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Clayton, MO - AP - A St. Louis County woman has been sentenced to three years in prison for a drunk-driving accident that killed a bicyclist.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that 31-year-old Emily Hagan of Kirkwood will be eligible for parole after serving about one year in prison.

Authorities say Hagan's blood-alcohol content was more than three times the legal limit when she rear-ended and killed Samuel Scott last year in University City. The 19-year-old was riding his bike home from the pizza shop where he worked as a cook.

Hagan was charged with first-degree manslaughter. In a plea deal reached Friday, a judge reduced the manslaughter charge from a Class B to a Class C felony.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Some Missouri senators are raising concerns that legislators wouldn't have much control over a proposed 1-cent sales tax for transportation projects.

The Senate began debate Tuesday on legislation that would ask voters to approve a dedicated sales tax for highways and other transportation needs. But some senators expressed concern that the money would go straight to the Department of Transportation without need of legislative approval in the budget process.

The sales tax is estimated to raise nearly $8 billion over 10 years. Ten percent of the proceeds would go to local transportation needs. The tax would be resubmitted to voters after 10 years for potential renewal.

When the increased sales tax is in effect, the gas tax rate would be frozen and existing roads could not become toll roads.

VATICAN CITY - New York Daily News — Black smoke over the Vatican — we do not have a new Pope.

The 115 cardinals who have locked themselves inside the Sistine Chapel revealed to the world that they have failed to select a new pontiff on their first ballot — a widely expected outcome as the papal conclave got underway Tuesday afternoon.

The cardinals will return for two votes Wednesday morning and, if no white smoke billows over the Vatican, two more votes in the afternoon.

The process will continue until one of the cardinals emerges with a two-thirds majority — 77 votes.

The last nine conclaves have lasted an average of three days.

The puff of black smoke came about three hours after the cardinals locked themselves into the Sistine Chapel to be alone with their thoughts and their prayers as began the selection process for a new Pope.