As lawmakers circle around a possible compromise on the local control legislation in the Missouri Capitol today, St. Louis' Mayor Francis Slay shared some of his thoughts on the possible ramifications.

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A Missouri appeals court has ruled that  a class-action lawsuit stemming from 2008 flash floods that killed two people and severely damaged more than 100 houses in University City can go forward.

The lawsuit alleges that the Metropolitan Sewer District's failure to maintain the River Des Peres  made it impossible for the system to handle what amounted to predictable heavy rain. The floods were the result of the remnants of Hurricane Ike.

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. announced today that St. Louis has been awarded a $4 million federal grant for public transportation upgrades.

The money will be provided jointly by the Department of Transportation and the Federal Transit Administration, according to a press release from McCaskill's office. 

So, how will St. Louis use the money?

The release states that the grants will be used to aid in the replacement of up to 12 buses in the Metro's current bus fleet.

The latest update in the Coleman trial announces that a jury has been seated.

The 12-member panel selected Tuesday includes 10 women and two men, along with four male alternates. Starting next week, they'll hear opening statements and testimony in the case against Christopher Coleman.

Jurors were chosen in Perry County and will be brought to Monroe County, where Coleman has pleaded not guilty in the May 2009 killings at the family's Columbia home.

Peabody Energy Corp. says its profit rose in the first quarter due to higher prices for Australian coal used in steelmaking and increased demand in the U.S.

The world's biggest private-sector coal company says its net income attributable to common shareholders was $176.5 million, or 65 cents per share, in the January-March period. That's up from $133.7 million, or 50 cents, a year earlier.

St. Louis-based Peabody says first-quarter revenue rose 15 percent to $1.74 billion from $1.51 billion the previous year.

Green Sales Tax Holiday Begins in Missouri

The Third Annual Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday begins today and runs through April 25. Those wishing to purchase new Energy Star-qualified appliances in Missouri during the holiday will save at least 4.225 percent off the purchase, representing the elimination of the state's sales tax from the purchase, according to the Missouri Department of Revenue.

A compromise has been announced between supporters and opponents of Proposition B on a new proposal to overhaul dog-breeding regulations passed by Missouri voters last year.

The agreement would remove the 50-dog limit, allowing breeders to have as many dogs as they want.

With less than a month to go in this year’s legislative session, another proposal is being made to overhaul Missouri’s tax structure.

The resolution would replace the state’s income tax with a sales tax -- and if passed by lawmakers, it would go before Missouri voters next year.

"The last elected GOP official has left the building.”

That's how Aldermen Fred Heitert concluded his remarks at the St. Louis Board of Aldermen this morning as his colleagues paid tribute to his 32 years of service.

Heitert was one of two incumbents to lose re-election bids this cycle.

He was the longest-serving member of the current board, and was ousted six years short of having the longest aldermanic career.

His colleagues who rose in tribute spoke of his wisdom, and the fact that he always paid attention.