Monica Obradovic

2 days ago | stltoday.com | Monica Obradovic

ST. LOUIS — Decorated gymnast Simone Biles is often referred to as the “GOAT,” an acronym for “greatest of all time.” But Biles encouraged Washington University students to strive for something different on Monday — to instead be the GYOAT, or the “greatest you of all time.” “You don’t have to be the greatest engineer, the greatest lawyer, the greatest entrepreneur or the greatest social worker,” Biles said.

5 days ago | stltoday.com | Monica Obradovic

ST. PETERS — The new Francis Howell North high school opened this August amid much anticipation. The school, built to replace Francis Howell North’s previous 40-year-old building, includes a robotics lab, an e-sports room, a broadcast studio and a two-story fieldhouse large enough for 2,000 people. But soon after the school year started, a noxious odor started to affect students and staff in parts of the building. Students said it smelled like “rotten eggs.” Some described it as sewage.

6 days ago | stltoday.com | Monica Obradovic

TOWN AND COUNTRY — Maryville University is planning a significant investment in technology as part of its “bold vision for the future of higher education” amid declining enrollments. A preliminary document obtained by the Post-Dispatch shows Maryville is seeking to issue bonds to raise $20.5 million to infuse artificial intelligence, or AI, into recruitment and the classroom.

1 week ago | stltoday.com | Monica Obradovic

ST. LOUIS COUNTY — A late-night senior prank at Normandy High School that damaged school property may result in charges for those involved. Part of the prank was captured on video and reached around 88,000 views on Facebook by Tuesday afternoon. It showed at least three people inside the high school, talking about “breaking the metal detectors” and spraying an aerosolized substance on the school’s windows. The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. Monday. Det.

1 week ago | stltoday.com | Monica Obradovic

EDWARDSVILLE — Three years ago, Vy Nguyen’s college search was mostly centered around money. College tuition would cost Nguyen, a native of Vietnam, two to three times more than domestic students. She’d have limited work or financial aid options to pay the tuition under the terms of her visa. And she didn’t want to burden her family back home. Nguyen said she considered universities in North Dakota and Florida. But they were expensive.