ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - The chambers were cleared Tuesday due to a tense St. Louis County Council meeting regarding funding for nurses at the county jail.

During Tuesday's meeting, leaders were discussing a funding request of $2.89 million to cover the cost of the contracts for the 23 nurses who work at the St. Louis County Jail and the county's Juvenile Detention Center. The Director of Public Health for the county warned they would have to switch to emergency-only care starting Wednesday if the funding was not approved.

First Alert 4 was in the chamber during the discussion on the funding bill when tensions began to rise between council members and the audience. Due to the rising tension, the chambers were cleared.

After chambers were cleared, Councilwoman Rita Heard Days and County Executive Sam Page continued to argue. Days could be heard asking for Page to be removed from the meeting, but that did not happen.

The bill is being held for a budget hearing Wednesday afternoon, with a meeting called in the morning with the Department of Public Health. A special meeting is being planned for Thursday.

This is a breaking news story.

#firstalert4   #crimewatchstlouis