News Summary

• The government shutdown that began Oct. 1 has prompted furloughs that have rippled through the St. Louis area.
• The impact looms particularly large at Scott Air Force Base, one of the region’s largest employers, with about 13,000 workers.
• Since the shutdown began, Soulcial Kitchen has been offering free meals to service members and roughly 5,000 civilian employees of the base, “no questions asked,” owner John Michel says.
• Michel is working with the Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois to raise donations of essential supplies and money.