St. Louis Co. ballot to include proposal to block stadium funds

CLAYTON, Mo. -- St. Louis County voters will decide in November a ballot proposal designed to prohibit the county from helping to fund the new downtown ballpark for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Stadium opponents turned in enough signatures to guarantee a charter amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot aimed at preventing the county from spending public money on the new Busch Stadium, already under construction adjacent to the current ballpark and scheduled to open in 2006. Election officials certified the validity of the signatures on Wednesday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

The amendment would call into question the county's ability to pay off $46 million in bonds it sold in December to help pay for the stadium. The St. Louis County Council unanimously approved the issuance of bonds.

More troubles at Wrigley

City officials ordered a new round of inspections at Wrigley Field on Thursday and threatened to block Monday night's game if the team can't prove the ballpark is safe.

Buildings Commissioner Stan Kaderbek said he ordered the review after a reporter noted during an interview Wednesday that some repairs at the ballpark were "shoddy."

-- From wire reports