The St. Louis Board of Aldermen appears likely to meet an end-of-the-year deadline to pass a bond issue for the city’s parks, giving initial approval today to legislation that would issue $64 million in debt to fund major capital repairs at the more than 100 parks in the city limit.

Ameren Missouri says it plans to file a proposal early next year to resolve the controversy about the status of some homes and other buildings at the Lake of the Ozarks.

The lake is formed by a dam operated by Ameren. Some residents fear that structures built on land belonging to Ameren's hydroelectric project may have to be removed in light of a July decision by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Updated at 5:35 p.m. via the Associated Press, and at 5:42 with a quote from Brad Lager:

In a ripple effect from Kinder's announcement, St. Louis developer Chris McKee, who just announced his candidacy on Monday, has now announced that he is pulling out of the race for Lt. Gov. and instead will throw his support behind Kinder.

Republican state Sen. Brad Lager, of Savannah, also declared his candidacy for lieutenant governor Monday. Lager said Friday that he is still in the race but will re-evaluate that decision after he gets a chance to talk with Kinder.

The first segment of Illinois' firearm deer season is this weekend, and if you were planning on heading to Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton, Ill. for that purpose, you may want to make alternative plans.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources says that a wildfire has damaged 450 to 500 acres of timbered land in the area of Pere Marquette park usually open to hunting. No injuries or damage to permanent structures were reported.

Suspended Missouri football coach Gary Pinkel has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of drunken driving.

Boone County court records show that Pinkel was charged on Friday and pleaded guilty the same day. He was arrested in Columbia on Wednesday night and suspended without pay the next day for the final home game of the season.