A new high-speed train connecting St. Louis and Chicago will provide students with an alternative way to travel. The railroad, which is currently under construction, should be complete sometime in 2014, according to officials involved in the project.

At the end of fall semester, I went with a couple of friends to a sandwich place called Blues City Deli in search of a soda made in my home state of North Carolina. We certainly enjoyed the Cheerwine, but as we left, we all realized we had been in the presence of something special. All of a sudden, questions filled my mind: How have I not been here before?

Job hunting can be the most stressful aspect of college, even if you’re just searching for part-time work to fill your résumé. St. Louis residents Peter and Louis McLaughlin created their own jobs: helping college students of St. Louis find employment. The McLaughlins’ online company, uBuckle.com, has already gained traction with local companies.

St. Louis, above all else, is a baseball town. The enthusiasm of the city is one of the things that has made the St. Louis Cardinals’ run through the playoffs and into the World Series so exciting. For Washington University students from different parts of the world, it has been easy to jump on the bandwagon as this team fought its way into the playoffs and past the competition. Here is a position-by-position breakdown of everything World Series.

St. Louis by the Dozen, a new program launched by the First Year Center this fall, aims to integrate Washington University freshmen into the greater St. Louis community. As part of the program, faculty members take groups of 12 freshmen to various attractions and public events around the city to familiarize the students with local culture and traditions.

MetroLink trains are not running on schedule this evening due to a medical emergency on an Eastbound train.

St. Louis boasts a variety of contemporary art galleries and museums. Though many Washington University students know of the Kemper Art Museum here on campus and Saint Louis Art Museum just up Art Hill, they may not be as privy to the art available a bit farther outside the bubble. As close as the Delmar Loop, or as far as downtown St. Louis, options are bountiful. Here are some of my favorite selections.

St. Louis has been the home city to a number of literature’s greatest talents, including Maya Angelou, Tennessee Williams and Nelly (lyricists totally count). But even with such famed writers from the area, most students don’t know about the literary scene of St. Louis.

A recent release of 2010 census data showed that the population in St. Louis City had decreased by about 8 percent over the past decade. The figures indicate a total population of 319,294 people, a near 30,000 person decrease from the 2000 census and a reduction by more than half since the 1950s.

While St. Louis might not be known for its nightlife, perhaps it will start to adopt some of Europe’s partying trends. We talked to some of our friends who are studying abroad this semester and compiled a list of a few popular overseas after-hours locations that may pave the way for more options right here in St. Louis.