🌱 STL Zoo Vs. Guns Rights Activist + Metro Driver Shot, Crashed

Good morning, St. Louis! Let's get this day started. Here are the most important things going on today in St. Louis.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny; breezy, cooler. High: 41 Low: 23.

Here are the top stories today in St. Louis:

1. While the St. Louis Zoo appears to have succeeded in officially becoming a "gun-free zone," its years-long legal fight with a gun rights activist isn't yet over. The zoo is pursuing a portion of the estimated $150,000 in attorneys fees billed to taxpayers spent defending the zoo's gun ban in court. A lawyer for suburban Cincinnati resident Jeffry Smith, who challenged the firearms ban, is criticizing the push for fees. (STLtoday.com)
2. The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis is now investigating a Friday night shooting of a Metro bus driver who was shot while driving the bus, causing the bus to crash into a utility pole. The driver is in the hospital in critical condition. (fox2now.com)
3. The CDC has confirmed the first case of the omicron coronavirus variant in St. Louis City. (KMOV.com)
4. The City of St. Louis filed a lawsuit Friday asking a judge to strike down a bill that passed in May bolstering protections for police under investigation for misconduct. (St. Louis Public Radio)
5. It’s been 227 days since the last measurable snowfall in the St. Louis area — can residents expect a "white Christmas" this year? (fox2now.com)

Today's St. Louis Daily is brought to you in part by Newrez, a leading nationwide mortgage lender. Make a smart move for your future and refinance with Newrez today. Call 844-979-1707 to connect with a Newrez loan officer. Newrez, LLC (NMLS #3013)

Today in St. Louis:

• Holiday Brass Concerts - Teaching and Learning (12:00 AM)
• Storytime at the Library - Richmond Heights Memorial Library (10:00 AM)
• Whole School Meeting - Collegiate School of Medicine & Bioscience (11:00 AM)
• Monday Matinees at Buder: Classic Holiday Films (1:30 PM)
• Holiday Card Workshop with The Firecracker Press (4:00 PM)

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Featured businesses:

• Add your business here

Events:

• Cigna + Oscar 2022 St. Louis Launch (December 9)
• Add your event

Thanks for following along and staying informed! See you tomorrow morning for your next update. If you're enjoying these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Helen Eckhard

About me: Helen Eckhard is a marketing assistant at Lightning Media Partners. She is a self-professed logophile who is currently pursuing her master’s degree in library science. Outside of work, you can find Helen constructing crossword puzzles, knitting, or devising increasingly crafty ways to kill off characters in her mystery novels.