Adam Allington

A tax to generate funds to improve the Gateway Arch, as well regional parks and trails took a step forward in the St. Louis Board of Aldermen on Friday.

The so-called “Arch Tax” creates a 3/16th cent sales tax.  If approved by voters in St. Louis City and County the tax would raise $120 million for the Arch grounds.

It would also raise about $600 million for city and county parks as well as the Great Rivers Greenway park and trail district.

An internal audit of an organization providing children’s services in St. Louis County has turned up a list of serious problems.

The audit of the $81 million St. Louis County Children's Service Fund details questionable relationships between the fund’s former director and some of its consultants.

The fund’s former Director Kate Tansey abruptly left the job last October. 

The audit also details issues such as misuse of purchasing cards by several employees.

Ground was broken Thursday on the new Daniel Boone Bridge just west of Chesterfield.

The $111 million project will replace a 75-year-old span over the Missouri River and link St. Louis and St. Charles Counties.

MoDOT District Engineer Ed Hassinger says the bridge is the final project to make I-64 a true, interstate-quality, highway.

It seems like such a short time ago that you could run into Pokey LaFarge, aka Andrew Heissler, all over St. Louis, playing at the Tower Grove Farmers Market, or Off Broadway.

But, as with most good things, they can’t remain a secret forever, and 2012, was a big year for Pokey LaFarge. Our Adam Allington has more as part of our 'A Good Year 2012' series.