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.

Larry Arnowitz knew his campaign against Fred Heitert was a long-shot at best. After all, Heitert had served the 12th Ward on the city’s southwest side since 1979, winning eight elections as a Republican without the benefit of a Republican voting base. (He lost that in the 1981 redistricting, when the other Republican poached it.

But during his years as a city employee, Arnowitz got to meet Albert "Red" Villa, the longest-serving alderman in St. Louis history. He also served as a deputy sheriff at the pleasure of Red's son Tom, when Tom was the Board president. (The two will serve together on the board for the next two years. Tom is filling the seat of his nephew Matt, who resigned to focus on expanding Villa Lighting, the family business.)

Updated 1:45 p.m. April 28:

Via the Associated Press:

Fontbonne University announced Thursday that the "Three Cups of Tea" co-author won't deliver its May 21 commencement speech nor receive an honorary degree.

The school noted in a brief statement that it has been unable to reach Mortenson to discuss allegations raised in a recent "60 Minutes" investigation (see below for details). The CBS News program reported that the book is filled with inaccuracies and that Mortenson's charitable organization has taken credit for building schools that don't exist.

Faculty and student leaders at the private Catholic school also voted to rescind Mortenson's invitation. The author has become a celebrated humanitarian for his work establishing schools for girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk says exploring natural gas supplies in Illinois and making tax credits for renewable energy permanent could be ways to lower soaring gas prices.

Kirk told reporters Monday that federal officials need to research possibilities for harnessing natural gas from New Albany shale in the Illinois basin.

The Republican also says he'd like to see permits granted more quickly for off shore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico and reduce so-called small gasoline monopolies.