Good morning, neighbors. We hope you had a restful weekend. Today, we are tracking a historic World Cup run with deep local roots, a major downtown traffic detour, a water safety update from the county, and the week ahead for the Cardinals.
⚽ World Cup: The Dragons Begin Group Stage After Massive STL Send-Off
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially underway, and the St. Louis community has its eyes locked on the Bosnia and Herzegovina National Team.
Before flying out to their tournament opener, "The Dragons" spent a week training right here in town, culminating in a packed, high-energy friendly match against Panama at Energizer Park. St. Louis is home to an estimated 60,000 to 70,000 Bosnians—the largest community in the Americas—and the neighborhood send-off was nothing short of spectacular, with flags flying across Bevo Mill and South City.
The Opening Match: On Friday afternoon, Bosnia and Herzegovina officially kicked off Group B action against tournament co-hosts Canada in Toronto. It was an absolute battle on the pitch:
The Dragons struck first in the 21st minute with a spectacular header from Jovo Lukić, assisted by Sead Kolašinac.
The defense held tough until the 78th minute when Canada managed an equalizer, ending the match in a hard-fought 1-1 draw.
With their first tournament point secured, the squad moves on to face Switzerland this Thursday, June 18, in Los Angeles. Expect the local coffee shops and European markets around the Lou to be wall-to-wall with fans.
🚧 Downtown Detour: Sinkhole Shuts Down Major Highway Ramps
If your Monday morning commute takes you through the downtown core, you will want to adjust your route early. The City of St. Louis, along with MoDOT, is actively managing a large sinkhole that opened up near Interstate 44/70 and North Broadway.
While officials assure the public there is no safety threat outside the immediate zone, the street closures are extensive:
I-44 Westbound / I-70 Eastbound is shut down at Tucker Boulevard (access to the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge remains open).
I-44 Eastbound / I-55 Northbound is closed at the Poplar Street Bridge, including the ramps from I-64 Westbound.
South Broadway is fully closed at Cass Avenue.
The Fix: Commuters are being detoured west to Gravois Avenue, then north onto Tucker to rejoin I-70 Northbound. Give yourself an extra 15–20 minutes if you are heading into or through downtown today.
💧 County Health: Boil Advisory Lifted for Most Areas
Following an urgent boil water advisory issued over the weekend by Missouri American Water, utility crews have successfully completed system repairs. The advisory—which impacted thousands of residents across Clayton, Creve Coeur, and University City—was triggered by a sudden drop in water pressure.
Test results have come back clean, and normal water usage can resume. However, if your tap has been sitting idle, health officials recommend running your cold water for 1–2 minutes to clear the lines before drinking or cooking.
⚾ Civic & Sports: This Week in the Lou
Board of Aldermen
The full board met on Friday to push forward major bills, including upcoming water infrastructure funding and allocations regarding the Rams settlement funds. Note for your calendar: City offices will be closed this Friday, June 19, in observance of the Juneteenth holiday. The next full legislative session is moved up to Thursday, June 18.
On the Field: Cardinals Return Home
After a mixed road trip out East, the St. Louis Cardinals return to Busch Stadium tonight to kick off a three-game home stand against the San Diego Padres.
Tonight (6/15): vs. Padres @ 6:45 PM
Tuesday (6/16): vs. Padres @ 6:45 PM
Wednesday (6/17): vs. Padres @ 1:15 PM
Following the Padres series, the birds head across the state for an I-70 rivalry series against the Kansas City Royals starting Thursday night.
Have a great start to your week, and drive safely out there!