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   Saturday is International Pillow Fight Day and fluffy faceoffs are planned across the globe, including St. Louis.  It's part of the urban playground movement where groups organize free, fun, non-commercial public events for all ages.  Besides the Gateway City, pillow fights will take place in several other U.S. cities, including Washington, DC, Chicago, Atlanta, Boston and Los Angeles.  There will also be events in London, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, and Rome, just to name a few.

   The St. Louis Pillow Fight will begin at 2pm at Cricket Field in Forest Park (Southeast corner of the intersection of Grand Dr. and Cricket Dr. This is very close to the parking lots in front of the MUNY, near Dwight Davis Tennis Center and close to the Visitor Center.  The field is #3 on the map.  

   This event is open to and appropriate for all ages.

RULES: 

1) First and foremost: NO violence - This is a loving event. 

2) Soft pillows only. No zippers, snaps, anything. Just regular pillows. (Tip: Pillows in pillow cases allow for better swinging arc) 

3) Swing with love 

4) Do not swing at anyone without a pillow or holding a camera 

5) Remove your glasses before you jump in 

6) NO FEATHERS. Let's not make a mess. 

7) DON'T LEAVE YOUR PILLOWS BEHIND. STL Improv Anywhere doesn't wanna clean them up! 

8) Be cool 

9) Costumes are highly encouraged ;)

   DISCLAIMER: All people attending this event do so at their own risk. You are all responsible for your own welfare (and that of others) as well as the preservation of public and personal property. The creators and promoters of this event accept no liability for the actions of its participants.

   Get more information at the 2013 Pillow Fight Day website. 

   BELLEVILLE, Ill. (AP) - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville in southern Illinois is pairing its parishes so they can be served by one priest.

   According to a plan released Thursday, the move will mean no parish in the diocese will be closed anytime soon.

   Diocese spokesman Monsignor John Myler says the plan encourages the parishes to prepare for a time when only 50 priests will be available to pastor. He says parishes have been instructed to begin working jointly immediately.

   Myler says the parishes are to implement the pastoral plan in a dynamic, flexible, gradual manner. He says if two or more parishes decide it is better to close a church building, it would be a decision of those parishes.

   The diocese covers the 28 southernmost Illinois counties and includes 121 parishes.

   JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Missouri Senate has passed a proposed change to the state's Constitution designed to strengthen gun rights.

   The amendment would declare gun rights "unalienable" and compel elected officials in Missouri to defend against any infringement on the right to bear arms. It would also allow people to use firearms in defense of their families.

   Senators voted 29-2 Thursday to send the measure to the House. It is sponsored by Republican Sen. Kurt Schaefer, of Columbia. Missouri voters would need to sign off on the constitutional change if the measure passes the House.

   The gun amendment is SJR14