ST. LOUIS COUNTY > District dealing with traffic issues — Bayless School District officials say they are dealing with parents' concerns about traffic congestion in light of the district's decision to eliminate bus service this year. A project is planned that would move the drop-off and pickup areas for the elementary and intermediate schools behind those buildings, said John Stewart, chief financial officer. That could be complete in the next few months. The district also has hired four crossing guards, and police are directing traffic on Weber Road and other busy intersections at drop-off and pickup times. The district eliminated busing to and from school this year to save the district about $250,000. Administrators said the cut made sense because just 31 percent of students rode buses to school last year.

BRIDGETON > Deal is in works for city center — Talks will be under way soon to arrange for Lambert-St. Louis International Airport to occupy the abandoned Bridgeton city center about six months before St. Louis finishes paying for the building. Bridgeton officials want to relocate city government into a new facility at the end of this year, as planned, and St. Louis wants to start using the abandoned building for the airport police and other airport administration, Tom Haun, Bridgeton's administrative assistant, told the City Council on Wednesday. Haun said, and Deputy Airport Director Gerard Slay confirmed on Thursday, that St. Louis will be expected to pay only for utilities, maintenance and insurance at the old site during the interim arrangement. St. Louis cannot make the final $3.5 million payment for the building it bought for $12 million until June 20 due to "cash flow" issues, Slay said.