June 6th, 2024 e-Edition

St. LouiS AmericAn

Gabe Gore notes progress, challenges

By Sylvester Brown Jr.

The St. Louis American

As someone running in his first political race, St. Louis Circuit Attorney, Gabe Gore, finds himself in an enviable position. He has no Democratic challenger in the primary. Because the city is overwhelmingly Democratic, he’s heavily favored to win the general election in November.

Three days after the former Circuit Attorney, Kim Garner, resigned from office, Gov. Mike Parson appointed Gore after 18 candidates, including five judges, applied for the position. He’s been in that position for approximately one year.

Since he’s not consumed in a heavily competitive contest, Gore instead seems to be focusing on informing voters of what he’s accomplished in the past year. That includes the progress he’s made in hiring more staff and addressing the huge backlog of cases awaiting warrants and/or pending homicide prosecutions.

Last week, Gore held a press conference at the Carnahan Courthouse to “update the community on

Since he has no Democratic challenger in the August primary St. Louis Circuit Attorney, Gabe Gore, finds himself in an enviable political position.

By Kenya Vaughn

The St. Louis American

On December 1, 2023, a switch was flipped that brought Foxy 106.9 FM to St. Louis airwaves and the internet. At only six months old, the station feels as if it has always been around. That was the whole point.

Foxy 106.9 was established to remind listeners of the good old days of local Black heritage radio stations like KATZ, WESL 1490 and KMJM Majic 108 FM – and in more ways than just its musical format that includes R&B hits and throwback jams.

“We strive to be the heartbeat of St. Louis,” said Jeanne Roberts Johnson.

“Everyone is still getting the groove of everything, but it is coming together. And the responses we are getting – people say, ‘we’ve been waiting for this.’ They are hype about it. It makes me excited that they are reacting the way we hoped that they would.”

She and twin brother Michael V. Roberts Jr., Esq. are co-owners of the station along with their father Michael V. Roberts Sr. Collectively they are known as Roberts Metro Broadcasting. Roberts Johnson serves as General Counsel and Chief Financial Officer, Michael V. Roberts Jr. is the company’s Chief Operating Officer. Her husband Jay Johnson serves as chief strategy officer and the elder Roberts is referred to as Jeanne Roberts Johnson

By Lacretia Wimbley St. Louis Public Radio

Missouri Central School Bus, which provided transportation for thousands of St. Louis Public Schools students, came under fire in February after a diesel mechanic claimed a noose was intentionally placed near his workstation.

St. Louis city NAACP President Adolphus Pruitt said that every month since January, people including various construction workers, as well as an employee from the city’s refuse department, have reported cases of nooses being hung and displayed as an intimidation tactic in their workspaces. Black workers have been called racial slurs in some instances, and contractors and construction workers are being subjected to unsafe working conditions, Pruitt said. “In the St. Louis region, violence is not the only

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

While the U.S. Constitution does not forbid a convicted felon from serving as president, Congresswoman Cori Bush is among many that are challenging Republicans to not nominate him later this summer.

Congresswoman Cori Bush was in St. Louis on the afternoon of May 30, 2024, when the verdict finding former President Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records was announced.

The following morning at the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Bush said Trump “should not be able to be the [presidential] nominee for the Republican Party.”

“No one is above the law. At the end of the day, we all have to be responsible for our actions.”

The courtroom was silent as the jury’s verdict was read aloud: “Guilty, guilty, See BUSH,

See GORE, A6

Photo courtesy of Restore St. Louis

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Is Sunny Hostin a stalker or steadfast parent?

She says she isn’t stalking, but The View host Sunny Hostin admits to tracking her kids’ movements via an app, according to an Entertainment Weekly report

During a segment last Monday, Hostin said, “I have an 18-year-old about to go to college,” referring to her daughter, Paloma.

“When my son [Gabriel] was 18 and about to go to college, he said, ‘Oh, so I’m going to take the tracker off.’ My response was, ‘Are you getting a new phone? Because the phone I pay for comes with a tracker.

“My kids are on it, [my husband] Manny and I are on it. It’s a family circle. There are

also driving speeds. It’s a safety precaution.”

As EW also spicily added, “Hostin’s insistence on tracking Gabriel, 21, might come in handy, as she can now see if he answered Sherri Shepherd’s thirsty call for him to come clean her swimming pool.”

Sean Kingston jailed in Florida

2000s hitmaker Sean Kingston was arrested after extradition and was booked into a Broward County, Florida jail on Sunday June 2, 2024, jail on nine felony charges, including counts on fraud and grand theft. Kingston and his mother, Janice Turner, 61, are facing multiple

charges that occurred between October 2023 and March 2024. The duo are accused of stealing around $500,000 worth of jewelry, a $160,000 truck and over $80,000 worth of furniture. Kingston is probably best known for his 2007 hit “Beautiful Girls.”

City Girls confirm ‘break’ after low sales

Rap group featuring Yung Miami and JT confirmed the speculation that the two would be focusing on building their solo careers in reaction to their last LP only selling 10,000, despite features from Usher, Lil Durk, Juicy J, and Kim Petras.

thing, it just worked for her. And when I was doing my own thing, it worked for me. But when we got together as a group, it just wasn’t connecting.”

In February, Miami hinted at the disbandment with her first solo record in nearly three years, “50/50.” She called out DJ Akademiks and other detractors ‘praying on the downfall of Ms. Miami.’

Sexxy Red dumps Trump

“We [are] older now, and she was doing her own thing. She [is] on the West Coast; I’m in Miami. I’m doing my own thing. And I felt like naturally, when she [was] doing her own

Sexyy Red performed at the Roots Picnic last month with a giant MAGA hat on stage in the background, but instead, the hat read “Make America Sexyy Again.”

This week, she wanted her fans to know that she is not endorsing Donald Trump for president.

“It’s Sexyy Red 4 President [American flag emoji] I’m my own candidate I’m not endorsing anybody period [kiss emoji],” she wrote on X. Sexyy Red first spoke out about her support of Trump on a podcast last year.

Need more collaboration, not scapegoating

The hospitality industry employs roughly 90,000 people in the region and is a significant force in generating new revenue for St. Louis City and County and the surrounding areas.

The convention center is a vital tool for economic development. While owned by the City and located downtown, it supports not only businesses and workers in the area’s hotels and restaurants but employs union and nonunion labor for every large event held there. Much of what is needed to service those events comes from local companies.

The building has been successful in being competitive for many years, with national convention selection. St. Louis, largely because of the team at Explore St. Louis under Kitty Ratcliffe’s savvy leadership, has put together compelling bids to win business, massaging hotel managment to offers to attract deals, music and entertainment venues, and airlift opportunities.

It is important to note that her organization is a public agency that manages the convention center as part of its responsibilities. However, they do not own it, nor is the convention center team managing the project; that is done, as with all city projects, by the city. As operators of the building, this team knows the building, how it works, and what the needs are. Significantly, they have commitments to existing customers whose events occur while construction is going on, a heavy task to manage.

The plan to keep the building competitive received support from three Mayors and two County Executives as well as the City’s Comptroller and members of the Board of Alderman, all of whom know the critically important role the building plays in the success of the hospitality industry that helps our entire region prosper.

tracts for project management and architectural services and construction out to bid and would then oversee all invoicing and payments – half of which would be sent to the county for reimbursement.

Because of the COVID pandemic, the city delayed issuing bonds until there was a more favorable market for them and did so with success in October 2020. The county chose to wait until the city awarded contracts and started making payments. Market conditions were even better when the County Executive sent the standard request to the council to approve the bond documents in early July 2021 so they could go to market.

From there the project went awry.

Council Chair Rita Days announced that she was holding up the bond sale. Then it gets interesting. Clayco Chair Bob Clark gave the St. Louis Post-Dispatch an interview in which he offered an idea for a better plan and he provided a rendering showing the footprint of the Nashville Convention Center on top of the Dome at America’s Center, and also, interestingly, property that he owned with Larry Chapman and Paul McKee across the street commonly known as the Bottle District. That district was originally supposed to be leased to Northside Regeneration.

n St. Louis would be without a convention center for 4-to-5 years. How could that be good for our regional economy, especially when the Explore St. Louis team had already secured convention bookings as far out as 2030.

The “idea” was to tear down both the Dome and convention center and construct a new building in its place. A building that itself would have cost $1 billion, not to mention property demolition costs or the fact that, most importantly, St. Louis would be without a convention center for 4-to-5 years. How could that be good for our regional economy, especially when the Explore St. Louis team had already secured convention bookings as far out as 2030.

So why has this subject become so controversial? Fractured St. Louis leadership. Let’s begin with the County Council’s delayed approval of bonds that, in turn, held up the project start. The County passed an ordinance in April 2019 that approved funding half the project.

During the pre-COVID time, a reputable St. Louis construction firm estimated the costs to be $175 million, plus the cost of architectural design, project management and real estate acquisition, bringing in the total $210 million, 50% each from the City and County.

However, a clause was inserted into the ordinance by the Council that required the County Executive to bring back the final bond documents for Council approval. The fractured relationship between the Council and the County Executive would soon prove highly damaging to the project. In March 2020, the Council finally passed an intergovernmental agreement between the city and county explaining how the multi-jurisdictional project would be managed. It would be managed by the city’s Board of public Service., which would be responsible for arranging con-

And in that same month, colleagues of Clark, including Larry Chapman and Jeff Rainford, made political campaign donations to Council Chair Days. She held the convention center bonds up in the Council until April 2022, only then permitting the County to begin to go to market on their bonds. By then, costs had skyrocketed.

Is there an effort to find a scapegoat for determinants in this mess way beyond her control.

And now do we see Bob Clark a major advocate for calling for Ratcliffe’s head? Why is Ratcliffe responsible for these setbacks? Ratcliffe has received many awards from her national peers in the hospitality industry. It takes seasoned leadership, industry knowledge and experience, perseverance, and fortitude. If she is a target, she shouldn’t be. It’s not her fault. The blame for the cost overruns and delays clearly lies elsewhere.

Delays in the city of over a year, and in the County of over four years, to issue bonds saw costs projected in 2018 to climb steeply.

We need to see more collaboration, not rancor, between the City and County to make certain our convention industry is more competitive.

Commentary

Lock up convicted felon Donald Trump

By Keith Boykin

Donald Trump has been convicted of 34 criminal charges. The unanimous verdict by the New York jury marks the first time in American history that a former U.S. president has been found guilty of a cBrime.

The conviction should give Republicans a convenient off-ramp to find a new nominee, but they’re too far down the rabbit hole to use common sense.

The Constitution does not prohibit a “convicted felon” from running for president, so the verdict will not end Trump’s presidential campaign. But let this mark the end of the foolish conversation that Trump and Biden are the same. They are not. No matter what President Biden’s weaknesses, there is no other person in American history — past or present — as dangerous to democracy as Donald Trump. It was not the Biden campaign or the White House that convicted Trump. It was the unanimous verdict of 12 jurors, selected in a transparent process in open court. And while Trump politicized the trial by yapping his mouth at daily press conferences outside the courtroom for six weeks, he never once opened his mouth to testify inside the courtroom under oath.

in Florida, and federal charges for “conspiracy to defraud” the United States by plotting to overturn the 2020 election results leading up to the January 6 insurrection.

Those are just his criminal trials.

Trump has also been found liable in multiple civil trials. He was fined $454 million for fraud, $83.3 million for defamation, and ordered to pay a $5 million fine for sexually assaulting a woman in New York. His company was convicted of 17 felonies and ordered to pay a $1.6 million fine. His university was shut down and fined $25 million, and his foundation was shut down and fined $2 million

When Trump first ran for president in 2016, he warned voters that if Hillary Clinton were elected, “it would create an unprecedented constitutional crisis” because “she is likely to be under investigation for a long time, concluding, probably, in a criminal trial.” But that’s exactly the situation we find ourselves in today.

Trump complained that the prosecution relied on the testimony of a convicted felon and a porn star to prove its case, but those were the people with whom he chose to associate. Trump hired Michael Cohen to be his lawyer, and Trump engaged in an adulterous sexual encounter with adult film star Stormy Daniels. The Manhattan district attorney didn’t pick those people; Trump did.

The verdict in Trump’s hush money trial is the first of four criminal cases facing the former president. He’s also facing state charges of election interference in Georgia, federal charges for stealing and withholding classified documents

Despite Trump’s campaign mantra to “lock her up,” Hillary Clinton was never arrested, indicted, or convicted of any crime. But Trump has been. He is the constitutional crisis he warned us about. And if he is elected, he will be the first president in history still under criminal investigation and facing criminal trial. At least Richard Nixon had the decency to resign the presidency. We’ve had racist presidents and slaveowning presidents. But we’ve never had a president who obstructed the peaceful transfer of power. And we’ve never elected a president who had just been convicted of a crime.

“Black Vote, Black Power,” a collaboration between Keith Boykin and Word In Black, examines the issues, the candidates, and what’s at stake for Black America in the 2024 presidential election.

Commentary

As you climb, you lift

By Steven Cousins

It is difficult to summon the words to convey the depth of emotion, the range of feelings I have experienced upon being selected as a Legal Legend Inductee by the Mound City Bar Association.

This venerated organization is the oldest African American Bar Association, west of the Mississippi River.

It has included in its ranks men and woman of storied achievement, ensconced in the pantheon of legal leviathans, who bravely served at the very vanguard of the national civil rights struggle, including such stalwarts as Frankie Freeman, Margaret Bush Wilson, David Grant, Homer Phillips, Sydney Redman, Judges Theodore McMillian and Clyde Cahill and numerous others of that era on whose shoulders we all stand today.

That I would be thought worthy to follow in the footsteps of previous inductees, men and women of staggering accomplishment, is humbling indeed.

talented lawyers and staff who contributed to these successes. From the platform of Armstrong Teasdale as an associate I established a department, then as a partner projected it out nationally and consistently became one of the firm’s major rainmakers. I also pushed for diversity initiatives within the firm and took it as my responsibility to mentor those young lawyers, within and without the firm and those in college and high school. As the founding co-chair of the St Louis Internship Program for 13 years (founded by Tom Hullverson), it has now placed over 4,200 inner city high school students in law firms (and other businesses) throughout the city and in 37 cities. I was taught that as you climb, you lift. It was and is the right thing to do, to remember your roots and extend a helping hand to those in need.

As a lawyer, I have been blessed with the opportunity and privilege to serve others, be they clients or the community. With respect to clients, it has been an honor to help them problem-solve and successfully navigate challenges that confront them.

Guest Columnist By Steven Cousins

The list is variegated, ranging from restructuring multinational companies to representing the national office of the NAACP on a gratis basis. Or from litigating the runway expansion of our airport, to playing a central role in the TWA/American Airline and other airline cases. Or from successfully representing an African American presidential cabinet member to representing Black churches and small business and hospitals that serve the Black community. spanning, moreover, from representing the operating trustee of the Globe Democrat to Ebony/ Jet magazine and the Johnson family. It has been quite a ride and an honor and privilege to serve.

But I must forthrightly state that this award, by every mete and measure, should truly be a shared one, which I hold in trust with my colleagues at Armstrong Teasdale.

I enjoyed a 38-year career with this magnificent firm and worked with very

It has been my long held belief that one can and should, in the words of Justice Thurgood Marshall, aspire to live large in the law recognizing that charity and civic commitment can and should be the great spring of human action.

I believe that law and civic engagement can and should exist in mutual play and support of one another, one is a logical extension of the other. I believe that one should and can, with simultaneity, seek professional and civic uplift and the uplift of our fellow citizens from the vicissitudes and vagaries of life.

We have been benefited by the efforts of our forebears and legal legends who vindicated and safeguarded our civil rights, by our parents who raised us and by our community that nurtured us and bequeathed to us the high moments of our life and our way of life.

This debt can only be requited by gratitude and an acknowledgment that we owe a solemn obligation, indeed a moral responsibility to repay that debt in the coin in which it is given.

This is an excerpt of Steven Cousin’s address after receiving the Mound City Bar Association Legal Legend recognition. Cousins retired from Armstrong Teasdale in 2018, and now is Cousins Allied Strategic Advisors, president and CEO. For Cousin’s full remarks, visit www.stlamerican.com

Guest Columnist Keith Boykin

Affinia Healthcare is providing free summer lunches at two locations: south St. Louis and Ferguson, beginning June 3. The community health organization is also partnering with Operation Food Search and the St. Louis MetroMarket to bring affordable and fresh food to several neighborhoods this summer.

Affinia, OFS providing free summer meals

St. Louis American

Affinia Healthcare has partnered with Operation Food Search to provide free summer meals to youths 18 years and under.

The summer meals are available at Affinia’s new Ferguson health center at 3396 Pershall Road, and 3030 South Grand in South St. Louis.

“Summer is a time most youth look forward to, but it can be stressful for parents because of the added financial pressure of providing those meals. We hope this collaboration can help parents and children enjoy the summer season without the extra financial stress,” said Dr. Kendra Holmes, Affinia Healthcare president & CEO.

At the Ferguson location, meal distribution will continue to August 9. Breakfast will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and lunch from noon to 2 p.m. The site will be closed on Thursday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.

The South Grand location will only provide lunch. The times are noon to 2 p.m., through July 5. The site will be closed on Wednesday, June 19, and Thursday, July 4, in observance of Juneteenth and Independence Day.

Affinia Healthcare is also participating with the St. Louis MetroMarket, sponsoring stops this summer at:

• Affinia Healthcare, 2220 Lemp Ave., 63104 – Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Affinia Healthcare, 1717 Biddle St., 63106 – Thursdays, 3 to 5 p.m.

• Urban Sprouts, 6757 Olive Blvd., University City – Fridays (May 28 – July 6), 3 to 5 p.m.

• Emerson YMCA, 3390 Pershall Rd., Ferguson – Fridays from July 13 to Nov. 22, 3 to 5 p.m.

Affinia Healthcare also hosts a Free Food Pantry on the first Wednesday and Friday of each month, 9 to 11 a.m.

The Wednesday distribution is at 3930 S. Broadway, 63118, and on the first Friday, 1717 Biddle St., 63106.

Enduring disrespect of Black women

By Kimberly Bryant

On May 22, 1962, speaking to a crowd in Los Angeles, Malcolm X declared that the most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. 62 years later, his words still ring true as we witness the continued disregard for Black women, particularly those in positions of leadership.

The recent incident involving Representative Jasmine Crockett being insulted on the floor of the House of Representatives by Marjorie Taylor Greene is just one example of the pervasive abuse faced by Black women in both the public and private sectors. This incident is not isolated; it reflects a broader pattern of disdain and disrespect directed at Black women, particularly those in positions of power and influence. In our cultural landscape, no figure is more scrutinized or misunderstood than a Black woman who is unafraid to speak her mind. The pushback against this boldness, often comes at a high societal cost and extends beyond the halls of Congress. Permeating our online spaces and everyday interactions. Highprofile figures like actress and social activist Amanda Seales have often faced relentless criticism and sometimes virulent attacks simply for expressing their opinions.

Seales’s appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s “Club Shay Shay” podcast, where she discussed her exclusion from Black Hollywood and negative media commentary, sparked a significant online debate and crude critique under a thin veil of “likability.” Her candid recounting of the slights she has endured attracted skepticism from some quarters and highlighted the intense scrutiny and polarization that outspoken Black women often endure.

No matter how Black women ‘show up’ and present our views, we are often seen as problematic, eliciting unwarranted assaults on our character, our humanity, and even our lives. The racism perpetuated by white supremacy fuels these microaggressions. They have become so commonplace and normalized that they are often overlooked.

It is this slow erosion of dignity, where the cumulative effect of countless small affronts takes a devastating toll on Black women.

This aggression is rooted in anti-Blackness and misogynoir, reinforced by stereotypes such as the ‘angry Black woman’ and the ‘sapphire caricature.’ Dr. Shauna Knox describes the severe social consequences of these stereotypes: “Any Black woman deemed to be an Angry Black Woman will quickly find herself shunned for this fatal flaw, castigated for the way it impacts the entitled contentment of her environment and the people in it, incessantly denied the support she deserves to mitigate the issues she is contending with, and left enduringly alone, because she is intolerable and understood to be exiled to an isolation of her own making.”

It is imperative that we, as a society, commit to dismantling these harmful perceptions and stereotypes of outspoken Black women.

I am not advocating for a society that shields Black women’s views from critique, especially when those opinions are reductive and lack substantive facts and evidence. Constructive pushback is essential to expand ideas. However, it is crucial to distinguish between opposition intended to foster debate and that which seeks to dehumanize and marginalize, as is often the case with Black women.

The incidents of disrespect experienced by Black women, the recent attacks on Black women in leadership, and the strategic dismantling of DEI initiatives all spring from the same source: fear. Our society is terrified of a world that is increasingly Black and increasingly female. The powers that be are not ready to share power with Black women.

Kimberly Bryant is founder and CEO of Black Innovation Lab by Ascend Ventures and founder of Black Girls CODE

Photo courtesy of Affinia

Kimberly Bryant

issue impacting people, but the heightened discrimination and racial intimidation in the workplace is just as viable as anything else,” Pruitt said Tuesday morning during a press conference at the NAACP offices in Fountain Park.

“I’ve been president of NAACP for 14 years now in St. Louis. I can only remember one or two incidents involving the noose over that 14-year period until 2024.”

Pruitt said the organization plans on filing more federal hate crime complaints and will rely on government agencies to handle the investigation. The civil rights group is planning a billboard campaign that will call attention to the various cases of nooses in workplaces.

Photos of the various nooses will be highlighted on the billboards, Pruitt said.

“Every month in 2024, there’s been an incident of some sort of noose involving somebody’s workplace, even within city government,” Pruitt said. “And I don’t know what June holds going forward. But this issue of workforce intimidation, workforce discrimination, is just outright disrespectful.

“We have to get a point across that this sort of behavior is not going to be tolerated. And we’re not going to sit on our hands about it.”

Pruitt said there have been more than 11 cases of Black refuse workers being discriminated against. In most cases, repercussions involved the accused having to go through discrimination training and other internal behavioral programs. He said the new campaign will kick off sometime in July.

Gore

Continued from A1 the progress” he’s made and his “vision for the future.”

He also attended a St. Louis Board of Aldermen’s budget hearing, where he requested an additional $538,000 to boost staffing and efficiency within his office. He wants to hire an attorney specifically charged with combing through wrongful conviction claims; two data analyst people to help make “data-driven” decisions regarding prosecutions. Gore said he also wants to give retired Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice George Draper some help by

how

hiring an attorney who’ll work full-time with Draper’s conviction integrity unit where he also serves as chief training officer.

Additionally, Gore asked for an increase in his annual budget to address antiquated office infrastructure which includes an upgraded IT system that will need significant maintenance, upgrades and security improvements.

During a brief conversation with the American, Gore succinctly described his first year.

“It’s a work in progress. It’s been good…things have gone as well as could be expected. We’ve made tremendous progress, but we still have a long way to go.”

Indeed. Gore’s major

challenge when he took office was addressing an office severely understaffed, with attorneyies exiting fast, mostly due to the intense media scrutiny of Gardner. There were just 22 attorneys on staff when he took over.

During the press briefing, Gore stated that he’s made 33 new hires, with plans to hire more and that he’s reduced the warrant office’s backlog from 6,700 cases to under 2,700—a 60 percent drop.

Although his office has prosecuted more than 1,000 cases in the second half of 2023 than Kim Gardner did in the same span of 2022, Gore emphasized that the caseload for his attorneys is still double what it was roughly 10 years ago.

Gardner reportedly resisted offers for help from attorneys outside her office. Gore, on the other hand, welcomed them. The US Attorney’s Office took 20 homicide cases and private sector attorneys took 30 cases. “So,” Gore told members of the press, “we had essentially 50 cases that were handled outside of our office.”

When Gore replaced Gardner, there were 250 homicide cases pending. That number today, he said, is around 237. This leads to an obvious question: Why, with more attorneys than his predecessor, has the caseload only been reduced by less than 15 cases?

“Yes, I had help (that) she didn’t. In that first year,” Gore responded. “We had basically an extra fulltime homicide prosecutor that permitted us to move and resolve 70 homicide cases in one year. That’s a lot! But you have to take into account that those 250 cases that were pending when we got here represented a homicide caseload that didn’t reflect keeping up with making charging decisions on homicides as they were

occurring.

“So, that 250 number was probably somewhat understated. We know that there were at least nine applications for warrants that hadn’t been reviewed and there were other investigations that were still being conducted. So, the cases we resolved were being replaced rather rapidly.”

Gore added that the police department’s homicide division came to him with 20 additional homicide cases that they said were declined by the previous administration. He said police felt they had sufficient evidence to move those cases forward and they wanted to have them resubmitted to his office.

“We’ve been reviewing and working with them on that, seeing if there is additional investigation and evidence that can be developed to support the charges” Gore said, adding: “Already, that’s resulted in five additional homicide cases out of those that were previously declined.”

The help Gore received from the private sector and other agencies

will soon be going away; he won’t have that in his second year. Therefore, the challenge, Gore asserts, will be trying to figure “out how to make it without that support going forward.” He doesn’t paint a rosy scenario.

“We’re dealing with basically double the caseload. On the backlog, I tell people it’s not going to be (resolved) at the end of this year or the end of 2025. But we’re indicting more in a timely manner…we’re getting investigations done and making more charging decisions. But as we’re moving more (pending) cases, more cases are being added.” Gore said he’s shifting into campaign mode even though he’s basically running unopposed. What’s more important, he added, is that the community knows what he’s done and what he plans to do in his second year in office

“We’re having an active campaign but it’s important that I’m out in the community so people will know they’re not voting for me just because I’m the only name on the ballot.

“I want them to have an understanding of what our office is doing and what I’m all about so they’re actively supporting our work in this office.”

Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.

Adolphus Pruitt, president of the St. Louis city chapter of the NAACP, speaks on Tuesday in Fountain Park about

African American contractors and construction workers in the St. Louis region are experiencing racial discrimination and intimidation in their workplaces.

Photo by Sophie Proe/St. Louis Public Radio

Bush

Continued from A1

guilty…” repeated 34 times, solidifying the former president’s fate.

His legal team has already indicated plans to appeal, a process that could extend over several years.

After the guilty charges were announced, Trump said the trial was “rigged.”

“We will fight for our constitution. This is far from over,” the former president continued.

Trump will be sentenced on July 11, four days before the Republican National Convention. He faces penalties from a fine to four years in prison on each count, although it’s expected he would be sentenced for the offenses concurrently, not consecutively.

Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, called the verdict against Trump “a monumental step toward justice for the American people.”

“Whether it’s an attempt to steal an election or overthrow our government, one thing has long been apparent: Donald Trump is unfit to represent American democracy.

“As Black Americans have

Foxy

Continued from A1

“The Chairman.”

“Our mission for the station sums it up,” Roberts Johnson said. “Empowering our community through vibrant and diverse voices, Foxy 106.9 is dedicated to delivering the pulse of St. Louis with engaging music, thought provoking discussions and commitment to our local culture.”

When their two promotional vehicles rode down Market as part of the 114th Annie Malone May Day parade a few weeks back, fans rushed up to engage with “The Real Breakfast Crew” morning show co-host Lou Thimes Jr. “That’s The Real Jr.” a parade watcher said – referring to his on-air moniker. She was eager to say she had been listening to him for years. Thimes, a veteran of St. Louis radio, was the catalyst for Foxy 106.9 FM. Thimes, who also serves as Foxy 106.9’s vice president and GM said, “This is what I call vintage, or traditional community based radio. And that’s what we wanted – that’s what we needed – to bring back to the market because that is what the community was asking for.”

The tagline “St. Louis’ Best Mix of R&B and Throwback Jams,” perfectly describes the musical format for their target audience of 35-65 year-old listeners with an over-the-air reach of more than one-million within the region – and countless more when factoring in online listeners.

“The best way I can describe it is, ‘feel good music’,” Roberts Johnson said. Foxy 106.9 FM also incorporates gospel and a taste of the Blues into their rotation over the weekend.

Michael V. Roberts Sr. has the perfect scenario in his head about the type of experience the station provides.

“I want one day for a family to be having a barbeque in their backyard and have Foxy on and one of the old school songs comes up,” he said. “And I want grandma – who’s sitting there watching the barbeque in the backyard – say, ‘baby, turn that radio up – I want to hear a little more of that blues.’”

Thimes approached Michael V. Roberts Sr. with the idea of buying into his vision of supplying the community’s

been denied basic human rights due to less offensive crimes, any attempt to advance

Donald Trump’s nomination for presidency would be a gross advancement of white supremacist policy,” Johnson said.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said bringing the case against Trump was not political “just me doing my job.’

[There are] many voices out there,” Bragg said following the verdict.

“The only voice that matters is the voice of the jury. And the jury has spoken.”

Word In Black contributor

Keith Boykin, said “Despite Trump’s claim that Black people will relate to his legal troubles, we remember how Trump failed to relate to the Black and brown teenagers in the Central Park 5 case that he tried to execute and never apologized after they were exonerated.

That case was heard in the same courthouse as the Trump trial.

National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA)

Chair Bobby Henry stated, “the criminal justice system worked.”

“As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. alluded to, the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

demand. He agreed and enlisted his children – who worked for the Roberts companies in several capacities over the years – to join him as co-owners and help build the station from the ground up.

Driving force

Black businesses matter

Corporate interests and national syndication marked the end of the era of community radio. But Foxy 106.9 FM is so St. Louis from its proprietor-

ship, executive leadership and on-air talent. Tammie Holland, Sylvester The Cat, Kiki The First Lady, Tonee Roper, DJ Wrekk 1 are some of the familiar voices who hold it down behind the microphone. Meanwhile, media vets

like Nate Dixon, Scott Jones and Maurice Falls join Thimes on the business side.

He also feels fulfilled knowing that Foxy 106.9 FM provides advertising opportunities for emerging businesses that have

been priced out by corporate radio and that the station is actively engaged in the community by way of events and promotional activities.

For more information about Foxy 106.9 FM, visit https://foxy1069.com/

23XI NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace did volunteer work at Mathews Dickey Boys and Girls Club on N. Kingshighway Fri. May 31. The team was participating in a day of community service at Mathews Dickey Boys and Girls Club.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Summer Concert Series

Master's Touch Soul Cavalcade Featuring the music of The Dramatics, O'Jays, Gladys Knight and the Pips & more June 13

June 20

The Whitney Houston Catalog Performed by Cheryl Brown; Jeremiah Allen, Music Director

The Tina Turner Tribute From "Proud Mary" to "What's Love Got to Do With It" Kenya Last, Lead Vocals; Terry Coleman, Music Director June 27

Free and open to the community Bring your lawn chairs, food, and picnic items

A1C, blood pressure and HIV testing will be offered Food trucks, other items will be available for purchase

Watch a short video on HIV prevention and treatment, and enter the weekly drawing for a free TV! (Details and rules available at the concerts.)

A damaged bridge, new houses, same story?

By James Ingram

For the St. Louis American

A best kept secret in East St. Louis, Illinois is that the population is 94% Black, but the morning commute makes the racial demographic closer to 50% white.

Commuters from Belleville, Fairview Heights, Shiloh and other Metro East communities take the popular shortcut across the 26th Street and Missouri Avenue Bridge, down Bond Avenue and then west across the Poplar Street Bridge to St. Louis.

At least that’s the way it was until April 21, 2024. A truck hit the East St. Louis bridge, causing the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to close it indefinitely, citing “significant damage to multiple truss members”.

You don’t need to be a civil engineer to understand that this created a serious problem. IDOT estimates that delivery of replacement trusses will not occur until – at the earliest. The bridge might not reopen until fall.

Those incentives include a promise of a future State Police headquarters in close proximity and TIF funding to provide a 20-year, 75% tax abatement for homeowners. The idea being that, once the TIF expires, the population of ESL would have increased, causing existing and excessive tax rates to decrease.

NAACP ESL president Robin CareyBoyd addressed the elephant in the room during a recent open house event, asking how residents whose average income is in the $28,000 range can afford $360,000 homes.

Kevin Green of Lansdowne Up’s responded that “The average person is not going to be a resident.” This begs the question: Who will buy the homes?

This creates several nightmare scenarios; chaotic morning travel for those relying on the ESL bridge to shorten their work commute and disruption of access for police, fire and EMS services to emergencies in the south end of the city.

James T. Ingram

Senior citizens who rely children who live outside of ESL are also at increased peril.

John McIntosh, New York Cleaners owner, calls the closing “a major inconvenience to his customers and employees.” He fears that months of disruption will result in customers finding more convenient alternatives with competitors.

Meanwhile, across town, the new Lansdowne Park 20-home subdivision consisting of $360,000 three-bedroom frame homes, is being touted by city officials, dignitaries and the nonprofit Lansdown Up, as a source of optimism for attracting middle to upper income residents back to their hometown.

This upscale subdivision is a brainchild of river barge magnate Mark Mestemacher, who helped finance construction. He also worked with East St. Louis officials to provide an incentive for young professionals and others to populate these properties, which are walking distance to the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center and Metrolink station.

Mayor Charles Powell III and state Sen. Christopher Belt punctuated their remarks on the project with words like “optimism” and “synergy.”

Mestemacher announced that he and his wife will, purportedly, leave the comforts of Collinsville and move into one of the new homes. It all sounds good and kumbaya-like. And kudos to Mestemacher for his philanthropic efforts.

However, ESL is reeling because of a mere bridge closing, has escalating crime, crumbling infrastructure, usurious insurance rates and a brain drain. These pose a daunting challenge to the optimism and logic of the average citizen.

The reality is that most of the muckety-mucks applauding at the open house, do not and will not live in East St. Louis. Period.

That speaks volumes for the potential for such an endeavor to succeed.

I’m a cynic on this project and I hope that I’m wrong. But it seems intuitive that the State police HQ should have been constructed first – and not promised.

A comprehensive strategy, including affordable housing projects, economic development and infrastructure programs should have been addressed with the $36 million in pandemic relief funds received by the city.

But, what do I know? I’m just a guy who writes columns.

James Ingram, an East St. Louis resident, has written commentaries for the St. Louis American for more than 20 years. Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com X@ JamesTIngram

Columnist

JazzU All Stars play historic New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

Set the tone for future travels

By Devored A. Horton Jr.

St. Louis American

The JazzU Allstars of Jazz St. Louis became the first student ensemble to perform at the Historic New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival on May 4, 2024.

The young musicians of JazzU were surprised to find out they are the first student ensemble ever to perform at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

“Hopefully, we have paved the way for groups after us to go on to get that same experience. Not only down in New Orleans, but at places all around,” said Issac Dessau, bass player for JazzU.

Jazz St. Louis is a notfor-profit organization dedicated to advancing the uniquely American art of jazz through performance, education, and community engagement. Each year, Jazz St. Louis presents

over 270 performances in its internationally acclaimed concert series.

Jazz St. Louis Education programs cultivate leadership and cultural appreciation in the next generation of musicians and listeners through training, educational resources, and engagement with local and touring professional musicians.

The organization provides field-trip experiences, hands-on training programs, in-school clinics and masterclasses, and curricular resources for teachers.

The positive impact that Jazz St. Louis has on young artists is life changing. It certainly was for Ryan Cooper, trumpet player for JazzU.

“The trip was really interesting to me because I have never traveled out of the state of Illinois,” Cooper said. “So, being able to go to a new scene and see the people there and hear so many different things was really a grade A experience.”

Jason Schlote, who plays saxophone for Jazz U, had a similar but different experience from his peer/bandmate with the trip to the festival.

“The trip was kind of like an adventure because I have never gone out of the state to a performance so it

Tonnie Kamkwalala Jr., kept the beat on drums during a performance by the Jazz St. Louis JazzU All-Stars at the historic New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in the WWOZ Jazz Tent on Saturday, May 4, 2024. It was the first time a Jazz St. Louis student ensemble performed at the festival.

was like a good experience for me,” said Schlote.

On the other hand, Issac Dessau had a surreal experience at the festival in New Orleans.

“It was kind of surreal in a way, New Orleans kind of felt like a different world compared to St. Louis and the community down there was just amazing,” said Dessau.

Tonnie Kamkwalala Jr., who plays drums, was grateful to be part of this group and festival.

“The experience was very nice, I was extremely grateful to have been there and to be able to do this. Especially at this young age not everyone gets to go to a jazz festival let alone play in it,” said Kamkwalala Jr.

Kamkwalala Jr. mentioned that he and his bandmates got a chance to meet some jazz icons.

Danilo Perez, Brian Blade, John Patitucci, and Chris Potter.

Calio Grant, pianist for JazzU, had sort of an uneasy experience on the trip because of nerves.

“It was very intense … I was not used to playing in that many high stakes situations, but overall this experience was good,” said Grant.

For more information about Jazz St. Louis, visit jazzstl.org.

Experience the captivating love story of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, whose audacious affair rocked two empires. As sparks fly between these two rulers, love becomes a battlefield, and the most important conquest is that of the heart. But with pretenders to the throne lurking on all sides, desire can sometimes be a double-sided weapon.

Photo courtesy of Jazz St. Louis

‘Taking

Care of You’

The summer break means warmer months, longer days, and for some families summer vacations. 25-year behavioral health therapist Dr. Lekesha Davis, co-founder of Ignite Hope, says summer can also bring on the ‘summertime blues’.

A season of good health

Summer mental well-being tips with Dr. Lekesha Davis

Finding equity for Black transplant patients

By Dr. Marsha Harris

Any doctor will tell you that the ability to expect the unexpected and adapt accordingly is crucial.

I’ve learned this through my experiences as an athlete, a surgeon, and now, as a transplant recipient.

However, some developments are so unexpected and significant that they are particularly hard to overcome. This has been vividly demonstrated over the past year due to a decision by a private contractor for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to cut Medicare coverage for a critical, life-saving blood test.

n This test is indispensable to the transplant community; it allows for the early detection of organ rejection before the patient exhibits visible signs or symptoms.

By Ashley Winters

The St. Louis American

“Seasonal depression doesn’t just occur during the colder months this disorder can happen during the summer as well…Not having a summer routine can contribute to depression and anxiety.”

Summer break means warmer months, longer days, and for some

families, summer vacations. However, 25-year behavioral health therapist Dr. Lekesha Davis, co-founder of Ignite Hope says summer can also bring on the ‘summertime blues’.

This could look like an increase in anxiety, depression, and mood swings. In communities that have limited access to behavioral health services, Ignite Hope provides person-centered trauma-informed care. The St. Louis region has seen an uptick in crime statistics, poverty, and homelessness.

This test is indispensable to the transplant community; it allows for the early detection of organ rejection before the patient exhibits visible signs or symptoms. Notably, the test is easily obtainable, can be performed at regular intervals, done in remote areas, and even conducted at home. In March 2023, CMS ruled that Medicare would only cover this blood test if the patient’s doctor could demonstrate that the patient was showing signs of rejection and that the blood test could serve as a substitute for a biopsy.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic remain among the city’s most vulnerable residents. School is out for the summer, and in disadvantaged areas, community centers in some neighborhoods are a thing of the past–this could result in increased youth-in-

See DAVIS, A11

Missouri Medicaid enrollment continues to plummet

Down 200,000 since June 2023

By Clara Bates Missouri Independent

Missouri’s Medicaid enrollment has shrunk close to 200,000 people since last summer, as the state continues the process of undoing a COVID-era pause on eligibility checks.

The federal suspension on annual renewals expired last year and since then, states have been undergoing the process of re-verifying each participant’s eligibility.

From June to April, Missouri’s net enrollment in Medicaid — which is also called MO HealthNet — dropped by 197,525 people.

Over half — 56% — of that net decline was among children, according to recent state data and analysis by the Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy & Economics Research at Washington University in St. Louis. There were 110,938 kids who lost coverage in that period. The number of kids being removed has been a source of concern over the last few months among advocates. Although kids make up around half of the state’s caseload, they are also eligible at much higher household income level than adults. As the state evaluates hundreds of thousands of current Medicaid recipients each month and processes their updated information, it continues to receive new See MEDICAID, A11

This means that physical symptoms such as fever, pain, or feeling unwell must be present for the test to be covered under Medicare. This change introduces a significant delay in the recognition of rejection, which may make it exceedingly difficult to save the transplanted organ, a truly precious gift.

See HARRIS, A11

From June to April, Missouri’s net enrollment in Medicaid — which is also called MO HealthNet — dropped by 197,525 people.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Dr. Marsha Harris

Photo by Eric Harkleroad / KFF Health News

Davis

Continued from A10

volved gun violence. Dr. Davis gives family-friendly tips on how to beat the ‘summertime blues.’

Unfortunately, many minority St. Louis communities are more likely to experience socioeconomic disparities that may contribute to a worsening of mental health outcomes. These communities experience misdiagnoses, inadequate treatment, and lack of cultural competence by health professionals– causing distrust and may prevent communities of color from seeking or staying in treatment.

St. Louis American: What are your recommendations for improving your mental health during the Spring/Summer months?

Dr. Lekesha Davis: Stay active, go to the gym. This will improve your mental and emotional well-being. Seasonal depression doesn’t just occur during the colder months this disorder can happen during the summer as well. Staying active releases hormones and chemicals in the brain that make us feel happy. Create a summer routine, this will help kids have structure while school is out. Not having a summer routine can contribute to depression and anxiety. Get outside! Vitamin D helps with your mood. About 80%90% of Vitamin D comes from the sun.

St. Louis American: What should someone do when they are feeling the summertime blues?

Dr. Lekesha Davis: Give yourself grace, schedule quiet time just for yourself. Everyone needs a little bit of ‘me time.’ There are always summer

Medicaid

Continued from A10

applications.

Federal data released earlier this month showed Missouri’s application processing times have been among the worst in the nation.

Medicaid applications are generally required to be reviewed within 45 days. Nationwide, most applications were processed within 24 hours last year.

Missouri and New Mexico had the highest rates of late Medicaid determinations last year, according to the federal data, which covers October through December.

In December, more than half of Missouri’s applications took longer than 45 days to process. Long processing times

Continued from A10

This decision has profound implications, particularly alarming to me both as a surgeon and as a Black woman who underwent a kidney transplant four and a half years ago. It was this decision that propelled me to join the Health Equity in Transplantation Coalition (HEiTC). This coalition was formed by Executive Chair Al B. Sure! and Senior Advisor Rev. Al Sharpton because they saw, as I do, that this is as much an issue of equity as it is one of policy. Since Harris

‘Taking

activities going on but don’t feel pressured to say yes to everything.

St. Louis American: To help decrease anxiety and depression, in what ways can parents create a routine for their kids?

Dr. Lekesha Davis: Sign kids up for summer camp. Some are free, check with your local school district, and sign them up for camps that

can mean low-resource and low-income patients must delay or forego needed medical care and prescriptions.

And Missouri has struggled to meet that limit in the past: In summer 2022, the federal government initiated a mitigation plan with the state to get the wait time down.

At the quarterly MO HealthNet Oversight Committee meeting last week, chair Nick Pfannenstiel, a dentist, raised concerns about processing times.

Pfannenstiel said as a provider, he has been told by state eligibility workers that the current average processing time is “60 to 90 days.” Though he knows the state is working to fix those delays, “that’s causing a lot of frustration, not necessarily from a provider standpoint

then, HEiTC has been working tirelessly to advocate for the overwhelmingly Black and brown transplant recipient population who are disproportionately affected by the lack of coverage for this crucial testing. We have called upon CMS as well as the Biden Administration to reverse these changes and rectify the disadvantage imposed on an already vulnerable group of transplant recipients. The anxiety associated with potential organ failure is a significant burden for all transplant recipients, exacerbated for those of us with extensive medical knowledge and expertise.

interest them. For example, if the child is interested in STEM, sign them up for STEM camps. There are plenty of sports camps as well, including soccer and basketball. And we can’t forget about our teens and college students who are returning home. Encourage teens to get a summer job and help college students get a summer internship. This will give them something to do while creating

only but from a patient standpoint.”

Todd Richardson, director of MO HealthNet, said that there are a “number of strategies and a lot of focus right now trying to bring that back down to the 45-day window” that is federally mandated.

Part of the issue is the agency is receiving a large number of applications, Richardson added.

From November to mid-January, during open enrollment season for the federal insurance marketplace, the state generally sees an uptick in Medicaid applications and then a decline and plateau, he said.

“We are not seeing that now,” Richardson said.

“[Family Support Division] is continuing to experience a high number of daily new applications, and as a result, you can see that

It is especially acute for Black Americans, who are biologically more likely to experience organ rejection. The initial coverage decision by CMS in 2017 to support these tests, and its subsequent reauthorization four years later, provided a significant measure of relief. However, the introduction of the requirement for symptoms warranting a biopsy by MolDX, the contractor, has reintroduced a considerable degree of uncertainty and stress.

Additionally, this CMS decision directly contradicts the principles of preventative healthcare, which emphasize early detection and treatment. A rare

a sense of accomplishment so that they won’t fall into a depression because they are not around their friends. This will also help prevent teens from participating in risky behavior.

St. Louis American: What local organizations are available to teens this summer?

Dr. Lekesha Davis: The Office of Violence Prevention is helping

increase in the number of pending applications that we have.”

The number of pending applications reached nearly 53,000 in January and stands at just under 18,000 as of April

“I know [Family Support Division] has been working exhaustively, trying to bring that number of pending applications down and I know they’ve had some success,” he said, “but there will continue to be kind of an intense review on the state’s part to make sure that we’re getting those applications as current as we possibly can.”

Baylee Watts, DSS’ communications director, said the division has “focused its staff and resources on processing applications that have exceeded 45 days” and

admission by CMS recently acknowledged that the March restrictions caused considerable confusion, leading to a substantial decrease in the number of tests ordered in the following months. Doctors canceled many scheduled tests due to uncertainty about the coverage, creating further disruption and anxiety within the transplant community.

The confusion continues to persist. A new “Billing Article” issued by CMS on the same day failed to clarify whether coverage is still contingent upon the potential need for a biopsy, leaving many questions unanswered. Over a year has passed

tackle youth gun violence. Every month during the summer the Office of Violence Prevention has a Kick Back. It’s a teen get-together every third Saturday of the month. The goal is to get more teens and families connected to youth-led organizations in the community that provide unique services and programs.

St. Louis American:

continues training staff across several programs and “strategically reallocating staff to manage the workload effectively.”

There can be issues when a patient is on Medicaid but needs to change the category of coverage they qualify for, Pfannenstiel also noted, referring to a patient trying to convert to postpartum Medicaid as causing providers confusion as to whether the person is eligible for services.

A patient previously told the Independent she spent more than a month just trying to switch from adult Medicaid to Medicaid for Pregnant Women. In the meantime, she didn’t go to any doctor’s appointments.

Richardson said it is currently a “manual process” for state workers to move Medicaid

since these changes were implemented, and the transplant community still lacks clear guidelines and support.

As a doctor, a transplant recipient, and a Black woman, I find this lack of clarity and support from CMS deeply troubling. My personal journey through kidney failure and transplantation has shown me the critical importance of accessible medical care and the necessity of early detection tests. Yet, those in the transplant community relying on Medicare face increased risks as they must now wait for undeniable physical symptoms of rejection before receiving coverage for crucial test-

For those who have tried these methods and it’s not working, what should they do?

Dr. Lekesha Davis: Seek additional support especially if your mental health seems severe. Connect with a therapist or mental health care clinic.

Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter for the St. Louis American.

participants into the postpartum category. Since last year, women can receive postpartum coverage for a full year rather than 60 days. It is also a manual process for children to receive what’s called continuous eligibility, which went into effect this year after it was federally required. That policy allows kids to stay insured for the full year after they are renewed, rather than be potentially stripped of coverage between renewals, due to something like temporary changes in income. There are system changes to automate those processes planned for June, Richardson said. This story was originally published by the Missouri Independent part of the States Newsroom.

ing. The transplant community, including recipients, donors, their families, and their healthcare providers, deserves clear answers and effective policies that support their health and well-being. They need assurance that the tools necessary for early detection and treatment of organ rejection are readily available and covered by Medicare. It is imperative that we address these inequities and restore comprehensive coverage to save lives and support those at their most vulnerable.

Dr. Marsha Harris is a New York City-based colorectal surgeon and kidney transplant recipient.

Behavioral health therapist and co-founder of Ignite Hope Dr. Lekesha Davis in her office.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

US Rep. Jasmine Crockett to keynote STL County NAACP Annual Dinner

St. Louis American

U.S. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, a Texas

Democrat, St. Louis native and rising star in the national Democratic Party, will offer the keynote

address during the 87th St. Louis County Annual Freedom Fund Dinner, Saturday, June 22, 2024,

at the Marriott St. Louis Airport, 10700 Pear Tree Lane.

Crockett attended Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School and RosatiKain and graduated in 2003 from Rhodes College in Memphis with a Bachelor of Arts in business administration. She earned her Juris Doctor from the University

STLCC’s Advanced Manufacturing Center Takes Students From Education To Employment

St. Louis Community College’s (STLCC) decadeslong mission has been to expand minds and change lives through accessible and affordable education. With the passing of Proposition R—an 8-cent tax levy increase—in 2021, the College is now building on that mission by expanding programs and developing new facilities to empower students and meet workforce demands.

The Advanced Manufacturing Center at the College’s Florissant Valley campus is one of six new construction projects through Proposition R, now known as STLCC Transformed. The center will bridge the gap between credit and noncredit programs, offering students flexibility and more pathways to STEM-focused careers. The building will serve as a beacon of opportunity, especially for young St. Louisans preparing to make their mark on the region’s workforce.

A Gateway to High-Paying Careers

For parents considering their children’s futures, the Advanced Manufacturing Center provides job training and degrees leading to stable, high-paying careers in advanced manufacturing, engineering and technology. As St. Louis’ top industries evolve with technological advancements, there is a need for skilled workers with realworld experience and innovative knowledge. STLCC’s Advanced Manufacturing Center will be equipped with state-of-the-art machinery and technology so students gain the skills and hands-on experience critical to these positions.

Accelerated Job Training

Several accelerated job training programs will be offered at the center for students eager to join the workforce as soon as possible. These programs are designed to quickly and efficiently equip students with the skills needed to enter fields such as aerospace manufacturing, welding, HVAC, or maintenance mechanics and be successful in their careers. This fast-track approach prepares students to be job-ready within weeks, leading to immediate financial stability with opportunities for growth and advancement.

Dual Enrollment Opportunities

degree or career by taking entry-level STEM courses. By the time they graduate high school, they will have several credit hours—or even a two-year college degree—under their belt.

As St. Louis’ top industries evolve with technological advancements, there is a need for skilled workers with realworld experience and innovative knowledge.

A Traditional College Education

Credit pathways that lead to degrees or certifications also exist for students who wish to pursue a more traditional college education. These programs prepare students to join the workforce in two years or less in industries such as engineering, geospatial technology and manufacturing, or prepare them to transfer to a four-year university to continue their educational journey.

Imagine your child completing their education with the necessary skills and confidence to step into a well-paying career, feeling empowered and ready to contribute to (and benefit from) the St. Louis economy. This reality awaits with the many career pathways and skills development opportunities at St. Louis Community College’s new Advanced Manufacturing Center. Learn more about the facility and programs available at stlcc.edu/transformed

The Advanced Manufacturing Center will welcome its first students in the spring of 2025.

of Houston Law Center and became a public defender for Bowie County, Texas. She formed a law firm and was noted for taking pro bono cases of Black Lives Matter activists.

Crockett was in a House Congressional hearing on May 16, when she asked Georgia Republican Marjorie Tayler Greene, “Do you know what we’re here for?” after Green rambled on about an unrelated topic.

Greene replied with a personal attack, saying “I think your fake eyelashes are messing up what you’re reading.”

Crockett later asked the panel’s chairman, Kentucky Republican James Comer, why he ruled Greene’s words were not viewed as a personal attack.

She then made a statement that she says many Republicans have given her “a thumbs up” for delivering and have made her a political sensation.

“To better understand your ruling, if someone on this committee then starts talking about somebody’s bleached blonde, bad-built, butch body, that would not be engaging in personalities, correct?” Crockett asked.

This year’s dinner theme is “For Culture, For Community,” and is chaired by Kimberly McGee with Trudy Busch Valentine and UAW Region 4 serving as honorary co-chairs.

“We are honored to welcome U.S. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, a prominent civil rights advocate and inspiring leader, as this year’s keynote speaker. Her work in Congress has been instrumental in driving progress and uplifting marginalized communities, said John Bowman, St. Louis County NAACP president. The Rev. Julia ChaneyMoss, sister of murdered civil rights activist James Chaney, will receive the Freedom Summer Award. Other honorees are: Rev. F. James Clark pastor of Shalom Church City of Peace, for his lifelong commitment to advocacy and community service.

Flint W. Fowler president of Boys and Girls Club of St. Louis, for innovative initiatives in youth development.

Katie Deatherage, president of UAW Local 2250, for being an outstanding labor activist.

For high school students motivated to start their college and career journeys early, dual enrollment presents enriching college experiences. At the Advanced Manufacturing Center, students will specifically get a jump start on their STEM-focused

Michael Maclin, superintendent of Schools for Special School District of St. Louis County, for excellence in Youth Development and Equity. Percy Green II, for being a civil rights legend. Antonio “Tony” Maldonado, Hispanic Leaders Group of Greater St. Louis chair, for outstanding service and community leadership. Organizations being honored at The BRIC (Bullet Related Injury Clinic) for pioneering efforts in violence prevention, Missourians for Constitutional Freedom Campaign, and Missourians for Healthy Families and Fair Wages The President’s Reception is at 5 p.m., featuring live music and opportunities for networking. The dinner and Crockett’s speech will follow at 7 p.m.

Annual Freedom Fund Dinner are available for purchase online at naacpstlouiscounty.org. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for those wishing to support the event and the NAACP’s mission.

Construction progress on the Advanced Manufacturing Center

Jasmine Crockett

Jennings to add 31 single-family homes to the 4th Ward

By Ashley Winters

The St. Louis American

A Caring Plus is building 31 affordable single-family homes in the 4th Ward of Jennings. The non-profit started phase one in 2012 building homes in support of seniors in the St. Louis region.

The non-profit promotes services that enhance the quality of life for seniors. Their programs focus on the overall health and wellness of seniors in Jennings and surrounding communities, while also serving underserved families.

“This is a commitment we have for seniors and families in need,” said A Caring Plus Executive Director Alice

n “This development project will help bring more momentum to the County.”

– Jacquline Roberson

Logan. “The 4th Ward has been neglected and blighted. Adding the 31 single-family homes will revitalize that area of Jennings.” In December 2016, the development project opened a new 44-unit senior citizen housing center in the city’s disenfranchised 4th Ward. Lewis McKinney, a certified minority-owned

business enterprise developer and founder of A Caring Plus told the St. Louis American in an interview in 2016, “We built the building because we wanted to provide support for the need in the community, which is residential housing – safe, affordable, and decent housing for seniors in this community,” he said.

The three-story living space includes rooms for recreation, and wellness activities, a library, a fitness center, computer facilities, a coffee room, and a community lounge. Back then McKinney knew he wanted to revitalize the communities of Jennings for all families.

He foreshadowed the Alexandria Place housing development before it came to

See JENNINGS, B2

How to spot wellbeing red flags in the workplace

Employee changes can be subtle

By Laura Onyeneho Word In Black

For many Black professionals, the challenges of navigating mental health in the virtual workplace can be compounded by pre-existing racial biases and a lack of diversity in leadership.

Black professionals often face significant challenges to achieve the same level of success and work-life balance as their White or non-Black counterparts. Remember that saying, “When you’re Black, you’ve got to work twice as hard?”

Gallup reports 76% of employees have experienced burnout, which is often misunderstood as an individual issue. Still, it’s increasingly evident that it stems from the work environment.

The key challenge with remote work is the lack of in-person interaction. It’s harder to pick up on subtle cues, like changes in body language or facial expressions, that indicate someone is struggling.

RaQuel Hopkins, a Houston-based HR executive, therapist, and executive coach, said it’s important to distinguish what is a red flag from what may be challenging you to grow as a professional.

“To deal with the challenges in the modern-day world, you have to grow to handle more,” she said.

See RED FLAGS, B2

PeoPle on the Move

Attorney Portia Britt honored by ABA

Portia Britt, an attorney with the St. Louis County Counselor’s Office, is recipient of a 2024 American Bar Association Top 40 Young Lawyer Award. She is the lone lawyer from Missouri to be honored. Britt graduated from the University of Missouri with a Juris Doctor and Master of Public Affairs and obtained a B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. She manages civil litigation matters at the state and federal level. Britt previously served as a prosecuting attorney focusing primarily on domestic violence cases. She is a member of the ABA YLD Senior Council, the Missouri Bar Young Lawyers Section Council, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Britt lives in Missouri with her husband, Steven, and their two dogs, JoJo and Misty.

Saint Louis Fashion Fund adds new board member

Caressa Davis

Saint Louis Fashion Fund has named Caressa Davis to its board of directors. Davis is St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) director of community partnerships. With more than a decade of working with local nonprofits, Davis has impacted the St. Louis arts and nonprofit community. She also curated her own community of young Black professionals and launched The Curated Connection in 2023 as an extension of her commitment to making St. Louis a better place and connecting people with organizations and opportunities.

Marvin Bostic receives STL Senior fund award

Marvin Bostic

Marvin Bostic, elderly and disabled services coordinator at the St. Louis Housing Authority (SLHA), was recently honored with the 2024 Professional in Aging Award by the St. Louis City Senior Fund It demonstrates Bostic’s dedication and invaluable contributions to empowering senior residents, enabling them to live with choice and independence, and making a profound impact on their lives.

Barnes named Whitfield basketball coach

Coach and educator Santana Barnes has been named head coach of the Whitfield girls varsity basketball team. For the past decade, he has served as president and executive Director of Street GeeKz Liberated and Street GeeKz Educational Consulting, a non-profit dedicated to student engagement and academic achievement. He has served as head coach for the Missouri Phenom Nike EYBL program, leading the team to the 2023 AAU World Championship.

Portia Britt

Santana

Santana Barnes

Area Property Manager Jacquline Roberson standing at the 5400 block Hodiamont Ave at Garesche Ave. in Jennings has a full block of three-bedroom homes for residents in this neighborhood Friday, May 31.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Photo by Christina/Unsplash

Jennings

Continued from B1

fruition.

“We saw a need to provide something that was very much needed, which was economic development in this area, as well as providing housing for the underserved population,” he said.

“This housing project was a part of Phase Two.”

The neighborhood revitalization project is a part of low-income housing tax credit properties.

A Caring Plus has partnered with Missouri Housing Development Corporation (MHDC,) St. Louis Equity Funds, and Castle Law Housing Authority of St. Louis County.

Area Property Manager Jacquline Roberson hopes

Red Flags

Continued from B1

“And if you’re not, you’re probably going to continue to go through this cycle of burnout no matter where you are, whether you’re an entrepreneur or whether you’re in corporate.”

However, she said there are still ways to identify potential issues. Here are some red flags to watch for:

Changes in Communication Style: Increased irritability, giving brief responses to messages, or a reluctance to participate in conversations could be signs of stress or burnout.

Decreased Participation: A colleague, once a regular contributor to meetings or team chats, might become

the project will bring more diversity to the community of Jennings.

“This development project will help bring more momentum to the county,” she said.

“As a resident of Jennings I’ve seen the good, bad, and the ugly.”

A Caring Plus has an agreement with MHDC to lease the new homes for 15 years, after the 15 years the current renter has the option to purchase the property at a low-cost price. Roberson said the family would receive a credit to buy the house.

Qualifications to apply:

• Applications are accepted by non-Jennings residents

• Income must be 2 times the rent–rent is $765

• Section 8 vouchers are acceptable

The organization plans to partner with the

noticeably quiet. They may miss deadlines or appear disengaged during discussions.

Work-Life

Imbalance: Remote work offers flexibility, but the lines between work and personal life are blurred, which has led to overwork and exhaustion.

Beatrice George, who asked to use a pseudonym for privacy reasons, shared her experiences about quitting her job as a legal attorney for a startup in Boston in 2023. The organization was gradually increasing its staff, but as the only lawyer hired then, she didn’t have much support to carry out her tasks.

“The industry is highly regulated. Not only did I have to take time to understand the laws, but I had to do my work along with additional tasks outside the scope

International Institute bringing in newer immigrants to Jennings. The 1,350 square foot homes

of my job,” she said. “I was practically doing two jobs, and when you’re working at a startup, a lot of what they do is like throwing spaghetti on the wall and hoping it sticks. It wasn’t sustainable.”

George had no interest in becoming general counsel and preferred being an individual contributor rather than climbing the corporate ladder. She was making $160,000 and was content with her salary, but it came with “internal politics, lack of work boundaries, and stress.” that made her work unbearable.

“I had unlimited PTO, and I made sure I took advantage of it,” she said. “But there wasn’t a time I was comfortable not checking work-related emails because I was the only attorney on board. I carried my laptop with me on vacations.”

have three bedrooms and two bathrooms. They are furnished with a refrigerator, stove, dish-

Beyond identifying concerns in colleagues, George said it’s also important to be mindful of your own mental health. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

· Are you feeling overwhelmed or stressed?

· Are you having difficulty concentrating or completing tasks?

· Are you experiencing changes in sleep patterns or appetite?

· Are you feeling isolated or disconnected from your colleagues?

If you answer yes to several of these questions, it might be time to take a step back and reassess your workload or reach out for help.

There are several ways to address mental health concerns in the virtual workplace, both for yourself and your colleagues.

Open Communication:

washer, and washer/dryer hookups.

Five houses have been completed and eight more

Normalize conversations about mental health. Let your colleagues know it’s okay to ask for help, encourage them to take breaks, and prioritize their well-being.

Lead by Example: Take advantage of your company’s mental health resources, such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) or mindfulness workshops.

Empathy and Support: If you’re concerned about a colleague, reach out with empathy and offer support. Let them know you’re there to listen and offer resources if needed. However, respect their boundaries if they don’t want to talk.

will be finished by the end of June. Thirteen houses will be available by July, and five more will be ready by August.

“By the end of September the whole project will be done,” said Logan.

The organization plans to partner with the International Institute to bring immigrants to Jennings.

Two years ago the non-profit opened the Webster Senior Apartments located on the north end of downtown on North 11th Street.

To learn more call (314) 930-2085.

Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter for the St. Louis American.

Companies can play a significant role in creating a more supportive work environment for all employees.

Flexible Work Schedules: Offer flexible work schedules to help employees achieve a better work-life balance.

Diversity and Inclusion: Promote diversity in leadership positions and create a culture where open communication is encouraged.

Mental Health Resources: Provide comprehensive mental health resources, including culturally competent therapists and workshops specifically addressing racial bias and microaggressions.

Virtual Team

Building: Schedule virtual team-building activities to help foster connections and a sense of belonging.

Area Property Manager Jacquline Roberson inside one of the new homes in Jennings.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

n “I felt like I was trying to be a tour guide.”

– KC Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes on third trip to White House following a Super Bowl win

track

FiEld NotEbook

By Earl Austin Jr.

Ram tough

Ladue dazzled in run to state championship

In last week’s track and field roundup, the outstanding teams that brought home championships from the recent state meets in Missouri and Illinois were honored. Added to the list are the Ladue Rams, who won the Class 4 boys state championship in Jefferson City. This week, we are going to take a look at the other individual state champions.

Class 5 Girls

Senior A’laji Bradley of Pattonville won state championships in the 200and 400-meter dashes. She won the 200 in 23.51 seconds and the 400 in 54.51. She also finished second in the 100-meter dash.

first in the long jump with a leap of 19 feet 5 ¼ inches. She also finished third in the triple jump.

Senior Madison Fowler of Cor Jesu won the shot put with a heave of 46 feet 3 ¼ inches.

Senior Avery Foster of Fort Zumwalt North won the pole vault with a clearance of 12-0.

Senior Natalie Banard of Lafayette won both the 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs. She won the 1,600 in 4 minutes 49.4 seconds and the 3,200 in 10 minutes 32.66 seconds.

Class 4 Girls

Senior Skyye Lee of Parkway Central finished her fabulous career by winning three gold medals. She won the 200 in 23.94 seconds and swept the titles in the 100-meter high hurdles and 300-meter low hurdles. Her winning time in the 100-meter hurdles was 13.34 and the 300meter hurdles was 42.63. She also finished second in the 100 in 11.75.

Senior Aaliyah Elliott of John Burroughs finished

Class 4 Boys

The Ladue Rams won the state championship with 62 points. Senior Shaun Roberts won the 100 in 10.8 seconds. The Rams also finished first in the 4x100 in 41.88 and 4x400 in 3:17.78. They also finished second in the 4x200 and seventh in the 4x800.

Senior Gavin Via finished second in the 400.

Senior Dwayne Foley finished third in the long jump and fourth in the triple jump.

Senior Tristan Williams won state titles in the 200 and 400. He posted winning times of 21.52 in the 200 and 47.71 in the 400. He also anchored the Rams’ 4x200-meter relay to a first-place finish.

Senior Brandon Johnson of McCluer finished first in the high jump with a clearance of 6 feet 6 inches.

Sophomore Carson Drimeier of Festus won the 3,200 in a time of

9:17.46.

Senior Nick Marchetti of Hillsboro finished first in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles in 38.95 second.

St. Charles won the

state championship in the 4x800-meter relay.

Quenton Parker commits to UMSL Cardinal Ritter basketball standout Quenton Parker has given a com-

SportS

With Alvin A. Reid

mitment to UMSL. A 6’4” guard, Parker helped lead the Lions to the Class 6 state championship. He averaged 10.6 points and 5.2 rebounds a game. He was also one of the most explosive athletes in the state as he

“No, not Boston.”

That was my first thought when Jayson Tatum was selected by the Boston Celtics with the third pick of the 2017 NBA Draft.

Of the 30 NBA franchises, the only one I didn’t want our St. Louis kid to play for was Boston. Despite high odds against it happening, that’s where Tatum, a one-and-done player from Duke just a year out of Chaminade High School, ended up. That was seven years ago. I remain in a predicament I fell into that evening: I can’t root for the Celtics.

include the late NBA immortal Bill Russell. Boston has won championships with Black coaches. Boston can put its record of inclusion and opportunity against any franchise in the NBA. I want the Celtics to lose. Larry Bird was one of the greatest players the game will ever see. I personally rate him above Michael Jordan. The greatest basketball player I ever witnessed in person is Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Second on that list is Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

I want Tatum to be the NBA MVP. I want him to become one of the best players in league history.

I also want the Celtics to lose. I want Boston to lose every game, not just the NBA Finals. I don’t like the town, I don’t like the fans, I don’t like the Celtics.

Boston has had great Black players, which

Obviously, my dislike for the Celtics traces back to the 1980s. Yes, those games; those NBA Finals. The L.A. Lakers against Bird and the Celtics left me an anti-Celtic for life. When young, you might vow, ‘I’m never going to say, you had to be there to understand.’ Trust me, you will write or say those very words someday. If you wanted the Lakers to beat the Celtics or wanted the Celtics

Jayson Tatum is tops with me but his team isn’t. At the Class 4 Girls State Track & Field Championships Saturday, May 25, senior Skyye Lee of Parkway Central (center) finished her fabulous career by winning three gold

to beat the Lakers, you know of which I speak. It wasn’t hate. It was very real, though. You had to be there. Thus, I want Tatum’s season to end in defeat.

Another oddball occurrence that irks me is that Tatum became a Celtic after his team finished 2017 with the best record in the Eastern Conference. In 2013, the Celtics sent Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn

Nets for four first-round picks. Among them was the first-round pick in the 2017 draft. Pierce and Garnett were past their prime, the Nets continued to lose and won the first pick in the 2017 Draft Lottery. Too bad it went straight to Boston.

Former Celtics GM Danny Ainge would later say that he would have drafted Tatum with the first overall pick – but he didn’t have to.

The Celtics traded the top pick to Philadelphia in return for the No. 3 overall pick. The 76ers wanted Markelle Fultz out of Washington. The Lakers were set on UCLA’s Lonzo Ball and proceeded to make one of the wort picks in franchise history at No. 2. Tatum fell to third in the draft. He’s now in his second NBA Finals and the favorite to win the Finals MVP Award.

had a number of crowd pleasing dunks during the season. He scored a game-high 20 points in the Lions victory over Springfield Central in the semifinals of the Class 6 state tournament.

The late Chuck Howley is the only NFL player to win Super Bowl MVP when his team (the 1970 Dallas Cowboys) lost the game. I’ll be happiest if Tatum does the same in the 2024 NBA Finals. The Reid Roundup Barring disaster or injury in the US Gymnastics Olympic Trials, Simone Biles

Earl Austin Jr.

Alvin A. Reid

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Photo courtesy of Jof Celtics.com

Steven Cousins honored as Mound City Legal Legend

Steven Cousins, chair and CEO of Cousins Allied Strategic Advisors, LLC, was honored as a Legal Legend Inductee by the Mound City Bar Association during a ceremony on May 30, 2024.

Cousins spent over 38 years as an attorney at Armstrong Teasdale in St. Louis. During his tenure there, he founded the firm’s Financial Restructuring, Reorganization, and Bankruptcy practice area and became the first associate to lead a practice.

His expertise spans bankruptcy, reorganization, and restructuring, and he has represented a wide variety of debtor companies, creditors, and financial institutions across the United States. He served as co-counsel to the largest private-sector coal company in the world during its Chapter 11 proceedings and represented the largest specialty family footwear retailer in the Western Hemisphere during its Chapter 11 restructuring and post-bankruptcy proceedings.

“It has been my long held belief that one can and should, in the words of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, aspire to live large in the law recognizing that charity and civic commitment can and should be the great spring of human action,” Cousins said during his acceptance speech.

“I believe that law and civic engagement can and should exist in mutual play and support of one another, one is a logical extension of the other. I believe that one should and can, with simultaneity, seek professional and civic uplift and the uplift of our fellow citizens from the vicissitudes and vagaries of life.”

SLACO, First Baptist Church to brighten JeffVanderLou

The St. Louis Association of Community Organizations (SLACO) and the First Baptist Church of St. Louis will partner on a two-day Sundy Whiteside Keeping It Clean Initiative that combines community cleanup with neighborhood activities, underscoring the power of collective action and community spirit.

From 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 8, 2024, volunteers will gather at the First Baptist Church of St. Louis, 3100 Bell Avenue, to kick off the neighborhood cleanup,

sponsored by First Community Services. Community members will roll up their sleeves to pick up litter, remove debris, and beautify the streets surrounding the church.

“Community involvement is essential to cre-

ating lasting change,” said Timothy Price, III, First Baptist Church of St. Louis head pastor.

“This cleanup is not just about picking up trash; it’s about building pride and fostering a sense of ownership among residents.”

“We are excited to

see the community come together, not only to clean up but to celebrate our shared achievements,” said Kevin McKinney, SLACO executive director.

“The support from our sponsors and volunteers is a testament to the strength and resilience of St. Louis neighborhoods.”

The Super Sunday JVL Block Party will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at First Baptist, featuring food trucks, a bounce house for kids, a petting zoo, music, ice cream, and pony rides.

Former Armstrong Teasdale attorneys

Sheena Hamilton (St Louis City Counselor), Connie McFarland Butler and Countess Price joined Steven Cousins at his induction as a Living Legend on May 30, 2024, by the Mound City Bar Association.

Courtesy photo

Tony-winning musical’s tour perfectly captures spirit of Michael Jackson

By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American

During a tender moment of silence in the second act of “MJ,” a booming Black man’s voice echoed from the back of the Fox Theatre – or perhaps the balcony.

“This [is] a bad [a-word expletive] show,” he said. This reporter’s seat neighbor felt compelled to respond to his outburst. “I don’t know what he’s talking about,” she said. “This show is phenomenal.” She had no clue that she and the heckler were in absolute agreement.

The woman didn’t understand the slang – a staple of Black vernacular that Jackson himself used as the album title and first follow-up to his incomparably successful album “Thriller.” That is the power of Michael Jackson. He was a cultural phenomenon in human form almost from the moment he was introduced to the world as the pint-sized lead singer of The Jackson 5. And people who do not relate or connect on any other terms find common ground through their mutual fandom.

Such was the case on Wednesday night. All walks of life filled the Fox Theatre for the St. Louis leg of the national tour of the Tony Award-winning musical “MJ.” Of course, there were the fans of a certain age who followed Jackson’s meteoric rise from his days as a child prodigy. And naturally, the Gen Xers who watched his unprecedented

Living It

‘MJ’ magic

“I’ve been healing from great disillusionment.”

- India.Arie on her decision to take a mental and physical health hiatus from

touring.

Roman

music industry domination in real time with the release of “Thriller” showed up in droves. But most striking was the presence of young fans born after Jackson’s untimely passing in 2009. Wearing bedazzled gloves, socks and fedoras with rhinestone encrusted hat bands, some needed booster seats so that their line of sight was not blocked by the backs of other patrons.

For them – and many of us – “MJ” is the closest they will come to a live musical experience from the late King of Pop. And what an experience it was.

The production is a cut above the staged greatest hits playlist/musical biopic mashup format that has become a favorite to present on Broadway and subsequently tour. In all fairness to the other musicals

Raceway to Runway at Neiman Marcus St. Louis

By Zaria Mac For The St. Louis American

Warwick Scott, CEO of the Wendell Scott Foundation, collaborated with NASCAR and Neiman Marcus of St. Louis to create a fashion experience that brought style and speed together. Raceway to Runway kicked off the NASCAR Cup Series Weekend on May 31, 2024, at the World Wide Technology Raceway.

This unique event displayed the evolution of NASCAR from one that is strictly automotive focused, to one that embraces fashion and sets trends.

Scott started the foundation to honor his grandfather Wendell Scott, who was the first Black NASCAR driver. He competed and won the NASCAR Grand Nationals Series without any formal training, making him an anomaly in the racing world. Warwick brought that spirit of excellence and his flair for fashion to Neiman Marcus, creating an experience that will revolutionize the St. Louis fashion scene.

The fashion show was directed by Caira Butler M.S., Neiman Marcus’ new Brand Experience lead. She was praised for her style and ability to organize premiere events like Raceway to Runway and various trunk shows throughout the year.

Patrons had the opportunity to pose with exotic cars stationed near the entryway, including a Blue Ferrari F8, a pristine Petty 81 Buick Regal Tribute, and an official NASCAR STEM Truck to name a few. Inside, guests enjoyed a luxurious atmosphere and colorful cocktails crafted with Nelly’s own MoShine released last spring. Guests were also serenaded by Adrianne Felton-King and Timothy “TC” Chandler on the piano.

The fashion show opened with a sleek racing suit paired with a Jolie Madame Balmain bag and a classic So Kate Lounoutin. This racer-chic look perfectly

See Raceway, C8

with similar blueprints, “MJ” has the advantage of a subject with unparalleled commercial success and fan devotion.

The flipside, though, is that the musical has the added pressure of expectations that come with the embodiment of a

Lawrence, Smith heat up screen with latest ‘Bad Boys’ sequel

By Kenya Vaughn

The St. Louis American

Certainly, there are a few people who might ask, “Why do we even need another ‘Bad Boys’ movie?” Posing the question is the equivalent of pulling up to a McDonald’s drive through and asking, “Why is the Big Mac still on the menu?” The answer to both questions is essentially the same – one knows what to expect, they’re satisfying and people buy it. And like the global comfort food staple that has been going strong since 1968, the latest installment of the franchise proves that it’s not going anywhere any-

Boys, C8

See MJ, C8

Photo by Matthew Murphy/MurphyMade

Banks as ‘MJ’ along with the cast of the musical’s first national tour, which plays in St. Louis at the Fabulous Fox Theatre through Sunday, June 9.

Photo by Taylor Marrie | St. Louis American

The Runway to Raceway event was held at Neiman Marcus on May 31st, 2024.

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Martin Lawrence and Will Smith star in Bad Boys: Ride or Die.

EMELINE, Leah Kate and Mitch Marku

6/8/2024 4:00pm

STL Sites & Sounds

Featuring performances from EMELINE, Leah Kate and Mitch Marku, as well as a glitter and tattoo bar, the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge, giveaways, and games and activities for all ages.

Please Note: This venue has a CLEAR BAG policy and is CASHLESS for concessions. Please visit chaifetzarena.com for more details. Chaifetz Arena 1 South Compton Ave St. Louis, MO $48.00 - $178.00

‘Lift Every Voice’ Exhibit Opening 6/8/2024 6:00 p.m.

6/20/2024 7:30 p.m.

The Gateway Festival Orchestra celebrates Juneteenth with a cultural and musical feast that pays homage to the enduring contributions of Black composers. Florissant Valley Community College - Florissant Valley Theater 3400 Pershall Rd. Ferguson, MO 63135 Free Tower Grove Farmers’ Market

6/8/2024 8:00 a.m

The Tower Grove Farmers’ Market is Saturdays from 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (April through November) and Tuesdays from 4-7 p.m. (May through September). Tower Grove Park 4257 Northeast Drive St. Louis, MO

NIGHTLIFE

The Griot Museum of Black History 2505 St Louis Ave St. Louis, MO $10.00 MJ the Musical 6/8/2024 2:00 p.m. 6/8/2024 7:30 p.m.

First Friday in Grand Center: Faeded Dance Party

6/7/2024 5:00 p.m.

Celebrate Pride month in the courtyard between CAM and Pulitzer Arts Foundation with Faeded, a high-fantasy dance party and musical spectacle focused on creating an exploratory space for femmes, Queers, people of color, and those that love them! Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis 3750 Washington Blvd St. Louis, MO

FAIRS, FESTIVALS AND MARKETS

A Celebration of Black Composers

See STL: Tower Grove Walking Tour with MHS 6/13/2024 5:30 p.m.

Exploring Tower Grove South neighborhood’s history from being a coal-mine hub to a streetcar suburb, and explain how it evolved from prosperity to decline and back again. Tower Grove Park 4257 Northeast Drive St. Louis, MO $15.00

ART ACTIVITIES, EXHIBITS AND MUSEUMS

Sip and Skate at Tower Grove Park Beer and Cocktail Garden 6/7/2024 4:00 p.m.

Powered by St. Louis Barkeep and Schlafly, come join us on Fridays from April - October in Pond Loop near the Ruins for drinks and entertainment. 4257 Northeast Drive St. Louis, MO

June Events at the Missouri History Museum

By the Missouri Historical Society

On Wednesday evenings throughout June, The Collective STL presents Just Breathe, an intergenerational summer wellness experience. From 6:00pm to 8:00pm, enjoy an all-levels yoga class on the Missouri History Museum’s North Lawn and a variety of activities, including journaling, mindful art, music, live DJ performances, and food. Participants can also take advantage of the trails in Forest Park. The Summer Family Fun Series returns to the Museum on Wednesdays and Fridays in June and July. Families with children ages 2–12 can enjoy crafts, performances, and scavenger hunts on Wednesdays. On Fridays, there will be Storytelling in the Museum and Cuentos en el Museo programs at 10:30am, followed by a 2-hour drop-in craft workshop. The themes for June are: Cuentos en el Museo and Craft Workshop: Caribbean American Heritage Month (June 7), Italian American STL (June 12), Storytelling in the Museum and Craft Workshop: Pets (with guest readers Kip Ullrich Fechner and Janis Ullrich Dillon) (June 14), Juneteenth Jubilee (with performances by Alicia Sunshine Gbaho and Beyond Measure Dance Theater (June 19), Juneteenth Storytelling and Craft Workshop with ASL interpretation by DEAF Inc. (June 21), Caribbean American STL (featuring a family musical about Haiti led by Mama Lisa and Fundisha Enterprises) (June 26), and Cuentos en el Museo and Craft Workshop: Sea Creatures (June 28). This weekend, June 8–9, the Museum will open the Gateway to Pride exhibit. Be among the first to see the new exhibit and celebrate St. Louis’s fascinating and powerfully relevant LGBTQIA+ history. Throughout Saturday and Sunday, visitors can enjoy live music, a Painted with Pride art display, a photo booth, face painting, and a family zone with art activities. The Museum’s shop, Sold on St. Louis, will feature local goods created by LGBTQIA+ vendors. Visit mohistory.org/ events for the complete schedule for the opening weekend celebration, presented

by Ameren. The Gateway to Pride exhibit is presented by the William A. Kerr Foundation and AARP St. Louis.

On Tuesday, June 11, Dr. James Tucker will lead a Juneteenth panel discussion about the history of the tumultuous end of slavery and the evolution of a nationally recognized holiday. ASL interpretation will be provided by DEAF Inc. This program will take place at 11:00am in the Museum’s Lee Auditorium.

On Thursday, June 13, the Museum will host an uplifting celebration of Juneteenth at Thursday Nights at the Museum. The evening will include an empowering spoken word performance by Tracy Stanton at 6:30pm, followed by a presentation about the history and meaning of the Juneteenth holiday by Dr. James Tucker and a performance by Ballet 314. The celebration will end with a live performance by members of the St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus and St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. A happy hour with food and drink available for purchase from the Key Bistro, plus staffed resource tables, will be held from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, and the Museum’s exhibits will be open until 8:00pm. The Thursday Nights at the Museum series is presented by WashU.

At 9:00am on Saturday, June 15, celebrate Black religion and liberation with a Juneteenth Community Bike Ride led by Trailnet, 4theVille, St. Louis Shakespeare Festival, and the Missouri Historical Society. Historians, storytellers, and musicians will share the city’s history as the group rides on city streets at a slow pace for people at all comfort levels. The ride will depart from Tandy Recreation Center (4206 Kennerly Ave.) at 10am.

The St. Louis African American History and Genealogy Society (STLAAHGS) will hold its monthly workshop at the Museum on Saturday, June 15, from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. The topic for this month is quilting and African American history. Workshops are open to STLAAHGS members and the public and include announcements, a presentation by an expert in the field of Black history and genealogy, and a Q&A session.

African American History Initiative (AAHI) programming is presented by Wells Fargo.

Black churches getting hyped for community health

Friendly Temple holding event June 9

St. Louis American

June is Men’s Health Month and Friendly Temple Baptist Church is partnering with The Empowerment Network (TEN) as hosts of “Hyped For Health: A Men’s Prostate Cancer Awareness and Testing Initiative.

The free event is 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday June 9, 2024, at Friendly Temple Baptist Church, 5515 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive.

A recent Cleveland Clinic survey of more than 500 American men ages 18-70 about their use of healthcare resources found that just 60% of men get annual physicals and 40% only see a doctor when they feel it is essential for a serious medical condition.

Bishop Michael F. Jones, Sr., Friendly Temple senior pastor, calls Hyped, “a valuable opportunity to learn about the latest advancements in prostate cancer prevention and early detection.”

“Take advantage of this chance to prioritize your health and empower yourself.”

In a 2022 study by the Journal of Primary Care and Community health entitled “The Black Church and Public Health: A Key Partnership, researchers wrote, “Previous research has linked regular church attendance to healthy behavior such as blood pressure screening, dental cleanings, and pap smears.

“A review of church-based health interventions also revealed that faith-based health promotion programs can be effective, particularly regarding heart health, dietary improvement, weight loss, as well as improving cancer knowledge and increasing cancer screening rates.”

The report dealt with information from 2020-22, at the height of the pandemic, and it concluded “Church organizational structure and leaders position the Black church as a relevant entity to reach the target population.”

“Black pastors acknowledge their influential role in promoting and modeling healthy behavior as well as the importance of faith-based programs in improving health among congregants. For instance, diabetes prevention programs have been translated to faith-settings and have been proven to be successful in achieving weight loss and lowering fasting glucose levels among Black congregants.

Throughout June, TEN will

promote awareness activities to encourage men to focus on their health - for themselves and their families by pledging to make a doctor’s appointment, get a physical exam, and get a prostate screening. The month will feature a radio campaign, television interviews, and community health fairs.

TEN Founder and President Mellve Shahid Sr., a 17-year prostate cancer survivor, said “through our journey with this disease, we understand the meaning of being healthy and staying healthy.” We understand that health is proactive, and cancer is reactive; that good health is encouraging and being unhealthy is discouraging on all levels.”

According to Zero Prostate Cancer, a Black man is diagnosed with prostate cancer every 13 minutes, and 17 Black men die from the disease every day.

That’s due in part to the fact that Black men are 75% less likely to have health insurance than white men, according to the National Institutes of Health. So, Black men are less likely to receive timely and effective treatment compared to white men, which leads to worse outcomes.

Screening is key

The good news is prostate cancer screening can be done during medical check-ups with Prostate-Specific Antigen test,

which can detect cancer markers in the blood before symptoms are present. However, the PSA screening test isn’t perfect, and can sometimes generate false positives.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force, which helps establish standards for screening tests, recommends people ages 55 to 69 talk extensively with their medical doctor before choosing to be screened for prostate cancer. The task force advises that men over age 70 should not take the PSA test. Organizations like TEN, the Black Men’s Health Initiative and the African American Prostate Cancer Coalition are working to educate Black men about the importance of regular screenings and early detection.

Many Black churches are also becoming more involved in bringing mental health information to congregations.

Beltway Church of Christ in near Washington D.C. in suburban Maryland recently hosted a Community Mental Health Awareness Day.

“It was necessary to have this particular event now because we’re just fully getting out of COVID, and some people are still dealing with things that hadn’t been dealt with,” Le’Andre Johnson, minister at Beltway Church of Christ, told The Washington Informer.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Bruce McClure, a licensed counselor and minister at Prince George’s Church of Christ said, “It’s the same gospel, but how do we adapt it to mental health, physical health, behavioral, financial, relational.”

The event emphasized combating mental health challenges with therapy, wellness practices such as exercise and faith-based work.

For more information on “Hyped For Health, call (314) 385-0998, or visit TenStl.org.

Photo courtesy of Friendly Temple Church

Bishop Michael F. Jones, Friendly Temple Church senior pastor, is inviting men to “Hyped For Health on June 9, 2024, at his church to “prioritize health and empower yourself.”

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY PROJECTS

Seed St. Louis is hiring for a manager who will lead installations across our network of gardens and orchards. Full time with benefits. We are a local non-profit committed to food justice and urban agriculture. Learn more at www.seedstl.org/workfor-us

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

CURRENT JOB OPENINGS

*Theses

Please visit

mohistory.org under the “Job Seekers: Current Openings” tab for position details and to apply.

St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) has openings for multiple positions. To apply online and see a full job description go to https://www. developstlouis.org/ careers and click “Open Positions & Apply Online.”

To apply please email: employment@doorwayshousing.org

IS EXCITED TO

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.

Bids & Public Notices

CITY OF ST. LOUIS WATER DIVISION

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR CUSTODIAL SERVICES #24RFP025

Opening: 6/4/24

Question Deadline: 6/14/24

Due: 6/28/24, at 3:00 central

The Water Division seeks a professional custodial/janitorial service to clean our Administration Building at 1640 South Kingshighway, 63110. The RFP is at (https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/ government/procurement/), or by email rfp@stlwater.com

ADVERTISEMENT/ NOTICE

Bids for New Laboratory Campus

Multi-Agency, Project No. O2301-01 will be received by McCownGordon Construction at the office of OA/FMDC, State of MO UNTIL 2:00PM, June 27, 2024. Project location is 135 N Chestnut St, Jefferson City, MO 65101. Bid Package 02A Scopes of work including: Concrete – elevated decks, Steel, and Exterior Glass & Glazing.

Bid Package information available at: https://app.buildingconnected.com/ public/565cdb606895000f004164f2/projects/ 66312fa50de9760042b2d62e

MBE participation goal of 10% and WBE participation Goals of 10% and SDVE participation goal of 3% are included.

OA/FMDC reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive all informalities in bids. McCownGordon Construction is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PROPOSED GRAND CENTER EAST COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

Please be advised that a public hearing shall be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on June 11, 2024 in Room 208 of St. Louis City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis MO 63103 regarding the establishment of the Grand Center East Community Improvement District (the “District”). A petition for the establishment of the District has been filed with the municipal clerk.

The boundaries of the proposed District are as follows:

Beginning at the intersection of the centerline of Delmar Boulevard, 20 feet wide, with the centerline of Compton Ave, 20 feet wide; thence Southerly along said centerline of Compton Ave a distance of 1,333 feet to its intersection with the centerline of Olive St, 25 feet wide; thence West along the centerline Olive St a distance of 898 feet; thence Northwest along the Southeastern prolongation of the centerline of Olive Street and along the centerline of Olive Street a distance of 506 feet to its intersection with the centerline of North Theresa Avenue; thence North along the centerline of North Theresa Avenue a distance of 131 feet more or less to its intersection with the centerline of Locust Street, 60 feet wide; thence East along the centerline of Locust Street a distance of 180 feet; thence North along the Southern prolongation of the East line of Lot 6 in Block 7 of the Subdivision of Section 16 in Block 1056 of the City of St. Louis, along the East line of said Lot 6 and along the Northern prolongation of the East line of said Lot 6 a distance of 172.17 feet to the centerline of an East – West alley, 15 feet wide, in City Block 1056; thence West along the centerline of said alley, through Theresa Avenue and along the centerline of an East – West alley, 15 feet wide, in City Block 1060 a distance of 355 feet to its intersection with the Southern prolongation of the West line of said property conveyed to Mon F and Jean Y Wong by deed recorded in Book 716M page 1462 of the City of St. Louis Records; thence North along the Southern prolongation of said property and along the West line of said property conveyed to Wong and being also along the West line of the Eastern 45.03 feet of Lot 12 in Block 6 of Thomas Walsh Subdivision of Section 16 in Block 1060 of the City of St. Louis and along the Northern prolongation of said property a distance of 175 feet to its intersection with the centerline of Washington Boulevard, 80 feet wide; thence East along the centerline of Washington Boulevard a distance of 175 feet to its intersection with the centerline of said North Theresa Avenue; thence North along the centerline of North Theresa Avenue a distance of 345 feet to its intersection with the centerline of Samuel Shepard Drive, 60 feet wide; thence East along the centerline of Samuel Shepard Drive a distance of 195 feet to its intersection with the Southern prolongation of the West line of said property conveyed to 3424 Delmar Realty, LLC by deed recorded in Book 09122008 page 0225 of the City of St. Louis Records; thence North along the Southern prolongation of the West line of said property and along the West line of said property and being parallel to and 235.5’ West of the West line of Josephine Baker Boulevard a distance of 172 feet to the center line of a former East – West alley now vacated; thence West along the centerline of said vacated alley a distance of 4.5 feet; thence North along the West line of said property conveyed to 3424 Delmar Realty, LLC and along the Northern prolongation of said West line of said property and being parallel to and 240’ West of the West line of Josephine Baker Boulevard a distance of 171 feet to its intersection with the centerline of said Delmar Boulevard; thence East along the centerline of Delmar Boulevard a distance of 1,091 feet to the point of beginning.

A map illustrating the proposed boundaries of the District is shown below. A copy of the petition is available for review at the office of the municipal clerk during regular business hours. All interested persons shall be given an opportunity to be heard at the public hearing.

To attend and/or testify at this meeting virtually click the link below: https://stlouis-mo-gov.zoom.us/j/89174753325?pwd=cVdoekJHb3g3ZDUvVkU5dVkvaHBVUT09

Procedures to Speak in Committee Meetings Virtually

The Chair of the Committee will announce when the meeting will be open for public comment. If you wish to speak, click the “Raise Hand” icon and function in the Zoom Meeting Screen while in the meeting. This will place a raised hand next to your name. Usually only people showing a raised hand will be called on to speak. When the Chair is ready for you to speak you will be moved from the attendee list to the participant list by the meeting manager. You will be moved back to the attendee list once you are completed. Speakers from the public will be called to speak in order of appearance on the list. Committee members may have questions after your talk. When you enter the meeting to speak the Chair will ask your name and may ask if you are for, against or have no position on the petition. The Chair may also ask other questions related to your relationship to the petition.The Chair will determine the amount of time all speakers will have. The Chair may determine this after all those wishing to speak have raised their hands. The time usually allotted to speak is about three (3) minutes. The exact time will be announced by the Chair before the public comments begin.

Terry Kennedy, Clerk of the Board of Aldermen

St Louis City Hall, 1200 Market, Suite 230, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, 314-622-3287

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Construct Bellefontaine Readiness Center, St. Louis, MO, Project No. T2150-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 7/11/24 For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http:// oa.mo.gov/ facilities

CONSERVATION EDUCATION ONLINE CONTENT DATABASE RFP 2024

The Saint Louis Zoo seeks bids from qualified firms to submit proposals. Bid documents are available as of 6/5/24 on the Saint Louis Zoo website: stlzoo.org/vendor

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.

BIDS REQUESTED NEW CONSTRUCTION

Section 3 / MBE /WBE Encouraged 40 Units Multi Family – JEFFERSON CITY, MO For Bid Information: 573-204-3097 or nleoni@sbcglobal.net or zventura@vendev. cc Double Diamond Construction 2201 Walton Dr., Ste. B Jackson, MO 63755

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Quadrangle Housing Company (QHC), an affiliate of Washington University in St Louis, is requesting bids from general contractors for flood mitigation work at multiple residential properties located in University City, Missouri. The scope of work includes plumbing, electrical, carpentry and HVAC focused on reducing or eliminating future flood incidents at the multi-family, residential properties.

There will be a pre-bid meeting at 901 Eastgate, University City, Missouri 63110 on June 13, 2024 from 1:30 pm to 5 pm. Each bidder will be held to have examined the project sites and satisfied himself or herself of existing conditions and conditions under which the work is to be performed.

If interested, a copy of the request for proposals can be obtained by emailing John Frey at email address: john_frey@ wustl.edu . All questions related to this RFP should be directed to John Frey via email or by telephone at 314-935-9399.

Proposals must be received by email no later than 3 pm Monday, June 24, 2024. Proposals must be emailed to: john_ frey@wustl.edu and delivered to 1st Floor Receptionist at 621 North Skinker, St Louis, Missouri 63112 .

QHC reserves the right to accept or reject any and all responses received, or to cancel this request in part or in its entirety if it is in the best interest of QHC to do so.

Quadrangle Housing Company and Washington University in St. Louis are Equal Opportunity Employers

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Wappapello Training Site - Design & Construct Lagoon Expansion, Project No. T2317-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, June 27, 2024. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http:// oa.mo.gov/ facilities

PUBLIC NOTICE

Donald Maggi Inc. is accepting bids from Disadvantaged Business Enterprises for subcontracting opportunities on the Improvements to Water and Wastwater System Infrastructure Project No.: U2309-01 Bid Date and Time: 1:30 pm, June 25, 2024 Plans/Specification is available via Dropbox or google drive or www.adsplanroom.net Contact Donald Maggi Inc. at 573-364-7733 or email maggiconst@gmail.com Donald Maggi Inc.

OR REQUEST

EMAIL Angelita Houston at ahouston@stlamerican.com

NOTICE REGARDING TRAFFIC COURT COMMISSIONER VACANCY 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 Traffic Court Commissioner of the Circuit Court of St. Louis County.

The Circuit Judges and Associate Judges will make the appointment for a term of (4) years, at an annual salary of (1/3) of an associate circuit judge and (1/3) the approximate time commitment, payable by the State of Missouri, pursuant to RSMo §479.500

Missouri law requires the Traffic Court Commissioner(s) to possess the same qualifications as an associate circuit judge, including those set forth in the Missouri Constitution, Article V, Section 21, to wit, they must be qualified voters of the state, residents of St. Louis County, Missouri, at least twenty-five years old, licensed to practice law in Missouri; and possess all other qualifications as required by law. (See RSMo §479.500).

Questionnaires and Candidate Instructions may be obtained by sending a resume and cover letter to St. Louis County Circuit 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 Circuit Court, ATTN: Human Resources, 105 S. Central Avenue, Clayton, Missouri 63105, or via email to SLCCourtJobs@ courts.mo.gov on or before June 28, 2024

The appointment is scheduled to take place upon a vote of the Court en Banc on or about July 10, 2024 or at such time as announced by the Presiding Judge. 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.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

PARIC Corporation is seeking proposals for the following project: DELMAR DIVINE PHASE II, located at 5535 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63112.

This project is the historic rehabilitation and conversion of historic Buildings 3, 4, 5A, and 5B of the former St. Luke’s Hospital Complex to house 81 market rate apartment units, support amenities office suites, indoor parking, exterior parking. and rooftop amenities space, utilizing state and historic tax credits. The elevator, fire protection, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical scopes have been awarded as part of a separate bid effort. We are currently soliciting bids for the following scopes: DEMOLITION, CONCRETE, MASONRY RESTORATION, STRUCTURAL STEEL, ROUGH AND FINISH CARPENTRY, CASEWORK, MEMBRANE ROOFING, SHEET METAL FLASHING AND TRIM, FIRESTOPPING, JOINT SEALANTS, DOORS, FRAMES, AND HARDWARE, OVERHEAD DOORS, ENTRANCES AND STOREFRONTS, ALUMINUM WINDOWS, DRYWALL, INTERIOR FINISHES, SIGNAGE, TOILET ACCESSORIES, FIRE PROTECTION SPECIALTIES, POSTAL SPECIALTIES, WARDROBE AND CLOSET SPECIALTIES, APPLIANCES, WINDOW TREATMENTS, FACILITY CHUTES, EARTHWORK, ASPHALT PAVING, FENCES AND GATES, LANDSCAPING, AND SITE UTILITIES.

Access to documents is available from our Smartbid link. If you do not receive a bid invitation, please send your company information to tlalexander@paric.com

A PREBID meeting will be held on Wednesday, 6/12 at 9:00am at the project site.

Questions / RFI’s are due to Paric by June 26th, 2024.

BIDS WILL BE DUE ON July 9th, 2024 @ 2:00pm.

Send all questions to Grant Whitson (gwhitson@ paric.com).

This project will have prevailing wage requirements.

Goals for Construction Business Enterprise

• 21% African American

• 11% Women

• .5% Asian American

• .5% Native American

• 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

ITB #: 57824157 INVITATION TO BID

Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU) is requesting proposals for the construction services required for the renovation of room 017 located on the lower level of the Henry Givens Jr. Administration Building. Proposals must be emailed no later than 2:00 pm on July 2, 2024, to Corey Freeman at freemanc@hssu.edu Cc Ryan Wilson at Navigate Building Solutions at ryan@navigatebuildingsolutions.com

Responses to the RFP will be opened and read at a virtual bid opening on July 2, 2024, at 2:30 pm

A pre-bid conference and walk-through will be held on June 18, 2024, at 2:00 pm at the Henry Givens Jr. Administration Building. Interested parties should meet at the east entrance.

A copy of the Request for Proposals can be obtained by contacting Corey Freeman at email address freemanc@hssu.edu or calling (314) 340-3325. Cc Ryan Wilson at ryan@navigatebuildingsolutions.com on all RFP requests.

The University reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and to waive all informalities in proposals.

JUNGLE OF THE APES INTERIOR PAINTING RFP 2024

The Saint Louis Zoo seeks bids from qualified firms to submit proposals. Bid documents are available as of 6/5/24 on the Saint Louis Zoo website: stlzoo.org/vendor

SOLICITING BID

Reinhardt Construction LLC is Soliciting Bids from MBE/WBE/DBE/ Veteran/SDVE for the following:

CP230841 National Swine Resource and Research Center – Construct Addition Contact: Mike Murray ; mikem@ reinhardtconstructionllc. com Phone: 573-682-5505

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Construct Bellefontaine Readiness Center, St. Louis, MO, Project No. T2150-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 7/11/24. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http:// oa.mo.gov/ facilities

SEALED BIDS

Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Owner’s Representative Services for 21st Century Missouri State Capitol Building Restoration Project, Project No. O2437-03, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, June 5, 2024 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace Siding at Dillard Mill State Historic Site, Project No. X23MP-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, July 9, 2024 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

REQUEST FOR BIDS

Bids for the Dual Brand Hotel Kimpton/Staybridge Revision 1 in St Louis, Missouri are being received by Brinkmann Constructors. Bids must be turned in by Monday, June 24 –12PM CST

Bids may be delivered to our office at 16650 Chesterfield Grove Rd Chesterfield, MO 63005

Attn Chris Kaintz or emailed to bids@ BrinkmannConstructors. com

Plans may be viewed or downloaded at https://securecc. smartinsight.co/#/ PublicBidProject/759576

Contact Brinkmann Constructors for further details on the project at 636-537-9700

The St. Louis Economic Development Partnership solicits proposals for Owner’s Representative and Construction Management Services to oversee the construction of several capital improvements at the bio-technology business incubator located at 1100 Corporate Square Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63132, commonly known as the Helix Center. A copy of the complete RFP is available at https:// stlpartnership.com/rfp-rfq/. To be considered, proposals must be received no later than 3:00 PM CST on Friday, June 21, 2024.

St. Louis Economic Development Partnership Equal Opportunity Employer

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of the County of St. Louis solicits proposals for Owner’s Representative and Construction Management Services to oversee the planning, design, and construction of several capital improvements at the MET Center, located at 6347 Plymouth Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri. A copy of the complete RFP is available at https://stlpartnership.com/ rfp-rfq/. To be considered, proposals must be received no later than 3:00 PM CST on Friday, June 21, 2024.

St. Louis Economic Development Partnership Equal Opportunity Employer

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Marina Wastewater System Improvements at Harry S Truman State Park, Project No. X2308-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, July 11, 2024 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

SEALED BIDS

Bids for New Premium Campsites Weston Bend State Park, Project No. X2221-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 7/16/24. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http:// oa.mo.gov/ facilities

Bids for Minor Renovations for Infection Control at Mt. Vernon Veterans Home, Project No. U230201, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, June 18, 2024 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

Bad Boys

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time soon. Directors Adil and Bilall gave fans of the “Bad Boys” films exactly what they would hope for with “Bad Boys: Ride or Die.” Thanks to nonstop action, energy, pace, impeccably timed comic relief and commitment from its costars, the generation franchise felt fresh and relevant.

Next year will mark 30 years since Martin Lawrence and Will Smith introduced their “Bad Boys.” They return to the big screen on Friday, when “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” arrives in theaters. With blazing guns and wisecracks faster than their bullets, fictional Miami detectives Marcus Barnett and Mike Lowrey have become nearly as famous as the men who portray them. In 1995, there was something to prove. Lawence and Smith had a grand total of 10 film credits between them. Lawrence was in the better position to emerge as a movie star thanks to scene stealing performances in Black film classics such as Spike Lee’s “Do The Right Thing” and East St. Louis’ own Reginald Hudlin’s “House Party” and “Boomerang.” He also had a hit eponymous sitcom and was on the heels of hosting HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam.” And while Lawrence has enjoyed a steady, reputable career as a film star and comedian, “Bad Boys” was truly a breakout role for Smith. Before “Bad Boys,”

Smith was a rapper-turned-actor formerly known as “The Fresh Prince” on the tail end of a hit television show “The Fresh Prince of BelAir.” He had been in a few films, but nothing to compel studios to consider him a sure thing at the box office. The film went on to rake in more than $141 million, and Smith became one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars – until the Oscars controversy of 2022. In fact, he currently holds the record for the most consecutive $100-million-plus hits at the US box office, with eight. Their respective career paths sent them in different directions – with Lawrence having more success in the urban market as Smith ascended to the top of the mainstream movie industry. However – as the titles of the franchise’s most recent titles suggest (“Bad Boys For Life” and “Bad Boys: Ride or Die”) – Lawrence, Smith and all parties involved have made a pact to ensure that the brand continues to thrive.

Detectives Lowrey and Burnett are men of a certain age. “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” leans into that fact. Perpetual playboy Lowrey is ready to settle down. Burnett faces the health challenges of a man in his fifties. Instead of mellowing out, they must kick into high gear to protect the legacy of their beloved Captain Howard. In the process of doing so, they are forced to put their own reputations on the line. The decision puts everyone they love – including each other – in harm’s way.

The format for “Bad

Boys: Ride or Die” is exactly the same as it was from the beginning. There is a shockingly violent intro that rolls into conflict with the powers that be at the department about their approach to handling a case, quick witted chemistry between Burnett and Lowrey, thinly veiled suspense, raw emotion, a violent climax and happily ever after – for now.

And yet Adil and Bilall, writers Chris Bremmer and Will Beall and the entire cast have audiences glad they came along for the ride. Lawrence and Smith are in their element as usual – and are best in show among the cast that includes Eric Dane, Vanessa Hudgens and Tasha Smith.

However, bit parts from Tiffany Haddish and Joey Pantoliano are among the highlights as far as supporting comic relief. Not since her breakout role as Dina in the hit comedy “Girls Trip,” has Haddish lit up the screen and stole a scene like she did with her brief but unforgettable performance as Tabitha. Other hilarious cameos from DJ Khalid, Lionel Messi and Italian social media sensation Khaby Lame send the humor into overdrive. However it is the impeccably timed exchanges between Lawrence and Smith that do the heavy lifting with respect to the film’s humor element.

“Bad Boys: Ride or Die” opens in theaters nationwide on Friday, June 7. The film is rated R with a running time of 115 minutes.

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once-in-a-millennium performer. All parties of the “MJ” team understood the assignment. They achieved their intention of a pristine and meticulously-crafted vision that is perfectly executed by the robust cast and musicians with stellar production quality to rival a current music star’s global arena tour. And through “MJ” audiences are provided with an enthralling glimpse into Jackson’s process as he prepares to hit the road in support of his latest album “Dangerous” in 1992.

At the time, he was the biggest music star on the planet. Unwavering in his determination to bring fans of the sold-out performances that spanned four continents, “MJ” shows Jackson with the hunger and drive of an emerging artist. The root of his relentless work ethic is detailed in the present as well as through his origin story as a small boy with enormous talent who sings and dances his way to superstardom. More than 40 songs that range in length from brief interludes to full-scale musical productions drive the journey. This production requires three performers to embody Michael Jackson. Roman Banks bears the heaviest load as the lead Michael. He is absolutely masterful. Not only does he nail the essence of Jackson’s singing and dancing, but he gives the same attention to detail with Jackson’s speaking voice, mannerisms and body language. Because his voice is naturally a lower register than Jackson, Roman’s take on the opening number “Beat It” makes it unclear at first how close he will come to effectively portraying the King of Pop. However, by

Raceway

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aligned with the intersection between high fashion and NASCAR racing that Warwick sought to capture. The following looks consisted of glitzy evening wear, bold spring looks for the fashionista who loves making a statement. Then came an array of flowing linen and breathable knit, great for your next vacation or garden party. Keeping style and opulence in mind, Butler breathed life into an idea that started as a casual conversation between Warwick and his tailor. If you missed Raceway to Runway 2024, worry not. It will return next year for its 3rd annual installment.

the third song it feels as if audiences are watching Jackson himself and not a stage performer giving his best impersonation. He and fellow Michael Brandon Lee Harris are perfectly juxtaposed both in harmony and in stage presence as Harris takes on the young adult Michael from his final years performing in a band with his brothers through his “Thriller” days. And Josiah Benson as Little Michael helps make for quite the trifecta. The entire ensemble of mostly triple threats makes for nonstop energy and gives “MJ” an additional wow factor.

The “Motown 25” inspired performance of “Billie Jean,” “Smooth Criminal” and “Thriller” are among the countless highlights of show-stopping performances that give an even greater appreciation of Jackson both as a performer and contributor to the canon of popular music.

The feat that director and choreographer Christopher Wheeldon achieved with “MJ” cannot be overstated. His 2022 Tony Award for “Best Choreography” was well warranted – as was his nomination for “Best Direction of a Musical”

that same year for “MJ.” The same can be said for Lynn Nottage, who wrote the musical’s book – and was nominated for a Tony of her own for doing so.

The Pulitzer Prize winner brilliantly takes a non-linear approach to “MJ.” Thanks to her method, the musical isn’t front-loaded with Jackson and The Jackson 5’s biggest hits and keeps audiences on their toes when it comes to what they can expect as the show progresses. And while “MJ” doesn’t take a deep dive into the controversies of Jackson’s life and career, Nottage provides more insight into his personal challenges and triggers than one would expect from a musical approved by the late singer’s estate.

The two-and-a-half-hour show is a home run from start to finish. And while the performance was on point, the aesthetics and scenery that are in contrast with the lyrics of “Human Nature,” is about the only creative liberty worth calling into question.

“MJ” will play The Fox Theatre through Sunday, June 9. For tickets and/ or additional information, visit www.fabulousfox.com or call 314.534.1111.

We all can’t wait for what Caira and Warwick have for us next!

Zaria Mac is a lifestyle writer, content creator, and fashion model

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures

Martin Lawrence and Will Smith

Photo by Matthew Murphy/MurphyMade

Brandon Lee Harris as Michael, Josh A. Dawson as Quincy Jones and Roman Banks as MJ with the cast of the first national tour of ‘MJ,’ which continues at The Fox Theatre through Sunday, June 9.

Photo by Matthew Murphy/MurphyMade

The Raceway to Runway event displayed the evolution of NASCAR from one that is strictly automotive focused, to one that embraces fashion and sets trends.