Good morning! Here's a look at the headlines:
- Beer mad at baseball? It hardly seems possible. But Anheuser-Busch sued Major League Baseball last month on the grounds that the sports organization violated a sponsorship contract. Today, MLB responded and made some of it's own claims against Anheuser-Busch.
- Smoking and gambling can continue to coexist at the Harrah's casino in Maryland Heights. By a 4-3 vote the St. Louis County council tentatively agreed last night to give two lounges in the casino an exemption from the county's smoking ban that takes effect Jan. 2. Harrah's serves only drinks in its VooDoo Lounge and a piano bar. They would qualify for an exemption under the ban, but the Missouri Gaming Commission licenses alcohol sales in the casino, not the county. The ban says only bars licensed by the county can get an exemption. A final vote will be held at a later date.
- Another person involved in the ongoing St. Louis towing scandal will be sentenced today. Kevin Shade is a former St. Louis detective who pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Shade accepted bribes as a police officer to falsify inspection records for vehicles that were impounded by St. Louis Metropolitan Towing, so they could fetch a higher price when resold through the company's affiliated businesses.
