Three-way tie among three television networks and they finished almost even during the May sweep.  All three – CBS, ABC and Fox were down from the same period last year. Fox lost 25 percent and fourth place NBC posted some growth. Fourth-placed NBC had “The Voice” fueling its boost and Fox had steep losses with “American Idol”. . .Look for Rihanna to tout Red Lobster on upcoming ad campaigns. . .Say what you will about Ameren, but topper Tom Voss has added another act of kindness via a hefty donation to Oklahoma disaster relief for victims of the tornadoes. Carrie Underwood bellied up $1 million. . .A Boston College theology professor is challenging Cardinal Timothy Dolan in a commentary piece in the National Catholic Reporter. On Easter Sunday, Dolan appeared on national television and admitted that the Catholic church must ensure “that our defense of marriage is not reduced to an attack on gay people. And I admit, we haven’t been too good at that.” But Richard Gaillardez says Dolan must do more: “If the Catholic Church is to make good on the claim that it is not anti-gay, then it will have to stand up for the rights of gays and lesbians with the same force with which it has stood up for the dignity of the unborn and the rights of immigrants”. . .

Hometowner/producer Rocco Landesman will be inducted in the Walk of Fame at 5:30 p.m., June 11.  Landesman will be in the Loop for the honors.  He has brought to Broadway such musical gems as “The Producers” and “Big River” as well as heading a chain of legit houses and helming the Endowment for the Arts.

Two dozen protesters – most from the St. Louis Interfaith Council on Latin America – chanted and leafleted last night outside the Wendy’s restaurant on Manchester in Rock Hill. Wendy’s is the only one of the nation’s five largest fast food chains to refuse to sign on to an agreement raising the pay of Florida field workers who pick tomatoes bought by the chains. Wendy’s holds its annual stockholders meeting today in New York City. . .The House has approved legislation to  go ahead with the Keystone XL oil pipeline with a vote of 241-175 – all Republicans except one. . .Leona Rubin has been dubbed interim dean of Mizzou’s  graduate school.  She has been prof in the dept. of the Biomedical College of Vet. Med. College. . .If you like yard sales, better head to a 100-mile sale by vendors on a stretch of Highway 25 between Jackson and Kennett, MO.

The Journal of the American College of Cardiology describes University of Missouri researchers’ study suggesting that statins, the cholesterol-lowering meds, may actually block some of the fitness benefits from exercise. . .Pastors from the Ignite Church in Joplin were in Moore, Oklahoma on Monday ”to be able to empower the people,” said one of the ministers. (The devastation there came the day before the second anniversary of a tornado that leveled one-third of Joplin). . .Tablets may overtake Smartphones as a major shopping device by 2017.  Nearly three-fourths of mobile retail sales will be tablets with 125 million people using them for purchases. . .Atheist/comedian Ricky Gervais, no fan of prayers for victims of the disastrous Oklahoma twisters, and would prefer donations: “Prayers for something, but not doing anything to make it happen, has the same effect as writing to Santa and not letting mummy read the letter”. . .

Patty Alvarez, Vickey Kearney and Eileen Bishop

On June 6, a train will roar from Chicago into born-again Union Station by the complex co-owner Bob O’Loughlin and railroad devotee Ed Boyce. Union Station was where 22 railroads came and went and during the 1940s 100,000 people were clocked streaming into the treasured station. With the ongoing remodeling of the stataion, O’Loughlin said he’s poised to stage live shows in the Great Hall. Philanthropic as ever O’Loughlin attended Monday’s Assistance League golf tourney and dinner at Meadowbrook C.C. where $150k was raised to support the non-profit agency (that has no salaried

Sandy Johnson, Susie Tendler and Gail Schultz

employees). President-elect Vicki Kearney got kudos from well-wishers including:  outgoing prez Sandy Johnson;  the event’s chair and  co-chair Susie Tendler and Gail Schultz.  Peter Benoist was credited for organizing the duffers.

Chris O’Neal, Mandy Fritz and Steve Wiswieski

Marty Tandler, David Sabada and Bob O’Loughlin

Judy and Steve Toombs

Peter Benoist and Suzanne Prapl

They’re gone now along with the impending closure of Macy’s downtown store.  We’re talking about Nugent’s, Famous-Barr, Scruggs Vandervoort & Barney, Stix, Baer & Fuller, Garlands, Kline’s, Sonnenfeld’s, Cunningham’s, Werner-Hilton, Richman Bros., Bond’s, National Shirt Shop, Lane Bryant, Boyd’s, Wilkinson’s, Wolff’s, Stacy Adams, Red Cross Shoes, Birdie’s Hat Shop, Kresge’s; Schneider Millinery – all of which wove the fabric of a booming downtown St. Louis.  There were the popular restaurants over those years: Trader Vic’s; the Orient; Rio Room; the Forum; Tunnelway; Max Carl’s; the Pines; Grecian Garden’s; Miss Hulling’s; the Washington Cafe; the Holland Bldg. Cafeteria, Tutenberg’s and F&E Sandwich Shop. There were the burlesque houses: Garrick, Grand and Harry Wald’s World, where he was overheard to say, “That stripper is great except for two little things.”  Merchants prospered.  Long gone are  Central Hardware, C.E. Williams Shoes, Greenfield’s Poultry and a bevy of hardware stores. Saloons had their doors propped open, and bartenders kept running out of Tom Collins mix in this normally vodka, scotch town. The old Union Market building remains and houses a Drury Inn and the wonderful Jf Sanfilippo’s Ristorante. The naked downtown district is shrinking to small town size.

Reinsurance Group of America is poised to build a 405,000 square-foot facility in St. Louis County with capital investment of $140 million and it will become its world HQ. . Another family member has gone to another level.  Longtime Globe-Democrat investigative reporter Bob Teuscher died last night.  Following his G-D career, Teuscher went on to become a prominent member of the Better Business Bureau. . .Hizzoner Francis Slay dropped in for a visit at Chackles, Carlson and Halquist at a reception for the firm’s new office in the Frisco Bldg.  The firm moved to the city from Clayton. . .Keep your eyes on the sky this week at the new Budweiser Designate a Driver Blimp to kick off the brewery’s 17-week summer tour.  The blimp will fly over festivals, outdoor celebrations and sporting events in 25 cities, including over the Chelsea FC vs. Manchester City soccer match at Busch Stadium on Thursday, encouraging adults to drink responsbily.

Charlie Rose, 71, will increase his workload on PBS beginning in July at 8:30 p.m. with his long-running, award-winning interview show titled, “Charlie Rose Weekend.”