”Towing mess could cost Mokwa” led this morning’s front page of the Post-Dispatch.  Another major story, “Fire and gunfire rock Maplewood,” was played second-highest – a two-story and two-photo package that occupied most of the page.

One editor yesterday afternoon questioned that order, saying the Maplewood mayhem deserved top play.

Both were strong stories and either could have lead the page. We went with the towing story because we knew our reporting would offer readers more than other media had on the topic. Post-Dispatch reporters have been looking into the towing situation for more than three months. Investigative reporters Jeremy Kohler and Joe Mahr were ready to roll out many details when the Police Board hastily called a news conference last Friday to reveal its findings. Their stories led Saturday’s, Sunday’s and today’s front pages.

We hustled yesterday on the Maplewood shootings and produced a comprehensive report on that topic as well. But other media chased that story all day yesterday, and it dominated TV newscasts in all slots yesterday morning, afternoon and evening.