026, the St. Louis Board of Public Service voted unanimously to approve a conditional use permit for the midtown data center project. The conditional use permit includes requirements that the company must meet to address concerns raised by the community including noise, walkability, sustainability, and power and water use. Under the agreement, the data center would be operational by the end of 2028. St. Louis City claims the development would generate $432.3 million in tax revenue over 10 years. The approval comes after pushbacks from residents who opposed the project.

As of May 8th, three cruise ship passengers have died and at least five more people are sick with the Andes strain of hantavirus. Unlike other hantaviruses, the Andes virus can spread between people. Hantaviruses are rare but can be fatal. Health officials are working to contain the outbreak. The World Health Organization states that the risk to the public is low. At least 29 passengers from 12 countries left the cruise ship before the outbreak was confirmed, including passengers from the United States. State health officials are monitoring these individuals, and no symptoms have been reported at this time.