August 17th, 2023 edition

St. LouiS AmericAn

A food oasis suddenly dry as Pagedale grocer closes

By Sylvester Brown Jr. St. Louis American

In late March, Fields Foods opened its sixth location in Pagedale, MO at 6840 Page Avenue. It was the company’s only location in St. Louis County. Less than five months after opening with much hoopla and hope, Fields Foods abruptly shut down the Page Avenue location with no notice to customers or the surrounding community.

Signs of trouble like dissipating stock on grocery shelves at the Page store and other locations were signals of brewing distress.

Earlier this month, the St. Louis American reported that the company’s landlord at its DeBaliviere Avenue location filed a lawsuit for more than $44,000 in unpaid rent. Also, the landlord of the Fields’ Washington Avenue location had filed a lawsuit for nearly $293,000 in unpaid rent and $75,000 in unpaid taxes and maintenance expenses.

On July 31, Fields Foods closed its EXPO location near Forest Park. Weeks later, the grocery chain announced it was “temporari-

See GROCER, A6

Fields Foods owner

Councilwoman Rita

were

when Fields Foods opened a location in the north county community in March. The store has closed, and the quest has begun to find a new owner and reopen a grocery store at the site.

Residents will help call plays on Rams settlement

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

St. Louis residents will help design the game plan for how the city spends its windfall from a settlement of a lawsuit filed against Los Angeles Rams owner and the National Football League. Megan Green, St. Louis Board of Aldermen president, has announced that the final score on settlement fund allocation will follow “a robust public engagement process.”

Aldermen spelled out that community involvement was mandatory through a pair of resolutions (R 171 & R 48), and Green’s office has engaged the assistance of community engagement platform CitizenLab.

It will “facilitate and track the ongoing conversation between residents and city government.”

“These resolutions also commit elected leaders to invest the funds—$250 million plus accruing interest—in a way that creates generational change,” according

See RAMS, A7

The Washington Informer

Sometime between now and noon Friday August 25, 2023 former president Donald Trump will be going to jail. He might not be there long, but he is indeed going to be held awhile.

According to the Fulton County sheriff’s office, the four-times indicted and twice-impeached former president has received orders to turn himself in at the Fulton County jail. Trump and 18 co-defendants were indicted Monday in the Georgia 2020

n Trump faces 13 criminal counts, including racketeering.

election subversion case.

Trump faces 13 criminal counts, including racketeering.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has set a deadline for noon on Aug. 25 for Trump and the others to turn themselves in.

“At this point, based on guidance received from the district attorney’s office and presiding judge, it is expected that all 19 defendants named in the indictment will be booked at the Rice Street Jail,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement.

“Keep in mind, defendants can turn themselves in at any time. The jail is open 24/7,” the news release states. “Also, due to the unprecedented nature of this case, some circumstances may

Chosen from record number of more than 300 nominations

By K. Michael Jones St. Louis American

A diverse group of amazing AfricanAmerican professionals under age 40 has been selected as the 2023 class of Salute to Young Leader award recipients. More than 300 nominations came in for this class. Due to the record number of nominations and high caliber of these honorees, 30 awardees were selected this year. They have been chosen by their peers and will be profiled in the September 7 edition of The St. Louis American as well as on stlasmerican.com. They will be honored at the St. Louis American Foundation’s twelfth annual Salute to Young Leaders See LEADERS, A7

Members of The Sprit of Angela Dance Troupe perform at the Better Family Life Back to School Fair Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023.

Chris Krehmeyer, Beyond Housing CEO, Pagedale Mayor E.G. Shields,

Chris Goodson, and St. Louis County

Days

jubilant

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

A better day

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Raven Whitener, director of The St. Louis American Foundation and Special Events with 2022 Young Leader recipient Ono OghreIkanone.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Virginia rapper Magoo dead at 50

Virginia rapper Magoo, born Melvin Barcliff died Sunday, Aug. 13. He was most known for his frequent collaborations and associations with Timbaland, Missy Elliot, Ginuwine, and Aaliyah

He was 50.

Magoo’s cause of death hasn’t been revealed.

R&B singer and music producer Digital Black shared the devastating news to Instagram with the cover of Magoo and Timbaland’s 1997 “Welcome to Our World” album.

“Man can’t believe this RIH Magoo damn big bro wasnt [sic] ready for this at all #superfriends,” Black wrote.

Ginuwine emphasized how short life is in his memorial post to Magoo.

“I don’t even know how to say anything at this point , I have lost 3 friends now within a month to LIFE and it’s [sic] due date ….this dude , always pushed me …I will mis [sic] you maganooo that’s what we called him,” Ginuwine wrote.

“I’m truly efd up right now foreal life is crazy… I hate going through this

and losing people we love sometimes it makes you feel like you dont wanna feel the pain so you wanna be gone also …pain hurts ..man oh man blessings to the family all of my condolences.”

Magoo’s career launched after him and Timbaland met as teenagers. In their earlier years, the pair formed a group with Larry Live and Pharrell Williams called SBI (Surrounded by Idiots).

Tory Lanez sentenced to 10 years in prison for Megan Thee Stallion assault

Justice is served.

Lanez has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for assault ing Megan Thee Stallion

The decision was made Tuesday in Los Ange les County Superior Court.

Lanez was found guilty last Decem ber for a 2020 inci dent during which he shot Megan in the foot after leav ing a party at Kylie Jenner’s house.

At his sentencing, he was found guilty of assault with a firearm,

illegal possession of a firearm and negligent discharge of a gun for shooting the plaintiff.

Lanez described Megan as a friend and someone he still cares for dearly to this day, regardless of how she feels about him. He mentioned how the two connected over the loss of their mothers.

Megan wasn’t present for the sentencing, but she issued a written statement.

“For once, the defendant must be forced to face the full consequences of his heinous actions and face justice,” she

the news sharing that he was surrounded by loved ones at his time of death.

“Cha Cha Slide” creator DJ Casper loses cancer battle at 58

DJ Casper, creator of the worldwide line dance “Cha Cha Slide,” has died. He was 58. Casper, a native of Chicago died from cancer on Monday, Aug. 7. He battled with renal (kidney) and neuroendocrine (liver) cancer for His wife Kim announced

“Casper was a fun-loving, giving person,” she said in a statement. “He was a genuine, family oriented man. He loved Chicago with all his heart. He will be greatly missed.”

In an interview with ABC7 this past May, also his last television interview, Casper revealed he never thought Cha Cha Slide would blow up like it did.

“When I first did it, I did it as an aerobic exercise for my nephew at Bally’s,” Casper said. “From there, it just took off. Elroy Smith from WGCI grabbed a hold of it.” Casper has performed the slide all across the world.

“I have one of the biggest songs that played at all stadiums: hockey, basketball, football, baseball; they played it at the Olympics,” Casper said. “It was something that everybody could do.” Casper also told ABC7 that he hopes Cha Cha Slide “will always be a reminder of the power of unity, community and positivity.”

Sources: NPR, ABC 7 Chicago, CNN, PEOPLE, Page Six

Tory Lanes

- Fulton County DA Fani Willis on RICO indictment of Donald Trump, 18 others

Weather or not

5th Annual Culture Kickback Fest delivered communal joy

By Alvin A. Reid

St. Louis American

For the Culture STL’s 5th Annual Culture Kickback Fest at Loretta Hall Park on Sunday August 13, 2023, shared the same festive air as the Woodstock Festival held in upstate New York exactly 54 years earlier.

The events refused to let rain dampen the enthusiasm of attendees, artists, and entertainers nor douse the energy that a shared community can produce.

“Even in the rain, people stayed out there with us,” said For the Culture STL founder Ohun Ashe on the organization’s Facebook page.

“It taught me and affirmed to me that these spaces and these moments matter. We hope people found something beautiful because we certainly did.

“First and foremost, thank you to the community for showing up and showing out with us.”

Fortheculturestl.com has multiple features including links to an apparel page, an events calendar, a listing of Black-owned businesses and more.

The business directory includes categories such as food, health, art, apparel, education, legal services, beauty, media outlets, and event planning.

“We promised this would be a celebration of Black culture, Black folks, Black businesses, and out things. It was just that,” Ashe said of the Kickback Fest.

“This took community. This was for the community, by the community. And when I say, ‘we had a time,’ y’all we had a time.”

Ashe created the website on April 1, 2018, following protests after former St. Louis Police Officer was found not guilty by a judge after he killed a Black motorist he had pursued. She helped organize protests, then joined other leaders in search of

other paths to spark social change.

In a 2020 interview with the St. Louis American, Ashe said, “I found myself in this weird position: what is my role outside of protests to help uplift the community?”

“One of the things that I have always been super genuine and super passionate about was uplifting Black businesses, letting folks in the community know what events that were going on that were

tailored to the Black community.”

Along with the website, she helped create the Culture Kickback Fest, which has now finished its fifth year and has always been free. It was coined as the “biggest, family reunion styled kickback in St. Louis” and it continues to live up to its billing.

More than 70 vendors were on the scene, and free food and beverages were provided. Games including chess were played through-

out the afternoon as DJS and entertainers performed. There was a therapy panel, yoga sessions, and a skate party hosted by WeSkateClipz was rolling on at the park’s outdoor rink. Raquel Gant said the Kickback Fest “was everything.”

“My heart was so at peace. Watching people dance in the rain gave me life! I can’t wait until next year.”

Ashe said, “It’s a mission of For the Culture to

ensure we know that we matter; that we have spaces that we can feel free and liberated and [the event] was a beautiful showcase of just that.”

“We do this to give Black folks a quality experience and to [let us] know that our culture matters here too.”

For additional information of For the Culture STL, visit ForTheCultureSTL.com

Photo by Wiley Price I St Louis American

Darien Burgess and Houston Miller talk with culture festival organizer Ohun Ashe Sunday Aug. 13, 2023 in Loretta Hall Park.

Editorial/Commentary

Guest Editorial

Few stood as tall as Charles ‘The Tree’ Ogletree

By Stephanie Robinson

There is an age-old question, one skirting both science and perception, which asks whether a tree falling in a forest makes a sound if there is no one around to hear it.

Though countless individuals through the ages have unsuccessfully grappled with this scenario, for me, the answer to this question has recently become very clear. If that tree was a world-renowned civil rights attorney and famed Harvard Law professor named Charles, then the answer is a resounding and definitive yes.

Tree’s impact beyond the university was as sizable, representing celebrity clients like Tupac Shakur and Anita Hill, using his national media platform to advance issues of law and social justice, authoring numerous books on race and society, and mentoring countless students, lawyers, political figures, and social justice warriors within and beyond the law school.

Sullivan, we babysat Tree’s children while in law school. He became the godfather of ours.

Tree continued to guide me, even insisting that I work abroad in Kenya for a year after graduating from law school. He told me that Ron would come with me, or I could leave him behind.

Later, as I established myself in my own career, Tree became my colleague and associate in many ways. Still, throughout our professional relationship and our friendship, he was always the teacher, and I, the student.

He and his amazing wife, Pam, taught me how to live in an active and fierce way while modeling how Ron and I could be true life partners. We watched and learned from them as we vacationed at Martha’s Vineyard, chatted in their home, or watched their children.

The personal part speaks more of his impact on my family, my friends and me. Tree was my professor when I entered law school in the 1990s. I worked with him and Professor Derrick Bell as a spokesperson for the movement to get a tenured Black female professor here at Harvard, which ultimately resulted in the hiring of the late Lani Guinier. Tree, along with Bell and Guinier, poured their knowledge, wisdom, and insight into me, and I drank up everything they offered.

I was the youngest member of the four-person team on the first Harvard Law School trial team that Tree created. We won. Tree taught me about law, legal ethics, social justice, and fairness. He joked that I would never be rich because my heart, passion and compassion were too deep to ever stop serving the people.

Along with my then-boyfriend and now-husband, Harvard Law professor Ron

Tree was the biggest advocate for Ron and me, becoming the first Black masters/faculty deans in the school’s history at Harvard University. Tree always called us his students regardless of what we went on to accomplish in life, be it Ron and I, or the ultimate power couple, former president and first lady Barack and Michelle Obama.

Later, particularly for those who knew him well, it was difficult when he started acting erratically, prior to his Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Ultimately, this terrible disease stole everything. Once he retired and left Massachusetts, he sometimes remembered us, but then did not.

But we, undoubtedly, will always remember Tree. For there is truly no earthly forest big enough to quiet such an impact.

Stephanie Robinson is a lecturer on law at Harvard Law School where she teaches on issues of democracy, media, and race. Tis commentary was originally published by The Grio.

As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues

Keeping low-income Americans online

By Hazel Trice Edney

Millions of children across the nation will be able to do their homework at home during the upcoming school year, thanks to strong leaders on both sides of the aisle who recognize that broadband has become a necessity. But that could soon end if Congress doesn’t quickly take action.

A federal initiative aimed at bridging the digital divide—the gap between those who have internet access and those who do not—could lose funding as soon as next spring if Congress doesn’t add more dollars to the program.

The Affordable Connectivity Program (or the ACP, as it is called) provides crucial online access to people who might otherwise be unable to afford it. And it’s not just helping to level the playing field with education; it’s transforming the lives of more than 20 million households by expanding access to job opportunities, e-commerce, entertainment, political participation, communication with loved ones and more.

religious and civically conscious groups are imploring the powers that be to not cast the 20 million participating households into the digital dark…to not allow the ACP to end.

“Letting the ACP lapse would hurt communities of color and our efforts to address the myriad systemic inequities they face,” reads a July 31 letter from the Congressional Tri-Caucus to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

“While the new FCC recent broadband map shows that more than 94% of housing units have access to broadband, a recent Pew survey found that just 71% of Black households and 65% of Hispanic households subscribe.”

The ACP, administered through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), was funded through the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households in qualifying highcost areas and on qualifying Tribal lands, as well as a one-time discount on the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet.

The program’s participation rate, which now exceeds one-third of eligible households, far outweighs that of the Lifeline program, which offers a $9.25 discount on phone or internet service and has attracted less than one-in-five (19%) eligible households to enroll. Because of the program’s success, education, civil/human rights,

Indeed, the affordability gap is much larger than the availability gap, which makes the Affordable Connectivity Program just as important as the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, which is primarily focused on broadband infrastructure deployment. Recognizing the criticality of the ACP, Black religious leaders have also organized and appealed to the President to continue funding the nearly two-year-old program—even make it permanent.

For one, Rev. Dr. Renita J. Weems, then Coalition Leader for Black Churches 4 Broadband, wrote during the height of the pandemic: “We can end the digital divide once and for all with a permanent subsidy. We have subsidies to feed those who are food insecure. We have subsidies for those who need help with childcare, home energy and other essential needs. We need a similar program for the internet. We now stand ready to help the Biden team mobilize our communities around digital and information literacy. The future of our families and community depends upon it.”

Hazel Trice Edney is founder and columnist for Trice Edney Newswire

What about us?

By Mike Jones

I recently wrote that there is a rational explanation for the rabid, white supremist, fascist behavior of MAGA Republicans.

For them, it’s about survival. Rapid, seismic cultural and technological changes of the last 60 years created an existential threat to white MAGA America.

The threat is to their identity and what it has meant historically to be white in America. The American white person, as understood by MAGA America, is wrestling with the idea of extinction.

So, what about us? How have these same changes transformed the Black community over six decades? It has impacted us in ways we hadn’t anticipated and left us with consequences we’re figuring out how to manage.

There is an inverse relationship between Black and white America when it comes to the American Experience. The same cultural and technological changes that produced existential tread for white MAGA America has also lightened the burden of what it means to be Black in America’s racial caste system for a substantial portion of Black America.

sponds with an escalating Cold War, Jim Crow was beaten back. This culminated with the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 and Voting Rights Act in 1965. This put the modern Confederacy in retreat, but it never surrendered.

Black Americans began to experience personal choice for the first time in our 350 years in North America. The choices were restricted at first, but as we discovered the market, and the market discovered us, those choices expanded. We began to exercise personal options independent of, and without regard for, each other. We began acting like white Americans, except they had the advantage of white privilege, and we were still Black.

In 2018 I wrote, “In a perverse way we’re also American immigrants, except we didn’t choose to come to here. We were forcibly brought here for the sole purpose of providing labor for America’s early-stage capitalist development. While the institution of slavery is as old as human history, what was done to enslaved Africans in America was uniquely evil. [Enslaved people] were also robbed of their historical identities and even the very idea of themselves as human beings.”

The 43 million people in America today who identify as Black are descendants of 400,000 who were brought here from Africa, who survived the Middle Passage, and were enslaved in what was to become the United States of America.

Today’s Black community is a function of overt, structural, systemic oppression of a disparate group of human beings around the social construct of race. The Black community was forged in the crucible of slavery, but our modern political culture and identity were shaped in post-Civil War America on the anvil of Jim Crow. America is evolving but it hasn’t been transformed. Starting with the modern Civil Rights Movement, which corre-

Letter to the editor

St. Louis County Fails Seniors

The Missouri legislature voted 1873, in the most bi-partisan vote in recent history, to give seniors tax relief with SB 190. St. Louis County had a chance to lead the state, and all four St. Louis County Democrat Council members voted against freezing every senior’s property taxes at the age of 62. All three Republican councilmen voted for it. Democrats cited concerns about losing too much revenue only one week before offering Boeing tax breaks on a proposed expansion that amounts to a 50% tax break on real and personal property tax for 10 years. Seniors were only asking for a tax freeze.

Every Black child born in a decade since 1970 was born into a socially more liberal and culturally more inclusive America - not necessarily less racist, but inarguably superficially more tolerant. If someone born in 1950 had a child in1975 and that child became a parent in 2000, there are three generations of a Black family, each with a distinct experience of what it means to be Black in America.

We must never forget the very idea of Black social equity triggers violent emotional, and very often a physical, white reaction.

MAGA Americans represent today’s White Citizens Council. Donald Trump is George Wallace, Ron DeSantis is Bull Connor, and the Republican Party equates to white Southern Democrats.

As the more overt chains of racial oppression have loosened, so have the bonds of community that have held us together and helped us to survive. Evolution has shaped all organisms to give top priority to survival.

We survived because our ancestors adapted and transformed themselves from a group of disparate enslaved individuals into an intelligent, tough, strategic, and resilient community.

Regardless of adverse conditions, that community had the moral and structural integrity to protect its children and prepare them to prevail. The fate of the individual was not separated from the destiny of the community. We are no longer that community.

What does that mean as we again prepare to engage in another existential battle with the eternal enemy?

Seniors lose 50% of their purchasing power after they retire. Why do politicians give mega-rich companies, and their executives, tax breaks and refuse to consider tax relief for those most vulnerable? Here are the facts. The property tax freeze would’ve helped 200,000 seniors, many in North County where home assessments went up 40-50%, double the county’s average increase.

St. Louis County had the opportunity to become a leader in the state and instead insured its standing as a mediocre county-in-decline. St. Louis City hasn’t taken up the issue. Join our fight.

Dennis Ganahi

Guest Columnist Stephanie Robinson

Columnist Mike Jones

Guest Columnist Hazel Trice Edney

SLHA launches Security Deposit Assistance program

St. Louis American staff

The St. Louis Housing Authority (SLHA) is expanding efforts to offset skyrocketing housing rental fees with a new HUD-funded Security Deposit Assistance (SDA) program for eligible Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program, commonly known as Section 8, applicants and participants.

“The inability to pay a security deposit creates significant barriers to affordable housing for otherwise qualified families,” explains SLHA Executive Director Alana C. Green. “This new program will make it easier for Section 8 families to secure safe, affordable housing across the St. Louis metropolitan area.”

A security deposit is one of many unavoidable moving expenses. It acts as the landlord’s insurance for unpaid expenses and damages. The amount can be influenced by many factors, such as credit score, background checks, and property location.

Under Missouri law, a security deposit cannot exceed two months of rent. With the SDA program, HCV participants may request grant funds in an amount equal to that required by the lease, but within the legal limit.

“The Security Deposit Assistance program prioritizes housing affordability for vulnerable families,” says Green. “Now tenants and landlords will experience fewer delays and frustrations in the leasing process.”

Priority for security deposit assistance may be given to HCV participants who are:

• homeless;

• experiencing domestic violence;

• required to relocate due to disability;

• required to relocate due to unsafe housing conditions; or

• facing exigent circumstances.

Assistance is available through the SLHA website at www.slha.org or visit SLHA’s Central Office located at 3520 Page Boulevard.

Your adversity can be your university

By Wendy Gladney

Life sends us through many trials and tribulations. When we go through the highs and lows, the question we must ask ourselves is did we just go through it or did we grow from it. If we just go through it, we are bound to experience the same adversity again until we learn the lesson.

Life is full of lessons and if we pay attention, we can learn a lot and possibly get a Ph.D. in the school of life. With the knowledge and information, we gain we can share it with others and help them along their journey. Are you willing to let the adversities you go through teach you so you can be a blessing to others?

We are all prone to adversity. Adversity is about experiencing difficulties and misfortune. We cannot get out of life without experiencing some misfortune and difficulties, but what are we going to do with these difficulties?

Do we allow them to become stumbling blocks or steppingstones to a better life. I have tried to make the challenges and adversities I have encountered be steppingstones to a better life for me and for those in my life that I am able to help. Sometimes it takes personal sacrifices and the willingness to be vulnerable to help others from our own pain, but I know it is possible.

When I was young, I dreamed about attending college. I was not sure at the time where I wanted to go, but I knew it would be somewhere that would change my life and leave an indelible mark on me for the rest of my life. I ended up attending the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and it was a highlight of my life, but my real degree came from surviving the journey of life and sharing my survival techniques with others.

I allowed my mistakes and tragedies to be a lesson plan to navigate the journey to help others not give up and to not feel like they are alone. I learned school has more theoretical lessons, whereas life deals with the day-to-day practical situations. It is a blessing when we can achieve both.

Author Joshua J. Marine, who is particularly remembered for his quotes, said, “Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”

When we can help other people live a better life from the challenges, we are able to overcome, it brings more meaning to our own lives.

Over the years, I have been able to share so many lessons I have learned from surviving abuse as a child, abandonment, divorce, single parenting, the highs, and lows of starting a business, depression, grief, and so much more. We are in this life for only a certain amount of time and only what we do to impact on the lives of others is what matters at the end of the day.

Life is all about lessons. What life lessons have you been able to overcome and share with others? To receive your degree in life and master life lessons it is important that we do not become bitter, but rather better and choose forgiveness and love over despair.

During a certain period of my life, I felt that I needed to go back to school and get more degrees, until people close to me shared that I already had enough to share with the world and that another degree could never provide me with the knowledge, information, or skills that I already had to share. That is when I realized that I can be proud of having my Ph.D. from the school of life.

Wendy Gladney is a columnist for the Los Angeles Sentinel

Children of parents that work at the St. Louis Housing Authority recently spent an afternoon with St. Louis firefighters from Engine House 17 and received their own fire helmets. The SLHA now has a Security Deposit Assistance program for Section 8 renters.

Wendy Gladney

Photo by Bill Greenblatt / St. Louis American

Continued from A1

ly” closing its Dogtown location. There are only two stores currently open; the Lafayette Square and Downtown St. Louis locations. At the time of those closings, store owner, Chris Goodson, told KSDK’s “5 On Your Side” that employees had been laid off and stores had closed amid lawsuits over back rent and taxes.

Goodson said he was trying to sell the franchise to an unidentified employee ownership group.

The Page Avenue location replaced the Save A Lot store that closed in 2021 after 11 years. That closing meant that residents, including those residing in a nearby senior citizen home, would have to travel miles for groceries or fresh food.

The new Pagedale store joined an impressive roster of other businesses such as Midwest BankCentre, BJC HealthCare, 24:1 Cinema and Affinia Healthcare.

Kendra Holmes, President & CEO for Affinia expressed disappointment about the closing.

“It’s very unfortunate,” Holmes said, stressing the loss of healthy food in the surrounding neighborhoods. “Access to affordable nutritious foods

Trump

Continued from A1

change with little or no warning.”

Most defendants charged in Fulton County are typically booked at the county jail, and Sheriff Pat Labat has stated that he intends to treat Trump just like any other defendant.

Unless someone tells me differently, we will be following normal practic-

is essential to the management of chronic diseases in the Black community. Food is medicine and we will continue to see diabetes and cardiovascular disparities in the black community without access to affordable healthy foods.”

It’s somewhat painful recalling the fanfare and excitement of the Pagedale location’s grand opening just a few months ago. At the time, former Mayor Ernest “E.G.” Shields, Sr., (who resigned due to health issues in June) praised the new venture.

I’m just so grateful and so pleased,” Shields told the crowd before urging them and residents of nearby municipalities to support the new north county grocer.

“If we want the store to stay here, we must patronize it,” Shields said, adding: “Tell your family and friends and come back again, and again, and again.”

The opening of the Pagedale location was the result of collaborative efforts between the nonprofit, Beyond Housing and the 24:1 Municipal Partnership, a collaboration of nearby municipalities, including Pasadena Hills and Normandy. Beyond Housing was the landlord of the Fields Foods’ Pagedale location.

Chris Krehmeyer, CEO of Beyond Housing, said he wasn’t necessarily surprised by the store’s

es. It doesn’t matter your status; we will have mug shots ready for you,” Labat said earlier this month on CNN.

The sheriff also clarified that unlike Trump’s other three indictments where he turned himself inside a closed courthouse, the former president must surrender at the county jail. Defendants like Trump and his associates, who are not immediately arrested upon

closing.

“I’ve been in close contact with them,” Krehmeyer explained. “We knew there were some challenges based on inventory, stocking and other matters. We knew something was wrong. So, it wasn’t a surprise…disappointing, yes, but not a surprise.”

When reminded that, in an interview with the American, Fields Foods’ owner, Goodson, gave assurances that the store would be well-stocked with reasonably priced items and that it would be a long-term community partner, Krehmeyer expressed frustration.

“Yeah, that’s what he (Goodson) told us, too, when we signed all the agreements,” Krehmeyer said. “We weren’t privy to all the details of that business but obviously something went awry and didn’t work.”

Speaking as a member of the 24:1 Municipal Partnership, Krehmeyer said there’s an equal amount of frustration and insult.

“Everybody’s disappointed, especially by a store that didn’t live up to its commitments. So, it’s like ‘No, you’re not going to disrespect this community’ and, quite frankly, we’re not going to tolerate it.”

Yet, Krehmeyer expressed optimism about finding a new grocer.

indictment, often negotiate bond and other terms of release with the district attorney’s office if necessary.

Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s former lawyer, announced that he plans to surrender to authorities next week.

He mentioned that he expects to be granted bail.

A detailed investigation led by Willis has revealed numerous attempts by Trump’s allies to interfere in the 2020 presidential election.

“Clearly, we’re frustrated, the community’s frustrated but we’re going to find someone else to come in and operate a grocery store. We know categorically, based on past sales of the Save A Lot store that there’s a market here. If you provide a good product at a good price with good customer services…people are going to spend their money.”

If another grocer steps in, Krehmeyer said they will walk into an optimal situation with a modernized, ready-to-operate store and an eager, wanting customer base.

“Just stock the shelves and they’re good to go.”

The bottom line seems to be that the 24:1 Municipal Partnership is not giving up on putting a grocery store in a food desert area of North St. Louis County.

“Oh my God, no,” Krehmeyer emphasized. “We’re outreaching to everybody and, at the end of the day, if it’s going to be a smaller, independent store, then so be it. I get the economic challenges of grocery stores, but communities deserve them.

“I’ve seen the numbers, right? We’re resilient and so are our communities,” Krehmeyer added. “We know they deserve a grocery store; we know they want a grocery store.

“So, our challenge is to find the right operator and make it work.”

The former president, whom a civil jury in New York earlier this year found liable of sexual assault, is accused of leading a “criminal enterprise” involved in a larger conspiracy to reverse his electoral loss in Georgia.

The charges in the indictment include making false statements and soliciting state legislatures and high-ranking state officials.

It also includes creating and sharing false Electoral

College documents, harassing election workers, and soliciting Justice Department officials and then-Vice President Mike Pence.

Additionally, the charges include unlawfully breaching election equipment and engaging in acts of obstruction.

Former Trump lawyers John Eastman and Giuliani and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows are among the defendants.

The indictment also included an additional 30 unindicted co-conspirators in addition to the charged defendants. Trump is now facing 91 charges across four separate indictments while he’s running for president in 2024. If convicted on all the charges, Trump could face more than 800 years in prison.

He denies any wrongdoing and has slammed the cases as politically motivated.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Steenz Stewart, 32, skates her way around the rink during the 5th Annual Cultural Kickback Festival in Loretta Hall Park in the city’s Carr Square neighborhood.

Kicking back on skates

Networking Awards

Reception, presented by Midwest BankCentre, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, September 7 at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis.

This year’s cohort of Young Leaders includes two local television personalities, a senior marketing manager of an $11 billion company, a digital experience director for one of the largest Black-owned companies in the nation, a senior manager at a multinational digital communications and manufacturing company, a senior manager at a Black-owned construction firm, and the treasurer of the City of St. Louis.

While their career paths are diverse, they have one thing in common. They are all high-performing, young African-American professionals who have received significant success in their respective fields, as well as working in service to the community.

“A critical element of sustainable progress and success is an inclusive community that values, respects and supports the next generation of young leaders who are essential to the future success of the St. Louis region,” said Donald M. Suggs, president of the St. Louis American Foundation. “We are proud of these young people, in particular, because they best represent our hope for a better future for all in our community.”

“We are excited that we will be able to honor

Rams

Continued from A1

to a release from Green’s office.

“Intentional, meaningful engagement with the community is critical to ensuring these funds are used for equitable and innovative solutions to our city’s biggest problems,” said BOA President Green.

“Equally important, this process offers a much-needed opportunity for residents and local government to work together and rebuild trust.”

She added, “Working with CitizenLab allows the Board to establish a true home base for all public

these individuals this year. It is our plan to make this a unique and enjoyable opportunity for young people to meet and greet some other accomplished young people as well as some current and future mentors,” said Raven Whitener, director of The St. Louis American Foundation.

The 2023 Class of Young Leaders, in alphabetical order, are:

Tia Bolden CEO, Founder, Mentor Aspire to Fire Investing, LLC

DeAna Carter Senior Project Manager Kwame Building Group

Renita Clayton Accelerated Leadership Assoc. Edward Jones

Felix Cooley Director of Operations LCEF

Kirven Douthit-Boyd Assoc. Director of Dance COCA

Bennie Gilliam-Williams Special Asst. to President/ Special Events & Projects Harris-Stowe State Univ.

Reggie Grant Bus. Dev. Specialist, Asst. VP BankCentre Leader Midwest BankCentre

Taylor Harris Co-host & Producer KTVI Fox 2 News

Joy Johnson Senior Financial Analyst The Boeing Company

engagement related to the Rams settlement.”

An online survey, which is now available, kicks off the process by asking residents to share the challenges they feel living in St. Louis. Survey results will provide data on residents’ priorities and serve as a guide as the decision process goes forward. The survey is available through October 13, 2023.

An Ideas Portal will also allow residents and organizations to submit their ideas for how the Rams Settlement funds could be used. This forum will be open for the entirety of the community engagement process.

“We encourage every-

Melanie Johnson News Anchor/Reporter KMOV-TV

Anthony Lawrence, Jr. Sr. Manager, US Retirement Programs

Olin Corporation

Adam Layne

Treasurer of the City of St.

Louis City of St. Louis

Lissa Lewis Sr. Marketing Manager Nestle Purina

Tysha Long Digital Experience

one to share their ideas and provide their feedback to help develop strong proposals for serious consideration by the Board of Alderman and the public,” says Cristina Garmendia, Green’s policy director.

The full Board of Aldermen will also invite citizen participation. It will meet as a Committee of the Whole to hear from residents, community leaders, and elected officials.

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones and Comptroller Darlene Green, who join BOA

Designer World Wide Technology

Annie Mbale

Project Manager World Trade Center and Mosaic Project

Brandon Murray Dir. of DEI & Accessibility

The College School

Ebbi Nicole Founder & Chief FLUFFtivist Fluffy GRL Movement

Angela Pearson

President Green on the Board of Estimate Apportionment, have been invited to participate in the meetings.

The meetings will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, September 25, 2023, 6 p.m. Wednesday, October 25, and 11 a.m. Saturday December 2. Details on how the public can participate in these meetings will be announced later.

The Los Angeles Rams move to St. Louis in 1995, and its lease at the then TWA Dome said the stadium must remain in the top

The 2022 Young Leaders celebrated at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Andrico Spates Sr. Manager, Global Partner Sales

Cisco

Renelle Spinks Dir. of Diversity & Inclusion, Student Life Maryville University

Darrell Stewart Deputy Program Manager The Boeing Company

Princess Stormm APD/On-Air Personality Audacy

Quinton Ward Sr. Manager of MetroMarket

Operation Food Search

Maria Wells Sr. Asst. Director of Finance Ritz Carlton

Terron White Dir. of Physical Facilities & Stationary Engineering CareSTL Health

Anthony “Redd”

Special Projects Manager, Mayor’s Office City of St. Louis

Lauren Preston Dir. of Communications &

Marketing

KIPP St. Louis

Stacey Pugh

Conference Service

Manager

Four Seasons St. Louis

Farrakhan Shegog Young Voices with Action, President Urban League of Metro. St. Louis

25% of stadiums in the league, according to Pro Football Talk.

In 2013, the Rams and the city of St. Louis went to arbitration over the deal. The arbitrators sided with the Rams and called for a $750 million investment in the dome.

The investment was not made, putting the city in violation of the lease.

The Rams would relocate back to Los Angeles in 2016.

On April 12, 2017, the city sued the NFL for the team’s relocation

Williams Owner/Artistic Director Kode Redd

Morgan D. Williams Program Manager, DE&I Ameren Corporation

Tickets to the 12th annual Salute to Young Leaders Networking Awards Reception are $50 each, which includes beverages and heavy hors d’oevres, can be purchased by visiting stlamerican. com. It is strongly recommended to buy tickets early as a sellout is anticipated.

process.

The NFL and all 32 teams were listed as defendants in the case, with St. Louis seeking damages and restitution of profits from the Rams’ move. In November 2021, the case was closed with a $790 million settlement to be split between the city, St. Louis County, and Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority. The attorneys that represented the plaintiffs netted a reported 35% of the settlement amount which came to $276.5 million.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

PARTICIPANTS NEEDED FOR A RESEARCH

We want to learn more about the brain chemistry of people who have Schizophrenia, Schizophreniform Disorder, and Schizoaffective Disorder

18 - 55 years old

Black/African American or White/Caucasian Schizophrenia Schizophreniform Disorder or Schizoaffective Disorder Who is eligible?

5 in-person visits

End-of-Summer Programs at the Missouri History Museum and Soldiers Memorial

By the Missouri Historical Society

If “visit a museum” is still on your summer to-do list, the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park and Soldiers Memorial Military Museum in downtown St. Louis offer exhibits and a variety of programs for audiences of all ages.

You could earn up to $1,200 We can provide transportation to & from study visits

If interested scan this QR code and enter 777, then enter your contact information and we will call you to tell you more about the study!

Or contact: or

Demetrius Perry 314-747-5514 perry demetrius@wustl edu

Avi Klein 314-362-3675 avijklein@wustl edu

On Thursday, August 17, come to the Museum for a dose of disco fever and vogue the night away at Pride DJ Night Craig Greene and other local LGBTQ+ DJs will spin memories and music from the local clubs of the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, and beyond from 5:00pm to 10:00pm in the Grand Hall. Featured DJs include Ralph Drake, Mary Carpenter, Angela White, and Brandon Reid. Food and drinks will be available for purchase from Sugarfire. Take a break from dancing to explore the Museum’s exhibits, including the St. Louis Sound continuing hallway exhibit on the second floor. This program is associated with Gateway to Pride, presented by the William A. Kerr Foundation and AARP St. Louis.

While older kids head back to school, the Museum’s storytelling program encourages younger children’s love of learning every week with Storytelling in the Museum and Cuentos en el Museo. Children ages 2–6 and their families can visit the History Clubhouse at 10:30am on Fridays, August 18 and August 25, for a 30-minute story time. The August 25 story time will be presented in Spanish and English. This program will take place in person. The audience is currently limited to 30 people on a first-come, firstserved basis. Storytelling in the Museum is sponsored by PNC Grow Up Great.

On Saturday, August 19, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm, join the St. Louis African American History and Genealogy Society (STLAAHGS) at the Museum for a deep dive into researching your family’s history. Meetings include announcements, a presentation by an expert in the field of Black history and genealogy, and a question-and-answer session. Meetings are open to the public and STLAAHGS members. No genealogical experience is necessary. African American History Initiative (AAHI) programming is presented by Wells Fargo.

The Thursday Nights at the Museum program on August 24 features Living Legends: Heroes of the Millennium, an interactive program adapted from a poetry book co-written by Aja La’Starr Owens and Adrienne Draper. Their poetry will be illustrated through theatre, music, dance, art, and film to capture the depths of the Black experience through their eyes. Living Legends will pay homage to prominent Black men in the St. Louis community and encourage participants to celebrate their own family history

Visit mohistory.org/events for more information about these and other events.

and consider their role in creating and actively living out their legacy. The main presentation will start at 6:30pm. Join us at happy hour beginning at 5:30pm, with food and drink for purchase from the Key Bistro. Engage with resource tables and express your voice with magnetic poetry. Stop by the Museum Shop and enjoy a special 10% discount on the Missouri Historical Society Press book Standing Up for Civil Rights in St. Louis by Amanda E. Doyle and Melanie A. Adams. Soldiers Memorial invites you to a free indoor movie matinee on Sunday, August 27, at 2:00pm. This year’s movie selections are inspired by our exhibit Vietnam: At War and At Home. Based on a true story, Rescue Dawn follows Dieter Dengler’s fight to survive after he was shot down over Laos in 1965. The movie is rated PG-13 for some sequences of intense war violence and torture. Popcorn, beverages, and chairs will be provided, but visitors are encouraged to bring a camp chair for more comfort during this two-hour screening. This program is associated with Vietnam: At War and At Home, presented by Bank of America and Stephen and Camilla Brauer. The materials that make up St. Louis are hundreds of millions of years old. On Tuesday, August 29, at 11:00am, the Museum presents St. Louis Architecture Rocks. Join Community Tours Manager Amanda Clark in the Lee Auditorium for a journey through the city’s architectural geology as she investigates building materials from all over the world and deep inside the earth, from ubiquitous red bricks and limestone slabs to cast-iron balconies and granite pavers. This program is associated with Coloring STL, presented by the William T. Kemper Foundation, and an education sponsorship provided by JSM Charitable Trust.

Hawthorn School closes its doors

St. Louis charter school announces closure shortly before start of school

By Kate Grumke

St. Louis Public Radio

An all-girls charter school in St. Louis announced Tuesday it is immediately closing, just one week before students were supposed to start the upcoming school year.

Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls had about 120 students enrolled two years ago, according to the state. Now families and staff are looking for new schools as many districts start within days.

Kierra Williams’ daughter is going into eighth grade and was supposed to do so at Hawthorn.

“I’m just a little frustrated right now, a little sad for my baby, and I have to figure something out because school starts next week, and I do not want her to be behind at all,” Williams said.

The school opened in 2015 and claims to be the first all-girls public school in Missouri. It had students in grades 6-12 and graduated its first class in 2021. The school is located on

North Kingshighway.

In a letter to families, the school’s board chair and head of school said Hawthorn had seen a recent drop in enrollment that created program and budget constraints.

“While we have operated well as a small school, the prohibitive per-student cost of providing a quality educational program for our small student body has led us to this extremely difficult decision,” the school leaders wrote.

The letter blamed the enrollment drop on St. Louis’ overall population decline and the ongoing effects of the pandemic.

On Tuesday, bright yellow signs encouraging students to enroll were still decorating the school’s lawn; as recently as four days ago, the school was calling for new students to enroll on social media.

Teachers were already back at school to prepare for the year, said the school’s Facebook page.

In response to a request for an interview, a school official told St. Louis Pub-

lic Radio: “We are working furiously to support our staff and students. This is our priority at the moment.”

The school said in the letter that it will help families find “quality school placements” in the coming weeks. It also said it would work with staff members as they transition to new positions for the upcoming school year.

Washington University was the school’s sponsor. In a written statement, a university spokesperson said: “We support the difficult decision made by the Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls Board of Trustees to close the school. We know this action was not taken lightly or without great consideration for the impact the closure will have on Hawthorn students, families and staff.”

Photo by Tristen Rouse / St. Louis Public Radio

Hawthorn Leadership School for Girls, in the Kingsway West neighborhood, announced its closure on Tuesday, shortly before the start of a new school year.

‘Taking Care of You’

On path to improving heathcare for the underserved

Urban League, SSM Health, Siemens

Healthineers team up to improve regional healthcare

The Urban League is joining with SSM Healthcare and Siemens Healthineers

employment opportunities in the field of radiologic technology. From left

an

North America Imaging Sales SVP; Michael P. McMillan, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis president and CEO; David Pacitti, Siemens Healthineers president and head of the Americas, Siemens, Michael Holmes, Urban League regional vice president of workforce, and Jeremy Fotheringham, SSM Health regional president.

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

The Urban League of Metropolitan of St. Louis and longtime partner SSM Health have a new ally in improving regional healthcare and creating career opportunities.

SSM Health and Siemens Healthine ers have announced a 10-year strategic partnership designed to expand access to high-quality care and training of future health care workers.

Siemens Healthineers, an international pioneer in medical technology, will provide SSM Health with access

n SSM Health and Sieme ns Healthineers have ann ounced a 10-year strategic partnership designed to expand access to high-quality care and training of future health care workers.

to innovations and best practices in diagnostic imaging, technology, and software. It will also offer education

and other on-site support.

To help advance health equity, the organizations will also jointly invest in programs that expand early detection and management of chronic disease for underserved and vulnerable individuals in the communities SSM Health serves, both urban and rural.

The partnership will help address a critical shortage of radiologic technologists by implementing local imaging apprenticeship programs, beginning with the local Urban League affiliate.

How Black doctors improve health outcomes

By Tinisha Cheatham

Data from the Association of American Medical Colleges shows about 5.7% of physicians in the United States identify as Black or African American, even though Black individuals make up approximately 13.6% of the overall population. In Maryland, where 31.4% of our population is Black, only 12.3% of physicians identify as Black.

Studies show that having a doctor with the same race or ethnicity improves outcomes, including time spent together, medication adherence, shared decision-making, wait times for treatment, cholesterol screening patient understanding of cancer risk, and patient perceptions of treatment decisions.

n Numerous reports have shown that Black people have worse health outcomes compared to their white counterparts.

From my involvement in Kaiser Permanente’s Good Health & Great Hair program, which brings health care to barber shops and salons in predominantly Black and Latinx Baltimore neighborhoods, I know that receiving healthcare from a trusted messenger makes a difference in addressing health disparities. Unfortunately, numerous reports have shown that Black people have worse health outcomes compared to their white counterparts.

Protecting Medicaid eligibility is major for Missourians

Heed these needed steps

By Clara Bates Missouri Independent

Missouri has begun checking the eligibility of everyone on its Medicaid rolls. Hundreds of thousands are projected to lose coverage in the state. Nationally, more than 3.7 million enrollees already have been stripped from the rolls.

“A lot of people got Medicaid during the public health emergency during COVID that had never had it before, so they’ve never had to go through the annual renewal process,” said Brandi Linder, community health coordinator at Missouri Ozarks Community Health, a federally qualified health center that assists with Medicaid renewals.

n “A lot of people got Medicaid during the public health emergency during COVID that had never had it before.”

– Brandi Linder, community health coordinator at Missouri Ozarks Community Health

Here are some of the things advocates and state officials want participants to know. 1. Renewal month is typically the

See MEDICAID, A13

in

initiative to create

are Jim Bertrand, Siemens

Photo courtesy of Urban League See HEALTHCARE, A13

See CHEATHAM, A13

Tinisha Cheatham

Continued from A12

The programs will expand employment opportunities, provide training, and foster mentorship for local youth through the Urban League’s Save Our Sons & Save Our Sisters initiatives.

“We are extremely excited to build on our longstanding relationship with SSM and join Siemens Healthineers in this groundbreaking partnership to recruit, train, and place women and people of color in a lucrative and growing career field,” said Michael P. McMillan Urban League President and CEO.

Radiologic technologists perform diagnostic imaging examinations on patients. MRI technologists operate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to create diagnostic images. According to the American College of Radiology, there is a 15.3% shortage of radiology technologists.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that radiologic and MRI technologist employment will grow 9% by 2020. Overall employment between 2021 and 2031 was projected to grow 6%, creating almost 17,000 each year on average over the decade.

The median annual wage for magnetic resonance imaging technologists was $77,360 in May

Medicaid

Continued from A12 anniversary month of first enrollment.

Missouri’s process of evaluating the eligibility of each person on its caseload will unfold over one year — the state began in June and will end with those due in May 2024.

Participants can view their renewal date on the Department of Social Services’ new online portal, but need a smartphone and an active email address to sign up for the required multi-factor authentication.

2. Participants should update their contact information with the state, especially mailing addresses.

The social services department “strongly encourages” all participants to do the following to “ensure they maintain

Cheatham

Continued from A12

Notably, Black women in America are three times more likely to die during or after childbirth. Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that in 2021, the U.S. had the worst maternal mortality rate in the nation’s history. And research showed Black infants experienced the highest incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in 2020.

A path for change

There is increasing evidence suggesting when physicians and patients share the same race or ethnicity, patient care improves dramatically.

‘Taking Care of You’

Save Our Sons staff recently discussed the program’s success with representatives from Siemens and SSM. The organizations are partnering with the Urban League to expand access to high-quality care and training of future health care workers through the Save Our Sons and Save Our Sisters programs.

2021, and the median annual wage for radiologic technologists and technicians was $61,370. Jeremy Fotheringham, SSM Health regional president, said the healthcare provider is working to ensure all people have access to high-quality, compassionate, and affordable care.

“But we can’t do this

coverage for anyone in their family who is eligible,” said spokesperson Caitlin Whaley:

• keep their address up to date — notifying the state if they’ve moved in the last three years;

• check mail regularly;

• and/or verify renewal date in the Family Support Division Benefit Portal. Participants can update their contact info online, in-person or by phone.

3. The participant will likely need to return paperwork to the state. In the first month of renewals, the agency renewed around onethird of those evaluated without needing to contact the participant for information, using existing data.

That paperwork will be sent to the participant by mail and will be a yellow form. The participant should receive the form 55 days before their annual

In a 2018 study, Black patients had improved outcomes when seen by Black doctors and were more likely to agree to preventive care measures. The results are clear: to improve care for Black patients, we need more Black doctors. There are steps we can take to spur change: Recruit from underrepresented communities: Partner with community-based organizations and schools to seek and recruit individuals from underrepresented communities. At Kaiser Permanente, diversity is at the forefront of our recruiting efforts. We are building a workforce of physicians and health care providers that reflects the diversity of the patients we serve. Provide support:

alone,” Fotheringham said.

“Siemens Healthineers shares our deep-rooted commitment to innovation, quality, and value. We are thrilled to partner with them in our mission to transform health care delivery and address the health equity gap in our communities.”

SSM Health, which serves the comprehensive

renewal is due. The state sends forms already partially completed with information it has about the participant.

• Review the pre-populated information the state filled out;

• Cross out anything that is not accurate and correct it;

• And be sure to sign the document before submitting it.

4. Participants could benefit from submitting the paperwork, even if they believe they’re no longer eligible.

Being removed from Medicaid due to being found ineligible — rather than simply not returning the form — could help a participant access other insurance, Oliver said.

That’s because the state is supposed to help facilitate a participant’s transition into subsidized coverage through the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance marketplace, if they

Implement programs to help professionals of color grow and succeed professionally. For example, Kaiser Permanente Business Resource Groups support employees from underrepresented groups such as Asian Pacific Islanders, LatinX or African Americans, through networking, mentoring, professional development and scholarship opportunities. Foster a culture of inclusivity: Conduct diversity and inclusion training for all employees and create policies and procedures that support diversity and inclusion in the workplace. At Kaiser Permanente, we have robust equity, inclusivity and diversity teams dedicated to providing up-to-date guidance on how to create and maintain an environment of respect

health needs of communities in Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin, is also expanding its relationship with Varian, a Siemens Healthineers company. Through Varian’s Advanced Oncology Solutions (AOS) portfolio, SSM Health can integrate oncology services, optimize the utilization

find them ineligible for Medicaid.

Additionally, he said, even if a parent is no longer eligible, children are often still eligible due to higher Medicaid income limits for kids.

5. If there are paperwork issues, eligible participants could lose coverage.

The state can end coverage for two reasons.

If the participant is found to be ineligible — because their income exceeds the allowed maximum, for instance, they will be deemed ineligible and lose coverage.

A participant can also lose coverage for what are called “procedural” reasons, meaning the state couldn’t determine the participant’s eligibility, generally due to paperwork issues.

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri helped the families submit the

and fairness. Address unconscious bias and micro-aggressions: Organizations must evaluate their own practices for biases in decision-making by analyzing data to identify disparities and their root causes.

Kaiser Permanente’s mission has prioritized equity, inclusion, and diversity for over 75 years, and we believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce reflective of the communities we serve builds trust and makes for a better place to receive health care, a better community partner, and a better place to work.

A quarter of our physicians in the Mid-Atlantic region identify as Black, 36 percent identify as Asian and 31 identify as white. Most of our physicians and physician leaders

of diagnostic imaging equipment and technology, improve clinical and operational effectiveness, and enhance patient outcomes, according to a release.

“Our partnership with SSM Health will serve the local communities, taking into account the social and environmental determinants that

paperwork to get coverage reinstated, Oliver said.

6. Participants can regain coverage if they act within 90 days of termination.

Enrollees have 90 days after the termination to submit required paperwork for reconsideration — rather than filling out an entirely new application for Medicaid. If they’re found eligible, they can get coverage reinstated.

Medicaid will retroactively cover care during that lapse, Whaley said.

Submitting the information within those 90 days allows participants to stay on the same health plan — retaining the same doctors, for instance. After the 90 days have passed, the participant needs to start from scratch and reapply for Medicaid.

7. The participant should be covered until they receive official

are female, and I’m proud to say I am one of three physicians-in-chief who identify as a woman of color.

Research from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that Black men seen by Black doctors agreed to more preventive services than those seen by nonBlack doctors. They also found that better communications and more trust played a role in this effect.

This research shows us that we can improve outcomes for our diverse patients when we have a diverse medical team.

According to research, Kaiser Permanente patients who identify as Black live nearly 10 years longer than the national average for life expectancy for Black Americans, showing the positive impact of our

influence patient health in support of long-term well-being,” said David Pacitti, president and head of the Americas, Siemens Healthineers.

“This relationship underscores our mutual commitment to providing quality care and making a positive impact in the lives of everyone, everywhere.”

notice of continued coverage or disenrollment. In the first month of renewals, around 34,000 determinations remained pending, or 29% of those who were due for renewal. Whaley said at least some of those pending were renewal forms submitted near the deadline which the agency was still processing.

8. Those who lose coverage may be eligible for plans through the Affordable Care Act. States are supposed to help those who lose Medicaid due to ineligibility transition to the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance marketplace, by transferring their information over. There is a special enrollment period for those who lose Medicaid which lasts from March 31, 2023 to July 31, 2024.

diverse physician team. It’s crucial to prioritize diversity in the medical profession and to work toward a future where every patient can feel safe, supported, and understood in their health care journey. National Minority Health Month offers a chance to renew our commitment to addressing health disparities and promoting equity. By increasing diversity and inclusivity, we will strengthen the health of our society and bring us one step closer to achieving total health for all.

Tinisha Cheatham is a family medicine physician at the Kaiser Permanente Lutherville-Timonium Medical Center and the physician-in-chief for Kaiser Permanente’s Baltimore service area.

Photo courtesy of Urban League

After school meals at area public library branches

Participating branches will serve a healthy, light meal along with activities for kids and teens Monday–Friday during the school year.

Partners with Operation Food Search

St. Louis American staff

St. Louis County and St. Louis city libraries and Operation Food Search are teaming up to provide after school meals to children at area branches starting August 21, 2023.

Participating branches will serve a healthy, light meal along with activities for kids and teens Monday–Friday during the school year. Meals must be eaten onsite and will be available free of charge for children ages 5-18.

The After School Meals program will be offered at the following St. Louis County branches:

Florissant Valley Branch, 195 N. Florissant Road S., Florissant, MO 63031

Monday-Friday, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Lewis & Clark Branch, 9909 Lewis-Clark Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63136

Monday-Friday, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Natural Bridge Branch, 7606 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, MO 63121

Buster Wortman was ESL’s ‘Original Gangster’

By James T. Ingram St. Louis American

In an America increasingly concerned with escalating crime and a racialized, stereotypical depiction of criminals as being African American males it might surprise some to hear that the most notorious and infamous gangster in East St. Louis history didn’t fit that profile.

Monday-Friday, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Prairie Commons Branch 915 Utz Lane, Hazelwood, MO 63042

Monday-Friday, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Weber Road Branch, 4444 Weber Road, St. Louis, MO 63123

Monday-Friday, 2:30-4:00 p.m.

After school meals well be offered at the following city library branches:

Baden Branch 8448 Church Drive, St. Louis, MO 63147

3-4:45 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Carpenter Branch, 3309 South Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63116. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

Central Branch 1301 Olive St., St. Louis, MO 630103. 4-4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

Julia Davis Branch 4415 Natural Bridge Ave., St. Louis, MO 63115 3:30-4:30 p.m. daily.

Walnut Park Branch, 5760 West Florissant Ave., St. Louis, MO 63120. 4-5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

His name was Frank L. “Buster” Wortman, a white son of an East St. Louis fire captain who began his downward spiral into crime by his late teens, after being arrested for burglary.

By the late 1920’s and early 1930’s he worked his way into the ranks of the bootlegging Shelton Brothers crime family as an enforcer for their southern Illinois operations.

However, his life changed during a raid of one the Shelton’s distilleries in 1933, when a federal agent was beaten, resulting in the arrest and conviction of Wortman. He spent seven years in Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary.

Upon his release in 1941, Wortman emerged as a more sophisticated criminal, organizing his own crime family, which drove the Sheltons out of southern Illinois and established what became known as Wortman’s Plaza Amusement Company.

Under that umbrella Wortman soon monopolized all illegal gambling; from slots, craps, card games and horse parlors to legitimate businesses such as taverns and trucking firms, soon becoming the kingpin of illegal gambling in southern Illinois.

And just as Al Capone became a key player in the criminal and political ecosystem of Chicago, Buster Wortman, a comrade of Capone’s, forged an extensive political grip on the Missouri- Illinois border and, particularly, on the politics of East St. Louis, IL, literally owning city hall and its occupants.

Wortman’s base of operations was the old Paddock Tavern in East St. Louis, a gathering place for fellow gangsters and his Collinsville home was famously surrounded by a moat to protect him from the

attacks of rival gangsters.

Even East St. Louis native and tennis legend Jimmy Connors reflects in his autobiography ‘The Outsider’ on often dining at the Paddock as a child, as his parents and his paternal grandfather (a former mayor of East St. Louis) were friends of Wortman’s.

On one occasion, he recalls that while dining there a group of hitmen burst through the front door, guns blazing, in hopes of killing Buster. Connors and his family were shielded from the barrage. It was later that Jimmy learned just how infamous Wortman was.

Wortman continued to control gambling and rackets and influenced the political landscape of East St. Louis until his death in 1968. Kassly Funeral Home of Collinsville managed the funeral and sendoff fit for a mafia godfather.

And if you make the short drive to Belleville, IL and Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Section K, Block 171, Lot 3 you will find his final resting place, a mere 12 feet from his arch enemy, East St. Louis police officer Robert “Tree” Sweeney.

God does have an exquisite sense of humor, even where gangsters are concerned.

Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com Twitter@JamesTIngram

THE FUTURE OF ST. LOUIS

STA R TS WITH SLDC.

Columnist

James T. Ingram

Frank L. “Buster” Wortman

The French connection

French

By Ashley Winters St. Louis American

French Creperie is a cozy French cafe located at 17409 Chesterfield Airport Road in Chesterfield that feels, smells, and has crepes that taste like you’re in France. The French theme mural gives a romantic yet whimsical flare. And the staff are decked out in French aprons greeting each customer with a hearty ‘Bonjour’.

Owner, Natacha Douglas has loved

By Stacy M. Brown / NNPA

Reid / St. Louis American

Democratic lawmakers want to raise the federal minimum wage to $17 per hour, and a St. Louis advocate spoke last week during a press conference in Washington D.C. in support of the effort. Frances Holmes, an employee at Busch

“It’s

“What

the popular French food since she was a youth—her hometown in Guadeloupe is a small island near the Caribbean owned by France where French culture is a part of their everyday life. The butterfly-shaped island is a combination of French and Creole cultures, cajun food, beignet, and Mardi Gras and of course, crepes are all a part of this small island’s culture.

“In French culture crepes represent love, especially in the house I grew up in. I use to make them a lot when I was

little, I use to make them for my family,” said Douglas.

French Creperie offers crepes, crepes, and more crepes! And each crepe has a French name, my personal favorite is the Deja Vu, a veggie savory crepe filled with baby spinach, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted bell peppers, pesto aioli with cheese choice of mozzarella, or Swiss—I choice Swiss.

However, Douglas spoke highly of

See FRENCH, B2

PeoPle on the Move

Ja’Net Daniels joins FOCUS St. Louis board

Ja’Net Daniels has been named to the board of FOCUS St. Louis. Daniels serves as agency chief operating officer for AssuredPartners, an independent insurance agency. She leads a change management program, consolidating multiple agencies into one. Prior to joining AssuredPartners in 2021, she spent over 20 years in the insurance industry leading operations and business transformation. A graduate of FOCUS Leadership St. Louis 2020-21, Daniels is a committee member of the St. Louis Forum and a mentor in the Professional Women’s Network.

Robert Jones rejoins Miriam School board

Miriam School and Learning Center announced the re-appointment of Robert Jones to the board of directors. Jones has two children who attended Miriam, and he feels compelled to help support Miriam in continuing its mission. Jones is retired from a career in education. The school program at its Lower/ Middle School is currently designed for children in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade who have learning, speech/language, sensory/motor, and attention disabilities. Through a team approach and small class size Miriam provides a variety of accommodations and curriculum modifications designed to meet the needs of each student.

‘Johnnie D’ named brand manager at Hot 104.1

Audacy has announced the appointment of ‘Johnnie D’ Glover as brand manager of Adult R&B 96.3 The Lou WFUNFM St. Louis and Hip Hop Hot 104.1 WHHL Hazelwood MO. Glover most recently served as program director of iHeartMedia Hip Hop 107.5 WGCI Chicago from 2017 until his position was eliminated in March. He originally joined iHeart Chicago as APD of WGCI and Adult R&B “V103” WVAZ in June 2015. He has also served as APD/morning show producer at “V103” WVEE Atlanta and held roles at WQHT New York, WPWX Chicago, and WPHI Philadelphia.

Natasha Douglas, owner of the

Creperie in Chesterfield, Mo.

Ja’Net Daniels

‘Johnnie D’ Glover

Hines

Ron Hines

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Photo courtesy of Courthouse News Service

Robert Jones

n “Wow. It really happened. I’m thankful, I’m blessed.”

– Indianapolis Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson on being named Week 1 starter

The St. Louis area remains a recruiting hotbed for all levels of college football and a new season is about to kick off. As another exciting year begins on the gridiron in just over a week, here is a look at some of the top players in the region to watch this season.

Joseph Anderson (Westminster Christian): A 6’5” 210pound senior defensive end who returns after having 52 tackles and four sacks last season. The Iowa recruit is also a state champion in the triple jump in track and field.

Robert Battle (East St. Louis): A senior quarterback who is beginning his fourth year as a starter with the Flyers. As a junior, “Pops” passed for 2,153 yards and 23 touchdowns while rushing for 733 yards and 11 touchdowns in leading the Flyers to a state championship. He has committed to Lindenwood.

Carson Boyd (Cardinal Ritter): The junior quarterback passed for 1,510 yards and 28 touchdowns and rushed for 561 yards and three touchdowns for the Lions, who won the Class 3 state championship last season.

Leontre Bradford (East St. Louis): The

Sports

InSIdE SportS

By Earl Austin Jr.

It’s time for area football stars to shine

senior defensive back anchored the back of the Flyers’ state championship defensive secondary with 110 total tackles, three quarterback sacks and an interception.

DJ Burgess (Parkway Central): The senior running back rushed for 1,710 yards and 29 touchdowns in leading the Colts to a Class 4 district championship.

Cameron Clayborn (Cardinal Ritter): The 6’3” 238-pound defensive end was a stalwart on

the Lions’ Class 3 state championship team as he had 96 tackles and nine quarterback sacks as a junior.

Zamier Collins (St. Mary’s): The 6’0” 240pound senior linebacker had 70 tackles and six quarterback sacks for a Dragons defense that powered its way to the Class 4 state championship last season.

Tionne Gray (Hazelwood Central): The 6’6” 295-pound senior returns as one of the top

two-way linemen in the area. He has already committed to Oregon.

Dierre Hill (Althoff): A talented junior running back who has moved over to the metro east area after two excellent seasons at Vashon. He is a two-sport standout who also excels on the basketball court.

Jude James (Francis Howell): The 6’3” 200pound senior had 119 tackles and four interceptions on defense and 27 receptions for 548 yards

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

and eight touchdowns on offense for the Class 5 state champions. He has committed to the University of Missouri.

Jeremiah McClellan (CBC): The senior wide receiver had 61 receptions for 1,103 yards and 18 touchdowns in helping lead the Cadets to the Class 6 state championship. The four-star recruit committed to The Ohio State University.

TyRyan Martin (East St. Louis): The junior running back rushed for 1,557 yards on 196 carries and 24 touchdowns in helping the Flyers to the IHSA Class 6A state champions. He averaged eight yards a carry.

Bryce Parson (CBC): The 6’3” 285-pound left tackle returns to anchor the Cadets’ offensive line that powered its way to the Class 6 state championship last season. He has committed to Ohio University.

Caleb Redd (DeSmet): A 6’4” 220pound defensive end who had 63 tackles and 21 quarterback sacks to lead the St. Louis metro area. He has committed to the University of Kentucky.

Adam Shipley (Francis Howell): The senior quarterback passed for 1,925 yards and 26 touchdowns and rushed for 872 yards and 13 touchdowns in leading the Vikings to the Class 5 state championship.

Ryan Wingo (SLUH): The 6’2” 200-pound wide receiver caught 41 passes for 785 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior. He is also a top kick returner. He is one of the top prospects in the state.

Antwon McKay (Cardinal Ritter): The senior quarterback passed for 1,654 yards and 16 touchdowns for the Lions, who won the Class 3 state championship. He has committed to Western Illinois.

Lane Kiffin turns rebel in support of Black football coaches

Seven years ago, the University of Mississippi marching band, The Pride of the South, ended its tradition of playing “Dixie” or any variation of the song during game days.

The Confederate flags that used to flap robustly in VaughnHemingway Stadium in Oxford are not tolerated either. This includes the state flag of Mississippi, which has the Confederate ‘Stars and Bars” in its design. The school dropped “Colonel Reb” as its athletic mascot in 2003 and replaced it seven years later with the “Black Bear” mascot. Some traditions never die. The bear’s name is Rebel.

game jumping and shouting while the band played “Dixie.” You talk about a surreal experience.

This was the school that would rather hold a deadly riot Sept. 30-Oct. 2, 1962, than have a Black student, James Meredith, take classes there. Enter Lane Kiffin, Mississippi’s current football coach. It’s a generalization, but you either love Kiffin or you hate him. He can coach, recruit, and win college football games –and he can drive you crazy with his caustic personality.

I saw Ole Miss host Arkansas on a fall Saturday night in 1990 in Jackson, Miss. “Dixie” blared throughout the contest, and I counted more than 100 of those flags in the stadium.

The most alarming part of the evening was watching Black players on Mississippi’s squad run onto the field before the

This is why college football – especially the SEC and Big 12 Conference – should listen as he calls his sport out for its lack of Black head coaches.

Kiffin gave wide receivers coach Derrick Nix, who is Black, the head coaching responsibility for his team’s first fall scrimmage last Saturday.

Following the scrimmage, he lamented the fact that there are no Black coaches in the SEC or Big 12. He said this led to him

giving Nix the opportunity.

“I hope coaches like Coach Nix that don’t get opportunities start getting opportunities because it’s ridiculous when we’re talking about two major conferences,” Kiffin said.

“[About] 80% of our players are minorities, but we have all white coaches. It’s a system that needs to be fixed.”

According to NCAA statistics, the Black player

Division 1 college football population is about 50%, which jumps to about 64% when combining all players of color.

Kiffin being Kiffin doesn’t change the fact that he’s right. Since its formation in 1932, the SEC has had five Black head coaches. Of the 65 Power 5 head football coaches, eight are Black. That’s 8.1%.

Kiffin’s father, Monte,

was a longtime and respected NFL coach.

“I remember my dad telling me a long time ago to be very grateful for what you have because this has not been a good profession for minorities,” Kiffin said.

“He used to say all the time: ‘I’m just telling you, there’s more Tony Dungys, there’s more Lovie Smiths, there’s more Mike Tomlins that never get the opportunity.”

A similar scenario played out on Saturday in the NFL. Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel gave head coaching responsibility to assistant head coach and defensive line coach Terrell Williams for the preseason game against the Chicago Bears.

“I think it will be a great opportunity,” Grabel told reporters after he announced his decision.

“It is well deserved. It’s something that I wanted to do.”

Hopefully many coaches, and administrators, are paying attention.

“The only way to overcome it is to have guys like Lane Kiffin to give opportunities,” Nix told reporters following the scrimmage. The Reid Roundup I was looking forward to shortstop Masyn Wynn, a potential future Black star for the St. Louis Cardinals, being called up from Triple A Memphis. That might have to wait until next season. Wynn suffered a “mild glute strain” last week and has not played since. There’s no rush. Let him heal…I also can’t wait to see Cincinnati’s phenom shortstop Elly De La Cruz in person, but it must wait until one of the final three games of the season at Busch Stadium, Sept. 29-Oct. 1…Someone please tell James Harden of the Philadelphia 76ers to shut up…When asked about Tom Brady’s seven Super Bowl wins, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes calmly replied, “I’ll strive to get as close as I can.”…Dusty Baker’s 2,161 managerial wins (as of August 14) put him in seventh place all time. If he returns next season to guide the Houston Astors, he could easily surpass the late Sparky Anderson (2,194.)

Earl Austin Jr.

Alvin A. Reid

Assistant coach Derrick Nix led Ole Miss during its first fall scrimmage.

Photo by Earl Austin, Jr. / St. Louis American

CBC wide receiver Jeremiah McClellan (in red cap) committed to The Ohio State University on Sunday, August 13, 2023, at a press conference in the school’s gymnasium. McClellan, who was joined at the table by his father Gerald McClellan, brother Nicholas McClellan, and mother Stacy McClellan, returns for his junior season with the Cadets.

Photo courtesy of olemisssports.com

Untress Quinn becomes first Black office managing attorney at Armstrong Teasdale

Untress “Trez” Quinn was recently named office managing attorney for Armstrong Teasdale’s Edwardsville, Illinois office.

Quinn, also a partner for the firm is a seasoned trial lawyer, focusing his practice on representing clients in disciplinary hearings in health care and educational settings, health care internal investigations, and the defense of medical malpractice and other catastrophic loss lawsuits. He has defended multiple complex litigation cases in both state and federal courts involving civil

rights, product liability, medical malpractice and wrongful death claims.

Prior to joining Armstrong Teasdale, Quinn spent roughly 15 years in private practice at St. Louis area law firms. In his most recent role, he served as team leader for his prior firm’s Correctional Medicine industry team where he managed and supervised a team of attorneys and paralegals.

Quinn was a registered nurse for more than 10 years, and has been involved in the health care industry for over 25 years

in total. Quinn was also a member of the U.S. Air Force Reserves for 13 years, where he achieved the rank of first lieutenant and was awarded the Meritorious Service Award. He was an honor graduate at the 3790th Medical Service Squadron for Medical Service Specialists at Sheppard Air Force Base in 1990.

Historically for Armstrong Teasdale, Steven Cousins became the first Black lawyer at the firm in 1980, and became the first Black partner in 1987.

Untress “Trez” Quinn was recently named office managing attorney for Armstrong Teasdale’s Edwardsville, Illinois office.

Charter launches free tuition program for full-time employees

Charter Communications Inc.

announced it will cover 100% of tuition costs for full-time employees pursuing select degrees and certificates through the new Charter Education

Benefit powered by Guild. The program will provide Charter’s more than 101,000 employees with better tools and support needed to start, continue or complete their education, expand their

skill sets and grow their careers with Charter.

The Charter Education Benefit provides employees with tuition-free access to a broad catalog of over 300 online programs and degrees from

more than 30 universities and learning providers including popular institutions such as Cornell, Purdue University Global, Southern New Hampshire, and University of Maryland

Global Campus. Charter also will cover qualified program-related expenses such as books, supplies and enrollment fees.

Participating employees are encouraged to pursue business-aligned

programs in highgrowth areas for Charter including Operations Management, Marketing, Project Management and Technology.

Wendy’s empowers entrepreneurs through new development fund

The Wendy’s Company has announced plans for the St. Louis market as part of its franchise recruitment initiative, Own Your Opportunity, utilizing its Build-to-Suit development fund to accelerate growth in the area. With this expansion strategy, financial barriers to owning a Wendy’s franchise in St. Louis will be significantly reduced,

giving individuals the opportunity to grow with an iconic and thriving brand.

Introduced in 2021 to fuel development efforts in the U.S. and Canada, Wendy’s created a Build-to-Suit development fund where the Company secures and builds restaurants in highopportunity trade areas, like St. Louis, and hands

over turnkey solutions to franchisees. As a result, Build-to-Suit provides a capital-light way for growth-minded franchise candidates in St. Louis to become a part of the Wendy’s System.

Build-to-Suit offers entrepreneurs an exclusive opportunity to own a Wendy’s restaurant while benefiting from a proven economic model and

ongoing support across marketing, restaurant operations, training and more. Franchisees will also receive unmatched access to leaders at all levels along with personal coaching and engagement along with a comprehensive operational and financial toolkit.

For more information visit www.wendys.com/ franchising

Ameren named to Black Enterprise’s list of best companies for DEI

Black Enterprise (BE) recently announced this year’s best companies for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). According to BE, “this list features a superb

group of publicly traded companies that have committed to ensuring a dynamic workforce, inclusive management, as well as other diversity-centered efforts. DEI initiatives are an indispensable aspect of creating a progressive workplace.” Locally based Ameren Corp. made the list.

Living It

Beyond comparison

Beyoncé’s BeyHive ‘shut down’ Dome Aug. 21

By Danielle Brown St. Louis American

On Nicki Minaj’s 2014 record “Feeling Myself,” Beyoncé rapped about making the world stop with her self-titled “Beyoncé” album with no word or mention about it prior to dropping. Beyoncé has since been shutting the world down with her extraordinary showmanship and professionalism as one of the greatest entertainers of all time.

Queen Bey will undoubtedly shut down the city of St. Louis [pun intended] during her visit Monday, Aug. 21 at The Dome.

The international icon is on the road with her first solo tour in seven years, Renaissance World Tour. The tour follows the release of her seventh solo album of the same name, “Renaissance,” which includes fusion of house music, disco, and serves as a love letter to the LGBTQ+ community, particularly Black folx. Fans get to hear Bey sing “Cuff It” (her longest charting solo hit), “Dangerously In Love 2” from her first album, the politically-charged “Formation” from her “Lemonade” album and more. The first leg of the tour showed love to her international fans. The show launched in Stockholm, Sweden. Fans that were attendees of the first show along with all the fans who saw clips online witnessed that Queen Bey aka Sasha Fierce [Beyoncé’s alter ego] is still giving her performances their all like her solo introduction to the world in 2003 and there’s no slowing down for the 41-year-old entertainer and multi-global superstar.

The Guardian reviewed her show in

UN-relenting emotion

St. Louis filmmaker premieres debut film Aug. 25-27

By Danielle Brown St. Louis American

Stockholm calling it “a dizzying threehour spectacular”.

“By rewiring dance music past in a sensory overload of truly stunning ambition and stamina, Beyoncé is writing some history of her own,” The Guardian wrote.

She debuted several other shows internationally before coming to the states. Paris is where her eldest child Blue Ivy, 11, made her stage performance debut

C8

The art of hip-hop

‘The Culture’ exhibition, SLAM Block

Party rock on Aug. 19

By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American

As The Saint Louis Art Museum readies itself to open The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Arts in the 21st Century, a lyric from the late Notorious B.I.G. came to mind for Audience Development Manager and exhibition co-curator Andrea Purnell.

“I think Biggie Smalls said it best,” Purnell said. “[You] Never thought that hip hop would take it this far.’”

Nearly three decades after Biggie’s lyrical props to hip hop in his 1994 breakthrough single “Juicy,” it has transcended into an art form in its own right. Popular culture has been remixed, with hip hop as the dominant underscore.

And hip hop has flexed its influence in every other cultural arena, from fine arts to fashion and food.

On Saturday, August 19, less than two weeks after what was generally accepted as the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, The Saint Louis Art Museum will illustrate

Roberto Lugo; “Street Shrine 1: A Notorious Story (Biggie)”, 2019; glazed ceramic; diameter: 54 x 27 inches; Collection of Peggy Scott and David Teplitzky; © Roberto Lugo

just how far hip hop has come by way of The Culture More than 90 works from artists of color inspired by and in tribute to hip hop – including homage to Biggie and many, many others – will be featured in the exhibition, which is a collaboration between the Saint Louis Art Museum and the Baltimore Museum of Art.

“I think The Culture just illuminates the way in which hip-hop is so full of forms and varieties,” Purnell said. “And we have not had an African American show in the ticketed exhibition space at the Saint Louis Art Museum for over twenty years. It’s more than a big deal.”

In addition to Purnell, the curatorial team for The Culture includes Hannah

Telling stories about life in a real, raw way is how St. Louis filmmaker Bruce Carlton Cunningham Jr. approaches his work. Rather than watering down narratives, Cunningham sees the beauty in focusing on plots that resonate with him and his North St. Louis and North St. Louis county roots. His feature-length film “UN-RESOLVED” premieres in St. Louis Aug. 25-31 at St. Louis Galleria 6 Cinemas and Aug. 31-Sept. 6 at MX Movies & Bar. He is directing and starring in the film.

The film’s official website’s description reads, “An ex-convict, just released from prison, attempts to make up for the lost time with his youngest daughter, who is dying, and to reconnect with his oldest daughter, who has befriended a deadly enemy from his past. As he attempts to do right by his children and start a new, quieter life, the pull of the streets and fate have other plans.”

Cunningham was inspired to write the concept behind UN-RESOLVED in 2007. He wrote a short (a condensed film) in 2007 and wrote the sequel for it in 2008.

Six years later in 2014 he attempted to write a longer film, but shelved the idea after not getting the results he wanted. He went back to the drawing board and started writing scripts for a feature-length film. From there he had auditions and went into production afterwards.

“I think that 2014 failure was necessary,” he said. “It had to happen or else I wouldn’t have made a feature length. I thank God that I did have that failure so it could be more than I expected it to be.”

Cunningham shot UN-RESOLVED in St. Louis with scenes spreading out to University City, O’Fallon Park, JeffVander-Lou neighborhood, The Ville, other places of North St. Louis city and scenes in North St. Louis County. He noticed studio films that were often filmed in St. Louis always showed scenes of The Arch from the viewpoint of East St. Louis, and mainly shot scenes of South St. Louis near The Hill and St. Louis City scenes in the Central West End.

Photo courtesy of facebook.com/beyoncé Queen Bey is on the road with her first solo tour in seven years, the Renaissance World Tour.

Photo: Neal Santos, Courtesy of Wexler Gallery

See Film, C8

STL Sites & Sounds

St. Louis American Calendar

Charity

Aug. 18, 8 pm: Legacy Institute’s Award Ceremony Fundraiser, The Pageant - $75-$600

Aug. 25, 6:30-9:30 pm: Hatz4Hearts presents Annual Pink Carpet Community Gala, Missouri Athletic Club - $60-$80

Community

Aug. 18, 6-10 pm: WEPOWER Weekend: The Garden Party 18, co-hosted with The Missouri Botanical Garden - $50

Aug. 19, 11 am-3 pm: WEPOWER Weekend: Building Community Wealth, Hyde Park - FREE

Aug. 19, 7-10 pm: Beats x Brews, Saint Louis Hop Shop - FREE

Concerts

Aug. 18, 8-11 pm: City Winery

St. Louis presents The Dirty Dozen Brass Band live in concert - $35-$42

Aug. 19, 8 pm: City Winery St. Louis presents Anita Wilson live in concert $28-$35

Aug. 19, 8-11:59 pm: Soulja Boy, The Hawthorn - $40.00

Aug. 21, 7 pm: BeyoncéRenaissance World Tour, The Dome at America’s Center

$50.50-$2,501.00

Aug. 24, 7-8 pm: Concerts in the Garden featuring Harvey Lockhart and the Collective, Reading Garden at the Sachs Branch in Chesterfield - Free

Aug. 25, 7 pm: Moneybagg Yo - Larger Than Life Tour, Chaifetz Arena

$49.50-$165

Aug. 25, 7:30 pm: T-DUBB-OLife Lessons Tour, Pop’s Concert Venue - $12

Aug. 25-26, 7 p.m., 10:30 p.m: Musiq Soulchild, City Winery St. Louis - $35-$42

Festivals & Fairs

Aug. 19, 8 pm: 1st Annual Queens of the Lou Music Festival 2023, Off Broadway - $15

Aug. 19, 1-7 pm: 9th Annual St. Louis

Aug. 18 - Aug. 19, 6:30 pm: The Smooth Jazz Cruise on Land, The Factory St. Louis

African American Artifacts Festival and Bazaar, Crown Square Plaza (Old North Historic District) - FREE

Aug. 19, 11 am-4 pm: Back-to-School Fair @ Clay Community Resource Center - FREE

Aug. 26-27, 2-10:45 pm: Evolution Festival, Forest Park $89.50-$449.50

Food & Drink

Aug. 18 - Aug. 19, 5-10 pm: Build Black Weekend: A Hackathon to Build Black Businesses, Heydays HQ

Religion & Spirituality

Aug. 19, 7-10 pm: We On Blast with Dee-1, The Advancing Church - $15

Talks & Lectures

Aug. 20, 1-3 pm: Beyonce Renaissance Concert Pre-Game Brunch, HeyDay HQ - $60

Literary Arts

Aug. 25, 1-2 pm: Author Talk: “Enslavement and the Underground Railroad in MO and IL,” The Field House Museum - FREE

Museums & Exhibitions

Aug. 18 - Aug. 25, 9:30 am-4:30 pm: The Saint Louis Science Center welcomes Mandela: The Official Exhibition FREE Networking

Aug. 23, 6-8 pm: From Feels to Facts: A candid conversation about colorism, HeyDay HQ

Theater

Aug. 18 - Aug. 25, 8-11 pm: “Ragtime” at Union Avenue Opera $55-$165 Aug. 18 - Aug. 20, 8:15 pm: Sister Act, MUNY $19-$120

Young Black churchgoers address dropping numbers

Photo by Kamille Lacy l The Hilltop

Former Howard University School of Divinity Dean Bernard L. Richardson closes out the Opening Convocation Ceremony on Sept. 16, 2022, at the Cramton Auditorium.

SEEKING EMPLOYMENT IN EDUCATION?

Cornerstone Center for Early Learning looking for lead educators. Good pay, benefits, and so much more. Additional information at https://www. cornerstonecenterstl. org/employmentopportunities/

UNITED STATES PROBATION OFFICER CAREER OPPORTUNITY #2023-16ILSP

Location: East St. Louis or Benton, Illinois Closing Date: August 25, 2023

The United States Probation Office for the Southern District of Illinois has a full-time vacancy for a United States Probation Officer. Please visit the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office website at http://www.ilsp.uscourts.gov and access the Human Resources tab for complete details of the position announcement and how to apply.

PART TIME CHRISTIAN MUSICIAN

Bible Way Baptist Church, would like to hire a part time Christian musician to play the keyboard. The hours will be Sunday mornings and Thursday evenings. If interested please contact (217)-502-2205 or (314)-496-9616

LEGAL COUNSEL (CLERK’S OFFICE –21ST CIRCUIT)

The St. Louis County Circuit Clerk’s Office (21st Circuit) is seeking a professional individual to provide legal research, analysis, technical support, representation in hearings, and interpretation of law to Judges, Commissioners, Circuit Clerks, or other administrators, in one of the largest judicial circuits within the Missouri State Court System. Work involves the performance of a variety of legal services and technical research duties in facilitating the smooth operation of a large circuit court or division thereof. Work includes preparation of memoranda or orders for Judges or Commissioners concerning cases before them or review of court procedures, rules, or statutes for a Circuit Clerk or other administrator. Work is performed under the general supervision of a Judge, Commissioner, Circuit Clerk or administrator and is reviewed through conferences and written reports. Note: All selected individuals will be required to submit to a background check. To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume, Attention: Human Resources (Legal Counsel), Circuit Court of St. Louis County, 105 S. Central Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105 or apply online at: https://mocareers.mo.gov/hiretrue/mo/osca/index.html. EOE. Please contact the Human Resources Department at 314-615-4471 (voice) or RelayMO 711 or 800-735-2966 if you need any accommodations in the application process, or if you would like this posting in an alternative format

SENIOR MANAGER OF EMPLOYEE RELATIONS

In the role of Senior Manager of Employee Relations, you will be an influential member of our Human Resources Operations team. You will work closely with people leaders and department heads in support of our employees across the country. Your work in employee relations will promote Safety National’s vision and Core Values and positively impact the employment experience for all throughout the company. To apply, please visit: https://www.safetynational.com/ careers-page/

SENIOR CENTER COORDINATOR/ ADMIN. ASSISTANT

City Seniors, Inc., an equal opportunity employer, is accepting applications for Senior Center Coordinator/ Admin. Assistant. Strong activity and planning skills a must. Call 314.352.0141 to apply in person. www. stlouiscityseniors.com Position may be funded through CDBG ad CDA.

The St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) is eagerly seeking candidates to join our team as we endeavor to bring economic justice to St. Louis City residents and communities that were disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

There are multiple 2-4-year limited term positions available, term of employment will vary for each position.

These positions will assist in the administration and implementation of various Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund (SLFRF) Programs targeted for households, small businesses and communities adversely impacted by the pandemic.

All positions will be funded in whole or in part through an allocation of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) from the US Department of the Treasury and the City of St. Louis’ Community Development Administration.

To see the full job description of positions available and to apply online go to: http://www.stlouis-mo.gov/sldc/ and click on “Careers at SLDC.” SLDC is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity.

To apply, please visit: https://www. safetynational.com/careers-page/

Manager Patient Accounts Position manages account posting and/or receivable and collection activities of department to maximize income from services rendered. Provides reporting on accounts reimbursement and/or accounts receivable activity, income budget forecasting and implements service orientation for patient accounts office. Required qualifications include: Equivalent of Bachelor’s degree in related field with five or more years of experience in supervision. To apply, visit: Join WashU! (myworkdayjobs.com)

JR76711 Research Lab Supervisor - Neurology

Dr. Randall Bateman seeks a Research Lab Supervisor to oversee the Bateman Lab and SILQ Center’s lab and staff. Dr. Bateman’s laboratory focuses on the causes, diagnosis and future treatments of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and directly measures the pathology and pathophysiology of AD in humans using multiple techniques. The lab discovered and developed the first blood tests for Alzheimer’s disease now being used in the clinic and is helping to develop the next generation of treatments for AD by measuring the effects on the biology of the disease. This position encompasses multiple supervisory responsibilities including oversight of laboratory personnel, research projects, equipment and laboratory processes.

JR76589 Senior Manager Medical Education Programs - Orthopedic Surgery Manages department’s educational activities in conjunction with department administrative leadership, Program Director and/or Vice Chair for Education to advance the department’s strategic goals regarding clinical and scientific education. Provides oversight, training and education of administrative team which may include managers, residency /fellowship coordinators, assistants, etc. Ensures departmental coordination with institutional resources/stakeholders (GME Office, DBBS, etc.). Participates in professional education societies, identifies trends in educational programming and provides subject matter expertise to leadership.

JR76354 Privacy Compliance Educator - Faculty Practice Plan

The position is responsible for the development and implementation of a compliance education program which fosters privacy awareness and compliance with applicable regulations, standards and policies. Position also facilitates privacy incident reporting and investigation and assists in the prevention of breaches. Oversees, develops and delivers initial and ongoing privacy education and training to the workforce. Facilitates and promotes activities to foster privacy awareness and compliance. Provides compliance advice and guidance to all departments on privacy matters to ensure compliance with applicable regulations, standards and policies. Manages privacy incident reporting, response, mitigation and investigation processes; prevents breaches of protected health information.

JR76286 Director of Business Operations (Finance) - Pediatric Central Administration Position is responsible for managing and directing the financial affairs of all financial and system support activities within the Department of Pediatrics including management of accounting and finance personnel. Also oversees payroll operations. Prepares, creates, coordinates and prioritizes financial operations for the entire Department operating budget. Oversees the process for annual budget preparation as well as

and

nual Operating and Maintenance Expense Report. Develops

and procedures for

St. LouiS american Bids & Public Notices St. LouiS american

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

PARIC Corporation is requesting proposals for the Geothermal wellfields on Missouri University of Science and Technology’s new Protoplex Research Facility located in Rolla, Missouri. The scope of work we are seeking proposals for include well drilling of 200 plus wells, piping, header work and stub up into the main building, with minor site prep work including SWPPP plan. You can find additional design guidelines on UM system website here: https://www.umsystem.edu/ums/fa/facilities/ guidelines/ (Click on Section 3 Design Guidelines and then click on Division Guidelines hyperlink). If you have questions or would like further information on this project, please contact Chris Lucas (clucas@paric.com) at 816-534-4678.

Construction is slated to start October 2023 and be substantially complete by June 18, 2025.

Bids are due 8-25-23 at 10:00am

PreBid meeting will be held on 8-11-23 at 10:00am

The project is tax exempt, and has MBE and WBE goals according to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 11.4% Minority participation and 6.9% Female participation in each trade.

The Project will be subject to prevailing wages per Missouri Division of Labor Standards Annual Wage Order for Phelps County.

All bids should be delivered to Paric via e-mail (bids@paric.com) or fax (636-561-9501).

PARIC CORPORATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for the Mason Road Resurfacing and Multi-Use Trail project, St. Louis County Project No. AR-1746, Federal Project No. STP-5574(606) will be received electronically thru the County’s Vendor Self Service portal at https://stlouiscountymovendors. munisselfservice.com/Vendors/default.aspx, until 2:00 PM on August 30, 2023

Plans and specifications will be available on July 31, 2023 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www. stlouiscountymo.gov) or by contacting Cross Rhodes Print & Technologies, 2731 South Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118 (314) 678-0087. DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ST. LOUIS, COUNTY

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

PARIC Corporation is seeking proposals for the following project: BADEN SCHOOL APARTMENTS located at 8724 Halls Ferry Rd. St. Louis, MO

The project consists of the renovation of the historic building into 50 Apartments. We are currently soliciting bids for the following scopes: DEMOLITION, CONCRETE, CEMENTITIOUS FILL, MASONRY RESTORATION, STONE, STRUCTURAL STEEL, WATERPROOFING, ROOFING, SHINGLES, FIRESTOPPING, SHEET METAL FLASHING AND TRIM, LATH AND PLASTER, INTERIOR FINISHES, EARTHWORK, PAVING, FENCES AND GATES, PLANTS / LANDSCAPING, SITE UTILITIES. Access to documents is available from our Smartbid link. If you do not received a bid invitation please send your company information to tlalexander@paric.com.

A PREBID meeting will be held on 8/8/23 at 1:00pm at the project site

Questions / RFI’s are due to Paric by August 25th, 2023

BIDS WILL BE DUE ON September 6th, 2023 @ 11:00am

Send all questions to Andrew Kalicak (AKalicak@paric.com) or Michael Skalski (MSkalski@paric.com)

Job will have prevailing wage requirements

Goals for Construction Business Enterprise

• 21% African American

• 11% Women

• .5% Asian American

• .5 2% Hispanic American

Goals for Workforce (field) participation

• 25% Minority

• 7% Women

• 20% Apprentice

• 23% City of St Louis Resident

All bids should be delivered to PARIC via e-mail (bids@paric.com) or fax (636-561-9501).

PARIC CORPORATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center requests proposals from qualified and experienced firms to perform Project Management Services for Pre-Construction Study and Planning. The project will include assessing three buildings within 39 North AgTech Innovation District for use as “graduate” space in the ag-tech sector. A copy of the complete RFP is available at: https://39northstl.org/careers/. To be considered, proposals must be received no later than 4pm CT on Friday, September 1, 2023.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE STLCC MERAMEC MO PROJECT

Clayco, Inc. is seeking bids for the MECHANICAL / ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT BID PACKAGE (this is for equipment only)

Please contact John Sabo, saboj@claycorp.com to request a set of plans/ specifications and/or more information about this project.

BIDS DUE ON 08/31/23 @ 10:00 AM.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Requests for Quotes, Bids and Proposals are posted online for public download. Please navigate to www.msdprojectclear.org > Doing Business With Us > View Bid Opportunities

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace FreezersCentral Services Building, Tipton Correctional Center, Project No. C2008-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 9/12/23. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Install Emergency Generator at Langsford House Youth Center, Project No. H2303-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, September 14, 2023, via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

To Advertise your Bids or Job Opportunity in the newspaper ad online please email Angelita Houston at ahouston@stlamerican. com

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

• Bid Package – Concrete Foundations / Slab on Grade Clayco, Inc. is seeking proposals for the STLCC –Meramec Campus, 11333 Big Bend Road, Kirkwood, MO 63122. The project consists of the construction of two new buildings and site work: Center for Emerging Technology (CET) and Financial Services and Enrollment Center (FSEC). Please contact John Sabo, saboj@claycorp.com to request a set of plans and specifications and/or more information about this project. BIDS WILL BE DUE ON AUGUST 25th, 2023 @ 10:00 AM St. Louis time. CLAYCO INC. IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

CITY OF ST. LOUIS

BOARD OF PUBLIC SERVICE

SECTION 001113

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

Electronically sealed bids for the hereinafter mentioned project will be received online by the Board of Public Service through Bid Express at https://www. bidexpress.com/businesses/20618/home?agency=true Proposals must be submitted before 1:45 PM, St. Louis Time, on Tuesday, September 12, 2023. The proposals will then be publicly opened and read.

The Bidder must pay $40 to submit a bid through the Bid Express Service. Monthly subscriptions are available.

Job Title: Renovations To Comfort Station At Saint Louis Place Park Letting No.: 8762____________________________________________

Authorizing Ordinance: 71656___________________________________

Contract Time: 90 working days__________________________________

Schedule Related Liquidated Damages Per Day: $100.00

Project Contact Person, Email: Shannon Davis, Program Specialist I, davissh@stlouis-mo.gov

Estimated Cost: $179,352.25_____________________________________

Bid Deposit: $4,708.81__________________________________________

Bid Opening Location: Via Zoom, https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83445052494?pwd= eHZvQIRESxmxBREhJWjZFLzVBcitSUT09

(Passcode: 621348)

The proposed Work includes: The project consists of renovating the existing comfort station building to accommodate new men’s and women’s restrooms with ADA-compliant entrance door and fixtures. The roof will be replaced and the masonry tuckpointed.

Plans, Specifications, and the Agreement may be examined online through Bid Express at https://www.bidexpress.com/businesses/20618/home?agency=true and may be downloaded for free.

An optional pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held at the existing Comfort Station at Saint Louis Place Park located at 2600-2798 Rauschenbach Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63106 on August 22nd 2023 at 10:00 AM.

All bidders are strongly encouraged to attend the pre-bid meeting. Attendance at the pre-bid meeting is considered an important element of a Contractor’s Good Faith Effort to maximize the utilization of M/WBE if M/WBE participation goals cannot be met.

Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State, and Federal laws (including M/WBE policies).

The right of the Board of Public Service to reject any or all bids is expressly reserved.

NOTICE REGARDING FAMILY COURT COMMISSIONER VACANCY (Family

/ Juvenile, Division 63)

TO ALL ATTORNEYS RESIDING IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI

The Circuit Court of St. Louis County, Missouri, announces that it is soliciting candidates for the position of Family Court Commissioner of the Circuit Court of St. Louis County.

Pursuant to section 487.080, RSMo., the Family Court has exclusive original jurisdiction to hear the following matters including but not limited to proceedings governed by Chapter 452, Chapter 453, Chapter 455, Chapter 210 and Chapter 211. Applicants must be willing to serve in a domestic relations assignment and/or a juvenile court assignment.

The Circuit and Associate Circuit Judges en banc will make the appointment for a term of (4) years at an annual salary of an associate circuit judge, payable by the State of Missouri.

Missouri law requires the Family Court Commissioner(s) to possess the same qualifications as a circuit judge, including those set forth in the Missouri Constitution, Article V, Section 21, to wit, they must be qualified voters of the state for the three years preceding their selection, residents of St. Louis County, Missouri for at least one year, at least thirty years old, licensed to practice law in Missouri; and possess all other qualifications as required by law. (See Chapter 487 R S Mo.)

Questionnaires and Candidate Instructions may be obtained by sending a resume and cover letter to St. Louis County Family Court, ATTN: Human Resources, 105 S. Central Avenue, Clayton, Missouri, 63105, or via email to SLCCourtJobs@courts.mo.gov. Completed questionnaires must be submitted in writing to St. Louis County Family Court, ATTN: Human Resources, 105 S. Central Avenue, Clayton, Missouri 63105, or via email to SLCCourtJobs@courts.mo.gov on or before August 31, 2023. The appointment is scheduled to take place upon a vote of the Court en banc on or about September 13, 2023. EOE. Please contact the Human Resources Department at 615-4471 (voice) or RelayMo 711 or 800-735-2966 if you need any accommodations in the application process, or if you would like this posting in an alternative form.

OFFICIAL NOTICE BY THE CITY OF PAGEDALE OF CONDEMNED PROPERTY LOCATED AT 7110 ROBBINS AVENUE, CITY OF PAGEDALE, MISSOURI 63133

ADDRESS #: 7110 ROBBINS AVENUE, CITY OF PAGEDALE, MISSOURI 63133

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES:

Real property located at 7110 Robbins Avenue, in the City of Pagedale, Missouri, is hereby declared to be unfit for habitation and is dangerous and detrimental to the health, safety, and welfare of the community and constitutes a nuisance as described in Section 505.020, 505.030 and 505.040 of the Pagedale municipal code book because the property is collapsing in on itself and abandoned. It is unfit for occupancy and poses a serious risk to the residents of the City of Pagedale, Missouri. If YOU are an interested party, YOU will have 15 days from the last day of publication of this notice to remedy the situation. Specifically, pursuant to section 505.060 of the Pagedale City Code, please be advised:

(1) The owner must vacate, vacate and repair, or vacate and demolish said building and clean up the lot or property on which the building is located in accordance with the terms of the notice and this Chapter.

(2) The occupant or lessee must vacate said building or have it repaired in accordance with the notice and remain in possession; and/or

(3) The mortgagee, agent or other persons having an interest in said building as shown by the land records of the Recorder of Deeds of St. Louis County may, at his/her own risk, repair, vacate or demolish the building and clean up the property or have such work done.

A copy of the Building Inspectors full report and notice may be obtained at the City of Pagedale City Hall located at 1420 Ferguson Avenue, Pagedale, Missouri 63133.

If you do not comply, the City of Pagedale will proceed with the condemnation/ demolition process. After 15 from the last day of publication of this notice, a placard will be placed on the structure which states that the structure is herby declared condemned.

If anyone has any questions regarding this property and/or the condemnation/ demolition process please contact the City of Pagedale City Clerk at 314-7261200 between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

St. LouiS american Bids &

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Comprehensive Safety Action Plan

11:00 AM

Question Due Date: August 25, 2023

Bid Due Date: September 12, 2023 M/WBE

A

Point of Contact: Gigi Glasper

may also be obtained by visiting our website at www.flystl.com/business/contract-opportunites.

Robert Salarano Airport Properties Division Manager

East-West Gateway is seeking submittals from consultants to develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan for the St. Louis Region. Submittals are due no later than 1:00 p.m. on September 11, 2023. Submittal details and specifications can be obtained at www.ewgateway.org

THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT (DISTRICT)

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District), the Owner, will receive sealed bids for Infrastructure Repairs (Rehabilitation) (2024) Contract A under Letting No. 13020-015.1, at its office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 2:00 PM, local time, on Tuesday, September 12, 2023. All bids are to be deposited in the bid box located on the first floor of the District’s Headquarters prior to the 2:00 p.m. deadline. Bids may, however, be withdrawn prior to the opening of the first bid. BIDS WILL BE PUBLICLY OPENED AND READ IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BID DUE DATE/TIME AT 2350 MARKET STREET.

The Work to be performed under these Contract Documents consists of: The rehabilitation of approximately 108,599 lineal feet of sanitary sewers varying in size from 6-inch to 30-inch in diameter, utilizing cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) methods. The project is within the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Boundaries, inside the city of St. Louis and various municipalities in St. Louis County and unincorporated St. Louis County in the State of Missouri. The work will be performed in various quantities at various sites.

All prospective bidders must prequalify in the Cured-In-Place Pipe (CIPP) category and be certified prior to the Bid Opening. Prequalification forms for obtaining said certification may be obtained from the Owner at the above mentioned address. All bidders must obtain drawings and specifications in the name of the entity submitting the bid.

This project will be financed through the Missouri State Revolving Fund, established by the sale of Missouri Water Pollution Control bonds and Federal Capitalization Grants to Missouri. Neither the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, its divisions, nor its employees will be party to the contract at any tier. Any Bidder whose firm or affiliate is listed on the GSA publication titled “List of Parties Excluded from Federal Procurement or Non-Procurement Programs” is prohibited from the bidding process; bids received from a listed party will be deemed non-responsive. Refer to Instructions to Bidders B-27 for more information regarding debarment and suspension.

Nondiscrimination in Employment: Bidders on this work will be required to comply with the President’s Executive Order 11246. Requirements for bidders and contractors under this order are explained in the specifications.

Plans and Specifications are available from free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 2731 S. Jefferson Ave St Louis, MO 63118. The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer and invites the submission of bids from Disadvantaged, Women and Minority Business Enterprises.

This project is being financed through the Missouri State Revolving Fund, by the Water and Wastewater Loan Revolving Fund and federal Capitalization Grants to Missouri.

REQUEST FOR BIDS

University of Missouri – Arts & Administration Bldg.Infrastructure Utility Color Art Construction, a general contractor is seeking competitive bids to renovate the University of Missouri – St. Louis (UMSL) – Arts & Administration Building – Infrastructure Utility. This project consists of a partial selective removal of the existing Arts & Administration Building (AAB) to relocate and accommodate the Departments of Music and Art + Design. The Department of Music currently occupies a portion of the AAB on the upper level. Demolition shall consist of the selective removal of all existing construction within the selective removal work area as indicated in the Drawings. Existing conditions to remain shall be protected. Reference Drawings and Specifications for full scope of work. Electrical work shall consist of rerouting fiber optic and CAT6A cable to the existing data room to be coiled for renovation project Phase I. The main electrical service shall remain. The data room will be relocated during the following phase of the renovation project. The Electrical Contractor shall reference the Electrical Drawings and Keyed and General Notes for additional information and work. Project location is 200 Mark Twain Drive, St. Louis, MO 63121.

The project scope of work includes but is not limited to: Demo, Masonry, Concrete, Drywall, Flooring, Painting, HVAC, Electrical and Plumbing

A bid walk is scheduled for Monday, August 21st at 10:00am.

Bids should be emailed to Color Art Construction no later than: Thursday, August 31st at 5:00 pm.

Please email your bid or any questions to bidrequestsCAC@color-art. com.

SUPPLIER DIVERSITY PARTICIPATION GOALS:

The project has as a goal, subcontracting with MBE, WBE, Veterans, and DBE of twenty percent (20%) and three percent (3%) goal for SVDE of awarded contract price for the work to be performed.

REQUEST FOR BIDS

The Webster Groves School District is seeking bids for various projects, including: Independent Purchasing Contracted Services. Bid documents are posted. For more information please visit: https://www. bidnetdirect.com/ missouri/ webstergrovesschool district.

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace HVAC System at Scott Joplin House State Historic Site - Rosebud Cafe, Project No. X2201-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, August 31, 2023, via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

The St. Louis Economic Development Partnership and its affiliates (the “Partnership”) issue a Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) from architectural and engineering firms for various projects in 20232024, including projects at the Helix Center and MET Center. This is an “Open” RFQ to which the Partnership may refer as projects become available but shall not obligate the Partnership to issue a contract. The Partnership will accept submissions on a rolling basis. The RFQ may be obtained at https://stlpartnership.com/ rfp-rfq/

St. Louis Economic Development Partnership Equal Opportunity Employer

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

Great Rivers Greenway is requesting qualifications for professional services related to Civic/Community engagement. Go to www.greatriversgreenway.org/jobs-bids to apply by August 29, 2023.

Klemm, SLAM’s former associate curator of modern and contemporary art; Asma Naeem, the Dorothy Wagner Wallis Director of the Baltimore Museum of Art; and Gamynne Guillotte, the BMA’s chief education officer along with St. Louis native Rikki Byrd, the BMA’S curatorial research fellow and Carlyn Thomas, the BMA’s curatorial assistant.

The Culture comes to St. Louis this Saturday on the heels of a triumphant showing in Baltimore from April 5 – July 16, which was sold out by the end of its run. The show will stay at SLAM for the rest of 2023 – and will feature robust programming that compliments the exhibit that will extend from the museum throughout the region.

“The Culture aims to connect the local and the global by centering historically marginalized voices, both through the works in the show, and also through robust community engagement and commitment to local partners,” said Min Jung Kim, The Barbara B. Taylor Director of the Saint Louis Art Museum and Naeem said in their joint forward for The Culture’s catalog.

True to form for hiphop, the SLAM opening festivities for the exhibition will include closing off One Fine Arts Drive Saturday afternoon for a huge block party featuring St. Louis legends and influencers on the proverbial wheels of steel. The party will be in the same vein as when DJ Kool Herc became an instant icon at the now legendary back-toschool bash he held with his sister Cindy Campbell on August 11, 1973 in The Bronx – which is credited as the hip hop origin story.

The exhibition itself, however, is not a chronological timeline of hip hop through the lens of the visual arts. “As we started thinking about our project and how it would differentiate itself from the other projects, we thought, ‘What are we going to do differently to both add to that narrative and stand in our own space,’” Klemm said. “And what we came to was really centering the 21st century and really thinking about the last twenty years – and thinking about the ways in which hip hop, as a cultural phenomenon, has deeply impacted the

way contemporary artists create things, how they think about the world and what they are putting out into the contemporary arts sphere.”

Being intentional about highlighting local artists from the hip hop scenes of Baltimore and St. Louis within the story of hip hop’s global presence was also crucial

“In our work as a curatorial team, it became really important to us as we were thinking about the show to consider our own cities and all of the talents that lie within,” Purnell said. “Smino is one of the first images you see when

Beyoncé

dancing alongside her mother on stage. According to Blue’s grandmother, Tina Knowles Lawson, the preteen only had a week to practice for the tour.

“She is 11 years old, and she had one week to prepare, and she’s just getting better and better,” Tina told PEOPLE. “So I’m the proud grandma, always.”

Her US portion of the tour will have visited Toronto, Philly, Chicago, Nashville, and more before coming to St. Louis next Monday.

She has stunned with her fashions throughout the tour, wearing a chrome and metallic leotard, a corseted black mesh netted bodysuit with shimmer and chain detailing, a bumble bee outfit since she’s Queen Bey and more. The tour has also inspired fans to step their swag up and give their take on Renaissance Tour couture. Many recreating some of her most

Film

Continued from C1

He felt it was imperative to show the side of St. Louis that he and many others grew up with.

“I wanted to show where we grew up, what we see on a daily basis,” he said. “Other films might show things south of Delmar, but I’m showing north of Delmar where we grew up, especially St. Louis city [the north side]. There are a lot of spots a lot of us grew up in. These are spots where our families grew up, what resonates with us. Our memories are in these locations so why not put it there.”

Along with UN-RESOLVED being filmed in St. Louis, majority of the cast and crew is also from St. Louis and East St. Louis.

Elizabeth Mccormick, one of the leading actresses, is a firefighter for St. Louis Fire Department. Cunningham’s daughter Harmoni Marie also plays his daughter in the film. The film you guessed it features St. Louis artists

you walk into the space here. The Baby Phat brand (created by St. Louis native Kimora Lee Simmons) is really up and saluted. And even the visual artists are taking pride and place in the exhibition.”

A “so St. Louis” spin on Gordon Parks’ 1998 A Great Day in Hip Hop by Adrian Octavius Walker will most definitely be a hot topic.

A massive sculpture by Aaron Fowler pays tribute to the St. Louis hip hop footwear staple Air Force Ones – and through QR code technology gives a shout out to Nelly, the first breakout rap star of the

memorable show looks while others are innovative and stand out on their own.

Bey’s loyal Beyhive (her dedicated fanbase) aren’t the only ones basking in all of her Renaissance glory. Celebrities have also been spotted out enjoying the tour. From Mama Tina to Bey’s hubby Jay-Z to her childhood bestie and former group member Kelly Rowland to Tyler Perry and Vice President Kamala Harris, Hollywood has been out in droves showing their support and singing at the top of their lungs at her shows.

With past tours Beyoncé used her BeyGood foundation to be good by giving back to communities in different cities that are seen as marginalized and underserved. She’s done this by providing scholarships, internships, and entrepreneurship resources. Her efforts have continued with this tour. She’s already donated $100,000 in scholarship funding to Detroit School for Digital Technology and donated $120,000 to small businesses in Atlanta.

including DaVyne Truth who serves as the film’s music supervisor, Valencia Rush, Tommo, and more. Andrew Asemokai based out of Dallas, TX., did the film’s score.

Cunningham grew up in north St. Louis for quite some time until his mother decided to move him and his brother to North County for a better life.

“She didn’t want us getting caught up in that gang life,” he said. “As a Black mother raising two Black boys that can be impressionable and a lot of people went the street route. She didn’t want that for us because people were getting killed in the neighborhood. To avoid getting that phone call or that experience, she looked after our best interest, moving us out of that environment to a new environment.”

Cunningham became fascinated by film as a kid growing up in the 1980s. He remembers watching two movies in particular over and over in 1984 that inspired his film career. Those two films were “Legend” starring Tom Cruise and Berry Gordy’s “The Last Dragon”. “Watching those two

21st century. Other St. Louis and Missouri artists include Anthony Olubunmi Akinbola, Damon Davis, Jen Everett, Kahlil Robert Irving, Shabez Jamal and Yvonne Osei.

“The story of The Culture is that hip hop has a lot to say,” Purnell said. “It’s nuanced, and it is so much more than just the music. It’s a way of life for many people. And even if it is not for you, I hope that everyone who experiences the show can appreciate how much it means to other people – and how potent, how powerful the art form is.”

The SLAM Block Party will take place from 12 noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, August 19 along One Fine Arts Drive.

The Culture: Hip Hop and Contemporary Arts in the 21st Century opens August 19th and will continue through January 1, 2024 at The Saint Louis Art Museum. Tickets are FREE. For information and related programming from community partners, visit www.slam.org.

As her St. Louis fans prepare for her show, they have creatively come up with themed parties to celebrate her visit to the 314. Sing-along to the soundtrack of Bey at the Beyoncé Sunset Rooftop Party hosted at Live! By Loews rooftop terrace Sunday, Aug. 20, and enjoy gourmet food and drinks while wearing your best Renaissance outfits at the Beyoncé Renaissance Pre-Game Brunch also on Sunday at HeyDay HQ.

Carlos Basquiat, a model, choreographer, and dancer currently on the Renaissance Tour is hosting a vogue class at COCA Saturday, Aug. 19. The cost is $40 per dancer and can be paid for in cash at the door or electronically through Zelle or Venmo. Find more information here: https:// www.cocastl.org/calendar/ vogue-class-with-carlosbasquiat/.

Tickets for the Renaissance Tour St. Louis show are available on Ticketmaster’s website and Live Nation’s website.

films over and over inspired me to do this,” he said. “The 80s had a lot of content that inspired me to want to act and make movies.”

As he got older, he did theater in elementary school, took acting classes at Hazelwood Central High School and studied film in college. He received his bachelor’s degree in video and film production with a minor in theatre from Missouri Western State University and received his masters in information technology from Lindenwood University.

“I study the greats and I don’t reinvent the wheel, I just duplicate it somewhat,” he said. “I have my own styles, but what helps me to create is music. I like all types of genres because certain pieces of music might spark a theme in my head. I continue to listen to that particular piece of music over and over and over again for years and keep that scene in my head until I’m ready to write it.”

Learn more about UN-RESOLVED, here: https://un-resolved.com/