Region briefs 6/28/04

Ex-SEMO president leaves college for prep school

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- The chancellor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is leaving to become headmaster at a private boarding school. Bill Stacy announced Saturday he will be taking the top spot at Baylor School, after 8 years at UTC. Stacy previously served as president at Southeast Missouri State University from 1979 to 1989. "'I'm thrilled about the opportunity,'' Stacy said. ''UTC is in great shape; they're a great group of people, and they'll do very well.'' Incoming University of Tennessee president John Petersen said he would name an interim chancellor and begin a search process to find Stacy's successor.

St. Louis transit agency may take over extension

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis area's public transportation agency is threatening to fire the group of contractors in charge of a new light-rail extension. If it follows through on that threat, Metro might have to take more responsibility for managing the $550 million project. Metro administers the buses and MetroLink light-rail system in Missouri and Illinois. The agency has been struggling financially, reducing its ability to absorb any cost overruns. A 20 percent fare increase goes into effect today, and Metro has said it will seek a tax increase in 2006. The construction group, Cross Country Collaborative, consists of four engineering companies responsible for the design and construction of the extension: Parsons, Brinckerhoff, Quade and Douglas Inc.; STV Inc.; Jacobs Civil Inc.; and Kwame Building Group Inc.

-- From wire reports