The Associated Press

Updated 2:03 p.m. with link to full report

Updated 12:46 p.m. with information from report

Originally published 10:46 a.m.

The federal agency that oversees the National Weather Service says warning sirens and notifications went out well ahead of the devastating Joplin tornado. But it says residents didn't respond quickly enough to the sirens warning of the impending twister.

St. Louis County's assessor is assailing a board's decision to cut the assessed value of the county's two casinos in a move that will cost school, fire and other districts millions of dollars in tax revenue.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the county's Board of Equalization assessed the value of Harrah's casino in Maryland Heights at $152 million. That's down $288 million from the county's assessment of it May.

East St. Louis is proud to call late jazz great Miles Davis one of its own, but vandalism to his childhood home is striking a sour note with many in the struggling city.

KSDK-TV reports vandalism that has escalated in recent weeks has included nearly all of the aluminum siding being stripped away from the home. Windows also are broken and pipes have been taken.

Neighbor Mamie Page says the damage and disrespect "just disgusted me" and leaves her saddened.

Special legislative session may end unless consensus found in 2 days

Supporters and opponents of the scaled-down tax credit bill spent more than six hours Monday trying to make their respective cases to a Missouri House committee.  Senate leaders slashed $300 million  from the Aerotropolis proposal before passing it, and say that the Compete Missouri provision in the bill can more than make up for the deleted warehouse incentives. 

David Kerr, who heads the state's Economic Development department, testified in favor of the bill.

Gov. Pat Quinn has announced two business agreements between Chinese and American companies.

Quinn was in Beijing during an eight-day trade mission Monday.

He says China-based Goldwind plans to build a $200 million wind farm in Lee County in north-central Illinois. Construction on the Shady Oaks project begins this fall.