January 9th, 2025 edition

St. LouiS AmericAn

In pursuit of equity and inclusion

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

While the national political climate has resulted in an increase in hostility towards efforts in supporting equity and inclusion in the business sector, the storm of misinformation and ignorance that has created this wave of bias must be challenged and strongly resisted.

The St. Louis American Foundation will honor individuals and organizations dedicated to more inclusive and equitable growth during the 23rd annual Salute to Excellence in Business Networking and Awards Luncheon at 11 a.m. Thursday Feb. 20, 2025, at The Ritz-Carlton St. Louis.

The 2025 Co-Presenters of the prestigious event

See SALUTE, A7

Wesley Bell joins defiant Congressional Black Caucus

By William Ford For the Missouri Independent

With a record 62 elected Black officials, including historic firsts of two women senators and two representatives from Alabama, the Congressional Black Caucus held a swearing-in ceremony Friday morning before members took the oath of office for the 119th U.S. Congress.

Democrats Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland and Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware will represent the first time

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two Black women will serve together in the U.S. Senate. In addition, freshman Congressman Wesley Bell was also sworn in on January 3.

The caucus also marked the historic election of two Black U.S. House members from Alabama serving at the same time. Incumbent Rep. Terri Sewell has been joined by Shomari Figures, who was elected in November to represent the new 2nd Congressional District. Following a lawsuit, a federal court ordered the state in 2022 to draw

a second “opportunity district” to provide a chance for Black voters to select their preferred candidate. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the lower court’s ruling in 2023.

Sewell, a Democrat, recalled how the caucus was first established in 1971 with 13 members – 12 men and one woman. Today, a total of 67 Black lawmakers serve in Congress, the largest contingent ever on Capitol Hill.

Candidates file for SLPS board

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

Federal judges fret possible Jan. 6

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

On Wednesday, the Department of Justice challenged the temporary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on releasing a final report on Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigations into President-elect Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

The DOJ argued that Cannon’s injunction lacks legal merit and unnecessarily delays the release of critical information to Congress and the public.

Attorney General Merrick Garland intends to release volume one of the report, which focuses on Trump’s alleged election interference, to Congress “in the interest of transparency and accountability.”

With Trump being sworn in on January 20, 2025, many federal judges, some appointed by Republican presidents, are expressing concern over the future of justice for January 6, 2021, defendants. Trump stated during the campaign he will

St. Louis fireman put out a car fire in the 4600 block of Page Blvd. near West Side Baptist Church Tues. Jan. 7, 2024 during the city’s first major snow fall of the year.

Photo courtesy of the Urban League

Michael P. McMillan is president and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis which is one of the Co-Presenters of the 2025 Salute to Excellence in Business.

Antionette ‘Toni’ Cousins

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Roman’s rampage

Hip hop star Nicki Minaj is being sued for battery and assault. Celebrity news and gossip site TMZ.com said former manager Brandon Garrett came forward and told the outlet that Minaj berated and slapped him several times after a show in Detroit.

He claims Minaj became irate when she learned he had enlisted someone else to retrieve medication for Minaj instead of picking it up himself. Garrett claims Minaj yelled at him, saying, “Your life is over.” He said she then proceeded to slap him in the face and wrist, causing him to drop documents.

The dress, and a yes?

The internet was buzzing about Zendaya and her red carpet look at the Golden Globes on Sunday, January 5. She wore a custom floor length burnt orange satin Louis Vuitton gown with a sweetheart neckline and a voluminous skirt. She often appears in gowns and ensembles that steal the show thanks to her stylist Law Roach. Roach took to his Instagram to declare that Zendaya’s latest look was inspired by Black Hollywood bombshells Diahann Carroll, Eartha Kitt, Dorothy Dandridge and Joyce Bryant

Wayne County prosecutors are currently reviewing Garrett’s claims. If convicted, this misdemeanor carries three months in jail or a $500 fine. TMZ says Garrett claims “emotional distress” and is “going after her for damages.”

Rollingstone.com and Billboard.

com noted that the lawsuit was filed Friday in Los Angeles – and Garrett is requesting a jury trial.

first outlet to report the holiday proposal. The pair met when they co-starred in Marvel’s “SpiderMan: Homecoming,” which was released in 2017. After years of speculation, Zendaya and Holland confirmed their romantic relationship in 2021.

There was a certain jewelry item that also caused a double take when Zendaya walked the red carpet. A massive diamond on a certain finger reignited engagement rumors about Zendaya and longtime boyfriend

Tom Holland. People.com says that the outlet received confirmation that the 28-year-old actors are preparing to tie the knot after Holland reportedly proposed at one of Zendaya’s family homes over the holidays. Billboard.com says that reps for Zendaya and Holland have neither confirmed nor denied the engagement rumors. TMZ.com was the

No bad blood after Cordae and Naomi Osaka breakup

Olympic Gold Medalist tennis champion Naomi Osaka and Grammy nominated rapper Cordae Amari Brooks have announced their separation.

Osaka shared the news by way of her Instagram page.

“…Just wanted to say that Cordae and I are not in a relationship anymore,” Osaka posted. “No bad blood at all, he’s a great person and [an] awesome dad.”

Osaka and Cordae began dating in 2019. They share a daughter named Shai, who they wel comed in July 2023.

“Honestly, [I’m] really glad our paths crossed because my daughter is my biggest blessing,” Osaka continued. “And I was able to grow a lot from our experiences together.”

Paternity surprise for Rickey Smiley

Comedian and syndicated media personality Rickey Smiley revealed on the Smitty and Dee Podcast that he recently found out that he is the father of five-year-old twin girls.

“Right before the anniversary of my son’s death, I found out I was the father of beautiful identical twin daughters,” Smiley said. “When I tell you that’s the first time I saw the sun again. During that dark hour the sun came back.”

His son Brandon Smiley passed away in January 2023 at the age of 32. Rickey Smiley went on to say that the girls, whose mother is a former girlfriend he has maintained a connection with, have been in his life since they were born.

“On their fifth birthday, I went into that house as their father,” Smiley

Sources: Billboard.com, Instagram.com, Rollingstone. com, TMZ.com, YouTube. com

Missouri man faces charges for threats against STL NAACP

By Hiba Ahmad St. Louis Public Radio

A Missouri man has been indicted for a federal hate crime, accused of sending racist and threatening messages to the St. Louis chapter of the NAACP.

Darryl Jaspering, 62, of Warrenton faces one count of transmitting threatening communications and one count of interference of federally protected activities, according to a statement from the Department of Justice.

Adolphus Pruitt II, president of the St. Louis chapter of the NAACP, said that the incident happened about a year ago and that he appreciates that federal authorities took the threats seriously.

“I hope it sends a clear message that no one has the right to make threats to individuals based on their race, creed, color, religion, sexual orientation,” Pruit said.

The indictment states that Jaspering wrote a message on the NAACP contact page in which “he used racially charged threats to physically harm the recipients of his message.”

It also states that Jaspering tried to intimidate NAACP employees “because of their race and color” and threatened the use of a dangerous weapon.

“The best way to describe it is a monologue full of racial aptness, threats to create bodily harm, and even negative connotations about Black leadership in the city,” Pruitt said.

“We are in this environment where people are acting out of hate. So, we don’t take what somebody says verbally…we approach it as if it’s something they may carry out no matter how they try to position it.”

Hate crimes remain a growing concern across the country. The Department of Justice reports over 52% of hate crimes in 2023 were racially motivated. In Missouri, over 100 racial hate crimes are reported annually.

If Jaspering is convicted, he faces five to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or both if he’s convicted for both charges.

The FBI St. Louis field office, which is led by Special Agent In Charge Ashley T. Johnson, investigated the case. Johnson is the first woman to serve in the position in the St. Louis office.

In June 2024, the NAACP also received multiple complaints from Black workers from across the region this year of racial intimidation. In February, Missouri Central School Bus came under scrutiny after a mechanic claimed a noose was intentionally placed near his workstation.

“In the St. Louis region, violence is not the only issue impacting people, but the heightened discrimination and racial intimidation in the workplace is just as viable as anything else,” Pruitt said during a June 3, 2024, 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.

“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.

Alvin A. Reid of the St. Louis American contributed to this report

Photo by Sophie Proe / St.Louis Public Radio

St. Louis NAACP President Adolphus Pruitt, speaking during a June press conference, said last week that the indictment of a Warrenton, Mo., man for threats against the chapter stem from “an environment where people are acting out of hate.”

By Blake Strode

Editorial/Commentary

Guest Editorial Commentary

A job well done, Cori Bush Gov. Parson has tainted clemency legacy

In 2020, Cori Bush shocked the political world and became the first Black woman to represent Missouri in Congress. She leaves four years later, having lost her seat after an intense and bruising campaign. It’s possible to recap Bush’s political trajectory in those two sentences and be done with it. But I think that would be a mistake.

I worry that we take the wrong lesson from Bush’s ascent and defeat. I’ve lost count of the post-election takes that amount to an obituary for the progressive politics Bush championed. They say she was “too far left” for her district and ignored her legislative responsibilities in favor of headline-grabbing antics. They say candidates like her could get elected during the extraordinary circumstances of 2020 but don’t represent the priorities of real people in St. Louis.

They are wrong.

Cori Bush had more impact in four years as a relatively junior congresswoman than many have in four decades. She did so by reshaping the terms of debate on multiple fronts.

Bush led a sleep-in at the U.S. Capitol to protest the end of the pandemic-era eviction moratorium. Drawing on personal experience with homelessness, Bush said she would fight to keep people in their homes. After she camped outside for nearly four days, the President announced that he would extend the moratorium.

her constituents desperately needed the human infrastructure that had been stripped out of the bill: universal pre-K, housing, paid family leave, and an annual child tax credit. This stance later became a major opposition talking point, but it’s easy to see the wisdom of her position given the economic frustrations that came to define the 2024 general election.

In the People’s Response Act (PRA), Bush offered a framework to invest billions of federal dollars in holistic and health-centered approaches to community safety. She also introduced the Reparations Now Resolution, elevating the demand for federal reparations for the enslavement and systemic oppression of Black Americans. In both cases, Bush refused to back away from the radical racial justice movements that inspired her to enter politics.

Then Bush became one of the earliest supporters of a ceasefire and humanitarian aid in Gaza. When she introduced the Ceasefire Now Resolution, approximately 1,200 Israelis and 2,700 Palestinians had been killed. Today, more than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed according to the United Nations, more than 14,500 of them children. That we failed to heed the early warnings by Bush and others is a moral stain that will remain with us for generations.

Later that year, to advocate for reproductive rights, Bush shared publicly that she was raped at 17 and chose to have an abortion. She insisted that Black women deserved nothing less than the truth. “To all the Black women and girls who have had abortions and will have abortions, we have nothing to be ashamed of,” she said. “We live in a society that has failed to legislate love and justice for us, so we deserve better, we demand better, we are worthy of better.”

Bush championed environmental justice legislation to target low-income communities of color that are often ignored despite being most impacted by issues like air and water pollution. This effort ultimately created the Environmental and Climate Justice Program.

But these were not the most controversial of Bush’s positions.

Bush famously withheld her support from a bipartisan infrastructure bill passed in 2021. She maintained that

Bush’s electoral loss is not a rejection of the values she promoted. (It required the second-highest spending in the history of congressional primaries to unseat her.) Instead, it is a reminder that those values are a threat to the status quo. Bush has been the embodiment of a public servant unapologetically committed to the interests of those very communities at all costs.

I know there is no shortage of St. Louisans who stand for those same causes, who believe that transformation is possible, and justice can be a real organizing principle in our lives, not just empty words on a page. We can have housing, health, peace, safety, and equity, all at once. We deserve this and more, and we must keep fighting for it.

Bush has not asked for sympathy or apology for her electoral fates, and I will offer neither. But I will say thank you, Cori Bush, for a job well done.

Local civil rights attorney Blake Strode is a graduate of Pattonville High School, the University of Arkansas and Harvard Law School.

By Barbara Shelly

Mike Parson wants to be remembered as the clemency governor. And he will be, but not with the admiration that he seems to expect.

He inherited more than 3,500 requests when he took office in 2018, and he is departing with a clean slate, having pardoned or commuted the sentences of more than 800 people.

But proficiency isn’t the same as fairness.

Parson bragged about his clemency record in his 2024 State of the State address, noting that he had pardoned or commuted sentences for “people who deserved it.”

As the governor touted his numbers, Missourians took note of the pardons that he had refused to grant.

Those included petitions from Kevin Strickland of Kansas City and Lamar Johnson and Christopher Dunn of St. Louis, Black men who had spent decades in prison despite mounting evidence of their innocence. Parson denied them all — leaving the men to spend months more behind bars before judges exonerated them and set them free.

long-lasting brain injury.

Thanks to Parson’s action, Reid, the son of the Chiefs’ head coach, was able to leave prison and serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.

But the governor was not finished with special treatment. He dished it out in a big way late on a Friday afternoon in December. The recipient was Eric DeValkenaere, the former Kansas City cop convicted of manslaughter in the death a Black man, Cameron Lamb, outside of Lamb’s home. Parson sent him home for Christmas after serving a little more than one year of a six-year sentence.

Multiple court decisions had upheld a Jackson County judge’s verdict that DeValkenaere violated Lamb’s constitutional rights by entering his property and shooting him. He received special treatment because he was a police officer. That’s another circle that Parson, a former county sheriff, can relate to.

The Dec. 20 clemency list that freed DeValkenaere also contained the names of 25 other people who received pardons and commutations.

While they were languishing, Parson did see his way in 2021 to pardon Mark and Patricia McCloskey, white lawyers who became celebrities in MAGA world for waving guns at Black Lives Matter protesters.

With the McCloskey pardons, Parson sent a message: If you are a Black person, even demonstrably innocent, he will not help you.

A lot happened in 2024, after Parson boasted in his speech about being the clemency governor.

Missouri executed four prisoners. Strong doubts persist about the guilt of one of them, Marcellus Williams. In all,13 prisoners were put to death during Parson’s tenure as governor.

On March 1, Parson shortened the prison sentence of Britt Reid, a former Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach who had received a three-year sentence for driving while intoxicated and causing a crash that left a 5-year-old girl with a

One was Celia Newsom, an enslaved woman who in 1855 murdered the man who claimed her as his property and repeatedly raped her. Six months later she was executed.

Missourians wanting to set the historical record straight petitioned for a pardon on Newsom’s behalf. Parson granted it. His action erases her conviction and “restores all rights of citizenship forfeited by said conviction.”

As an enslaved woman, of course, Newsom had no rights of citizenship to forfeit. Still, Parson’s pardon was an act of grace and the right thing to do. But a posthumous pardon is low risk and grants no freedom beyond the grave. Missouri would have been better served if the clemency governor had freed the falsely convicted Black men serving time on his watch, and passed on the overt favoritism to the coach, the cop and the gun-waving lawyers.

Barbara Shelly is a journalist in Kansas City. She was a reporter and opinion writer for the Kansas City Star.

By Larry Smith

While numbers are still being calculated, it is becoming clear that Donald Trump received the highest percentage of the Latino vote of any Republican presidential candidate in history.

This was crucial in propelling him back into the White House. Whereas President Biden had a significant advantage with Hispanic voters over Trump in the 2020 election, the latter had a double-digit increase in such support this year.

As a result, many people have opined regarding the apparent fracturing of the Democrats’ once-reliable multiracial coalition. In particular, there is a growing concern regarding whether African Americans and Hispanics are moving apart politically. Indeed, some observers are even suggesting that the notion of “people of color” as a social and political construct is a relic of a not-too-distant (but nonetheless bygone) era.

at center stage. Indeed, there is no more appropriate or accurate way to characterize Christian nationalism.

While I am generally loathe to over-generalize based on a single data point, I have to admit that something seems to have changed in the dynamics of a racial coalition that was rock solid just a few years ago. Somewhat ironically, I think that the reasons for Trump’s growing support among Latinos is related to why his support is increasing (though much less than is often claimed) among Black men.

Specifically, while Blacks and Hispanics almost universally acknowledge Trump’s low character and racist rhetoric, his policies and even his bravado are attractive — especially to men. Combine this with the fact that the Democratic Party that often appears to be feckless, too far left, and tone-deaf, especially when it comes to appealing to Black and Hispanic men.

In some quarters of Black America, there is a sense that Hispanics “betrayed” them. While it is difficult to ascertain how widespread or enduring this gulf is, its existence is undeniable.

This is a stunning turn of events given the last 60 years of political reality.

Picking up the smoldering embers of Martin Luther King’s multiethnic “Poor People’s Campaign,” Jesse Jackson fashioned his “Rainbow Coalition” as a direct challenge to white political hegemony. Barack Obama took this strategy to the next level, presiding over a coalition that truly caught fire, which many people (especially on the left) mistakenly labeled “post-racial.”

Some conservatives have seized on shifting racial politics as a sign that the end of so-called “identity politics” is near. Such a conclusion is, in many ways, complete nonsense. As I have pointed out previously, there has literally never been a time in American history in which identity was not at the core of politics. It’s just that conservatives don’t call it “identity politics” when white people are

All of this could easily become a recipe for continued GOP gains among these groups even after Trump has faded from the scene. Meanwhile, Democrats are preoccupied with debates over whether “Latinx” is a better term than Latino/a.

For some Latinos and other racial minorities, proximity to whiteness is a similar type of social wage. Yet, this will ultimately prove to be self-delusion, especially after Trump’s long-promised mass deportations begin. For example, how are soldiers and police officers going to distinguish between American citizens and undocumented immigrants, especially if the citizens speak with an accent? Further, are American citizens of Hispanic descent going to simply abandon their loved ones — including spouses and or parents — who are being deported? If we have truly come to the end of the rainbow coalition, it’s becoming clear that there is no pot of gold. In its stead there will be an urn filled with the ashes of what might have been.

Larry Smith is a political columnist for the Indianapolis Recorder.

Guest Columnist

Larry Smith

Commentary

The end of the rainbow

Guest Columnist Blake Strode

Guest Columnist Barbara Shelly

The National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, Inc., recently inducted members of the P.H.O.E.N.I.X. community service organization. Standing from left are Jayla Fitch, Arriane Hopkins, Jadyn Mullen, Shawanda Martin, Courtney Woods, Grayce Cooper, Kai’Lynn Taylor-Hawkins, AnnLauren Djoko and Hasset Asfaw. Seated from left are Linda Nance, national historian, Dr. Arthelda Busch Williams, membership chair, and Glenda Osby, NACWC city president.

NACWC rises with members of P.H.O.E.N.I.X.

Louis American

St.

The National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, Inc., recently inducted members of P.H.O.E.N.I.X., a city-wide volunteer organization during a ceremony at Washington University in St. Louis.

NACWC is recognized as the first national organization for women of color since it was founded in 1896, preceding the founding of all other Black women’s organizations in the country.

The NACWC and its activism are featured in the 1904 World’s Fair Exhibit at the Missouri History Museum and a book entitled, “The Wonder and Complexity of the 1904 World’s Fair.

Several NACWC members were featured authors during a book launch and panel dis-

cussion on December 5, 2024.

P.H.O.E.N.I.X. was founded by young Black women from five universities in the area: Webster University, Harris-Stowe State University, Lindenwood, Washington University and the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Since 1904, the organization has promoted the welfare of women and children through education, moral, economic and charitable activities.

Coutney Woods, president of the Harriet Tubman Literary Club which sponsors P.H.O.E.N.I.X. said the club’s activities “will focus on reducing trauma and its impact on the citizens of our city as they seek to realize the motto of the NACWC, ‘Lifting As We Climb.”’

Upending my life for Mama

By Hazel Trice Edney

It was an autumn morning in 2018 when my phone rang in Washington, D.C., and I’ll never forget the sound of Mama’s voice on the line. She was calling from her home in Virginia, 100 miles away. Her voice, normally warm and sweet, was instead rife with anger.

“Who took the knobs off my stove?” she demanded. My heart broke toward her. All she wanted was to fry herself an egg for breakfast. How could I tell her that we, her four adult children, had met and decided to have the knobs removed from her kitchen stove? In order to protect her life — we could never again allow her to cook on an open range because her doctor had told us that she was in the early stages of Alzheimer’s/dementia.

Hearing her angst, I responded quickly in what I thought was the best way possible at that time to avoid traumatizing her. I’m sorry, but I lied. I told Mama that the stove was broken and that my son, her grandson, Monte, had removed the knobs temporarily until he had time to fix it.

That did it. She slowly calmed down. After all, in her eyes, Monte could do no wrong. We advised her to start heating up frozen meals in the microwave instead.

As the disease progressed, it was not long after that difficult conversation that we made another sacrificial decision. We knew that Mama could no longer live alone. Period. We sought professional in-home care. But that assistance was limited.

I resolved that the love that she had bestowed upon our family all of our lives was enough for me to upend my life now to take care of her. So, I moved, 100 miles outside of D.C., to become her primary caregiver for as long as she needs me. For me, it required maintaining my home and business in D.C. while commuting to Virginia often and assuring that she is never alone.

It’s a decision that thousands of family members around the country are making every day. An AARP article reports that particularly African Americans have a sense of community and culture when it comes to caregiving. For me, it was just pure love.

Now, five years since I became her primary caregiver, an award-winning gospel singer, Mama is now 90 years old and wheelchair bound. Singing in churches since the age of 7, she doesn’t sing publicly anymore, but the joy that I experience some evenings while listening to and watching YouTube gospel with her can never be replaced. And I love dressing her up and taking her to places and events with atmospheres and people that she enjoys like church, some community events and even funerals of special friends and relatives.

Throughout the journey, I have learned so much about this disease that is often emotionally painful to the patient and to the caregiver — regardless of how devoted. Here are just a few of my lessons learned that I feel are worthy of sharing with others:

I’ve learned to savor every beautiful moment. Sometimes Mama looks at me and asks me my mother’s name and I tell her. But most of the time, she teases me and calls me Hazel, the name that she and my daddy gave me. I treasure every sweet moment.

Hazel Trice Edney is Trice Edney News Wire founder. This condensed commentary was originally published in the Washington Informer

Photo courtesy of NACWC

Hazel Trice Edney

There are two members from Missouri — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Kansas City and newly elected Rep. Wesley Bell of St. Louis.

But the five Republicans – Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida, Wesley Hunt of Texas, John James of Michigan and Burgess Owens of Utah – are not members of the Congressional Black Caucus and didn’t attend the ceremony. All are ardent supporters of Republican Presidentelect Donald Trump. With the GOP in control of the House and Senate, they have stated their support for Trump’s future policies and even a few of his controversial statements.

Although the Black caucus isn’t tied to a political party, the Democratic members said they will continue to challenge legislation they deem will negatively affect Black Americans.

“Today, we renew our pledge to fight racism where it exists, to weed out inequities in health care, the criminal justice system, education, voter access, and so many rights and benefits that are part and parcel of what it means to be Americans,” said Sewell, who serves as chair of

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the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s board of directors. “We, in the Congressional Black Caucus, stand ready for the task ahead.”

Rep. Glenn Ivey, a Maryland Democrat, said he’s concerned about the Trump administration or his appointees using the U.S. Justice Department to get back at people

consider pardoning the participants in the Capitol attack. The effort to hold those involved accountable for the violence that disrupted American democracy still continues.

they think are enemies.

“That’s not the role of the Department of Justice,” he said. “Protecting the rule of law is what we’ve got to make sure happens now and going forward.”

Ivey said that one way to combat Trump and his congressional allies is looking ahead to the 2026 midterm elections.

“I can remember back a

few years ago where the Republicans controlled the White House, the Senate and the House.

A few years after that, [then U.S. Sen.] Barack Obama got elected president, and we took back control of the Senate and the House,” Ivey said after the ceremony. “So a setback is a set up for a comeback. We’re ready

to come back.”

Hundreds of family members, friends and supporters attended the ceremony at The Anthem including Marc Morial, president and chief executive officer of the National Urban League. Morial said in an interview just because Trump will be president doesn’t mean the caucus stops its

Rep.-elect Wesley Bell, D-Mo., stands on the steps of the Capitol as newly-elected House members gather for a freshman class photo, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Washington.

advocacy work.

“They should say to the president, ‘if you want to meet us halfway on important priorities like voting rights, elimination of poverty, we will not say no,’” Morial said.

“But if your plan is to administer solely to your MAGA base, we will lead the resistance.”

On December 18, a Texas man and a Virginia man were arrested for allegedly assaulting law enforcement during the breach of the U.S. Capitol. Authorities said their actions contributed to the chaos that interrupted the certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential victory.

Georgia man to prison after his conviction for assaulting police officers during the riot.

Earlier in the month, a South Carolina man was sentenced to prison for four misdemeanors related to the attack. On the same day, a judge sentenced a

The ongoing arrests and sentences come nearly three years after a mob stormed the Capitol, injuring over 140 police officers—including more than 80 from the U.S. Capitol Police and over 60 from Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department. The siege caused extensive damage, with losses estimated at over $2.8 million. In total, at least 1,561 people have faced federal charges.

However, Trump has remained adamant that those convicted are “hostages,” and “patriots.”

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who has presided over numerous Jan. 6-related cases, acknowledged her waning confidence in reassuring law enforcement that the rule of law still applies.

“I’m not sure I can do that very convincingly these days,” Chutkan remarked during a recent

sentencing hearing.

Chutkan isn’t alone.

Fellow jurists appointed by Republicans and Democrats have fretted over the possibility of Trump granting clemency to those convicted.

U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell, appointed by President Barack Obama, recently condemned efforts to downplay the Capitol attack.

“The rewriting of the history of Jan. 6, 2021, is incredibly disturbing,” Howell said during a sentencing hearing.

Judge Reggie Walton, a George W. Bush appointee, cautioned that continued false claims about election outcomes could tear the nation apart.

“We’re headed for a breakup of this country,” Walton warned, adding, “America isn’t a thirdworld country.”

Some Jan. 6 defendants have recently requested permission to attend Trump’s second inauguration, Politico noted. The Justice Department has opposed these requests,

arguing that allowing defendants to return to the “scene of the crime” would dishonor the officers who defended the Capitol that day.

Yet on Thursday, Chutkan permitted one defendant, Eric Peterson, to attend, issuing a terse, one-sentence order without explanation.

Judge Royce Lamberth, a Ronald Reagan appointee, captured the frustration of the judiciary in a 13-page opinion accompanying a Jan. 6 sentencing.

“The true story of what happened on January 6, 2021, will never change,” he wrote, rejecting attempts by some defendants to portray themselves as victims of government persecution.

“They trashed it,” Chutkan said of the rioters’ actions in the Capitol.

“They treated it like a motel room after a concert. Engaging in an act of destruction and violence in order to halt the peaceful transfer of power has to be met by consequences.”

Photo courtesy of The AP

are the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, the Regional Business Council, and Greater St. Louis Inc.

“The St. Louis American Foundation and these three organizations are determined to create more inclusive regional growth,” said Donald M. Suggs, St. Louis American Foundation founder and a member of its board of directors.

“Everyone should have a chance to succeed, so it is so appropriate that these groups come together because we all are committed to equity and inclusion and share the belief that all communities in the St. Louis area should be included in the sustained economic growth we are working to achieve.”

“DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) success is essential to the success of the country,” said Urban League President and CEO Michael P. McMillan.

“Making sure that everyone has a seat at the table and is included means that we will maintain this country’s global dominance as the greatest economy in the world. Growing our economy with diverse businesses is good for everyone.”

Anthony “Tony” Thompson, founder, president and CEO of Kwame Building Group, and longtime Regional Business Council executive board

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tion to SLPS Board of Education. Now let’s hear what the people of STL City have to say!”

Through a posted quote, Cousins wrote that “quitting is not an option.”

Cousins, who was elected to the board in 2021, is a Beaumont High School graduate and serves as an Affordable Housing Outreach Manager with the Missouri Housing Development Commission.

The candidates who

member, said, “RBC remains committed to the minority business community.”

“We enthusiastically support the celebration of the 23rd Salute to Excellence in Business and its recognition of Black excellence.”

Dustin Allison, Greater St. Louis Inc., interim CEO said the organization’s mission “is to drive economic growth so that everyone in the St. Louis region, regardless of race, zip code, or any other factor, has the opportunity to thrive.”

“We are proud to once again support the St. Louis American Foundation and this year’s award winners for their commitment inclusive growth.”

McMillan added, “The Urban League is proud to partner with the St. Louis American Foundation and the No. 1 African American newspaper in the country on its annual Salute to Excellence in Business.”

Edward Jones is the lead sponsor of the Salute to Business, and Larry Thomas, a retired Edward Jones partner, will be honored as the Lifetime Achiever in Business.

Rodney Boyd, a Nexus Group partner, is the 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year; Jeremy Williams, head of Climate LLC, Digital Farming and Commercial Ecosystems for the Crop Science division of Bayer, is Corporate Executive of the Year.

Michelle D. Tucker, United Way of Greater St. Louis president and

filed for SLSP board are:

Karen Collins-Adams, a former Hazelwood School District principal who directs the Rising Teachers program at St. Louis University. She is a former director of Student Support Services for Normandy Schools Collaborative in the county and is married to former SLPS Superintendent Kelvin Adams, Krystal Barnett, CEO and founder of Bridge 2 Hope, a nonprofit backed by the Opportunity Trust that helps parents advocate for their students at school board meetings.

Digging out

George Sutherlin diggs his car out of the city’s first heavy snowfall which was complicated by plows clearing the streets on Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2024. The 800 block of Hamilton Ave. in the city’s West End neighborhood had cars snowed in for blocks.

CEE, will be honored as Non-Profit Executive of the Year, and Chris Krehmeyer, Beyond Housing president and CEO, is the recipi-

Tavon Brooks, a real estate agent who works on violence prevention initiatives with the non-profit Mission STL, Zach Davis, a Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School social studies instructor.

Foster, a grad of SLPS and the Univ. of MissouriColumbia, joined the Opportunity Trust’s School Board Fellowship in 2024. She works at Digital Promise, advancing digital equity for students.

David Jackson, a former SLPS board member from 2007-15, and owner of DLJ Construction Services.

ent of the Excellence in Community Impact Award.

The luncheon emcee is Rene Knott, KSDK 5 On Your Side Today in St.

Brian Marston, director of Web Technical Strategy at Washington University’s School of Medicine.

Robert Mason, CEO of real estate development firm DoubleWolf Enterprises.

William (Bill) Monroe, a retired police officer who served on the SLPS board from 2013-17.

Teri Powers, a former Democratic committee member for the 24th Ward who lost in her bid for 24th Alderperson in 2019.

Andre Walker, a financial adviser with Walker Wealth Management.

Louis morning co-anchor. VIP tables of 10 for the 23rd Annual Salute to Excellence in Business Networking and Awards Luncheon are $2,000 and

SLPS accreditation challenged

With the board election looming, one member of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education says to provisional accreditation.

“I’m very concerned as I read the paper daily here in St. Louis about the failures of the St. Louis public school district,” Kerry Casey of Chesterfield said during a board meeting, according to a Missouri Independent report.

“There is hardly a day that goes by that we’re not

Tables of 10 are $1,500. General seating tickets are $150. Please visit www. stlamerican.com for additional information.

reminded of it.”

The department released its annual report on school performance in November, and announced that accreditation status of any school district in the state would not be lowered based on student performance until 2027.

“Waiting two more years when kids are failing and schools are failing to improve literacy rates, et cetera, almost borders on negligent,” Casey said. Casey’s proposal did not receive a second from any fellow board member and did not come to a vote.

Photo by WIley Price / St. Louis American

‘Taking Care of You’

On the go!

Ricky Hughes’ Run Crew a track to healthy lifestyle

By Ashley Winters

St. Louis American

The

Ricky Hughes never imagined a world in which he would develop a passion for distance running, which he calls God’s purpose for his life.

He ran track in high school but his interest never drifted toward the longer races. Today, his outlook is driven by the running community he discovered only a few years ago.

Hughes is founder of St. Louis Run Crew, which he describes as the people’s crew – an initiative that aims to provide space for all runners of all stages a place to improve their health and build community. St. Louis Run Crew is open to runners, walkers, and strollers alike. All can be a part of the St. Louis Run Crew, St. Louis Walk Crew, and St. Louis Stroll Crew. “It’s

n The path that Hughes took on his journey with running began at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when he, like most of the world, had to work remotely. He had never been forced to ‘sit still’ and working from home did just that.

family-friendly,” he said.

The path that Hughes took on his journey with running began at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when he, like most of the world, had to work remotely. He had never been

forced to ‘sit still’ and working from home did just that. He finally came face-to-face with his thoughts. “I probably had some type of depression for years, but I’m always on the go,” Hughes said. “You know, just moving.”

Hughes was living what he thought was his best life, hanging out with friends and family not realizing this was his way of coping with his depression. “I felt dark and I had never felt that way before,” Hughes said. At that moment he decided to go for a walk, knowing he needed to get out of the house.

His walk turned into a jog, helping him to power through his depression, but in February 2020 the killing of Ahmaud Aubrey fueled something in him. Riddled with hurt and anger on

RUN CREW, A9

Working to make health care better

By Anissa Durham Word In Black

As my third year on the health data reporting beat comes to a close, I’m reflecting on the work I’ve done and the voices I’ve been honored to include in my stories. I’ll say it again: no community takes its health more seriously than the Black community. If I’ve learned anything in these three years, it’s that the U.S. healthcare system is deeply flawed –– many would say broken. Unfortunately, Black folks are more likely to encounter problems like the system dismissing their care and caregivers dismissing their pain.

But in spite of all that brokenness, there are Black men and women who are working to make our health care experiences better. Those people are advocating and fighting for us to live healthier lives. They believe in our need for physical and mental healing.

The way we continue to rise, the way we continue to demand more and better, the way we continue to heal is exactly why I love this job.

I’d like to share a few samples of my most significant projects of the year and fill you in on what to expect from me in 2025.

Ozempic

Tales

This project was special in many ways. It was the first time Word In Black has collaborated with STAT news, a Boston-based healthcare news site. It was the first time I reported on Ozempic and all of the inequities that Black adults face to use this medication.

See DURHAM, A9

Act F.A.S.T to recognize signs of stroke

By Jennifer Porter Gore Word In Black

When word got out that Oscar-winning entertainer Jamie Foxx was hospitalized for a “mystery illness” in April 2023, it made national headlines and set rumor mills ablaze. Word on social media was that Foxx had gone blind, or was paralyzed, or suffered some other terrible affliction that threatened to end his brilliant career. In reality, Foxx had suffered, in his words, “a brain bleed that led to a stroke” — a serious, potentially deadly illness that’s far too common in the Black community.

ness in a wheelchair 20 days later, with no memory of what happened. His recovery, while complete, was long, grueling and far from guaranteed.

As he tells it in his Netflix special, “Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was…” released last month, what began with a bad headache while working on a film in Atlanta ended in emergency brain surgery. Foxx says he regained conscious-

“I cannot even begin to tell you how far it took me and how it brought me back,” Foxx said in an emotional social media video message to his fans. “I went through something that I thought I would never ever go through.” On the Netflix stage, Foxx also thanks his fans and talks about his difficult recuperation. But a quick look at the numbers reveal the multi-talented entertainment superstar was very lucky to survive.

The fifth leading cause of death in the U.S., more than 795,000 people in the United States suffer from a stroke each year, killing about 140,000 of them. Roughly three-quarters of those strokes

See STROKE, A9

In a new Netflix special, Jamie Foxx describes how a headache led to emergency surgery for a brain bleed that led to a stroke. His full recovery beat the odds: studies show strokes kill 140,000 people each year and Black people are more likely to fall victim to “the silent killer” than white people.

The St. Louis Run Crew founded by Ricky Hughes says that the running crew gives beginners a space to start their journey. Hughes began running in honor of Ahmaud Arbery who was killed in 2020.

Photo courtesy of St. Louis Run Crew

Photo provided by Word In Black

‘Silent killer’ stalked Jamie Foxx

Anissa Durham

‘Taking

Run Crew

Continued from A8

top of his depression, Hughes broke down and cried. That same day, without reason, he bought an Apple Watch to track his distance while running.

“That day I really ran for the first time,” Hughes said. He felt like he needed to complete the run Aubrey didn’t. “I felt responsible for running for him.” Hughes later found out that Aubrey ran for his mental health just like him.

Hughes credits running with improving his mental, physical, and emotional health. He feels more present for himself and his family. He started to venture out and join other run crews but didn’t feel the connection of community he was looking for. An unpleasant experience left him feeling horrible and alone.

An October 2022 trip to Detroit for his first half marathon exposed him to the diversity that represents the running community he wanted. He started St. Louis Run Crew in January 2023. Unfortunately, others weren’t so quick to respond to his enthusiasm. No one showed up at his first running meetup he posted on social media inviting runners to join him. But that didn’t discourage Hughes.

The multi-media content creator decided to put those skills to use. He got out his GoPro, a camera that is great for captur-

Stroke

Continued from A8

are first-time events.

Black Americans are 50% more likely to have a stroke than whites, and 7 in 10 Black men are more likely to die from it. Black women are nearly as vulnerable: they are twice as likely to have a stroke than white women.

Called “the silent killer” because it often arrives without warning, a stroke is typically defined as the disruption or blockage of blood flow through the brain, much like the brain bleed that led to Foxx’s stroke. It isn’t always related to a person’s age, physical fitness or socioeconomic status.

The term itself describes just how sudden and dramatic a stroke can be: it stems from the Greek word ‘apoplexia,’ defined as “being struck with a deadly blow.”

Without blood flow, brain cells are starved of oxygen, become dam-

Durham

Continued from A8

Although we knew generally what the project would look like, it took some time to nail down the specific angle. Once we did, though, it turned out to be one of my favorite stories of the year. I had the pleasure of interviewing more than a dozen Black Americans across the country about their experiences with weight loss, body image, GLP-1 medications, Type 2 diabetes –– and what it was like to obtain one of the hottest, most expensive drugs on the pharma-

ing sports activities, and began recording and sharing his running adventures. After one week of recording and posting, one person showed up and now Hughes says up to 400 people have participated in his runs.

“I feel more present than I’ve ever felt in my life,” Hughes said. St. Louis Run Crew offers yoga, strength training, and hiking. Hughes said he hopes more St. Louisans will find something healthy

to enjoy during those tough times. He has partnered with local organizations like Gateway Arch Parks Foundation, Great Rivers Greenway, and Go St. Louis!, but he wants to partner with more groups.

aged and eventually die. Research is showing that in some cases the brain can regenerate new cells, but the healing process takes time, developing much slower in older adults than younger ones.

When it isn’t fatal, a stroke is the leading cause

ceutical market. I try to approach all of my stories thoughtfully, with a listening ear; I’m human before I’m a reporter. It was devastating, therefore, to hear how so many people, young and old, have struggled over a lifetime with their weight and sense of self. When the interview got too emotional, I found myself telling sources it’s OK to take a break or to cut the conversation. It was heavy and sometimes painful, but most of all, necessary for them to speak their truth.

Life or Debt

This series explored how Big Pharma and

of serious, long-term disability, especially in adults over age 65. Roughly 75% of all stroke victims suffer from high blood pressure, a chronic disease found in 41% of Black people in the U.S.

While socioeconomic status isn’t necessarily a

healthcare companies target and exploit Black Americans living with Type 1 diabetes by restricting access to lifesaving medications like insulin. Despite capping insulin prices at $35 per monthly prescription, the Inflation Reduction Act had a loophole: the price reduction only applies to Medicare Part D enrollees. That means only Americans who are 65 or older, younger people with end stage renal disease and patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis paid the lower price.

Insulin users who don’t fit in those categories still pay full price for insulin, or whatever price their health insurance sets for

determinant for stroke risk, researchers have found obesity, another condition endemic to the Black community, is a factor. Almost 70% of Black men and 80% of Black women are overweight.

More bad news: tobacco use is another risk fac-

them.

This series was difficult. Many times, I ended up on the phone with my sister, a pharmacy technician, trying to understand the roles of insurance companies, pharmacy benefit managers, and drug rebates in keeping insulin prices so high. It was a challenge to grasp just how intricate and complicated these systems are and communicate that to readers in a succinct and clear way. Along with strengthening my reporting skills, this series validated the experiences of Black Americans dealing with the everyday reality of living with a chronic disease diagnosis and fighting insurance companies just

He plans to soon partner with schools to get youth involved, and he proudly shared with the St. Louis American that St. Louis Run Crew is an official 501C3 non-profit.

“Running has changed my life in so many ways.

tor, and more than 14% of Black adults smoke, which increases the risk of a stroke between two to four times.

His sister’s quick action undoubtedly saved Foxx when she realized something was “off,” and sought immediate help. The first emergency department doctor they visited, however, only gave Foxx medication for his headache and sent him on his way.

Unconvinced, Foxx’s sister took her brother to another hospital’s emergency department nearby, where the doctor immediately recognized the warning signs. He told her Foxx needed immediate brain surgery or he’d die.

To lower stroke risks, physicians typically recommend people regularly monitor their blood pressure, along with increased exercise, weight loss and quitting tobacco.

The American Stroke Association also has an easy reference tool — the acronym F.A.S.T. — to help quickly recognize

for the right to stay alive.

Upcoming Project

On our website you may have seen a survey or two about organ donation and transplantation. I’ve had the story idea about Black patients awaiting organ donations for more than three years, and now it’s finally going to happen in 2025.

That’s because I was awarded the 2025 U.S. Health System Reporting Fellowship by the Association of Health Care Journalists, a prize that will enable me to work on the idea.

I’ll be working on a series about how medical mistrust and misinforma-

God really showed me my purpose in life,” said Hughes. Ashley Winters is a Report for America reporter for the St. Louis American.

signs of stroke:

• F = Face Drooping –Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?

• A = Arm Weakness –Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

• S = Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred?

• T = Time to call 911 – Stroke is an emergency. Every minute counts. Call 911 immediately. Note the time when any of the symptoms first appear. Back onstage for the first time in more than a year, Foxx said he is full of gratitude for his recovery.

“If you see me out from now on and every once in a while, I just burst into tears, it’s because it’s been tough, man,” he said. “I’ve been sick, man. But now, I’ve got my legs under me, so you’re going to see me out.”

tion has impacted Black Americans who are dying on the organ transplant list. I’ll be looking at how the exploitation of Black bodies in medical research has played a role in the lack of healthy Black people voluntarily registering as organ donors. Along with examining how that restricts genetic matches for Black patients, I’ll debunk common myths about organ donation and transplantation.

Be on the lookout for any social media callouts or potential surveys we may share as part of this project. If you have any tips or questions, please email me at anissa. durham@wordinblack. com

Ricky Hughes founder of the St. Louis Run Crew started running to improve his mental health. Running became his passion and calling that resulted in a crew. St. Louis Run Crew he says is for the people of St. Louis. The running crew provides a space for all runners of all stages a place to improve their health and build community.

Photo courtesy of St. Louis Run Crew

The St. Louis American’s award winning NIE program provides newspapers and resources to more than 8,000 teachers and students each week throughout the school year, at no charge.

Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 314-289-5422

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT

Students Jackson Portwood and Ethan Nicholson, in Ms. Stovall’s fourth-grade class at Gateway MST Elementary School, are brainstorming ideas for their inventions for the STEM fair.

SCIENCE CORNER

Infinite Possibilities

Infinite Possibilities is a math conference that is held to encourage women to pursue careers in the STEM fields. The conference was created by a trio of minority women with a doctorate degree and a career in math: Leona Harris, Tanya Moore, and Nagambal Shah. The first conference was held in April of 2005 at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, and had over 150 attendees. The conference was funded by Toyota Motor Corporation, National Security Agency, National Science Foundation and the US Army. The committee felt strongly about encouraging women from minority races to pursue degrees in STEM. In 2002, less than 1% of the doctoral degrees in the mathematical

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

In this experiment, you will see how to make a bone bend.

Materials Needed:

• A Large Jar with a Lid • A Cooked Chicken Bone (save a drumstick after a family meal) • Vinegar

Procedure:

q Rinse off the chicken bone to remove any excess meat or grease. (Note how strong the chicken bone is, just like our bones. This is due to calcium.)

Try this math game at school, and then introduce it to your family at home. It’s a great way to have fun together while you sharpen your math facts.

Materials Needed:

sciences were awarded to African-American, Hispanic/Latina, and American Indian women. According to the Infinite Possibilities website, “Highlights of conference activities include: Professional development workshop series; Panel discussion on graduate studies in mathematics; Research talks given by professionals; Student poster sessions, Special activities for high school students; Roundtable discussions on experiences with mathematics.”

To learn more, visit: http://ipcmath.org/.

Learning Standards: I can read nonfiction text for main idea and supporting details.

w Place the bone in the jar and cover it with vinegar. Place the lid on the jar.

e Observe the bone for 3 days. What changes do you notice?

r After 3 days, remove the chicken from the jar and rinse it off. Are you able to bend it? How is this possible?

Learning Standards: I can complete an experiment, draw conclusions, and analyze results.

Family Math Night (Close Call)

cards 4, 6, 8, and 1, creating the problem 16 + 84 = 100.)

SCIENCE STARS

African-American Biostatician

Tanya Moore

Tanya Moore grew up in Berkeley, California, and had a rough childhood. Her father was an alcoholic and died of lung cancer. Her mother raised three daughters alone. The family had a history of drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, and domestic violence. Moore says that many teachers were surprised by her abilities and often discouraged her from taking challenging courses. She graduated from Berkeley High School in 1991.

Next, Moore went to Spelman College where she earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics in 1995. From there, she went to Johns Hopkins University where she earned a master’s degree in mathematical science. While at Johns Hopkins, Moore stated that she was often judged unfairly due to her race. “People told me I would only pass qualifying exams because I was an African-American woman and the school wanted to make their quota. I’d walk into a room and people would tell me I was in the wrong classroom. Sometimes a professor would say, ‘Wow, you did better than we expected.’” In 2002, she earned a Ph.D. in biostatistics from UC Berkeley. Moore is vice-president of mission advancement at Goodwill of San Francisco. She also worked for the City of Berkeley Public Health Department where she was in charge of the Chronic Disease Prevention Program. She focused on reducing the rates of high-blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and diabetes in the African-American community. In 2010, she created the 2020 Vision Projects to close the achievement gap between white, black, and Latino students in Berkeley, California. In 2008, she appeared in Oprah Winfrey’s O Magazine as one of 80 women who are considered trailblazers. As part of this honor, Moore attended a three-day conference called, “Women Rule in New York.”

Learning Standards: I can read about a person who has made contributions to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. I can make text-to-text and text-toself connections.

• Deck of Cards • Paper and Pencil (optional: calculator to check answers)

How the game is played:

z You can play as individuals or as teams.

x Remove 10s and face cards from the deck. Shuffle the deck and deal each player six cards.

c Each player/team selects four of their cards and creates two 2-digit numbers from them. The goal is to add these two numbers together to get as close to 100 as possible, without going over. (For example, a player may choose to use the

DID YOU KNOW?

Facts About Stem Jobs:

v After players/teams have made their selections, they place their cards face-up in front of them, arranging them so other players can see which two numbers they have created.

b The player/team with the numbers closest to 100, without going over, wins a point. In the case of a tie, a point is awarded to each team.

n Shuffle the cards before dealing another round.

m Play continues for 10 rounds. The player with the most points after the last round wins the game.

Learning Standards: I can add, subtract, multiply, or divide to solve a problem.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that STEM employment will grow 10.8% from 2022 to 2032.

Enjoy these activities that help you get to know your St. Louis American newspaper.

Activities —

Analyzing the

Classifieds: After you have analyzed how the classified section is organized, see how quickly you can find each of these items: a house with a yard, a job that requires no experience, an invitation to bid.

Write about a Scientist: When you think of scientists, do you think of men and women? Do you envision people of different races? Technological advances have been made by a diverse group of people. Use the newspaper to study how a news article is written. Next, write a news article about a scientist you have studied who has made contributions with his or her work in the STEM fields.

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to locate information. I can write for a specific purpose and audience.

Photo by Ms. Stovall

Many Missourians will avoid medical debt credit woes

They can thank VP Harris

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

While an overwhelming majority of Missouri voters voted against her, Vice President Kamala Harris has ensured that state residents with medical debt will not have it impact their credit reports.

Harris announced on Tuesday that medical debt will no longer be included in consumer credit reports, which could help millions of African Americans improve their aspects of wealth building.

n Harris announced on Tuesday that medical debt will no longer be included in consumer credit reports.

Acquiring a home loan, paying a lower interest rate on houses and vehicles and acquiring business capital can all be tied to credit ratings. Many Black Americans have solid credit ratings, except for medical debt for unforeseen

health crisis. Harris announced that states and municipalities have leveraged American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to help elimination over $1 billion in medical debt for more than 700,000 Americans.

According to The White House, Overall, roughly $15 billion in medical debt for up to nearly 6 million Americans could be erased.

“No one should be denied economic opportunity because they got sick or experienced a medical emergency. (The

See DEBT, B2

HBCU economic impact cannot be ignored

It is needed ‘now more than ever’

St. Louis American

HBCUs have long been pillars of educational excellence and economic engines, driving prosperity in their communities and across the nation, according to Dr. Michael L. Lomax, United Negro College Fund president and CEO and their economic impact on the nation’s economy has again been proven in 2024.

The recently released annual report, “Transforming Futures: The Economic Engines of HBCUs”, underscores “the urgent need for equitable and sustainable funding to ensure HBCUs can continue their vital role in promoting social mobility and economic growth and calls on the public to advocate for these essential institutions.”

“As UNCF observes its 80th anniversary, this report reaffirms what we have always known about the resilience of HBCUs: despite a deadly pandemic, social unrest caused by the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and the economic uncertainties of the past seven years, HBCUs continue to do more with less—not only in preparing the next generation of leaders but also in contributing to our nation’s economic impact,” said Lomax.

“At this critical moment, with a

and CEO

UNCF

College in May 2024, said HBCU’s “do more with less” and continue to contribute to the nation’s economy despite the need for equitable and sustainable funding.

election on the horizon, we all must immediately actualize our commitment to these cornerstone institutions.”

Key findings in the 2024 HBCU Economic Impact Report include:

• HBCUs generate $16.5 billion in direct economic impact nationally.

• If they were a company, the nation’s HBCUs would place in the top 50 of the nation’s Fortune500 companies in job creation.

• Collectively, 136,048 jobs exist because of HBCUs.

• On average, for each job created on campus, 1.5 off-campus jobs exist because of spending related to the institution.

• HBCUs are far more accessible to students and more successful at moving students from the bottom 40% of a country’s income distribution to the top 60%, signaling social mobility.

• The 51,269 HBCU graduates in the class of 2021 can expect work-life earnings of $146 billion, 57% ($53 billion) more than the $93 billion they could expect without their degrees or certificates.

The 2024 HBCU Economic Impact Report is a continuation of the 2017 study, HBCUs Make America Strong: The Positive Economic Impact of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, which showed that HBCUs’ economic benefits extend beyond the students they educate.

In addition to the comprehensive report, a website has been launched where users can explore state-specific data and insights for individual HCBUs. This resource allows users to explore the localized impact, emphasizing the critical role HBCUs play in communities across the nation.

U.S. Reps Bell, Cleaver sworn in in Jan. 1, 2025

Congressman Emanuel Cleaver of Kansas City and freshman Congressman Wesley Bell of St. Louis were sworn in January 1, 2025, as Representatives for Missouri’s 5th and 1st Congressional Districts, respectively. Congressman Cleaver will be serving his 10th term in Congress. Congressman Bell will be entering his first term after previously serving as St. Louis County’s Prosecuting Attorney.

“Both men are strong, pragmatic leaders and Missourians are better off because of their service. Missouri Democrats will be cheering them on as they deliver for Missouri,” said Russ Carnahan, Missouri Democratic Party chair.

Offord to offer Lincoln Founder’s Day keynote

Dr. Jerome Offord Jr.

Dr. Jerome Offord Jr., associate university librarian and chief diversity officer for the Harvard Library and 1993 Lincoln University graduate, will deliver the keynote address at Lincoln’s 2025 Founders’ Day Convocation on Jan. 16, 2025. Offord enhances Harvard library’s diversity initiatives and collaborates develops strategies for change through the library’s workforce, services, collections and spaces. At Lincoln Offord began as dean of library services and archives, later serving as interim provost, chief of staff to the president and dean of administration and student affairs.

Carmen White promoted at UB Greensfelder

UB Greensfelder has announced that Carmen White has been promoted to chief diversity officer. She leads the firm’s DEIB initiatives to recruit and advance a diverse workforce, create a supportive and inclusive environment, and support local community diversity efforts. Combining her experiences in the legal industry and in developing and implementing equity and human rights policy initiatives, she will work to achieve meaningful and impactful change within the firm, the legal industry, and the community.

Carr honored by Missouri Sports Hall of Fame

Angela Carr, Nine PBS vice president and chief impact officer, is a member of the Filbert Five women’s team that was honored during the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Chase Park Plaza. Carr was a record-breaking basketball player at Parkview High School and Webster University.

Emanuel Cleaver

President

Dr. Michael L. Lomax, who received an honorary doctorate from Morehouse

Photo courtesy of UNCF

On Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris announced that that medical debt will no longer be included in consumer credit reports, which could help millions of African Americans improve their aspects of wealth building.

Photo courtesy of Kaiser Family Foundation, a St. Louis American partner

Angela Carr

Wesley Bell

Carmen White

Continued from B1

Biden administration) also reduced the burden of medical debt by increasing pathways to forgiveness and cracking down on predatory debt collection tactics,” said Harris is a release.

“Today, we are building on this meaningful work by announcing an unprecedented final rule that will make it so medical debt is no longer included in your credit score. This will be lifechanging for millions of families, making it easier for them to be approved for a car loan, a home loan, or a small-business loan.

“As someone who has spent my entire career fighting to protect consumers and lower medical bills, I know that our historic rule will help more Americans save money, build wealth, and thrive.”

A survey conducted on behalf of the Missouri Foundation for Health released in June 2024 showed that half of Missouri adults report having current medical debt or have had medical debt in the past five years (50%) including 39% who currently have medical debt.

The results align with data from a March 2022 national study of American adults conducted by KFF

HBCU

Continued from B1

“Transforming Futures: The Economic Engines of HBCUs was conducted through a research initiative by UNCF’s Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute.

where 41% of US adults reported having current medical debt and another 16% reported having medical debt in the previous five years.

The statewide survey concluded that medical debt impacts many areas of Missourians’ finances.

• Three in ten adults with recent medical debt say it has negatively impacted their credit score (31%).

• 22% say it has impacted them negatively when applying for a car loan. And 19% of those with medical debt say it has impacted them negatively when applying for an apartment or mortgage.

In the survey’s executive summary, MFH states “The root cause of medical debt, health care affordability, is a struggle for many Missouri residents. Overall, more than four in ten Missouri residents say they would be not able to pay off an unexpected medical bill of $500 right away (42%). Additionally, having health insurance does not alleviate the burden of these high costs. In fact, a large majority of Missourians with recent medical debt had health insurance when they received the medical care that resulted in their medical debt (78%).”

According to MFH, to reach a large enough sample sizes for analysis

“By leveraging robust methodology and extensive data, we highlight how HBCUs continue to be critical drivers of economic growth and social mobility,” said Dr. Nadrea R. Njoku, assistant vice president, of Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute, UNCF. “This report not only

Black households more likely to hold medical debt

Percent of households holding medical debt by race

of demographic groups of interest, the survey was designed to reach larger numbers of non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and Rural Missouri adults.

The final sample size included 2,047 Missouri adults with 302 non-Hispanic Black adults, 132 Hispanic adults, and 658 rural adults. The study also reached 1,116 adults with recent medical debt.

“Recent medical debt” was defined as anyone who currently has or in the past five years has had any of the following:

• Any medical or dental bills that are past due or

underscores the substantial economic benefits generated by HBCUs but also contextualizes the broader challenges they have faced over the past three years, including the far-reaching impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the threats of violence that have been levied against many of these institutions.”

that they have been unable to pay

• Any medical or dental bills they are paying off over time directly to a provider

• Any debt they owe to a bank, collection agency, or other lender that includes debt or loans used to pay medical or dental bills

• Any medical or dental bills they have put on a credit card, and they are paying off over time • Any debt they owe to a family member or friend for money borrowed to pay medical or dental bills

Lodriguez Murray, senior vice president, of public policy and government affairs, at UNCF., said the report is needed

“Now more than ever.”

“We must recognize the indispensable role HBCUs play in shaping not just the future of their students but the future of our nation. This report is not just a

Medical debt is the largest source of debt in collections and impacts 100 million Americans.

It comprises a larger proportion of debt than credit cards, utilities, and auto loans.

Unlike other forms of debt, medical debt is often the result of unavoidable medical complications and medical bills often contain significant errors, such as inflated or duplicative charges and fees for services never received or already paid.

The CFPB is finalizing a rule that will remove medical debt from the

call to awareness but a call to action. As we move forward, it is imperative that we leverage this data to galvanize our communities and demand the necessary support from our policymakers by voting for HBCUs.

credit reports of more than 15 million Americans, raising their credit scores by an estimated average of 20 points and leading to the approval of approximately 22,000 additional mortgages every year. There will be zero Americans with medical debt listed on their credit reports, down from 46 million in 2020. CFPB’s research indicates that medical bills are poor predictors of an individual’s ability to repay a loan and that medical bills are often confusing and erroneous In March 2022, the CFPB released a report estimating that medical bills made up $88 billion of reported debts on credit reports. After the March 2022 report, the three largest credit reporting agencies announced that they would no longer include paid medical debts, unpaid medical debts less than a year old, and medical debt under $500 from credit reporting. Despite these voluntary changes, 15 million Americans still have $49 billion in outstanding medical bills in collections appearing in the credit reporting system. Today’s action will remove these outstanding $49 billion in unpaid medical bills from the credit reports of the remaining 15 million impacted Americans.

We urge every supporter to make their voices heard, to advocate for the equitable funding our HBCUs deserve, and to ensure that these institutions can continue to thrive and contribute to America’s future.”

To view the brief and full report for Transforming Futures: The Economic Engines of HBCUs, visit: UNCF.org/ HBCUImpactReport

n “I’ll wear this for the rest of my career”

– Anthony Edwards on wristband given to him by 6-year-old fan with cancer

InSIdE SportS

With Earl Austin Jr.

Sports Year in review: Tatum gets ring, Napheesa gets gold

I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year as we embark on another journey of sports in the St. Louis metro area. As we get started in 2025, here is a look back at what took place in 2024 in our annual St. Louis American Sports Year in Review.

Jayson Tatum Gets His Ring: After seven brilliant seasons with the Boston Celtics, St. Louisan Jayson Tatum reached the pinnacle as he led Boston to its record 18th NBA championship. A couple of months later, the former Chaminade College Prep star was a part of the USA Basketball Team that won the gold medal at the Olympics Games in Paris.

Napheesa Gets Gold: Former Incarnate Word Academy basketball star Napheesa Collier was a starting forward for the USA Women’s team that won its eighth consecutive gold medal at the Summer Olympics in Paris. She returned to the states to lead the Minnesota Lynx to the finals of the WNBA Playoffs, where they lost an exciting five-game series to the New York Liberty. Collier was voted the WNBA’s Defensive Player of the Year as well as a First Team AllWNBA selection.

Incarnate Word Academy girls basketball dynasty reached record levels as it won its fourth consecutive Class 6 state championship in March. The Red Knights defeated Springfield Kickapoo in the state chanpionship game, which in turn set a new state record with 131 consecutive victories. The current winning streak is at 138 games.

Vashon Basketball Continues to Roll: The Vashon Wolverines rolled to another state championship in boys basketball in 2024. The Wolverines defeated John Burroughs to win their fourth consecutive state championship. During the summer, head

Incarnate Word Streak Continues: The the worst coaches in Notre Dame history – Charlie Weis, who went 41-49 over five seasons.

coach Tony Irons stepped down to become the new coach at Mineral Area College. He was replaced by former Vashon star and Mizzou basketball standout Jimmy McKinney.

Cardinal Ritter Girls Track Dynasty: It was another banner season for the Cardinal Ritter College Prep girls track and field team. The Lions won the Class 5 state championship, which was the fourth in succession.

Coach Tiffany Spain has the Ritter program rolling with great athletes such as her daughter, star hurdler Kyndal Spain among many others.

Mizzou Football

The Missouri Tigers put together another strong season under the direction of Eli Drinkwitz. The Tigers won 10 games for the second consecutive season and they closed 2024 with a victory over Iowa in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl. Several St. Louis area players had a big hand in the Tigers success, including quarterback Brady Cook (Chaminade), receiver Luther Burden III (East St. Louis), receiver Mookie Cooper (Trinity), running back Jamal Roberts (St. Mary’s), defensive backs Marvin Burks Jr. (Cardinal Ritter) and Toriano Pride (Cardinal Ritter).

Cardinal Ritter

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

Basketball Wins Again: Cardinal Ritter College Prep won the Class 6 state championship in boys basketball. It was the fourth state title in five years for the Lions, who won in Classes 3, 5 and 6. The Lions defeated fellow St. Louis school Chaminade in the state championship game.

Metro East Football Dominance: The East St. Louis Flyers enjoyed a dominant season in winning yet another IHSA Class 6A state championship. The Flyers defeated Geneva to win its 11th state championship in the program’s storied history. Belleville Althoff rode the dominance of senior

running back Dierre Hill to win the Class 1A state championship. Hill scored seven touchdowns in the Crusaders’ victory over Lena-Winslow in the state championship game.

SLU Women’s

Basketball Excels: For the second consecutive season, the Saint Louis University women’s basketball team made history. In 2023, the Billikens won the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament to earn the program’s first ever bid to the NCAA Tournament. SLU followed up in 2024 by winning the championship of the WNIT, thus becoming the first A-10 program in history to win a postseason tournament.

Lutheran North, DeSmet Reign: These two excellent programs brought home state championships to the St. Louis area. Lutheran North defeated Festus to win the Class 4 state championship while DeSmet defeated Nixa to win the Class 6 state championship.

Lift for Life, John Burroughs win titles: Lift for Life Academy and John Burroughs both won their second state championship in girls basketball. Lift for Life defeated Park Hills Central for the Class 4 state championship while John Burroughs defeated Lutheran St. Charles for the Class 5 state title. Earl’s World will return to orbit next week. Happy New Year!

Freeman, Franklin know importance of CFP duel

Ask a college football fan, ‘who was the first Black coach at Notre Dame.’ You’ll likely get a facial expression which suggests they didn’t know Notre Dame ever had a Black coach until Marcus Freeman. The answer is Tyrone Willingham. He had been Stanford’s head coach and would later coach the University of Washington. He wasn’t the first choice for the Notre Dame job following Bob Davie’s firing. George O’Leary was hired after a successful stint at Georgia Tech.

But O’Leary told several fibs on his resume and resigned before coaching a down. That opened the door for Willingham, who was named national coach of the year after becoming the first coach in Notre Dame history to win 10 games in his first season. He was dumped following the 2004 season with an overall 21-15 record because Athletic Director Kevin White and Notre Dame big-money boosters, felt the team should be competing for a national championship.

White then hired one of

Freeman’s Fighting Irish will face head coach James Franklin’s Penn State Nittany Lions in a College Football Playoff semifinal game on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. This means a Black head coach will lead a team into the national championship game for the first time since the Bowl Championship Series rankings or a true playoff format was adopted.

Willingham’s opinion on a Black coach competing to win a national title is vital in this discussion.

“It’s a first and we should celebrate all firsts as long as they’re positive,” Willingham told the ESPN website Andscape.

“It’s an accomplishment for us as African Americans, especially if you know anything about history. When I started coaching, there may have been one African American coach on a staff. Notice I said, ‘may have.’”

Both Freeman and Franklin haven’t avoided the topic during respective interviews

“It’s a reminder that you are a representation for so many others that look like you and I don’t take that for granted,” Freeman told ESPN. “I’m going to work tirelessly to be the best version of me and it’s great because even the guys in our program can understand, ‘Don’t put a ceiling on what you can be and what you can do.’

There were six Black head coaches in college football in 2007 when Black head coaches Tony Dungy (Indianapolis) and

Lovie Smith (Chicago) faced one another in the Super Bowl. There are now 16 Black head coaches at the college level, which Franklin notes as progress.

“Does this create opportunities for more guys to get in front of athletic directors? I hope so. You just want an opportunity, and you want to be able to earn it through your work and through your actions. I take a lot of pride in it,” Franklin said.

Only one team can

but Black America is already a winner.

Reid Roundup Both Marcus Freeman and James Franklin are bi-racial. Franklin’s mother is white, and his father is African American. Freeman’s mother is Korean, and his father is Black… Franklin was the first Black head coach in any sport at Vanderbilt…Of the 14 NFL playoff teams, half

Earl Austin Jr.

Alvin A. Reid

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum celebrated with teammate Jaylen Brown during the NBA Finals Championship Parade in July.

Photo courtesy of The AP

Shines:

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman celebrates with his team after quarterfinal game against Georgia in a College Football Playoff, Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, in New Orleans.

Photo courtesy of The AP

Metro hiring event rescheduled to January 25

The Metro Transit hiring event scheduled for Saturday, January 11, has been rescheduled for Saturday, January 25. The hiring event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Illinois MetroBus Facility located in East St. Louis at 801 North 47th Street.

On-site interviews will be provided for attendees interested in Metro mechanic, Metro Call-A-Ride perator and MetroBus operator positions, with instant job offers provided for qualified candidates. Interviews

for MetroBus operators will be conducted for both full-time and part-time applicants.

A $5,000 signing bonus is still available for Metro Mechanic and Metro electricians. Applicants who are interviewed and offered a Mechanic position at the January 25 hiring event will be eligible for the $5,000 signing bonus, which is distributed over the first year of employment. Electrician candidates will not be interviewed at the January 25 hiring event. Interested individ-

uals should apply online at WorkAtMetroSTL. com so an interview can be scheduled at another time.

To speed up the in-person process, applicants are encouraged to learn more about these positions and apply online in advance of the hiring event by visiting WorkAtMetroSTL.

com

Bi-State Development operates the Metro Transit system in the City of St. Louis and in St. Louis County in Missouri and in St. Clair County in Illinois.

SLPS receives Builders Award from Bank of America

The St. Louis Public Schools Foundation (SLPSF) has been named a recipient of Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders award, which provides multi-year funding and leadership capacity-building to advance the work of high-impact nonprofits across the United States.

SLPSF will receive a $200,000 grant over two years, along with access

to leadership development support. “This opportunity will enhance the SLPSF’s ability to invest in solutions that drive equitable outcomes, while also optimizing the organization’s ability to partner with district leaders to innovate and expand programs that are meeting the needs of St. Louis Public School scholars every day,” according to a Foundation release.

“We are incredibly grateful to Bank of America for this extraordinary investment in our organization,” said Haliday Douglas, CEO of the SLPSF.

“This support will allow us to strengthen our operations, expand our reach, and give us time to support the

District to build upon the successes of college and career pipeline programming for scholars. We are also excited to join a nationwide network of nonprofit leaders, exchanging ideas and best practices to drive meaningful change together.”

SLPSF can also connect

with other Neighborhood Builders recipients nationally to gaining insight and build partnerships to address shared challenges and advance economic mobility in local communities.

The Neighborhood Builders program has provided more than $346 million in grants to organizations addressing issues including workforce development, affordable

SLATE celebrating 50th anniversary

The Metro Transit operation includes the MetroLink light rail system, a MetroBus fleet of approximately 270 clean-burning diesel buses and 24 battery-electric buses.

housing, education, and community health.

“SLPSF is proud to be among this year’s recipients, joining a legacy of organizations working to build stronger, more resilient communities,” said Douglas.

Bank of America is celebrating the 20th year of its philanthropic initiative, which has supported nearly 2,000 nonprofits since its inception.

The St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) announces the year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary in 2025. For half a century, SLATE has been prominent in the St. Louis community helping unemployed and under-

employed St. Louisans connect to job opportunities and helping employers recruit and retain skilled workers.

In celebration, SLATE will unveil a new brand identity that reflects the organization’s future strategic direction, mission, and goals in the first quarter and will execute several promotional and informational initiatives throughout the year.

SLATE will also host quarterly job fairs, networking events, resource fairs, and other community events to mark this milestone.

“As we head into our next 50 years of service to the community, we will continue to keep our fingers on the pulse of what the community needs to thrive. Our dedicated team of change agents will continue to

go above and beyond to ensure that all St. Louis residents have the employment and training tools needed to be competitive in today and tomorrow’s workforce.” said SLATE Executive Director, Fredrecka McGlown.

If you have a success story to share with SLATE, please contact: Svetlana Bostick, Executive Secretary at 314-657-3522 or sbostick@stlworks.com. We look forward to sharing your success story during our year-long celebration.

Haliday Douglas

Photo courtesy of Metro Transit

Living It

Laughing into 2025

“In the spirit of New Orleans, we bounce back from anything.”

Master P speaking about the January 1 terrorist attack on Bourbon Street

Cedric The Entertainer and friends brought the funny to Chaifetz Arena

By Zaria Mac

St. Louis American

The main event of New Year’s Eve festivities in the city came courtesy of a homegrown star. Thousands showed up to see St. Louis’ own King of Comedy Cedric the Entertainer headline the New Year’s Comedy Jam at the Chaifetz Arena. He brought a full roster of acts, each with their own signature brand of funny. The night started with Henry Welch, who was dressed in a dapper plaid suit with a con-

Some of the biggest names in standup helped the city close out 2024 with a hilarious bang thanks to the St. Louis stop of the New Year’s Comedy Jam on December 31st at Chaifetz Arena.

trasting comedy style. Welch warmed up the crowd with his conversational humor. His improv with the audience warmed them up before Deon Cole took the stageCole’s presence alone and just walking on stage was enough to bring laughter. He joked about the one-sided club culture in St. Louis. “It doesn’t matter how many ladies you bring with you,” Cole said. “If you are a man, you are not getting in.” He also brought the audience in with jokes about the Black experience – how the top of the fridge is extra storage space for bread and produce, and the many other uses for grocery bags like trash bags and shower caps.

Following Cole’s performance, Michael Blackson took the stage in a flamboyant fur coat that matched his personality and comedy style. The coat was dyed in various bright colors. Underneath, he wore a suit jacket encrusted with jewels that glimmered as he crossed the stage. In his set, he addressed last year’s infamous “Club Shay Shay” interview featuring Katt Williams. In his conversation with host Shannon Sharpe, Williams challenged Blackson’s African nationality. “I’m so African I don’t even know my

Laka’s soul

Louis music scene with performances that are in homage to music greats like Tina Turner and Whitney Houston. She has a pair of shows scheduled this month at Broadway Oyster Bar and Blue Strawberry. Singer’s star rises in St. Louis through tributes to Black women icons

By Sylvester Brown, Jr.

The St. Louis American

She strutted onto the stage wearing a blonde lioness wig and a short sequined silver skirt. Flanked by six gospel singers (3 in emerald and 3 in pink gowns), the exuberant, diminutive vocalist embodied the spirit of Tina Turner as she belted the lyrics of the Sumner alum’s 1973 hit, “Make Me Over.” Laka (pronounced “Lay-ka”) also known as “LakaSoul,” was the lead singer of the Tina Turner tribute held at City Winery St. Louis late last year. She has a “Motown Revue” scheduled for January 12th at The Broadway Oyster Bar and a tribute to the late, great Whitney Houston on January 25th at Blue Strawberry.

Laka (her real name) has made a name for herself since her “St. Louis Woman” performance in 2022. For that musical feat, she portrayed Josephine Baker, Willie Mae Ford Smith, Tina Turner, Katherine Dunham, Maya Angelou, Ann Peebles and other history-making women with St. Louis connections.

Black family, Black love and Black joy at The Black Rep

By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American

When he was mapping out the shows for the Black Rep’s 48th season, he decided to follow up the fall musical with a comedy, because he “figured audiences might need one.”

He couldn’t have known how right he would be.

“I felt like with what we are getting ready to go through in the next few days with this country, we need a break,” Himes said. “And I think that this play is perfect for that.”

As the world braces for Donald Trump to assume office once again, St. Louis audiences will have the opportunity for a momentary escape by way of “Chicken & Biscuits.” The acclaimed play by award-winning playwright Douglas Lyons opened this week – with Friday, January 9 as opening night after Wednesday and Thursday previews. It continues through January 26 at Wash U.’s Edison Theatre. The play revolves around two rival sisters of the Jenkins family. They are preparing to lay its patriarch to rest. “It is about a family coming together and healing,” Himes said. “In a lot of ways,

The St. Louis Black Repertory Company will continue its 48th season with ‘Chicken & Biscuits’ by Douglas Lyons. The production runs through January 26th at Washington University’s Edison Theatre.

it’s like a family reunion – as many black funerals are. It is a time when families come together. It’s loving and healing, and funny.”

“Chicken & Biscuits” premiered on Broadway in 2021. The show was among the first productions to return to Broad-

way in the wake of the pandemic. Television veteran and St. Louis native Cleo King was among the stars of the original Broadway production. Mass audiences

n “Soul music is the closest thing to gospel. It just felt most at home to me. When I’m singing soul, I could just as well be singing gospel.”

- Laka Soul

Produced by actor/director Joe Hanrahan and The Midnight Company, the one-woman show challenged Laka’s singing, poetry-reading, acting, storytelling and dancing abilities. It was a tall order for someone whojust five years earlier-eked her way into performing publicly by way of open mic gigs and social media promotions.

Laka has a lot of soul for someone who didn’t even discover the genre until her college years. She was born and raised in Cape Girardeau MO. The small town has a population of around 40,000 with roughly 5,000 black residents. “It wasn’t the most diverse,” Laka recalled, “But I feel like it was a good place to grow up. It was really comfortable… everybody knew everybody.”

She was raised Pentecostal and attended Liberty Pentecostal Community Church. It was strict and secular music, Laka said, was forbidden. She was a choir member and traveled to other small towns in Southeast Missouri performing as the “Liberty Trio,” the church’s gospel group. Although she wasn’t exposed to secular music, Laka said she experienced “soul music” through movies like

Photos by Taylor Marrie/St. Louis American

Photos courtesy of Laka

Singer Laka, a native of Cape Girardeau, MO has been making a name for herself on the St.

Photo by Tim Jones Courtesy of The Black Rep

Living It content is produced in partnership with Regional Arts Commission.

The

Henry Welch Deon Cole Earthquake

Cedric the Entertainer Michael Blackson DL Hughley

MLK COMMEMORATIVE PROGRAMMING

Sat., Jan. 11, 2 p.m., The 39th

Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Statewide Celebration Kick-Off Program for Missouri, Dr. Henry Givens Administration Building, main auditorium, Harris-Stowe State University. This year’s theme is “Harmony in Action: A Journey Towards Unity and Hope.” Visit https://www.facebook.com/MissouriMLK for more information.

Thurs. Jan. 16, 5 p.m. Thursday Nights at the Museum: Documentary Screening: Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin, Missouri History Museum, 5700 Lindell Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63112. For more information, visit https://stlouis. washu.edu.

Mon., Jan 20, 2 p.m. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration: The Annual Celebration, Graham Chapel, 1 Bookings Dr. Saint Louis, MO 63130. For more information, visit https://stlouis.washu.edu.

CONCERTS

Fri., Jan. 10, 6 p.m. Meshell Ndegeocello “No More Water: The Gospel Of James Baldwin,: City Winery, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit https:// citywinery.com.

Sun., Jan. 12, 6 p.m. Can-

dlelight Concert: Tribute to Whitney Houston on Strings, Touhill Performing Arts Center, 1 Touhill Circle, St. Louis, 63121. For more details, visit www.umsl.edu.

Sun., Jan. 12 – Mon., Jan. 13, Robert Glasper at City Winery STL, City Winery, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis, MO 63110. For

STL Sites & Sounds

more information, visit https:// citywinery.com.

Fri., Jan 31, 7:30 p.m. Beethoven X Beyoncé, Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market St., St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit www.stifeltheatre.com.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Fri., Jan. 10, 8 p.m., Omicron Eta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., presents 117th Founder’s Day Party, The Machinist Hall, 12365 St. Charles Rock Rd. For more information, visit AKA-OmicronEtaOmega.org.

Tues., Jan. 14, 6:30 p.m., The St. Louis County Library Foundation’s Reading Garden Series for Young Audiences and The Novel Neighbor 2025 Black History Celebration with Dr. Dr. Jewell Parker Rhodes, Clark Family Branch, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis MO 63131. For more information, visit www.slcl.org or call 314994-3300.

Through Jan. 20, 9:30 a.m. Alma’s Way: Welcome to my Neighborhood!, The Magic House, 516 S Kirkwood Rd. St. Louis, MO 63122. An immersive experience for children. For more information, visit www. magichouse.org.

COMEDY

Sun., Jan. 12, 8 p.m. Kerwin Claiborne, Helium Comedy Club, 1151 St. Louis Galleria St. Saint Louis, MO 63117. For more details, visit https://st-louis. heliumcomedy.com.

Wed., Jan 15, 7:30 p.m. Damon Williams: Capricorn Comedy Bash, City Winery, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis, mo 63110. For

more information, visit https:// citywinery.com.

Thurs., Jan 16, 8 p.m. Prince T-Dub, Helium Comedy Club, 1151 St. Louis Galleria St. Saint Louis, MO 63117. For more details, visit https://st-louis.heliumcomedy.com.

ST. LOUIS MUSIC SPOTLIGHT

Thurs., Jan. 9 p.m. DJ Mahf & DJ Vthom DJ Residency Showcase, Sophie’s Artist Lounge, 3333 Washington Ave. Saint Louis, MO 63106. For more information, visit https://kranzbergartsfoundation.org.

Sun., Jan 12, 7 p.m. Soul Sunday at the Broadway Oyster Bar: Sounds of Motown, Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102. For more information, visit www.broadwayoysterbar.com.

Sat., Jan 18, 12 p.m. Soul Brunch: The Women of NeoSoul, City Winery, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit https:// citywinery.com.

Sun., Jan 19, 8 p.m. M.A.T.I. Showcase: Keesh & Friends, The Dark Room, 3610 Grandel Sq., St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit https:// kranzbergartsfoundation.org.

THEATRE

Fri., Jan. 10 - 11, 7 p.m. A New Line Cabaret VI: Broadway Noir, The Sheldon, 3648 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Fri., Jan. 24 - Feb. 9, 8 p.m. Pictures of a Revolution by

ello, The Marcelle, 3310 Samuel Shepard Drive, Saint Louis, MO 63103. For more details, visit www.upstreamtheater.org.

Through Sun., Jan. 26, The Black Rep presents “Chicken and Biscuits” by Douglas Lyons, The Edison Theatre, 6465 Forsyth Blvd., Saint Louis, MO. For additional dates and times, visit www.theblackrep.org

Sun., Jan 26, 6 p.m. The Opera Ghost Really Existed, That Untitled Project, 2900 Cherokee St. A, St. Louis MO 63118. For more information, visit https:// thatuntitledproject.square.site.

ART

Through Feb. 9, 2025, Great Rivers Biennial featuring Saj Issa, Basil Kincaid and Ronald Young, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, 3750 Washington Blvd., St. Louis MO 63108. For more information visit www. cam-stl.org.

Through Feb. 16, 2025, Saint Louis Art Museum presents Narrative Wisdom and African Arts, Saint Louis Art Museum, One Fine Arts Drive, St. Louis MO 63110. For more information, visit www.slam.org.

Through Apr. 13, 2025, Saint Louis Art Museum presents Federal Art Project 1935-1945, Saint Louis Art Museum, One Fine Arts Drive, St. Louis MO 63110. For more information, visit www.slam.org.

Through Jun. 30, 2025, Pop Stars! Popular Culture and Contemporary Art, 21C Museum Hotel St. Louis, 1528 Locus Street, St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit www.21cmuseumhotels.com

Comedy

Continued from C1

own birthday,” Blackson joked. “Most of us were just born in the backyard.” The response caused an uproar – and Blackson had the audience laughing at everything he said from that point until his set concluded.

Actor, radio personality and standup veteran Nathaniel “Earthquake” Stroman took the stage with a sleek and refined demeanor, though his jokes were punchy and relatable. He talked about his dismay waking up after Kamala’s failed campaign.

“The election map had so much red, it looked like it had been shot,” Earthquake said. He’d follow up the audience’s laughter with “These ain’t jokes.” His attempt to be serious made each joke even funnier.

King of Comedy DL Hughley kept the political humor going when he

Laka

Continued from C1

“What’s Love Got to do with it,” the story of Tina Turner’s rise to stardom and The Temptations’ self-titled biopic.

After graduating from Cape Central High (the one public high school in town), she attended University of Missouri (MIZZOU)in Columbia. She studied nutrition and fitness and medical dietetics. Laka’s goal was to follow in her beloved godmother’s shoes and become a dietitian, which she did. She entered the field as a registered dietitian, specializing in food and nutrition.

Laka is somewhat guarded about details of her personal life. She’s been stalked since gaining some popularity and is understandably cautious. Still, she divulged that she got married right after college and that that marriage (now defunct) was the reason she moved to St. Louis.

It was around that time that she discovered and immersed herself in soul music. She was inspired and influenced by the sounds of artists like Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, James Brown, Etta James, Otis Redding and Bill Withers. “You feel something when you hear their music,” Laka recalled. “It’s like you can feel the experience

took the stage as the final comic ahead of headliner Cedric The Entertainer. His set was more focused on Donald Trump, and how America loves him for things they would usually scold others for. Refusing to leave after being evicted, stealing from the office on your last day of work and having a girlfriend behind your wife’s back were a few examples. He also joked about how Trump wants to keep “rapists and murders” but get rid of Mexicans – who he argues are the hardest working people in the country. He also championed the Muslim population, saying he believed they are the most trusted workers in healthcare. “If your doctor speaks English, then you have terrible insurance,” Hughley said. The audience howled.

Cedric the Entertainer took the stage in a white suit with a hat to match, a smooth signature look from him that we have come to know. His relatable comedy kept the audience laughing the

of what they’re singing about.” Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come,” fits in that category “100 percent,” she said. So does Franklin’s “Do Right Woman,” Etta James’ “I Just Want to Make Love to You” and Withers’ “Use Me.” “Soul music is the closest thing to gospel,” Laka said. “It just felt most at home to me. When I’m singing soul, I could just as well be singing gospel.”

Around 2016, Laka started attending open mic events, learning to sing with different artists and bands. After posting some of her performances online people started requesting more of her music. She got her first paying gig through LinkedIn. “There was this restaurant in Glen Carbon looking for a house singer,” Laka said. “So, yeah, I took it and started posting videos of myself performing.”

Five years later, in 2022, she headlined the one-woman tribute show. Her rendition of Tina Turner was an audience favorite. “When I came out in this tiny, red, sequin dress… it got the most rise out of the audience,” said Laka. “They went wild over that.”

She did her first solo Tina tribute later that year at the Blues Museum and subsequent shows sold out. During her monthly show at the Chase Park Plaza, Laka started sampling some of Whitney Houston’s songs like “I want to Dance with somebody.”

entire set. He joked about how different songs carry different moods and used music and light design to reinforce his point. He said, “You ever listen to Never Scared,” Cedric said, referring to the 2003 club banger by Bonecrusher. “That song will make you want to fight.” The song played under bright red lights as he stomped comedically around and solidified his point. He then said that songs like “Always and Forever,” get you in the mood to love. He sang the intro of this song in a deep baritone under a lone spotlight. The audience erupted with laughter and needed a moment to recover before he could continue. He also joked about his weight loss journey – and how he continues to struggle, because there is always a reason to eat with the emergence of new food-centered holidays. “So, it’s National Donut Day,” Cedric said. “Then it is my civic duty to get a long john.”

Annual Dr. MLK Celebration at the Art Museum

Selma the Musical: The Untold Stories

“When I first sang, ‘I Will Always Love you,’ people cheered like I had just hit a home run,” Laka reminisced. “Then they always requested it,”

The audience’s reaction was so overwhelming that by 2023, Laka started hosting Whitney Houston tributes. Laka is also dedicated to writing her own music. She does about six shows a month. Although her singing career is on the rise, she still considers it a side thing.

“I don’t ever want to see myself depending on my art for my income,” she explained. “I feel like I might lose something with that. Right now, I can say ‘hey, this is what I want to do, and this is the type of show I want to perform… so, everything is pretty much my own creative expression.’

But what if her star continues to rise?

“Well, yeah, if it keeps rising-and I hope it willwe’ll see,” Laka said. “I’m willing to go wherever the music takes me but that’s not necessarily my goal. I always want to be where I want to be without compromising my creative expression just to make a living.”

For more information on Laka’s upcoming shows, visit www.lakasoul. com.

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

Black Rep

Continued from C1

were slow to return to theaters, and the show closed after a couple of months.

But that’s not where the story of “Chicken & Biscuits” ends. Local and regional theaters staged productions of the play across the nation. So much so that, according to Lyons, the play was the second most produced play in America in 2022-23. Himes says the statistic speaks to the play’s broad appeal.

“There are times when I pick shows as the producer. This show is a producer’s pick,” said Himes. “And what I mean by that is that this is a show that will do well at the box office. It will give our audiences a play that they can come to the theater and enjoy themselves. It’s trauma free. It is Black joy, Black love, Black family and all of that.” And this production is

not only for Blacks, but by Blacks.

“We can tell a broad range of stories and we can put a broad range of characters on stage,” Himes said of his company and fellow Black theater producers across the country. “We can deal with the most serious subject matter and topics and issues. But at the same time, we can sing and dance and we can do comedy.”

Himes points to previous Black Rep shows as an example of Black theatre’s versatility.

“We’ve done classic American plays like ‘Death of a Salesman,’” Himes said. “We’ve done Shakespeare. And we’ve done a wide range of plays by Black writers,” Himes said.

According to him, Black theater companies should be considered a critical element of cultural landscapes because, among other things, they are willing to give voice to writers who otherwise might not have a platform.

Providing agency to writers as they emerge is

one of the most fulfilling – and exciting – of Himes’ duties as a producer of Black theater.

So is providing opportunities for the actors who embody the roles of the playwrights. “Chicken & Biscuits” is no exception.

“We have A.C. Smith and Denise Thimes. We have Alex Jay and Cameron Davis,” said Himes, who also directs the production. “They have been in hard-hitting black rep productions – and bring a wealth of talent, creativity and range to these characters. It allows them to elevate the characters, and the work.”

The cast of “Chicken & Biscuits” is rounded out by Kaylyn McCoy, Paulette Dawn, Jacob Schmidt, Cameron Jamarr Davis and Delisa Richardson.

The Black Rep’s presentation of “Chicken & Biscuits” runs through January 26th at Washington University’s Edison Theatre, 6465 Forsyth Blvd. For more information, call 314-534-3807 or visit www.theblackrep.rog.

The annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration returns on Sunday, January 19 at 2 pm in the Saint Louis Art Museum’s Farrell Auditorium. This celebration will feature selections from Selma the Musical: The Untold Stories by Infecting Change Theatre Company. Written and produced by J.P. Haynes, the historical-fiction, musical-theater production chronicles the story of Selma, Alabama, and the citizens of this unassuming town as they prepare for what is arguably the greatest endeavor of the Civil Rights movement. The score features original music written by Haynes and her musical team, drawing from gospel, jazz, and hip-hop— rich musical genres foundational to Black culture. Selma the Musical is a timeless tale about a bridge, a town, and a family who refuse to succumb to a life designed to destroy them. The story is told through the lens of the Wilsons, who are staunchly divided on how to approach voting rights and even calls into question the motives of the icons of the movement, Dr. King and John Lewis. Anguished by a sorted past and a contentious future, Connie and Joe Wilson spotlight the fight and plight of Black men and women, generational trauma, and the

complex, yet impenetrable, relationship between the two.

In addition to the performance, this celebration will include a panel conversation with writer and producer J.P. Haynes, select cast members, and the creative director of the Museum’s Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, Kathryn Bentley, who was instrumental in bringing the production to St. Louis from Atlanta.

Kathryn Bentley specializes in developing creative works and building community utilizing inclusive theater practices. As the founder and curator of the Alaiyo Collective, she has more than 40 years of experience as an actor, director, and teaching artist. She is a professor emeritus of Southern

Illinois University Edwardsville and a St. Louis Regional Arts Commission Community Arts Training Institute Fellow as well as a CAT faculty member. She was one of the first recipients of the RAC Artist Fellowship and was a recipient of the St. Louis Visionary Outstanding Working Artist Award in 2020. Free tickets for this program may be reserved in person at the Museum’s welcome desks or through MetroTix at metrotix. com or 314-534-1111. All tickets reserved through MetroTix incur a service charge; the service charge is waived for tickets reserved at the Museum. Although the event is free, advance tickets are recom-

King illustration

WEBSTER GROVES SCHOOL DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

Lead Webster Groves

High School with vision and passion. Foster a culture of achievement, innovation, and inclusivity. Oversee curriculum development, staff leadership, and student success. Build strong connections with students, staff, and families to shape the future of our district. Apply on district website. https://www.paycomonline. net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/

DEVELOPMENT

DATABASE MANAGER

The

the Foundation’s Chief Impact Officer tomonitor contributions and transactions that support funded initiatives in areas aligned with the Foundation’s strategy.

WEBSTER GROVES SCHOOL DISTRICT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

Guide Bristol Elementary School with creativity and care. Champion a nurturing learning environment that supports growth and discovery. Lead dedicated educators, engage families, and ensure every student thrives in a collaborative and supportive community. Apply on district website.

https://www.paycomonline. net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/

JR77870 Clinical Research Coordinator I (Clinic) - Oncology

We are seeking a dedicated Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) to join our team and support the management of oncology clinical trials. The CRC will be responsible for screening and enrolling patients, coordinating study requirements, and ensuring compliance with protocol guidelines. Key duties include overseeing patient study visits, gathering clinical data, addressing protocol issues, and collaborating with treating teams, investigators, and sponsors. This role requires exceptional attention to detail, communication skills, and a commitment to patient safety and ethical integrity. Join us to make a meaningful impact in oncology research!

JR84192 Senior Grants Specialist (Hybrid) - Center for Genome Sciences

The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology is home to an interdisciplinary, multi-departmental, multi-generational team of faculty investigators from multiple schools across Washington University. The Senior Grant Specialist, working both in office and remotely, will manage pre-award activities, perform post-award activities, and provide research administration duties including personnel, payroll, budgeting, and operations management for faculty and post-doctoral Principal Investigators (PIs). This position reports to the Center’s Director Research/Business Administration. Required Qualifications include a Bachelor’s degree (or combination of education and/or experience may substitute) and 3 years of relevant experience.

JR84401 - Ultrasound Sonographer OB/GYN

The Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine/Ultrasound is hiring full time Ultrasound Sonographers to work Monday-Friday (no call, no weekends/evenings/holidays) from 7:45 am-4:15 pm. This Ultrasound Team consists of 16 sonographers, 1 Genetic Counselor and 3 front desk team members. We have 8 locations within MO/ IL. This Sonographer will work primarily on the Wash U Campus, but will need to be flexible to cover other locations as business needs present. We have a positive, team-oriented work environment where everyone works together to provide quality patient care and the team feels supported by one another. We are looking for someone who is friendly with patients, reliable, flexible and a team player Salary range for this position is 32.73-50.74 hourly based on direct OB/GYN, MFM scanning experience. Wash U offers amazing benefits, professional development, time off for work/life balance and wellness resources. As a Sonographer on our team, you will have a unique learning experience scanning both inpatient and outpatient high risk patients, multiples and working side by side with our physicians, residents, fellows and Fetal Care team.

JR84777 -Vascular Lab Tech (Sign-on Bonus) – Surgery

As a Vascular Lab Technologist on our Surgery team the ideal candidate will play a vital role in providing high-quality non-invasive vascular studies and assisting physicians in diagnosing vascular diseases. They will perform high-quality non-invasive vascular studies, assist physicians with diagnostic procedures, and operate state-ofthe-art equipment in BJH inpatient and multi-site clinic outpatient settings. As part of an IAC-accredited lab, will collaborate with a motivated sonography team and support the diagnosis of vascular diseases, ensuring exceptional patient care.

This full-time position is 5 days per week, with 5 regular 8-hour shifts. The typical shift hours are either 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM or 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. In addition to regular working hours, call coverage is an essential component of this role, ensuring that necessary studies are conducted during on-call periods. Please note that the department is closed on weekends, and studies are performed on an as-needed basis during on-call hours. Registered Vascular Technologist or Registered Vascular Specialist is the minimum requirement to apply.

Bonus of

IINVITATION TO BID

Don C. Musick Construction Co. is seeking proposals for the following project:

Allen Market Lane Apartments

The project includes work for the following trades:

Commissioning, select demolition, decorative fencing, rolling gates, concrete floor topping, interior masonry cleaning, carpentry labor, commercial casework, residential casework, granite tops, solid surface tops, FRP, TPO roofing, sheet metal, fire stopping, joint sealants, commercial doors & hardware, residential doors & hardware, aluminum storefront, glazing, mirrors, metal studs, drywall, acoustical ceilings, LVT, carpet, tile, epoxy floor, painting, signage, toilet and laundry accessories, fire extinguishers, cultured marble, shower surrounds, postal specialties, shelving, canopies, appliances, trash chutes, window blinds, elevators, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, security and fire alarm, landscaping.

Musick Construction encourages all qualified MBE and WBE firms to consider bidding on this project.

Bids for this project are due on January 17 at 12:00 p.m. For any questions, please contact Brian Wilhelm, BrianW@MusickConstruction.com

All bids should be submitted to Musick via e-mail (estimating@musickconstruction. com) or fax (314-781-4830).

INVITATION TO BID

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. requests bids from qualified contractors for the following project:

SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital Bid Package 05 – Remainder of Work

For the following scopes of work: Interiors and Site Improvements S BID DATE:

January 30, 2025, by 2:00 PM CST

Bid Documents will be available via Building Connected. Contact: Jennifer Simpson at jsimpson@mccarthy.com or 314-919-2304 for access to bid documents.

A pre-bid meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at 2:30 pm at McCarthy’s jobsite office located at 920 South Spring Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110.

Prequalification is required and can be accessed at https://www.mccarthy.com/subcontractors

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer.

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. 12851 Manchester Road | St. Louis, MO 63131

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

Sealed bids for 25-109 – City of St. Peters Water Interconnect Pump Station will be received by the City of St. Peters, Purchasing Department, City Hall, One St. Peters Centre Boulevard, P.O. Box 9, St. Peters, Missouri 63376 until 2:00 PM local time, February 13, 2025 and then opened and read aloud.

Contract Documents will be available on January 9, 2025 and may be obtained from the City of St. Peters website https://mo-stpeters.civicplus. com/Bids.aspx

A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held at 10:00 AM local time, January 22, 2025, located at 4611 Central School Road, St. Peters, Missouri 63376.

All questions regarding this project shall be submitted to the City of St. Peters Purchasing Department in writing to Bids@stpetersmo.net under the subject line 25-109 – City of St. Peters Water Interconnect Pump Station before noon local time, January 29, 2025.

A bid bond in the amount of 5% (five percent) shall be submitted with each proposal.

This project will be awarded to the lowest, responsive, responsible bidder. No 2nd tier subcontracting will be allowed on this project.

The City reserves the right to waive any informality in bidding and to reject all bids.

NOTICE OF OPEN-HOUSE PUBLIC HEARING ON DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE OF IMPROVE I-70: WARRENTON TO WENTZVILLE PROJECT IN WARREN AND ST. CHARLES COUNTIES

Notice is hereby given to all interested persons that a public hearing will be held on Monday, Feb. 3 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Warrenton High School Commons Area located at 803 Pinckney St. Warrenton, MO 63383, and on Thursday, Feb. 6, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Progress Park Recreation Center located at 968 Meyer Rd. Wentzville, MO 63385. Access for people with disabilities is available. All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard concerning their views on the design and proposed construction schedule of Improve I-70: Warrenton to Wentzville with reference to the economic and social effects of such design, its impact on the environment, and its consistency with the goals and objectives of the community. An open-house format will be used, and persons may discuss the project and offer comments at any time between the prescribed hours.

This is the second construction project in MoDOT’s Statewide Improve I-70 Program. The planned improvements from the contractor team, the Improve 70 Alliance (Emery Sapp & Sons, Clarkson Construction, HNTB, and Bartlett and West) includes constructing a third lane in each direction on I-70 from Warrenton to I-64 in Wentzville, including replacing the existing I-70 lanes with new full-depth concrete pavement. It also includes interchange improvements at the I-70 and the I-64/U.S. Route 61 interchange; interchange and outer road improvements in Foristell, Wright City, Warrenton, and Route Z; realignment at the railroad bridge on I-70 between Wentzville Parkway and Route Z; and the addition of a third lane of travel to eastbound and westbound I-64 between I-70 and Route K. Additionally, throughout construction two lanes of travel will be available for both directions of I-70 during peak travel times.

Displays, construction phasing, schedule, and other detailed information prepared by the Missouri Department of Transportation will be available for public inspection and copying at the office of the Improve I-70 East Project Team Director of the Missouri Department of Transportation, 100 Ungerboeck Park, Dardenne Prairie, MO 63368. Written statements and exhibits as well as oral statements will be received at the hearing. Written statements and exhibits will be made a part of the public hearing transcript if received by Thursday, March 6. Comments will be accepted in the form of writing or providing a recorded statement. In addition, meeting materials and a comment form will be available online at: www.modot.org/ improvei70/warrentonwentzville from Feb. 3 to March 6.

Tentative schedules for right of way acquisition and construction will be discussed at the hearing. Construction is expected to begin in Spring 2025, with a December 2028 completion date.

People with disabilities who require special services or other reasonable accommodations at the public hearing should notify Project Communications Coordinator Lairyn McGregor at 816-607-2152 by Monday, Jan. 27, so arrangements for those services can be made. MISSOURI HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

BY: Kimberly Trainor, Improve I-70 East Project Team Director

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE STLCC MERAMEC MO PROJECT

Clayco, Inc. is seeking bids for the following bid package - Building Demolition -Final Cleaning

Please contact John Sabo, saboj@claycorp. com to request a set of plans/specifications and/or more information about this project. BIDS DUE ON WEDNESDAY, 01/29/25 @ 10:00 AM.

PUBLIC NOTICE

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

LEGAL NOTICE

Bobbie S. Jones is the legal and equitable owner of the property known as 3905 McCarren Ct. Florissant, MO 63034. All Sales of this property is null and void. Contact Bobbie in writing at 3905 McCarren Ct. Florissant, MO 63034.

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE:

Advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, imitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial\status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination. “We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.”Call Angelita Houston at 314-289-5430 or email ahouston@stlamerican.com to place your ads today!

By Lyndia Grant Washington Informer

Look at life as your textbook and begin to learn from everything that happens. Your quality of life will be tremendously improved as a result of this new way of thinking.

Rather than thinking you didn’t do well on an exam for your college course, here is your chance to prove to yourself that you can do better.

Maybe you had to give a welcome at your church, but you were so nervous that the words just left your brain.

Maybe you have been stopped by police so often that when you drive, you’re always looking for another officer to pull you over.

That kind of negative thinking brings trouble into your life.

Remember the Scripture that says, “So as a man thinketh, so is he.”

We must become intentional about what we are to think about each moment. Otherwise, our minds may be subject to wander. It’s wise to “set your intentions” and look carefully at everything that happens to us in life. Learn from it; there is definitely a message in the mess for you to learn.

Gain knowledge from the good, the bad and the ugly. When we find ourselves in trouble because we took a wrong turn, it is most critical to discover how to get back on point. We must figure out how we got off track in the first place. Don’t allow your mind to wander and follow your GPS; it will surely help you get back on track.

Holy Spirit to be your life GPS

Our GPS is the Holy Spirit.

When things occur in our lives, especially the things we consider bad, we continue to make the same mistakes over and over again. We forget to take a close look to see how we got into this mess in the first place.

Romans 8:28 is the Scripture

that says it best: “And I know that all things work together for good to them who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose.”

Another way to say that is the topic of this column: “Good, Bad and Ugly!” When Scripture says “all things work together for good” that’s exactly what it

means!

Self-improvement specialist

Wayne Dyer shared this metaphoric story to make a point during his PBS special: “I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost … I am helpless. It isn’t my fault. It takes forever to find a way out. I walk

down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I pretend I don’t see it. I fall in again. I can’t believe I am in the same place. But it isn’t my fault. It still takes me a long time to get out. I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it is there. I still fall in. It’s a habit. My eyes are open. I know where I am. It is my fault. I get out immediately. I walk down the same street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it. I walk down another street.”

Why did it take Nelson so long to make the change?

Maybe it was conditioning because many of us feel more comfortable with pains with which we’ve become familiar. We’re afraid to make moves that we’re not sure will work for us, so we’d rather stay where we are and continue to suffer. We become comfortable falling into that same hole, bumping our heads!

Become courageous and find meaning in everything that occurs in your life. Then begin to set your intentions daily. Plan and then work your plan; and when your plan does not work, remember that Scripture says, “all things work together for good,” then make the necessary adjustments and keep it moving.

Lyndia Grant is a speaker/ writer living in the Washington D.C. area and host of the radio program, “Think on These Things.”

Photo courtesy of Kingdomman K YouTube