Chris McDaniel

The running tab for tickets, meals, drinks and other lobbyist gifts hasn't slowed. In just three months this year, lobbyists spent more than $450,000 on legislators in Jefferson City.

Explore the Numbers

The St. Louis Zoo showcased new plans for the 13 and a half acre expansion on the southern side of interstate 64.

The plans aren’t set in stone, and the zoo is still asking for public opinion.

But it outlines a framework of where the zoo could go in the next 20 years – adding exhibits, a hotel, an upscale restaurant.

Ed Uhlir is a consultant on the expansion project, and says moving parking and adding a way for visitors to cross the interstate has to be the first move.

In the interest of complete transparency, we thought we would pull back the curtain and explain the methodology behind this project and the data.

We receive the data from the Missouri Ethics Commission. The MEC receives the data from lobbyists who report the expenses, and the data is sent to legislators and statewide officials before it's made public. The data is made public at the beginning of the month for two months prior -- so we get March's numbers on May 1st, and we'll get April's numbers on June 1st.

A judge has expunged the arrest record of a former executive director of the Missouri Democratic Party.

An order Friday by St. Louis Circuit Judge Robert Dierker says the arrest of Matthew Teter following a domestic incident was based on false information. The order also says there's no probable cause to believe he committed an offense and that no charges will be pursued.

Teter said he was forced out of his job at the Democratic Party in February 2012 after the arrest.