🌱 Why Festus voters rejected their council’s AI data center plan
Festus, Missouri Patch AM: a 4 min readWhat's up Festus! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Why Festus voters rejected their council’s AI data center plan
- How Festus voters shook up city hall over a data center
- How did Mercy’s Festus maternity care earn national recognition?
Also on today's calendar: 1st Fridays at Turtle Cove and 5 more events.
Today's riddle: What is the difference between a nicely dressed man on a tricycle and a poorly dressed man on a bicycle? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Saturday: Mostly sunny and less humid, with a high of 79 and low of 51 degrees.
- Sunday: Pleasant with some sun, temps: high: 78, low: 61.
- Monday: Thunderstorms, some severe, with a high of 85 and low of 53 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. For Some City Councils, A Vote for Data Centers Means Getting Voted Out (ksstradio.com) — Festus voters just ousted four city council members who backed a proposed AI data center, signaling strong local concern over transparency and environmental impacts. The election fight mirrors similar pushback in Wisconsin and other states, as communities question whether water- and energy-hungry data centers deliver enough lasting benefits. 
2. Festus residents opposed a data center. Their effort became national news (stlpr.org) — Festus voters recently ousted every city council member who backed a controversial 360-acre data center project, but the development is still moving ahead for now. A local group, Wake Up JeffCo, has filed a lawsuit alleging open-meetings violations, while residents and reporters share how the fight over the Festus data center drew national attention.
3. Newsweek ranks 6 Mercy Hospitals among best for maternity (thetelegraph.com) — Families in Festus may be glad to know Mercy Hospital’s local maternity care just earned national recognition from Newsweek, alongside locations in St. Louis, Cape Girardeau, and Springfield. The rankings weighed quality metrics, patient experience, and professional reputation, highlighting Mercy’s overall approach to childbirth care across its Missouri hospitals.
4. Data Centers Used to Be Movie Set Pieces. Now They're the Villain (gizmodo.com) — Festus residents just ousted half the city council after members approved a controversial $6 billion data center project over public objections, and some are still pushing for the mayor’s removal. The story places Festus in a national wave of small towns resisting data centers over concerns about jobs, pollution, and utility impacts, highlighting how organized local pushback can reshape big-tech development plans.
📸 Around Festus
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🗓
Upcoming Events in
Festus
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
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CRCP Varsity Baseball @ St. Pius X
St Pius X High School, 1030 St Pius Dr #3746, Crystal City
6:30 pm
Tuesday April 28
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
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City Council Work Session
Festus, MO Calendar , 711 West Main Street City Council Chambers , Festus
5:30 pm -
City Council Meeting
Festus, MO Calendar , 711 West Main Street City Council Chambers , Festus
6:00 pm -
Mahjong
Festus, MO Calendar Festus, MO 63028
10:00 am -
Maddie
Festus, MO Calendar Festus, MO 63028
4:30 pm -
Storytime
Festus, MO Calendar Festus, MO 63028
9:30 am -
1st Fridays at Turtle Cove
Larry G. Crites Memorial Park , 2232-2292 Old State Hwy A , Festus
3:00 pm -
Food on the Move | Buren Chapel AME Church (Festus, MO)
321 S Adams St , Festus
5:00 pm
Monday April 27
Tuesday April 28
Wednesday April 29
Thursday April 30
Friday May 1
📣 Festus Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
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MMWA Pro Wrestling Amvets Herculaneum Sat April 25th FOR PRIDE AND GLORY
Amvets Post 42 , 555 Joachim Ave , Herculaneum
7:00 pm -
Fredericktown JV Baseball @ Herculaneum
Herculaneum High School , 1 Black Cat Dr , Herculaneum
4:30 pm -
Fredericktown at Herculaneum
Herculaneum High School , 1 Black Cat Dr , Herculaneum
4:30 pm -
Bayless Varsity Baseball @ Herculaneum
Herculaneum High School , 1 Black Cat Dr , Herculaneum
4:30 pm
Saturday April 25
Wednesday April 29
Thursday April 30
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Sonic Corporation posted a job opening for Assistant Manager in Festus. Apply here.
- Starbucks Corporation posted a job opening for shift supervisor - Store# 54866, I-55 & VETERANS BLVD - FESTUS in Festus. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Festus here.
Ok Festus! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A tire. (Thank you Joan B. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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