OPEN THREAD: As we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and legacy, we ask what does King and his dream mean to you today?

Brenda Berry Simpson withdrew her name today as a candidate for 5th Ward alderman, clearing the way for another term for Alderwoman April Ford-Griffin.

Last year, we interviewed Alderwoman Griffin on her unique fashion sense. Watch the video below.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch today announced it was laying off 39 employees:

The layoffs include 14 in the newsroom. The other departments affected are operations, advertising and finance.

“While print and online audience remains strong and stable, we continue to feel the financial challenges from a decline in advertising revenue caused by the recession,” said Publisher Kevin Mowbray.

“Today’s workforce reduction is necessary and difficult for everyone, but we will continue to produce and deliver the most comprehensive news coverage to 1.2 million readers each week,” Mowbray said.

Iowa-based Lee Enterprises, which owns the Post-Dispatch and 48 other daily newspapers across the country, has been losing money and cutting jobs for over a year. The St. Louis Business Journal recently reported the company’s stock had dropped so low that it received a notice from the New York Stock Exchange that its stock had fallen below the exchange’s continued listing standard price and was nearing non-compliance with the NYSE’s market capitalization standard.

Wall Street appreciated Lee’s cuts today. The company’s stock rose almost 44%!

Sen. Kit Bond

It may be and end of an era in Missouri politics. Reports say the U.S. Senator and former governor Kit Bond may not be seeking re-election in 2010, leaving the door open for candidates from both sides in a campaign that starts… NOW!