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With less than a month to go in this year’s legislative session, another proposal is being made to overhaul Missouri’s tax structure.

The resolution would replace the state’s income tax with a sales tax -- and if passed by lawmakers, it would go before Missouri voters next year.

"The last elected GOP official has left the building.”

That's how Aldermen Fred Heitert concluded his remarks at the St. Louis Board of Aldermen this morning as his colleagues paid tribute to his 32 years of service.

Heitert was one of two incumbents to lose re-election bids this cycle.

He was the longest-serving member of the current board, and was ousted six years short of having the longest aldermanic career.

His colleagues who rose in tribute spoke of his wisdom, and the fact that he always paid attention.

Larry Arnowitz knew his campaign against Fred Heitert was a long-shot at best. After all, Heitert had served the 12th Ward on the city’s southwest side since 1979, winning eight elections as a Republican without the benefit of a Republican voting base. (He lost that in the 1981 redistricting, when the other Republican poached it.

But during his years as a city employee, Arnowitz got to meet Albert "Red" Villa, the longest-serving alderman in St. Louis history. He also served as a deputy sheriff at the pleasure of Red's son Tom, when Tom was the Board president. (The two will serve together on the board for the next two years. Tom is filling the seat of his nephew Matt, who resigned to focus on expanding Villa Lighting, the family business.)

Updated 1:45 p.m. April 28:

Via the Associated Press:

Fontbonne University announced Thursday that the "Three Cups of Tea" co-author won't deliver its May 21 commencement speech nor receive an honorary degree.

The school noted in a brief statement that it has been unable to reach Mortenson to discuss allegations raised in a recent "60 Minutes" investigation (see below for details). The CBS News program reported that the book is filled with inaccuracies and that Mortenson's charitable organization has taken credit for building schools that don't exist.

Faculty and student leaders at the private Catholic school also voted to rescind Mortenson's invitation. The author has become a celebrated humanitarian for his work establishing schools for girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan.