September 8th, 2016 Edition

Voters in Missouri House District 78 will elect their Democratic nominee for state representative

STL’s first chief resilience officer

Patrick Brown went from the mall to the mayor’s office to the Rockefeller Foundation Patrick R.

Photo by Wiley Price

Public defenders win suit over witness info

Prosecutors will appeal

By Rebecca Rivas

Of The St. Louis American

A Missouri judge sided with the St. Louis public defender’s office in the heated lawsuit against Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce’s office regarding withholding witnesses’ contact information.

On August 31, Circuit Judge Gael Wood of Franklin County ordered that city prosecutors must provide public defenders with the last-known addresses of witnesses who don’t have protective orders and stop redacting information from evidence without permission from a judge. For 10 years, Joyce’s office has maintained a practice of withholding the information necessary for defenders to contact witnesses – without obtaining protective

See SUIT, A6

Ferguson activist Darren Seals dies at 29

A locally known Ferguson activist who protested in the streets seeking justice for Michael Brown Jr.’s death was killed early Tuesday, September 6 in North St. Louis County.

Police say their investigation revealed that Seals suffered a gunshot wound before the car was set on fire. The incident is currently being investigated as a homicide.

See story page, A9

By Chris King Of The St. Louis American

The Rockefeller Foundation started its 100 Resilient Cities program to help cities around the world become more resilient to social, economic and physical challenges – things like riots and earthquakes. But St. Louis’ inaugural chief resilience officer, Patrick R. Brown, admits that one of the city’s first problems he identified is “nothing earth-shattering.” It’s the City of St. Louis’ information technology” (IT) infrastructure. “You can imagine how notsophisticated it is,” Brown said, but it sounds worse than one might imagine.

Brown, 31, who previously was deputy chief of staff for Mayor Francis G. Slay and the city’s director of Intergovernmental Relations, should know. The

n “We can’t and don’t track and measure our daily activities, and a resilient city should.”

– Patrick R. Brown

city still uses a main frame computer, a dinosaur in terms of computer applications, and many departments still use the DOS operating system, which speaks the language of computer dinosaurs. This makes for countless inefficiencies, but that is

See BROWN, A7

Waving at the parade

Helping students ‘get there’

Erica Snelson, 2016 SEMO Counselor of the Year

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American

Guidance counselor Erica Snelson will never forget the academic journey of one of her students at Grand Center Arts Academy. The girl had lost both of her parents within three months of each other.

29th

“For her, who was raised by her brothers after her parents passed away, she didn’t think college was an option,” Snelson said. However, Snelson worked closely with the student and helped pave a way to an Iowa college. Although the student had some last-minute jitters about leaving

St. Louis, she ultimately took the leap and even Facetimed Snelson when she arrived at her dorm.

“Seeing kids in a space that they didn’t think they’d ever get to makes me feel that every day is worth it,” she said. On Saturday, October 1, Snelson will receive the 2016 SEMO Counselor of the Year award at the St. Louis American Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship and Awards Gala. Snelson arrived at the academy when its future

See SALUTE, A6

Erica Snelson

Lahaki Roosevelt waved at the Labor Day Parade, along with her niece Ashland Jackson, 4, and nephew Ashtyn Jackson, 7, in downtown St. Louis on Monday, September 5.

Photo by Wiley Price

Bishop

Eddie Long addresses health

rumors

Last month, Atlanta mega-church pastor Bishop Eddie Long stunned his congregation with his shockingly thin appearance.

Though he claimed his weight loss was attributed to a raw food diet, The Obnoxious Blog reported over the weekend that Long had been admitted to the hospital in Atlanta and had only been given months to live. The blogger claims a member of Eddie Long’s congregation confided in him and asked him to go easy on the pastor because he is suffering from stage four gastro-intestinal cancer.

Long has since released a statement regarding his health.

my family and I are requesting that you respect our privacy.”

Mariah Carey’s sister pleads not guilty to prostitution

Mariah Carey’s sister, Alison Carey, was arrested in upstate New York on Friday after allegedly advertising sexual services on Back Page. The arrest comes months after Mariah’s brother, Morgan, blasted his pop star sibling and her billionaire businessman fiancé James Packer for abandoning Mariah’s destitute sister, Alison, on her deathbed.

The Back Page ad reportedly used lyrics from Mariah Carey songs and arresting officers said Alison immediately identified herself as the pop diva’s sister.

According to reports, Alison was released on $1k bond and has pleaded not guilty to one misdemeanor count of prostitution.

Alison, who is HIV positive, is due back in court October 26, 2016.

No peach for NeNe

“I am recovering from a health challenge that I trust God to deliver me from,” Long said via the statement. “It is unrelated to the eating for life diet consisting of mostly raw vegetables that I am continuing, as part of a holistic approach to good health. At this time,

“Real Housewives of Atlanta” star NeNe Leakes confirmed via Twitter that she wasn’t offered a contract for season 9. In a series of responses to fans inquiries

about her status on the show, she revealed that she would not be appearing – and was blindsided by being left out of the cast.

“I wasn’t asked to be a fulltime housewife or part-time, but they got Sheree and I think Kim Z,” Leakes tweeted. “I feel like Kelly Ripa did (referring to when Ripa was stunned by her former co-host Michael Strahan’s departure from “Live with Kelly and Michael”) , but I’m good, so no worries here.”

Cosby heading to court over sexual assault accusations

After years of accusations and denials, Bill Cosby will finally go on trial next year.

On Tuesday, a judge in Pennsylvania scheduled a June 5, 2017, court date for the 79-year-old entertainer.

He is charged with three counts of felony aggravated indecent assault related to a 2004 case involving Andrea Constand, an employee at his alma mater, Temple University.

She said she went to his home in a Philadelphia suburb for a career consultation and he gave her a mix of pills and wine that left her incapacitated and unable to consent to sex. Cosby has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Stevie J. headed to rehab

Reality TV star and Grammy-winning record producer Steven Jordan was ordered to rehab followed by home detention for violating the terms of his bail.

It’s the second time the “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” star, aka Stevie J, has been hauled into Manhattan federal court for using drugs while awaiting trial for failure to pay over $1 million in child support. Judge Debra Freeman warned Jordan that next time he’s caught, he will likely go straight to prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew said Jordan failed multiple drugs tests, including in June and August, and that he has missed many more testing appointments. Jordan called the government’s concerns “lies” once outside the courtroom and challenged prosecutors to have it out face-to-face. Since 1999, he has racked up over $1 million in overdue payments

Activist found guilty of wiping pepper spray on chief

By Rebecca Rivas

Of The St. Louis American

On August 31, a St. Louis

jury found activist Elizabeth Vega guilty of wiping pepper spray on St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson’s shirt – which is a third-degree assault charge against an officer– during a May 2015 protest.

Vega, who is the leader of the Artivists activist group, faces up to one year in jail on the misdemeanor charge. Her sentencing hearing with will be held on November 21. Associate Circuit Judge Nicole Colbert Botchway allowed Vega to remain out on bond until sentencing.

The incident occurred at an evening protest outside of St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce’s house in the South St. Louis on May 19. The day before, Joyce had announced that then-St. Louis Police Officer Jason Flanery would not be charged in the shooting death of VonDerrit Myers Jr. in October 2014.

The case came down to Vega’s word against Dotson’s, having no video of their actual contact. The almost all-white jury had to decide whether Vega intentionally wiped her hand across Dotson’s chest, while shouting expletives at him – as the chief testified – or Dotson walked into Vega’s pepper-sprayed hand and then told her, “That’s assault,” as Vega testified.

“Chief Dotson knows what happened,” Vega said, after hearing the verdict. “The officers who got on the stand lied about what happened,

and all I have is my truth and a broken system that I will continue to fight.”

Dotson told The American the case was “very important” to him because police officers have been doing a good job at protecting citizen’s rights to free speech.

“There’s a line,” Dotson said. “And when someone touches a police officer, they’ve crossed that line. She had her opportunity to have her day in court.”

Dotson was not injured or harmed, he told The American and that’s why it’s only a thirddegree charge for “making contact” with an officer.

Vega told The American that she believes Dotson accidentally bumped into her hand and then realized that he could nail her – a well-known Ferguson activist – on an assault charge.

“That night, they were trying to target people who have been consistently active in the movement,” Vega said.

Dotson denied that’s what happened. When asked what it meant that a leader of the protest movement was convicted, Dotson told The American, “These are the actions of an individual. I don’t think anyone should read into this as a case against a movement.”

Still, the case highlights the large rift that remains between police officers and Black Lives Matter activists in the city. The difference between the two sides’ accounts of that May evening was considerable.

On May 19, 2015, a group of about 40 protestors gathered

outside of Joyce’s house. That spring, the Artivists visited several elected officials’ homes – including Mayor Francis Slay and Ferguson Mayor James Knowles – and left lists of demands and protest art on their doors. The group placed on Joyce’s porch illuminated lightboxes honoring VonDerrit

first police car arrived, activists said. The officers jumped out of the car with guns drawn and started pepper spraying the group without giving a warning, Vega’s attorney Dramon Foster claimed in his closing argument. Immediately the group moved to the sidewalk, Foster said, and one

Myers Jr. and pledging to “fight back.” They also were going to leave a pillow on her porch that stated, “How do you sleep at night?”

Their demonstration was coming to a close when the

protestor, Keith Rose, asked for the officer’s name.

“When protestors are witnessing misconduct, they ask for the officer’s name,” Foster said in his closing argument. “[The

officers] hadn’t given a single command.”

That’s when one officer moved inches from Rose’s face and pepper sprayed him in the eyes, Foster said.

“Is that what the state wants you to believe is appropriate conduct?” Foster said

However, in prosecuting attorney Stanislav Levchinsky’s closing argument, he argued that when the officers arrived, they repeatedly asked the protestors to step off the porch and the group refused. That’s when they started pepper spraying people, Levchinsky claimed. Some of the protestors were chanting profanities, which was shown to the jury in a video. Levchinsky said the police felt threatened by the crowd.

When Dotson arrived on the scene, Foster said Vega stepped towards him to try and tell him what his officers had done. And that’s when Dotson walked towards her.

Dotson testified that Vega was shouting, “You did this to us. (Expletive) you. (Expletive)

the police,” and then she moved towards him.

A black female officer testified that Vega called her a “black b—ch” while she was arresting the activist. Above being convicted, Vega said she was most heartbroken about “the things they lied that I said.”

“I would never say any of those things,” Vega said. She has never used the “F—k the police” chant, she said, and has had debates in her living room about using it.

“It diminishes our humanity, and it’s counterproductive to what we are trying to do, which is to see each other,” Vega said.

Despite her loss, she feels that some good came from the trial. The prosecutor had to present into evidence photos of officers pepper-spraying protestors who stood on the sidewalk, she said, and police were forced to justify that. Vega could have accepted a plea bargain rather than taking the case to trial, she said.

“I chose to fight because I felt it was important that this conversation be had,” she said. “And it was important that power be held accountable for abusing their power.” Follow this reporter on Twitter @rebeccarivas.

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Editorial /CommEntary

The American endorses Bruce Franks for state rep

In our endorsements for the August 2 Democratic primary, we offered this advice in Missouri House District 78: “In the crisis on the streets in St. Louis County and city following the wave of police killings of black civilians, it has not been easy – and often not possible – to hold the middle ground and continue to speak with credibility to both police and protestors. One of the very few people who have been able to hold that middle ground, without betraying either side, has launched a political campaign to oust a compromised incumbent from a North St. Louis political dynasty. We need people like him in the political process. We strongly endorse BRUCE FRANKS FOR MISSOURI HOUSE DISTRICT 78.”

Franks won the election against Penny Hubbard, 53 percent to 47 percent – tallying only votes actually cast on August 2. However, Hubbard won 78.4 percent of the absentee votes cast, making her the declared winner by 90 votes. Not for the first time, an electoral opponent of the Hubbards was crushed by absentee votes, and not for the first time, the challenger suspected foul play. This time, however, the challenger challenged the election results in court. After reviewing the evidence, Circuit Judge Burlison ruled, “The number of votes called into question exceeds the margin of the apparent victor and is of sufficient magnitude to cast doubt on the validity of the initial election.”

As a result, the judge ordered a special election in House District 78 on Friday, September 16. Polls will be open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. As for much-discussed absentee ballots, absentee voting in the September 16 election beings on September 8. The last day to request an absentee ballot is September 9. The last day to vote absentee in person in September 15. House District 78 spans the easternmost part of the City of St. Louis, from Old North to Dutchtown. It is essential that registered voters in this district know about this special election and get out to cast a vote on September 16. And once again, we urge them to vote for Franks.

In an excellent Post-Dispatch column, Tony Messenger reminded voters of the kind of state representative Hubbard has been. He related how she was lobbied by her own son, former state Rep. Rodney Hubbard Jr., to vote with House Republicans to overturn a gubernatorial veto in 2013. The bill, which the Hubbards helped pass into law, protected Doe Run Co. by capping damages that could be obtained against the company from people filing lawsuits over exposure to refuse from the lead mine industry.

“To us, this is a seat in government and proper representation for us,” Franks told The American “For the Hubbards, it’s a family business.”

Note Franks’ use of the plural: “to us.”

By Mike Jones Columnist

You may be familiar with the expression “if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.” It’s a more clever way of saying that talking about you is not the same thing as talking to you. Recently America has really, really been talking about us but, as has always been the case when the subject of race is involved, (white) America is not talking to us. When America is involved in a conversation about race or ethnicity, it’s never an interracial or interethnic conversation. It’s really always been a conversation among white Americans about what’s the appropriate white position on these people. The 2016 presidential campaign is no exception. Let’s begin with the fascist demagogue who’s the Republican nominee, Donald Trump. Over the last several weeks, he’s been involved in an aggressive “outreach” to African-American voters asserting he’s the best option for black Americans with the inspiring “what have you got to lose?” argument. This should come as no surprise, but he’s really not talking to black voters. In fact, he cares nothing about black Americans, never has and never will. Trump’s clown act on this issue is directed at that segment of white Americans who have no real interest in racial justice, but don’t like to feel like bigots. You know, the “I never discriminated against black people” or “my ancestors never owned slaves and I’ve worked for everything I got” crowd. They prefer that their politicians use racial dog whistles and not racial bull horns when appealing to their

Though he does not come from an entrenched political dynasty, he is not in this fight alone. He is part of two activist movements, Ferguson and the Bernie Sanders campaign. Both were grass-roots efforts that spoke truth to power in an attempt to wrest some power from the status quo; both galvanized young people in numbers we have not seen engaged in our political process for a generation.

Though there is no way to know what exactly a political neophyte like Franks would do once elected, what he promises is promising. “I would be more transparent to the community,” he told us. “I would do more to educate the community about what my job duties are and empower the community. I would do more to inform the community about bills that directly impact us.”

He understands that, as a minority in a minority party, his activist edge would come up against new political realities: namely, Republicans steering all the bills. “I know I would have to work with the other side,” Franks said, “but I would not do that at the expense of selling out our community.”

Again, we need people like this in the political process. We need them in elected office. We strongly endorse BRUCE FRANKS FOR MISSOURI HOUSE DISTRICT 78.

Trump can’t ‘soften’ bigotry Commentary

Donald Trump’s diatribe on immigration on August 31 dispelled any conceivable doubt: He is a dangerous demagogue who rejects the values of openness and inclusion that made this country great. Rarely has an American politician given such an un-American speech. Foreigners who come here seeking a better life are the scapegoats he blames for problems real and imagined. Never mind that Trump’s mother was an immigrant, or that two of his three wives came from overseas. Ronald Reagan saw this country as a shining city on a hill; Trump wants us to cower in fear behind a Berlin-style wall. Reagan invited millions of undocumented immigrants to stay and contribute to their adopted land; Trump wants to round them up, all 11 million, and ship them home.

That’s what he wants his loyal followers to believe, at least. Like any effective demagogue, Trump is fluent in doublespeak.

At one point, to thunderous applause, he said this: “For those here illegally today, who are seeking legal status, they will have one route and one route only: To return home and apply for re-entry like everybody else, under the rules of the new legal immigration system that I have outlined.”

A few sentences later, though, he appeared to take it back. Only after he has built the Great Wall of Trump on the Southern border, which isn’t going to happen, and convinced Congress to approve a whole new immigration system, which also isn’t going to happen –

Campaign contributors and Stenger

latent biases.

So the Trump El Duce act of the last 14 months is a little off-putting for them. His language, however, paints the black community with one stereotypical bush that speaks to all of the implied biases of his white audience. Basically, his pitch is: “All these black people are all screwed up, but they can’t help it, and I’ll fix it.”

Now let’s talk about the career opportunist who’s the Democratic nominee, our friend, Hillary Clinton. Clinton speaks to a mythology about America: that the American people are “better than this” on questions of race. This is an important intellectual construct for people like Clinton, because it allows them to ignore the structural nature of American racism and reduce everything to individual acts of bigotry. Let’s examine her language of late. She’s described Trump as some kind of individual anomaly who has magically hijacked the Republican Party and infected it with this racial animus virus from the radical fringe of white America. In order to make this argument, you have to ignore the entire history of race in America and, specifically, the Republican Party’s record on race and politics for the last 50 years. For Clinton to make this case, she would have to be actively ignorant of American history or totally disingenuous – and she is too smart to be actively ignorant. The last group at the table

never gets commented on: the African-American pundit class on cable TV. Every four years, about this time, these brothers and sisters are sitting in tall cotton. Now don’t get confused, they’re not representing your perspective; they’re the colorized version of the Democratic or Republican storyline on race.

I’m not going to discuss the African-American Republican surrogates, except to remind you that Denmark Vesey and Nat Turner were betrayed by black folks.

This brings us to the black Democratic surrogates and the black mainstream media political analysts. Their role is much more insidious because of our strong affinity for images that look like us and sound like they’re advocating our perspective. But, almost to a person, they parrot what I’ve called this American myth on race.

I’m waiting for them to say that Donald Trump is not an anomaly but a reflection of the tens of millions of white Americans who genuinely feel that way, or that the undermining of black life is a structural phenomenon reinforced by historic cultural forces. It’s part of America’s DNA. This analysis brings you to a different political and policy reality.

As we approach November 8, the black community finds itself with its usual existential dilemma. Our choice is always between an implacable political adversary and an unreliable political ally. Here we go again.

Mike Jones, who has held senior policy positions in St. Louis city and county government, serves on the St. Louis American editorial board and the State Board of Education.

only then, he said, “will we be in a position to consider the appropriate disposition of those individuals who remain.”

See what he’s trying to do?

He allows listeners to believe whatever they want about his true intentions. Xenophobes can dream of mobs wielding pitchforks and torches, while apologists can assure moderate voters that Trump doesn’t really propose a vast pogrom of ethnic cleansing.

Trump told us who would go first: up to two million undocumented “criminals” and another 4.5 million individuals who are here because they overstayed their visas. Also, any undocumented person stopped by law enforcement for any reason would be detained pending deportation. It is not alarmist to note that actually trying to do all of this would require the creation of a police state.

Trump’s support base is mostly white and workingclass, and he skillfully exploits these voters’ fears of demographic change. We must “be honest about the fact that not everyone who seeks to join our country will be able to successfully assimilate,” he said. “Sometimes it’s just not going to work out. It’s our right, as a sovereign nation, to choose immigrants that we think are the likeliest to thrive and flourish and love us.” He warned ominously

that “immigration as a share of national population is set to break all historical records.”

Translation: Doesn’t it tick you off to hear so many so-called Americans speaking Spanish?

Trump’s antipathy toward Hispanic immigrants, however, is nothing compared to what he thinks about Muslims. He has changed his proposed Muslim ban into a country-specific ban – that happens to cover only Muslim countries. And he wants screening to include “an ideological certification to make sure that those we are admitting to our country share our values and love our people.”

Ideological certification?

Approved by whom, the thought police?

Earlier in the day, Trump tried his best to sound sober and statesmanlike in his meeting with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. By evening, though, he was back to insisting that Mexico would pay for the border wall, although “they don’t know it yet.” And on September 1, Trump was again touting a “softening” in his immigration views. But you can’t soften bigotry. You can’t soften jingoism. You can’t soften Trump’s naked appeal to anger and resentment. You can’t soften the fact that he rejects American exceptionalism, which is based on creed, in favor of tribalism based on ethnic purity. He can’t be George Wallace one day and Thomas Jefferson the next.

Eugene Robinson’s email address is eugenerobinson@ washpost.com.

The proposed 232-unit apartment development in South County is another example of St. Louis County government virtually being put up for sale under Steve Stenger. Citizens vehemently oppose the project, but the development company and its related construction firm have contributed at least $41,500 to Stenger campaigns. So it will be approved.

Not long ago there was the proposal to move the County election board and other offices to the old Northwest Plaza site that’s being redeveloped. The lease could be worth as much as $50 million. The developers contributed $130,000 to the Stenger campaign.

Then there was the contract for computer tablets at the election board earlier this year. On March 4, a request for proposals was sent out.

On March 11, the owner of one of the competing vendors contributed $10,000 to the Stenger campaign. A few months later, he was awarded a contract worth $2.1 million.

Not long after taking office last year, the county executive picked Craig Concannon as a county judge. Concannon had contributed $21,000 to his campaign.

It should be noted the Stenger campaign committee is $400,000 in debt, with virtually all of it owed to Stenger. Contributions to his campaign could very well end up in his pocket.

Campaign contributors now count for more than citizens in St. Louis County. Approving the South County apartment development would be the latest example.

Tom Sullivan, St. Louis

Renewed assault on our right to vote

The Supreme Court’s refusal to overturn a lower court ruling in North Carolina was a major victory for voting rights. Voting should be easy for eligible voters. Thanks to a concerted

effort led by Democrats, who believe in increasing participation and voter turnout, efforts to limit access to the ballot have been challenged and struck down in courts across the country. The high court’s refusal also confirmed what we already knew - attempts by Republicanled legislatures to restrict access to the polls are nothing more than partisan ploys to make it harder for women, people of color, veterans, millennials and the elderly to vote.

North Carolina’s restrictive election law was particularly egregious. A lower court found that Republican lawmakers acted “with almost surgical precision” to limit the influence of black voters at the polls. If nothing else, this proves the need for stronger federal protections to ensure that all Americans – regardless of the color of their skin – have equal access to the polls.

After the Supreme Court’s Shelby v. Holder decision gutted a key provision of the Voting Rights act three years ago, Republicans have resisted attempts to restore federal oversight in states with a history of discriminatory voting practices. We’ve witnessed a renewed assault on our right to vote through cuts in early voting, photo ID requirements, and provisions that eliminate same-day registration. As the North Carolina law clearly demonstrates, these types of policies were meant to make it harder for certain people to vote – people who look like me. We cannot take for granted any of our rights, but the right to vote is the most critical of them all. The right to vote is the right that protects and preserves all of our other rights and freedoms.

Donna Brazile,

interim chair, DNC

Columnist Eugene Robinson

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

Bruce Franks Jr. watched election returns on August 2.

Job Corps cleans up North City park

in

New Natural Bridge Branch has extended computer hours

The St. Louis County Library will open the renovated Natural Bridge Branch, 7606 Natural Bridge Rd., at 9 a.m. Wednesday, September 14. The branch features an after-hours computer lab sponsored by Emerson and a Cardinals-themed children’s area. St. Louis native and “House of Cards” creator Beau Willimon contributed funds to enhance the community meeting room.

The Emerson Technology Center contains 26 public computers and will be open during regular library hours and will offer extended hours from 9-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 5-7 p.m. on Fridays. The after-hours lab is a first for the library district

Construction on the Natural Bridge Branch began in January and is part of a multi-year capital improvement campaign to renovate or replace 19 branches within the library district. Natural Bridge is the ninth branch to be completed as part of the campaign. The renovated Natural Bridge Branch was designed by Bond Architects. The project’s budget was $3.1 million and was funded by proceeds from a 2012 tax initiative. More details about the construction projects can be found at www.slcl.org/your-library-renewed.

Video and poster contest deadline is Sept. 30

Missouri students in grades 3-8 have a chance to win one of two $1,500 contributions into a MOST 529 college savings account by submitting a poster or video on the theme of “How will you make your world better?” Upload your video (60 seconds or less ) to YouTube and share the URL in an online entry form at MissouriMost.org. Poster entry forms can be downloaded and printed at MissouriMOST.org and must be postmarked by September 30. The competition is sponsored by state Treasurer Clint Zweifel, who manages MOST–Missouri’s 529 College Savings Plan. Under his management the program has grown to more than $2.5 billion in assets for more than 150,000 accounts. To learn more about MOST 529, visit MissouriMost.org or call 888-414MOST (888-414-6678). The MOST 529 Plan offers federal and state tax benefits, low costs and flexible ways to contribute.

St. Louis losing out on state highway funds

By Gwen Moore Guest columnist

n For decades, Missouri transportation has had disparate impacts on groups that overwhelmingly live in cities and suburbs.

Missouri does not fairly fund cities’ and suburbs’ transportation, unlike most states. Over 10 years, the majority of highway funds are not spent on interstates or in cities, which have the majority of traffic. Compared to other states, Missouri would need to double highway funds spent in urban areas like St. Louis city and county. The St. Louis area does not receive a fair amount of the gas taxes paid. The five-county metropolitan area pays half of the state gas taxes. But St. Louis does not receive even a quarter of these taxes back – it receives 22 percent, less than half of the taxes paid. Also, the Missouri Constitution does not permit gas taxes to fund mass transit, a uniquely urban need. Nationally, other states average 11.8 percent of gas taxes spent on mass transit. But in Missouri zero from gas taxes goes to transit. Yet this is the only mode of transportation available to many in St. Louis’ black communities. The next mayor of the City of St. Louis will have a major challenge – repairing bad bridges. The city is responsible for bad bridges which will take more construction on locally owned bridges than the rest of the state combined: $248 million. This is due to not repairing critical bridges for years. In fact, the city will not repair any federally funded bridges next year. To receive the 4:1 federal funding for all of these bridges would take $50 million from the city. Since the city only received $13 million from the state highway fund last year, it would take four years to afford all of these repairs. That is, if they spent all of these funds on bridges. That would take money away from street repairs, which is unlikely. So what is the next mayor to do? St. Louis and other Missouri cities should file civil rights lawsuits. Both MoDOT and the Missouri Constitution are responsible for this discrimination. For decades, Missouri transportation has had disparate impacts on groups that overwhelmingly live in cities and suburbs. The Justice Department and the courts could correct this.

Gwen Moore is chair of the Missouri Coalition for Better Transportation.

Gwen Moore

St. Louis Job Corps students recently assisted the Hamilton Heights Neighborhood Association

its cleanup of Barrett Brothers Park in North St. Louis.

Photo by Jeffrey Taylor

Continued from A1

first graduates were juniors –just a little more than two years ago.

“Students in the academy’s first graduating class, whose members walked across the stage in May 2016, were accepted into prestigious colleges and universities in states spanning from the West Coast to the East Coast,” said Matthew Frederickson, head of school at Grand Center Arts Academy.

Of the first senior class of 100 students, 99 percent graduated, and they earned more than $900,000 in scholarships, Frederickson said.

Most of the students have plans to go to college, while others plan to perform as professional dancers, musicians, actors and artists or join the military.

provide opportunities for our students.”

One of Snelson’s biggest strengths is making the school a one-stop shop of resources to help the students.

“I try to bring as many resources in the building, so the kids don’t have to worry about ‘how I’m going to get there,’” she said.

Many of her students are first-generation college students, so she works closely with families to make sure they understand the application and financial aid process.

n “Seeing kids in a space that they didn’t think they’d ever get to makes me feel that every day is worth it.”

– Erica Snelson

“We’ve had our first Missouri Scholars Academy attendees, our first Bright Flight recipient for ACT scores, and 49 percent of our seniors scored a 21.5 or higher composite on the ACT,” Frederickson said. “We could not have done all of this without the leadership, team work and selfless service of Ms. Snelson working to

SUIT

Continued from A1 orders from the court, according to Wood’s order.

“The foregoing acts and refusals to act are all to the manifest injury of [the public defender] and who [the public defender] defends,” Wood wrote. Joyce has a “nondiscretionary duty” to comply

Snelson is beginning her 15th year in education, all working at urban charter schools in St. Louis. She has served as a special-education teacher, federalprograms coordinator, at-risk coordinator, school counselor and college counselor.

Snelson was an important part of preparing Lift For Life Academy, St. Louis’ first charter school, for its first graduating class in 2012.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Missouri State University, a special education certification and a master’s degree in school counseling from Lindenwood University. She has one daughter, Mariah, 10, who keeps her busy with a competitive cheerleading schedule that allows for them

with the Missouri Supreme Court Rule 25.03, Wood wrote, which requires prosecutors to hand over police reports, lastknown addresses of witnesses and victims, and all written reports and oral statements within 10 days. However, city prosecutors say they have a “constitutional and ethical responsibility” to protect the victims and witnesses who participate in the criminal justice system, according to a statement from

by

to travel often.

Growing up in St. Charles, Snelson was raised by her mother, also an educator.

“One of the biggest things that I’m most proud of is that fact that I’m able to form good relationships,” Snelson said.

“My mom was a teacher, and I think back to how you get to

Joyce’s office released shortly after Wood’s decision.

“We currently comply with all our legal obligations under the Missouri Constitution and the Missouri Supreme Court rules,” according to Joyce’s statement. “We respectfully disagree with this judge’s opinion, and we will appeal this decision because it’s the right thing to do.”

Rather than immediately filing an appeal, Joyce’s office instead filed a motion to stay

run into so many students at a gas station or a restaurant. But now, with social media, I get to really see where they are.”

Her first graduating class just turned 30 years old, she said.

“I get to see where those kids are in the world,” Snelson said. “One is traveling the world in a circus. That’s the biggest thing. It’s seeing students achieving things that they didn’t think they could.”

or vacate the judge’s order on September 1.

“Our goal was to give Judge Wood an opportunity to change his order before we filed an appeal,” Joyce told The St. Louis American Joyce’s team discussed their concerns with Wood via telephone on September 7, she said.

“He has asked us to submit a different proposed order, and we are doing so,” Joyce said.

“We are hopeful that Judge Wood will rescind his original order and issue an new order in keeping with the best interests of the entire criminal justice system, including victims and witnesses.”

Joyce said she expects a ruling on this in a matter of days. Public Defender’s Office Director Mary Fox declined to comment on Wood’s August 31 order because the case is now pending again. However, Fox did say that her office has also been speaking with Wood this week.

When Wood heard the case on July 7 at the Carnahan Courthouse, he told the prosecutors that Joyce’s office has been practicing “civil disobedience” for more than 10 years.

The 2016 Salute to Excellence in Education Gala will be held at 6 p.m. Saturday, October 1, 2016 at the America’s Center Ballroom, following a reception at 5

“Even though you think you’re right, it’s kind of civil disobedience,” Wood said. “But I’m not sure if the prosecutor’s office should be engaged in disobeying the rules simply because they think it’s wrong.”

Wood was brought in from Union, Missouri to hear the lawsuit after St. Louis circuit judges – who work closely with both legal offices daily –recused themselves.

At the July 7 hearing, Fox testified that without the addresses of witnesses, public defenders can’t interview witnesses and investigate their cases properly. They are then forced to file “motions to compel,” which slows down the process considerably, she said.

The 22nd Circuit Court (which covers St. Louis) has long been criticized for not moving cases along fast enough, resulting in some people waiting years in jail for hearings.

City prosecutors countered that automatically handing over the information violates the victim’s rights the under Article 32 of the Missouri Constitution, which gives victims the “right to reasonable protection from the defendant.”

Prosecutors have withheld the information because they believe turning over their social security numbers and addresses could put victims and witnesses in danger, said Rachel Smith, chief prosecutor of the circuit attorney’s Community Partnership Bureau. The court rule never intended to include people’s identifying information, she told The St. Louis American The tension between the two offices escalated after Fox

p.m. Tickets are on sale now. Individual tickets are $85 each/$850 table, and VIP/ Corporate tickets are $1,500 table. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www. stlamerican.com and click on Salute to Excellence, or call 314-533-8000.

filed the suit about a year ago. Now the situation has become “ridiculous,” Wood said, causing a “law jam that needs to be circumvented.” Currently, 123 cases are held up in the Court of Appeals as a result of the clash –meaning these individuals’ cases can’t move forward until the two offices’ conflict is resolved.

The “law jam” started in April, when Circuit Court Judge Michael Mullen, who leads the Criminal Assignment Division, denied 14 of prosecutors’ requests for protective orders – or permission to withhold the victim’s identifying information from defense attorneys. When Mullen did that, Joyce’s office filed a writ of mandamus against Mullen, and now the Court of Appeals is looking into whether his decision was valid. Rick Kroeger, deputy district director of the public defender’s office, told The American that the public defenders are just trying to conduct a complete investigation for their clients –and that’s hard to do when they can’t contact witnesses.

“No matter who you are, you should have the rights that the system provides,” Kroeger said. “We just want to make sure our clients have the best defense.”

Follow this reporter on Twitter @RebeccaRivas.

Erica Snelson, guidance counselor at Grand Center Arts Academy, will receive the 2016 SEMO Counselor of the Year award at the St. Louis American Foundation’s Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship and Awards Gala on Saturday, October 1.

Photo

Rebecca Rivas

BROWN

Continued from A1

not what most disturbs Brown, as someone charged with upgrading the city’s resilience on a two-year grant from the Rockefeller Foundation. The Rockefeller Foundation (like most major funders) is datadriven, and the city’s current level of IT sophistication makes it difficult to gather data about city functions and measure progress.

“We can’t and don’t track and measure our daily activities,” Brown said, “and a resilient city should.”

Brown has only been on the job a month and change, but he is already indoctrinated into the 100 Resilient Cities mindset.

The Rockefeller Foundation has flown him into whirlwind training sessions in New York and Chicago, and provided him with what he described as a “playbook or manual” for resilience readiness. But one early play in the book is for him to help 100 Resilient Cities staff study the local context.

“They understand that you can’t be rigid and apply uniform standards,” Brown said. “They want to make sure they are fitting into a city’s context. So, I am basically doing a research paper on the city’s context as part of my first basic work.” That report is expected by January.

The city government’s archaic IT system is just one mundane factor in St. Louis’ resiliency context. Brown is well aware of the findings in “For The Sake of All” (2014) and the Ferguson Commission report (2015) that set forth litanies of racial inequities in the region that touch every facet of life, from health to income to home ownership rates to life expectancy. And the Rockefeller Foundation, he said, “wants to know everything” about these reports. But updating outmoded computer systems should be easier to address, over two years of a grant-funded position, than centuries-old social crises. The 100 Resilient

Cities program has what the foundation calls “platform partners,” such as Microsoft, that can be petitioned for in-kind contributions, such as IT system upgrades. Even with such a relatively uncomplicated problem as archaic IT infrastructure, Brown knows, the city has been here before. The IBM Smarter Cities Challenge report on St. Louis, he pointed out, said that local government “needed to make better use of IT back in 2011. And we haven’t done it.” If IBM could not make St. Louis smarter, what should make anyone believe that the Rockefeller Foundation can make the city more resilient? Brown realizes he faces a morale problem in trying to engage with a community

that has often been engaged in dialogue about its problems, especially since Ferguson blew up in August 2014, but has seen scant change as a result. “We are a city of convened meetings,” Brown said, “and reports that sit on shelves.” He said he fears coming up with solutions, only to be told, “We already came up with that –nobody cared.”

A major problem in pressing for change is how unusually fragmented St. Louis government is. “In order to achieve a unified view of the individual,” the Smarter Cities Challenge report stated in 2011, “the extended team must work to establish a common language as information crosses institutional boundaries and improve data flow in individual

agencies and across the system.”

It’s the “institutional boundaries” thing that slows down change here, as Brown has learned working in the mayor’s office. “Because of fragmentation of government” – with so many independently elected offices in the city –“we don’t just work with our own administration,” Brown said. “If we want to move the assessor off the main frame, that office is connected to the collector of revenue,” an independently elected position. “So we need the collector of revenue to move off the main frame.” Which the mayor is not empowered to make that official do.

“That’s why governance here is so hard,” Brown said.

“You have to cajole and politic to do anything. And we’re not pushed to do things differently.”

He does, however, see one good sign, in terms of updating the city’s IT system.

Even since the Smarter Cities Challenge report in 2011, the technology has become more portable and user-friendly.

“The tools are far more accessible now,” Brown said, “and easier to use.” Brown faces another unique challenge to his own position, in the fact that city government is about to change dramatically, given that Slay announced he will not seek reelection.

In fact, the mayor made this announcement the day Rockefeller Foundation staff

was in St. Louis to interview candidates for chief resilience officer.

“The guy who signed the city up for this program is getting out of government,” Brown said. “It’s a little murky.” If the new mayor were to cancel the 100 Resilient Cities contract, Brown said, then the city would be on the hook for everything the foundation has paid into St. Louis up to that point. If the new mayor wants to keep a chief resilience officer after two years, the city would have to fund the position. So Brown’s position is precarious, but he has shown considerable personal resilience up until now.

He is the son of a single white mother, who worked at a restaurant, and an absent black father. The first time he spoke in depth with his father was the day before the man died last year. In terms of career, Brown went “from the mall to the mayor’s office” by leaving retail jobs to work on political campaigns, energized by Barack Obama, while an undergraduate at Saint Louis University. He may have been raised in a white household, but cops and homeowners did not know that when he knocked on doors down south for Joan Barry in her failed 2008 bid for state Senate – or Mayor Slay for his successful reelection bid in 2009.

“A lot of people wouldn’t come to the door,” Brown said, “and cops wanted to know what I was doing.”

Now Brown has gone from the mall to the mayor’s office to the Rockefeller Foundation, and the new leg of the journey has been a heady one. For his orientation in New York, he was the only new chief resilience officer; newcomers are usually given a group orientation.

“I met their entire team. I was very intimidated,” Brown said. “There were all these brilliant people from five different continents – and me, St. Louis-born and -bred. But, it turned, out everybody was normal – and passionate.”

One of Patrick R. Brown’s irst goals as the City of St. Louis’ inaugural chief resilience oficer is to update the city’s outmoded information technology infrastructure, which relies on archaic main frame computers. His position is funded by a two-year grant from the Rockefeller Foundation.

Photo by Wiley Price

Political prisoners in the shadows

When young protestors started chanting a quote by Assata Shakur during the Ferguson Uprising, several veteran activists from around the country reached out to me. They wondered – sometimes in a critical tone – if the young people even knew who Assata was.

I thought some might know about the freedom fighter who escaped from a New Jersey prison in 1979 and successful sought political asylum in Cuba. But I felt, even if they didn’t know Assata’s story, hopefully the chant could be a natural introduction to learning about her as well as other political prisoners who have been held in U.S. cages for decades.

It’s not just a new generation that needs schooling on political prisoners. The larger social justice movement also needs to be reminded of those whose political views and activities captured the attention of the FBI and who were caught in its net of deception and lawlessness. Groups like the Jericho Movement help us to keep them in our consciousness.

The plight of two such black men have recently come into the spotlight. Before I focus on their stories, a brief primer on U.S. political prisoners. The criminalization of resistance is not new; it has a long and ugly history.

COINTELPRO understood the power and influence of groups like the Black Panther Party, and black radicals were especially targeted and eliminated in one way or another – murdered like Fred Hampton, exiled like Assata Shakur, or sentenced for lifetimes on trumped-up charges like David Rice (aka Mondo we Langa), who died earlier this year in a Nebraska prison, maintaining his innocence until the end.

You probably never heard

of Romaine Fitzgerald. He holds the distinction of being the longest-held Black Panther Party member. Fitzgerald, who has been caged for nearly 47 years, has come up for parole 17 times and been denied each time.

What about Rev. Joy Powell? For crusading against police corruption, Powell was set up and falsely convicted of 1st Degree Burglary and Assault.

Hepatitis C and diabetes. About 6,000 of the state’s 36,500 prisoners are infected with Hep C. A judge recently denied Mumia’s motion to receive the expensive anti-viral, which has about a 95 percent cure rate. This a troubling case where two racist and inhumane systems – the prison and the medical industrial complexes – collide.

Ferguson activist Darren Seals dies at 29

By Mariah Stewart Of The St. Louis American

A locally known Ferguson activist who protested in the streets seeking justice for Michael Brown Jr.’s death was killed early Tuesday, September 6 in North St. Louis County.

Darren Seals, 29, was a factory line worker and hip-hop musician. Following the death of Mike Brown – an unarmed black teenager who was fatally shot by a white Ferguson police officer – Seals protested in the streets of Ferguson.

And Marie Mason? Thanks to the Patriot Act, she is now serving the longest sentence of any environmental activist. Now to the current situations of two black men who do have some notoriety and share similar fates because of their commitment to a more just and less racist world.

Mumia Abu Jamal is an international political prisoner.

The former Black Panther and member of MOVE has projected his case for decades through his powerful voice, both in print and video. Mumia was a prolific writer and radio journalist before he was wrongfully convicted of killing a Philly cop. Despite being in solitary confinement most of his 30 years, Mumia valiantly fought for his life before a national campaign forced the courts to take him off Death Row in 2011 and give him life without the possibility of parole. Mumia is now fighting for his life – literally. Last year, photos of a frail Mumia were released to the public with a plea to force the Pennsylvania prison authorities to get him proper medical treatment. We now know that Mumia has

The name Imam Jamil Al-Amin is probably meaningless to most readers. But not his previous name of H. Rap Brown. Brown holds a special place in the Black Power Movement as the fiery chair of the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). He later became a Muslim and changed his name.

September 16 is a National Day of Action to bring attention to Al-Amin’s legal and medical issues. He was harassed and hounded for years before Georgia authorities could find a case that stuck. In 2000, Al-Amin was snatched up and convicted of murdering two sheriff deputies. He has been fighting for his freedom ever since.

Al-Amin’s supporters have accused the Georgia prison authorities of “execution by neglect.” The iman has been diagnosed with cancer of the plasma cells; he also suffers from Sjogren’s Syndrome.

Like Mumia, Al-Amin has been caught in the middle of two catastrophic systems. Their unique stories as political prisoners are part of the unwritten collective tragedy of nearly two million people languishing in U.S. jails and courts.

For more info on Mumia Abu Jamal and how to support his life-saving efforts, visit http:// www.bringmumiahome.com.

For more info on Iman Jamil Al-Amin and how to support his struggles, visit http://imamjamilactionnetwork. weebly.com/.

Seals was extremely vocal about issues surrounding Brown’s death and the St. Louis region. He was featured in national news outlets such as The Washington Post and Al Jazeera.

Seals recently uploaded a Facebook Live video sharing his own encounter with the Ferguson Police Department, saying police drew guns on him and his younger brother. Seals described himself on his Twitter profile as a “Businessman, Revolutionary, Activist, Unapologetically BLACK, Afrikan in AmeriKKKa, Fighter, Leader.”

Fellow activists took to social media to mourn his loss. Ashley Yates, an activist who protested in Ferguson, wrote “Darren King D Seals stood for Mike Brown and is and will always be a part of my Ferguson family. Rest in power, D.”

Carlos Ball, the brother of Cary Ball Jr., who was killed by St. Louis Police in 2013, replaced his Facebook profile picture with Seals’ profile picture, which was taken as part of the portrait series This is the Movement.

According to the St. Louis

County Police Department, at approximately 1:50 a.m. on September 6, its Bureau of Crimes Against Persons and Bomb and Arson Unit were requested to assist the City of Riverview for a vehicle fire in the 9600 block of Diamond Drive.

Police say their investigation revealed that Seals suffered a gunshot wound before the car was set on fire. The incident is currently being investigated as a homicide. The St. Louis County Police Department asks that the public contact them at (314) 615-5400 or CrimeStoppers at (866) 371-8477 if you have any information regarding the incident.

Darren Seals

Columnist Jamala Rogers

Franks faces Hubbard in special election on September 16

On Tuesday, September 6, Gov. Jay Nixon replaced two of those commissioners – Joan Burger and Andrew Schwartz – who were serving on expired terms. In their place, he appointed Erwin O. (Erv) Switzer and Al W. Johnson, both of St. Louis. Switzer also will serve as the new chair of the board, and Johnson will serve as secretary. Both appointees will begin serving on the board immediately, and are subject to confirmation by the Missouri Senate.

Prior to the August 2 election, Franks began questioning the validity of absentee voting whenever Hubbard, her husband Rodney Hubbard, or one of their children ran for office.

Hubbard in the August 2 primary by 90 votes. Franks would have won had it not been for absentee votes cast in Hubbard’s favor. To be exact, 78.4 percent of the absentee votes went toward Hubbard. On election day, Franks garnered 53 percent of the votes, versus Hubbard’s 47 percent.

Franks’ suit challenged the validity of many of Hubbard’s absentee votes. After reviewing the evidence, Burlison ruled, “The number of votes called into question exceeds the margin of the apparent victor and is of sufficient magnitude to cast doubt on the validity of the initial election.”

The results were alarming, according to Franks’ lawyer, David Roland Normal absentee ballots range from 2-10 percent per precinct, according to Roland. However, when one of the Hubbards ran for office, the number of absentee ballots spiked to 20 percent, according to Roland, who said in another year that number rose to 65 percent – all in high favor of the Hubbards.

The judge found that the St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners violated Missouri law by failing to use the required ballot envelopes when it accepted and counted 142 absentee ballots placed in person at the election board’s central office.

Though Franks’ supporters have been vocal in accusing Hubbard and her well-connected political family of voter fraud, the judge placed the blame squarely on election officials.

“No credible evidence was presented from which this court could find that any voter fraudulently cast a vote in this case,” Burlison wrote.

“The evidence presented shows that the absentee voters in the August 2, 2016 election did everything they were told to by election officials and staff.”

Burlison went on to say that the irregularities that were found were “solely the responsibility of the St. Louis Election Board of Commissioners.”

“When you have other races, you almost never see that kind of discrepancy, and you sure as heck don’t see that kind of consistency,” Roland told The American “Almost every single election, you got these extraordinary amount of ballots going in their favor.”

Prior to litigation, Roland said he and Franks tried to take up the matter with the election commissioners, “but they had no interest.” One week prior to Burlison’s ruling, St. Louis Circuit Judge Julian L. Bush ruled in a lawsuit filed by Roland and Franks that the election board failed to adhere to a sunshine request that asked for copies of absentee ballot applications and ballot envelopes.

Suspicion had been cast on the Hubbards’ over-performance with absentee voters before this election.

Ruth Ehresman lost to Hubbard in the 2012 primary in House District 78. “I protested to the election board then, raising the same issues as the current candidates,” Ehresman told The American. “I was told that the board did not believe the absentee voting pattern was irregular.”

Ehresman said she pointed out

Bruce Franks Jr. walked out of St. Louis Circuit Court on September 1, one day before a judge affirmed his request for a new primary election in the 78th House District.

to the election board that Rodney Hubbard runs Carr Square Housing and that four precincts in the 5th Ward vote at the Hubbard Community Center. “This certainly raises concern about the supposed neutrality of voting locations,” Ehresman said.

However, she said the election board told here there was not enough time to change the polling sites before the election. “Apparently, there is never time,” she said. “The polling sites haven’t been changed over these past four years, even though schools and senior centers in the ward would provide much needed neutrality.”

State, federal investigations ongoing

Franks won his civil suit in a judgment where the judge found no misconduct on the part of anyone other than election officials. However, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce has said she is looking into possible criminal charges connected to the August 2 primary, and on

September 7 Secretary of State Jason Kander – the state’s highest election official – said he passed the results of his investigation to Joyce and the U.S. attorney.

“Our office strongly encourages the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office to review each absentee ballot cast in the primary election to determine if there were any violations of election laws,” Kander stated. “If it is determined that any election laws were broken by a campaign, charges should be filed.”

A St. Louis Post-Dispatch report suggested where those investigations may be headed. One man told the Post that people working for Penny Hubbard’s campaign came to his house days before the election, asking him to sign something. The man claimed he did not know what it was and was shocked when the Post showed him a copy of his absentee application that had handwriting that wasn’t his. Also, it had checked off that he was with the Democratic Party, when he really votes with the Green Party. It remains to be seen, however, how many people with evidence of misconduct will talk to authorities.

“A lot of the witnesses who were willing to talk to us were really concerned about going public,” Roland said. “They were concerned about retaliation. A lot of them were concerned about being labeled snitches.”

‘I don’t want to disenfranchise anyone’

Franks said his campaign is aware of numerous examples of absentee voting irregularity that were not presented to Burlison, and his campaign is working to counteract Hubbard’s strategies in the special election.

He is asking for senior centers to request that the election board send absentee voting teams to their sites to collect absentee votes in a legal, neutral matter. He called for Kander, as the state’s highest election official, to assist in this effort.

Given the timeline announced by the election board, this is not likely. Absentee voting in the September 16 election beings on September 8. The last day to request an absentee ballot

is September 9. The last day to vote absentee in person in September 15. “I don’t want to disenfranchise anyone,” Franks said.

Franks is aware he has been accused of trying to disenfranchise voters by suing the election board. Hubbard’s lawyer, Jane Dueker made that claim in court.

Franks has been accused of working with Roland, “who is affiliated with right-wing groups that have a stated purpose to minimize the effect of black voters.” This accusation came in a flyer circulated to voters that claimed to have the authority of U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay and the Clergy Coalition. Adolphus Pruitt, president of the St. Louis NAACP, made similar claims in a letter to The American Indeed, state Rep. Justin Alferman (R-Hermann), who sponsored the voter photo ID bill in the House this past session that Gov. Nixon vetoed, told St. Louis Public Radio, “I think we’re only more bolstered in our position to pass this bill in light of recent events.” Franks said that is nonsense. “Voter ID doesn’t even target absentee voters,” Franks told The American As for the claim that he is falling unwitting victim to right-wing machinations by working with Roland (a past policy analyst for the Show-Me Institute, among other conservative associations), Franks said he has discussed the matter with Roland and been assured otherwise.

“When voter ID comes up in the veto session, I’ll be one of the loudest voices out there opposing it,” Franks said. “And, as far as I know, Roland will be with me.”

By state law, the special election has to be completed by September 27, which is the last day election authorities can submit the names of general election candidates to the secretary of state. The absentee balloting process for the general election begins that same day. Mary Wheeler-Jones, the Democratic director of elections in St. Louis, told St. Louis Public Radio that her office has already begun to calculate the number of poll workers and machines it might need for the race. But she said the election board cannot start preparing ballots until there is a final ruling in the case. Dueker filed an appeal to Burlison’s ruling on September 6.

Photo by Jason Rosenbaum / St. Louis Public Radio

North-South MetroLink study to begin in November

East-West Gateway approves $5M to explore light rail expansion

By Joseph Leahy Of St. Louis Public Radio

St. Louis County will be chipping in to study a possible light rail expansion that would run south from Ferguson through downtown St. Louis to the Meramec River.

The East-West Gateway Council of Governments on August 31 agreed to include the county’s stretch of the Northside-Southside proposal among multiple conceptual design studies planned to begin late this fall.

“Part of the reason the city and the county have asked East-West Gateway to manage these studies is that, if we have separate teams of consultants doing them, we can ensure they’ll be talking to one another and there will be some coordination going on between these studies and those corridors,” said Jim Wild, executive director of East-West Gateway.

The research is funded with $2 million from St. Louis Parking Division funds, controlled by St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones, and $3 million in sales taxes from St. Louis County.

Last month the St. Louis County Council approved spending money from the Proposition A sales-tax fund to pay for studying three routes. Those proposals include extending the Blue Line west from Clayton to Westport Plaza; a south county expansion from Shrewsbury to Butler Hill Road; and extending the Red Line north from North Hanley Station to just south of Interstate 270. County Executive Steve Stenger said he also wants the studies to consider a short transit route across Ferguson that would connect the Northside-Southside corridor to an extension of the existing rail system.

“We could have a route that has great practical importance and also a route that has a real symbolism attached to it,” Stenger told St. Louis Public Radio. It would be a small connector route that would run from the Metro North

East-West Gateway Council of Governments will conduct studies on five MetroLink expansion proposals. Credit: East-West Gateway Council of Governments

route in the county that’s being proposed to the NorthsideSouthside route.

Earlier this summer, St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay rallied support for funding a study of the NorthsideSouthside corridor, but Stenger said he would not endorse it, insisting three shorter expansion proposals in the county should also be considered in planning region-wide infrastructure.

design study for the corridor was completed in 2008. The intent of the present study is to reaffirm and update the earlier study’s findings and to examine an alternative that would serve the proposed National Geospatial Intelligence Agency site.

The MetroSouth corridor extends south from the Shrewsbury MetroLink station to Butler Hill. An Alternatives

n The Northside-Southside corridor extends south from the area of Goodfellow/I-70 to Bayless/I-55. Most of the corridor is within the City of St. Louis.

“I was never against the Northside-Southside route,” Stenger said. “But I did argue against the process that was utilized, frankly, by the mayor, to in some way declare that was the regional route. And I understand that’s the route that he wants, but we also have other routes that need to be considered.”

According to East-West Gateway, all expansion corridors to be studied have had some level of previous study.

The Northside-Southside corridor extends south from the area of Goodfellow/I-70 to Bayless/I-55. Most of the corridor is within the City of St. Louis. A conceptual

Analysis/Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the corridor was completed in 2005. The intent of the present study is to reaffirm and update the earlier study’s findings.

The Daniel Boone corridor extends west from Clayton to the Westport area. A Major Transportation Investment Analysis for the corridor was completed in 1999. The intent of the present study is to confirm the alignment and update the earlier study’s findings.

The MetroNorth corridor extends north from the existing MetroLink route, at or in the vicinity of the Hanley station, to I-270, either near I-170

ACLU sues over execution witnesses

Says Corrections Department excludes applicants critical of

its

conduct

American staff

The ACLU of Missouri has filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri challenging the Missouri Department of Corrections’ process for selecting witnesses for executions.

Since he applied to witness a Missouri execution in January 2014, investigative journalist Christopher S. McDaniel has yet to receive a response to his application from the Missouri Department of Corrections, effectively denying him the opportunity to witness any of the 17 executions that the state has carried out since he submitted his application.

The request approval is solely at the discretion of the director of the Missouri Department of Corrections.

“The Missouri Department of Corrections has shown a disturbing pattern of behavior that’s been keeping the public from knowing about its unsavory and possibly illegal practices related to the death penalty,” said Tony Rothert, legal director for ACLU of Missouri.

or the Ferguson area. The corridor was part of the CrossCounty Major Transportation Investment Analysis completed in the mid-1990s. The intent of the present study is to define and study the most promising light rail alignment in the corridor.

The Northside corridor extends north from the area of Goodfellow/I-70 to St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley and west to the MetroNorth northern termini. A significant portion of this corridor was part of a Northside locally preferred alternative completed in 2000. The intent of the present study is to confirm the alignment and update the earlier study’s findings.

Wild said the North-South corridor study will begin in November and take 18 months to complete. The others listed, he said, are planned to begin in December and last about a year.

Reprinted with permission from news.stlpublicradio.org. Follow Joseph Leahy on Twitter: @joemikeleahy.

n “The Missouri Department of Corrections has shown a disturbing pattern of behavior that’s been keeping the public from knowing about its unsavory and possibly illegal practices.”

– Tony Rothert

“Execution witnesses are an important check to ensure the department does not abuse its power. That check does not work when the department can choose to exclude anyone critical of its behavior.”

McDaniel’s reporting has exposed disturbing and potentially illegal practices with regard to the death penalty in Missouri.

The ACLU of Missouri submitted a public records request to the Missouri Department of Corrections for copies of applications to witness executions.

The department eventually turned over the applications, but only after litigation was required to compel it to comply with state law.

Upon review of the applications, it was discovered that every applicant who, like McDaniel, expressed a desire to ensure that executions were carried out properly and constitutionally, was denied the opportunity to witness an execution.

“The ACLU of Missouri protects the constitutional rights of all Missourians,” said Jeffrey Mittman, executive director of ACLU of Missouri. “It’s unconstitutional for the Missouri Department of Corrections to discriminate against individuals because of their political beliefs, plain and simple.”

The ACLU of Missouri has filed six lawsuit against the Missouri Department of Corrections seeking documents regarding the state’s execution protocol and policies. In December 2015, the Circuit Court of Cole County ruled that the department knowingly violated the Sunshine Law by refusing to provide information related to the state’s execution witness selection process.

To read the full complaint, visit http://bit.ly/MoDoC_ witnesses.

LOUIS AMERICAN • SEPTEMBER

Louis County has a bill on the table that will is increase the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21.

From 18 to 21

County snuffs out teen smoking purchases

By Sandra Jordan

Of The St. Louis American

On Tuesday, September 6, the St. Louis County Council voted to increase the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21. The new law goes into effect December 1.

While it is only a three-year difference, he and Tobacco 21 advocates said it would have a profound effect on preventing young people from ever starting to smoke.

Dr. Sam Page, the councilman who introduced the measure on August 23, said, “The FDA [U.S. Food and Drug Administration] has declared that vapor products are required to disclose that they are tobacco products. They feel very strongly that they’re not, but the FDA says that they are and we are going to follow the FDA definition.”

n “We know that nearly 95 percent of adults who currently smoke started before the age of 21.

– Karen Englert, Missouri Government Relations Director for the American Heart Association

The Missouri Government Relations Director for the American Heart Association, Karen Englert, said the youth prevention measure known as Tobacco 21 has been at work in the St. Louis area to raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products, including alternative nicotine products, e-cigarette and vapor products to age 21.

“We know that nearly 95 percent of adults who currently smoke started before the age of 21. The youth onset age – the average age is 13, so youth start smoking pretty young. Unfortunately in Missouri, they start even earlier – the average age of youth start is 12,” Englert said. “The majority of kids who start, they access tobacco products from their peers from their older friends in school. So if we can eliminate that access point, it really will reduce the amount of kids who ever start to smoke.” Smoking remains a leading cause of

preventable death, Englert said. She added that many people are unaware of how populations are targeted by the marketing of tobacco products. “Unfortunately, African Americans have … been in the bull’s eye for far too long as a result of the tobacco industry targeting and the death toll has been overwhelming with that,” Englert said. “We see that multinational corporations of all the tobacco companies – using these tactics of their marketing. She said ethnic and racial groups throughout the U.S. are marketed for tobacco product campaigns. By enacting Tobacco 21 ordinances, Englert said there has been a 25 percent

reduction in youth starting to smoke between the ages of 15 and 17. “Tobacco companies spend a million dollars an hour in marketing, with a significant amount of that money going to target children,” Englert said. “As older adults who are addicted to tobacco products die – from heart disease, from cancer – they have to find replacement consumers, and so, they target children. They especially target at-risk children… in vulnerable populations and they target minority children.” She said measures like Tobacco 21 is a sig-

Antibiotic resistance, Part II

Everyday I probably receive a patient call or see someone in the office regarding a request for antibiotics. The patients express to me their symptoms: cough, low-grade fever, and muscle aches. They then proceed to make me aware of their recent Google search and they inform me that “their research” suggests antibiotics are warranted, so that they can halt the progression of their illness. Even though their symptoms are more than likely viral and even though 50 percent of prescriptions for antibiotics are unnecessary, patients are convinced that an antibiotic is the solution to the problem.

I get it! When you are feeling bad, you simply want relief and to wake up the following day feeling like a normal person again. You took off from work, you paid a $20 dollar co-pay, and you expect your doctor to provide treatment. For you at the moment, antibiotics seem like the logical next step. However, infectious disease 101 and microbiology 101 tell us something entirely different. Viruses and bacteria are two organisms that often behave differently and as such, are treated differently. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the healthcare provider to recognize the difference so that appropriate therapy is provided. Internet research is a wonderful tool to utilize but it does not compare to formal medical training and an actual examination of the patient.

Trying to curb the overuse of antibiotics is a huge issue in our country right now. For example, in one year, roughly 262.5 million courses of outpatient antibiotics were written in the United States. Azithromycin and amoxicillin were the most commonly prescribed drugs. Most prescriptions were written in the winter months and were prescribed for various diagnoses such as pharyngitis, upper respiratory infection, and bronchitis.

Viruses that cause your garden-variety colds are generally treated symptomatically. Recommendations include rest, fluids, and a fever reducer like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. On the other hand, a urinary tract infection is generally caused by bacteria and needs antibiotics for resolution.

Simply put, overuse of antibiotics leads to resistance and resistance results in unnec-

St.

Denise HooksAnderson, MD

Healthy Heart

Heart Failure

Aorta Aorta

Heart muscle pumps blood into the aorta in a healthy heart.

HealtH Briefs

HEALTH

Continued from A12

essary deaths. Per the CDC, each year at least 2 million people in the US are infected with resistant bacteria and 23,000 of them die. Nothing worse than having an infection but being told that we have no medication that will

SMOKING

Continued from A12

nificant way to combat it.

Weakened heart muscle cannot pump enough blood into the aorta. Blood pools in the heart, resulting in heart failure.

Source: CDC

Severe obesity is standout risk for heart failure

A study of more than 13,000 participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study has found that even after accounting for such risk factors as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, so-called morbid obesity appears the standout risk for heart failure, but not for stroke or other major types of coronary heart disease.

In a report on the research, published online on July 28 in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the Johns Hopkins team said morbidly obese individuals were more than two times more likely to have heart failure than comparable people with a healthy body mass index. After accounting for high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels, people with morbid obesity weren’t any more likely to have a stroke or coronary heart disease – basically disease of the heart’s arteries,” due in part to inflammation and an accumulation of plaque in the heart and blood vessels.

but does not definitively determine cause and effect.

Chiadi Ndumele, M.D., M.H.S., assistant professor of medicine of the Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Heart Disease at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said that there is evidence to suggest that extra body weight exerts a higher metabolic demand on the heart and that fat cells in the abdomen may even release molecules toxic to heart cells.

n Morbidly obese individuals were more than two times more likely to have heart failure than comparable people with a healthy body mass index.

“Even if my patients have normal blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure levels, I believe I still have to worry that they may develop heart failure if they are severely obese,” said Ndumele. “If our data are confirmed, we need to improve our strategies for heart failure prevention in this population.”

The researchers caution that their study suggests a strong, independent link between severe obesity and heart failure

Obesity has long been known to increase the likelihood of high blood pressure, elevated blood cholesterol and diabetes – all established risk factors for heart and blood vessel diseases. Treating and controlling these conditions have formed the bedrock strategies for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, Ndumele said.

Englert said, “We now have about 190 cities across 12 states in the nation that have done this and we actually have two complete states –Hawaii and California – that are completely Tobacco 21.”

St. Louis County is the first county in the state to raise the purchase age of tobacco products to age 21.

help you. With all of this in mind, recently the FDA announced a ban on certain chemicals found in antibacterial soaps. The FDA warns that chemicals like triclosan are no better than soap and water for hand cleansing and substances like it may actually be contributing to antibiotic resistance.

Obviously, halting the rise of resistant bacteria will be

Thus far, six Missouri cities have adopted Tobacco 21. In 2014, Columbia, Mo. was the first to increase the purchase age to 21, followed in 2015 by Kansas City and Independence, and this year with Gladstone, Grandview and Lee’s Summit.

Englert said, “We are really excited about how much this will do to prevent youth from starting to smoke – and of course, what that means for their overall health.”

The St. Louis County Council heard comments from supporters and opponents last

a joint effort of health officials on a national stage and those of us on the frontlines. However, patients also have an obligation to assist in this serious matter. First of all, if a prescription for antibiotics is written, take all of it and not save some for later. Finally, if the provider diagnoses you with a virus, be patient. Most viruses take seven to 10 days to resolve. Let us vow to use

week. It has the support of the medical community and some business leaders, Page added. Englert said St. Louis County’s Health Department has been a champion of this measure as well.

Penalties for not following the law on the age for tobacco sales includes $125 for the first offense, $250 for a second offense and $500 for a third and any subsequent offenses within a two year period. Page reminds that penalties are not the objective.

“We’re not trying to catch

antibiotics appropriately so that when we truly have a bacterial infection, the medication we are given actually works.

Denise Hooks-Anderson, M.D., is assistant professor at SLUCare Family Medicine. You may contact her at yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.com

anybody, we just want to change the culture in St. Louis County to recognize that if tobacco products are not available to people under 21, then we’ll have a great impact on the smoking rate and the health of our community,” Page added. “We can impact a generation of folks in St. Louis County if we cut the smoking rate by 50 percent.”

For more information on the Tobacco 21 initiative, visit http://bit.ly/2c5dxmf.

Schnucks kicks off Baby Month

Schnucks is partnering with the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank to collect diapers for families in need during its second annual diaper drive in its Missouri stores in the St. Louis metro area, September 7 through October 4.

In addition to the diaper bank drive, the grocery chain’s Baby Month will include a digital sweepstakes with various winners receiving a year’s supply of free baby food, diapers, formula or wipes; dietitian-led baby tours and a cooking class for new moms at the Des Peres store (12332 Manchester Rd.).

Schnucks is collecting diapers for families in need, September 7 through October 4.

“Preparing for a new baby can be an exciting time for a parent. Keeping mom and baby healthy before and after a pregnancy though can present some challenges in terms of nutrition and providing necessary supplies for their new little ones,” said Kara Behlke, registered dietitian at Schnuck Markets, Inc. “Our partnership with the St. Louis Diaper Bank is designed to address one of a baby’s most basic needs, especially since one in three mothers struggle to provide the dia-

pers needed for her children to stay clean and healthy.”

During the last week of Schnucks Baby Month (Sept. 28 – Oct. 4), shoppers can donate diapers to the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank at collection points in each of the metro Missouri Schnucks locations. That week, Schnucks will feature its store-brand diapers at buy one, get one free. Customers also can choose to donate $1, $3 or $5 directly to the diaper bank during checkout through

a Scan & Give promotion that simply adds the desired amount to the bill. In addition to the diaper drive, moms will have a chance to win a year’s supply of Earth’s Best Baby Food by posting their favorite photo of their kids at Schnucks or with food on Instagram (#SchnucksMomMoment) throughout Baby Month. A Facebook sweepstakes from Sept. 14-27 will offer three winners either a free year’s supply of Pampers, Earth’s Best Formula or Huggies Wipes. Winners will be announced on Oct. 4.

SSM Health takes over Walgreens clinics in St. Louis area

On August 25, SSM Health assumed operation of 26 retail health clinics within Walgreens stores across the St. Louis region, including four clinics in Illinois. The SSM Health Express Clinic at Walgreens is an extension of the SSM Health Medical Group. James Bleicher, MD,

regional president of the SSM Health Medical Group and ambulatory services in St. Louis, said the move was an important milestone in improving the health of the community. “ By combining the convenience of Walgreens locations with the personalized care and expertise of the SSM Health

Medical Group, we are able to offer exceptional care where and when patients need it.”

The clinics will provide the same services previously offered by Walgreens Healthcare Clinics, including sports physicals, vaccinations and treatment for a range of common illnesses and injuries. In addition, the clinics will

now be integrated with SSM Health’s electronic health record and billing systems for greater continuity of care and a seamless patient experience –whether a patient visits an SSM Health physician, hospital, urgent care or Express Clinic at Walgreens. Individuals do not need to be a current SSM Health patient to receive care.

“This is an exciting opportunity to show how providers collaborating with organizations like Walgreens can help improve health outcomes and ensure a continuum of care for patients throughout St. Louis,” said Pat Carroll, MD, chief medical officer for Walgreens Healthcare Clinics. Most clinic locations are open Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. and on weekends from 10:00 a.m. –4:30 p.m. Walk-ins and sameday appointment scheduling are available. For more information on SSM Health Express Clinic at Walgreens, please visit www. ssmhealth.com/walgreens.

NEWSPAPER IN EDUCATION

Planting the Seeds for Success!

฀-ADayFruits & Vegetables

What Is A Calorie?

Nutrition Challenge:

One way to make sure you’re getting the nutrition your body needs is to have a goal of (at least) 5 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables — every single day! Each serving is only about ½ cup, so it’s easier than you think! Here are a few tips.

Calories are a way to measure the amount of “energy” gained from eating something. So if you eat a medium apple (about 100 calories), that’ll provide the energy for you to do a simple physical task such as walk around the block. Calories aren’t the bad guys; extra weight happens

PRESENT:

Healthy Kids Kids

> Start off your day with a piece of fruit!

> Try new fruits and vegetables each week.

> Why not add fruits or vegetables to your fall baking? You can boil and puree many different kinds to add to cakes, breads, etc.

> What are some other ways to add fruits/ vegetables to your diet?

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, HPE 3, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 5

when we consume (eat) more of them than we need. That’s why it’s important to stay physical and burn those calories throughout the day. Here are some ideas, and the calories an average 125-pound person will burn in 30 minutes (depending on speed).

One of the best ways to protect yourself from getting sick is to wash your hands. Think about surfaces that are touched by many people: door handles, computer keys, telephones, stair railings and sports equipment. If the person using it before you is sick and then you touch it, you could catch their illness from the germs they leave behind. So practice washing your hands multiple times a day, especially before eating, to stay healthier!

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 3, NH 1, NH 7 Wash Your Hands!

Flav-O-Pop

> Walking = 120-150

> Running = 180-300

> Biking = 240-300

> Mowing = 135

> Watching TV = 23 Visit http://www.calorieking. com/foods for an excellent guide to the calories in the foods you eat.

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH3

Ingredients: Low-Fat or Air-Popped Popcorn

Flavorings: Taco Seasoning, Parmesan Cheese, Hot Pepper Flakes, Garlic Powder, Italian Seasoning, etc.

Directions: Prepare popcorn. Sprinkle your favorite flavoring on top and shake, shake, shake! Experiment with different combinations to create a delicious snack!

Healthcare Careers

Jessica Neal, RN Case Manager

Where do you work? I work at Humana. Where did you go to school? I graduated from Clayton High School and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Chamberlain College of Nursing and a Master of Business Administration from Webster University. What does an RN case manager do? Every day, I talk to patients and help them develop healthy habits so that they can feel good and live their best lives. I listen to them, then we develop a plan that is manageable for them. I then hold them accountable to make sure that they are eating, exercising and following the plan we developed.

Why did you choose this career? I chose this career because I enjoy helping others by giving them tools and resources to help themselves. When people know to do better, they usually do better! Being a nurse is a very rewarding career because you are applying your knowledge to educate patients about health conditions that could really shape their lives for the better! What is your favorite part of the job you have? My favorite part of my job is that I get to have a long-term relationship with my patients. I get to see how the application of the education I am giving them is helping prevent diseases.

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

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

The St. Louis American’s award winning NIE program provides newspapers and resources to more than 7,000 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

Hamilton Elementary School 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Christian LewisJade, helps students Lily Evans and Carmaile Jackson with a math problem they found in the newspaper as a STEM lesson.

SCIENCE CORNER

Did you know the digestive system begins before you even take your first bite?

The Digestive System

Your body creates saliva (spit), which is an important part of the digestion process. Saliva contains an enzyme called amylase which helps to break down the food in your mouth before it enters the pharynx (throat). The flap of tissue at the back of the throat is called an epiglottis, and it helps prevent choking. From the pharynx, food moves to the esophagus. Your muscles contract in waves called peristalsis and this helps move your food to your stomach, where acids help to dissolve it so it can easily pass into the small intestine where nutrients are absorbed into the body. Protein becomes amino acids, carbohydrates become simple sugars, and fats become fatty acids. Water from the food is absorbed into the bloodstream

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

In this experiment, you will see the role your stomach plays in digestion. Your stomach contains acids that help break down the food you eat so that it can be passed to the small intestine for nutrients to digest. You will create a model of your stomach and watch it work.

Materials Needed:

• Balloon • Vegetable Oil • Vinegar

• Oatmeal (small handful) or a piece of bread torn in small pieces

• Measuring Spoon • Paper Plate

Process:

to provide the body with fluid. The liver provides an acid called bile which helps to break down fat and the pancreas provides enzymes to break down food and helps to process digested food from your blood before it travels through your body. Any food that the body can’t use or may not need is sent to the large intestine where it will leave the body as waste.

How can you help this process? First, choose healthy foods to help your body function correctly: proteins, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Chew your food very carefully and thoroughly. Drink plenty of water— at least 8 to 10 cups per day.

Learning Standards: I can read nonfiction text for main idea and supporting details. I can make text-to-world and text-to-self connections.

How Does the Stomach Work?

w Add the oatmeal or bread into the balloon. (This represents the food that enters your stomach.)

e Pour 1 to 2 teaspoons of vinegar into the balloon. (This represents the acids that your body creates to break down the food in your stomach.)

r Massage the balloon and gently squish it between your fingers for a couple of minutes. (This represents the way your stomach contracts and breaks down the food you eat.)

t Squeeze the contents of the balloon onto the paper plate. What does it look like? How has the vinegar (stomach acid) affected the food?

SCIENCE STARS

African-American Biochemist Marie Maynard Daly

on

father had studied chemistry at Cornell

and her mother was an avid reader. They often went to the library to explore books about science and chemistry. Learning was very important to the Daly family. Daly went to an all-girls school called Hunter College High School before attending Queens College.

Daly was on a very limited budget and she lived at home while attending college to save money. When she graduated in 1942, she got a job at the college as a lab assistant to help pay for her graduate degree. She finished her master’s degree in only one year. She then went to Columbia University to pursue a doctorate degree. Daly was inspired by Mary L. Caldwell, who was in charge of the Chemistry program at Columbia University. Daly was fascinated by the human body and focused her studies on the digestive system. In 1947, Daly became the first female African American to receive a doctorate degree in chemistry. She was quickly noticed by the American Cancer Society, who awarded her a grant to complete research at the Rockefeller Institute of Medicine. Daly studied how the body constructs proteins. Eight years later, she returned to Columbia University to study how foods high in fat can affect the heart and arteries. Her research helped to educate people about the importance of a healthy diet. She later went to Albert Einstein College of Medicine to teach biochemistry. Daly recruited minority students for the medical school and for graduate science programs. She wanted them to have the same opportunities she had. In 1986, she retired. Two years later, she established a scholarship at Queens College for minority students who want to study science. She dedicated this scholarship to her father who had to drop out of college due to lack of money. Daly was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a member of Phi Beta Kappa, which is an academic honor society.

Learning Standards:

a person who has contributed to the fields of science, technology, engineering, or math. I can make text-to-text connections.

q Put a few drops of oil into the balloon and rub the balloon between your hands to be sure the oil coats the balloon. (The oil represents the mucus which lines your stomach to protect it from the acids.)

MATH CONNECTION

Learning Standards: I can follow a sequential process to complete an experiment. I can make observations and draw conclusions. I can make text-to-self connections.

Good Nutrition Adds Up!

Put your problem solving skills to work as you answer these questions relating to nutrition.

z Roberto’s karate instructor told the class to wait 60-90 minutes after a big meal before exercising to be sure their food is digested. If Roberto has family dinner with his family at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon, what time can he start exercising? ______

Check out these amazing digestion facts!

x Alaina read an article about the benefits of drinking water. She set a goal to drink 64 ounces of a water each day. If she has 20 ounces of water after breakfast, and 18 ounces of water in the afternoon, how many ounces of water does she have left to drink? ______

c The sixth grade health teacher has challenged her students to try kale. Together, they baked kale chips, they made a kale salad, and

If you flattened it out, the surface area of the small intestine is approximately 2700 square feet. That is equivalent to half the size of a basketball court!

blended a kale smoothie. Of the 28 students, 16 preferred the kale chips, and 8 preferred the salad. How many students preferred the smoothie?

______ Write the percentage of students who preferred the kale chips as a percentage ______ Write the percentage of students who preferred the salad as a fraction ______

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

On average, an adult female’s small intestine is longer than an adult male’s.

Your mouth will warm or cool your food before passing it through the esophagus.

Did you know that even if you are standing on your head, your food will still travel to your stomach during digestion? That is because your muscles contract in waves that guide your chewed food through your esophagus.

MAP CORNER

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

Activity —

Author’s Purpose: a newspaper, you will find examples of writing that is intended to persuade, inform, and entertain. Persuade, inform, and entertain is the author’s purpose. Can you find examples of all three author’s purposes in the newspaper? Next, use nutrition as your writing topic and create a writing sample for two different author’s purposes (Ex: an ad persuading someone to buy a certain food product or a news article about the benefits of fruits and vegetables).

he People’s Nutrition Garden prescribes healthy eating By Sandra Jordan

It’s time to plant turnip greens in the garden, Charity Kennedy said. A home gardener for more than 20 years, she said turnip greens are a very popular harvest item for those looking for healthy and homegrown food.

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

Hamilton Elementary School is in the Saint Louis Public Schools District.

Photo by Wiley Price/ St. Louis American

Marie Maynard Daly was born

April 16, 1921, in New York. Daly’s

University

Teachers, if you are using the St. Louis American’s NIE program and would like to nominate your class for a Classroom Spotlight, please email: nie@stlamerican.com.

The cost to be the boss in St. Clair County

By James T. Ingram

For the St. Louis American

St. Clair County voters, get ready to see a lot of St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern, if you can stomach it. After all, he’s paid for it, to adapt a quote from KTVI reporter, Elliot Davis.

Beginning September 25 through election day on November 8, Kern has spent $96,000 on political ads to air on local and cable TV.

If that isn’t enough, you’ve probably already seen his omnipresent billboards and massive headshot along the Poplar Street Bridge into St. Louis and throughout Interstate 64 and on Illinois Route 15. He spent another $53,000 for those advertisements.

And that doesn’t even take into consideration the $125,000 donated to Kern’s campaign by himself and his mother since January 7.

It seems almost creepy when you consider that Kern is doing all of this for a job that pays a little less than $96,000 per year and given the fact that he is a millionaire, in his own right, and doesn’t need the money.

If one didn’t know better, you would think that Kern is running scared. His Republican opponent, Rodger Cook, is at a financial disadvantage and poses no financial threat.

Most of Cook’s publicity comes from appearances on Bob Romanik’s “Grim Reaper” radio show, which has an almost political cultlike listenership. Cook hopes that will translate into victory come November. We shall see.

However, what makes a rich man like Mark Kern throw his own wealth into a political contest for the St. Clair County Board chairmanship?

In one word, the answer is power. The St. Clair County Board chairman controls the “politricks” of St. Clair County and all the political players within its boundaries.

In maintaining control of that seat, Kern controls myriad patronage jobs, cash flow to political workers during elections, as well as the political crumbs and appointments to those willing to do his bidding, particularly below the hill in cash-strapped East St. Louis.

n If one didn’t know better, you would think that Mark Kern is running scared.

For Kern’s political sycophants in East Boogie, election day is payday for precinct committeemen and election gophers whose job it is to get out or hijack the vote by any means necessary.

The County Board chairman is a political godfather of sorts, and his political minions don’t want a change in leadership because a change in leadership translates into a change in income after being locked out of political patronage opportunities or appointments.

Kern understands this dynamic all too well and will spend his considerable fortune, and that of others, to maintain his boss status and position of control, respect and power, whatever the cost. The only ones who can upset the apple cart are the voters of St. Clair County. Let’s see who prevails on November 8.

Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com; Twitter@ JamesTIngram

James Ingram

‘Let’s

Business

SEPTEMBER 8 – 14, 2016

create the workforce we are looking for’

Cortex and the Center for Emerging Technologies.

Minority tech start-up wants to innovate new ways of diversifying tech start-up sector

By Chris King Of The St. Louis American

Seqwana Pryor is a chemical engineer with 18 years of corporate experience at DuPont Company, so she understands how much time it can take to develop a product. With the company she founded and runs in St. Louis, PryCor Technologies, she is trying to apply that understanding to developing a process: how to bring more African Americans into the region’s burgeoning tech start-up sector.

“I was talking to a DuP ont executive, who is also African-American, and we were talking about how we’re so tired of hearing, ‘We can’t find a highly qualified diverse workforce,’” Pryor said.

“So I said: ‘Let’s create the workforce we are

American staff

n “You don’t have to have the resources. You just have to have someone else who has the resources. You just need access.”

– Seqwana Pryor

looking for 10 years from now.” If we don’t have it, let’s create it. That’s what we do when we create products, and we understand it’s a longterm thing. In pharmaceuticals, a product might be in development for 10 years.”

PryCor Technologies did a pilot project with Upward Bound students at the Southern Illinois

University Edwardsville East St. Louis Center this July. As a hook, Pryor used food. In a five-week program, students learned to make ice cream and toured a DuPont facility to learn about food processing and food innovation.

“People don’t think about all of the science, physics and math that go into food,” Pryor said. “But the food was what made it exciting.”

The student response was encouraging. “I loved the food science class,” said one of the Upward Bound students, Lonnie Roberson. “It was fun, and gave me a lot of information on what is put into the food we eat.”

Jesse Dixon, executive director of SIUE East St. Louis, said that processed foods, of all things, could assist in the process of diversifying the

See PRYCOR, B6

NGA awards $12M contract to MU for data science program

Mizzou professors will teach at NGA sites in STL and D.C.

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) awarded a five-year, $12 million contract to the University of Missouri College of Engineering to deliver a comprehensive data science education program that will provide analytical training for the NGA workforce and potentially other members of the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC).

The newly established effort is part of the NGA’s College Learning Outreach program that works with academic institutions and industry partners to address key education and training

n The newly established effort is part of the NGA’s College Learning Outreach program that works with academic institutions and industry partners to address key education and training gaps within the NGA.

gaps within the NGA.

Mizzou will provide a comprehensive data science education program that includes

databases and programming, statistical analyses and predictive modeling, data visualization and data mining, cloud-based computing, and machine learning among other specialties that will help develop the NGA and intelligence community workforce.

“Faculty from MU’s Center for Geospatial Intelligence have worked on a wide variety of NGA and IC-funded projects over the last 10 years, so we have a great appreciation and deep respect for the NGA mission,” said Curt Davis, director for the Center for Geospatial Intelligence

See NGA, B2

Emelyn dela Peña was named associate vice chancellor for student affairs and dean of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion at Washington University. She is leaving a position as assistant dean of student life for equity, diversity and inclusion in the Office of Student Life at Harvard College. She succeeds LaTanya Buck, founding director of the center, who left the university in July to become dean for diversity and inclusion at Princeton University.

Ron Kelley will be the executive director of the newly created Student Development, Diversity and Recruitment Program at the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism. He will seek partnerships from leading news and strategic communication companies and also develop external funding and other channels of support, as well as lead the School of Journalism’s diversity initiatives. He will leave his current position as MU assistant vice chancellor for advancement.

Kristin N. Parran was named assistant vice president at Scottrade in St. Louis. She was promoted from the position of senior regulatory liaison/ project manager, which she held since February, 2015. Her new position will be in the same department of Regulatory at Scottrade. A St. Louis native, she has an MBA from Washington University’s Olin Business School.

Raghib Muhammad was appointed to serve on the Missouri Career and Technical Education (CTE) Advisory Council as the DECA sponsor representative. He is a business and marketing instructor at McCluer SouthBerkeley High School. The mission of the CTE Advisory Council is to direct the future path of career and technical education in the state of Missouri. He was nominated to the council by the Ferguson-Florissant School District’s CTE coordinator, Jay Boleach.

Sabrine Rhodes is the new director of Admissions and School Culture at Central Christian School, a private school in Clayton for ages 3 through Grade 6. Along with recruitment and enrollment, she works to equips school administrators and faculty in maintaining systemic educational equity through culturally responsive pedagogy, policy and behavioral support and facilitates dialogue amongst the organization’s stakeholders around cultural issues.

Richard L. Clemmons Jr. is the new chief operating officer of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. Most recently, he was vice president and chief of staff at UNCF. He spent more than 20 years as an officer in the United States Navy. He served as the commander of Destroyer Squadron 31 and as the commanding officer of the USS Roosevelt, among other billets.

Emelyn dela Pena

Kristin N. Parran

Raghib Muhammad

Sabrine Rhodes

Ron Kelley

Richard L. Clemmons Jr.

Photo by Wiley Price

A chemical engineer with 18 years of corporate experience at DuPont Company, Seqwana Pryor founded the tech start-up PryCor Technologies in January, with the assistance of BioSTL,

Back-to-school tech for your children

By Nathaniel Sillin

It’s increasingly common to find classrooms filled with the blue hue of computer and tablet screens. Early education or postgraduate work, there’s a shift towards technologydriven, or at least technologyaided, schooling.

Students that learn to use technology to stay organized, conduct in-depth research and collaborate with peers can also use these skills in college and their professional lives.

What devices might students need? Laptops, tablets and smartphones are the primary devices that many students use. Although your child likely doesn’t need one of each, a graphing calculator is sometimes a second necessity for classes and standardized tests.

Some high schools have a one-to-one program and issue students a laptop or tablet that they can bring home. Other schools let students borrow devices while in class, or let students bring their own device. While the upfront costs of purchasing a device are understandably higher, you might want to buy one anyway. You won’t need to return it, and it can be used during summer breaks and subsequent years at no extra cost.

Saving money when purchasing your own tech. If you decide to buy a device, you may be able to save money by timing your purchase and comparison shopping.

You can find used items online, at garage sales and in local Facebook buy/sell/ trade groups. If there isn’t a warranty or guarantee from a reputable company, determine the device’s quality before making a purchase.

• Always check for coupons and rebates. Whether you’re shopping online or in a store, always check for coupons and discount codes. Researching the store’s name plus “coupon code” will often result in a list of sites with the latest codes. Look for more savings by searching the product’s name plus rebate.

• Consider budget laptops. There are laptops available for just a few hundred dollars. Although these less expensive options may come at a compromise on performance or storage capabilities, they can be well suited for students’ basic tasks.

Where you find the best deal can depend on what you’re looking for, the time of year and one-off promotions. Consider all your options and weigh the pros and cons of buying an older or used device.

• Find discounts during annual sales. Back-to-school sales often include electronics, making this a good time to buy. Some manufacturers release new models between June and August, which can lead to an even better discount on last year’s models. Labor Day and the holidays sales are prime deal times later in the year.

back often because the sites frequently post new items.

• Use retailers’ outlets. Manufacturers sometimes offer older models, open-box items, and refurbished electronics for a discount at their online outlet sites. The product might even be as good as new, but can’t be sold at full price because the box is damaged. Check

• Look for student deals. Some software companies and electronics manufacturers offer student discounts to high schoolers, while others restrict the savings to current or incoming college students. Research policies from manufacturers, as well as online retailers, and compare them with your local stores’ policies.

• Educational discounts for homeschooling parents. Homeschooling parents may be eligible for manufacturers’ educational discounts even if their child doesn’t qualify for a student discount.

• Shop at resellers. If you’re looking for a particular type of tablet or laptop, search far and wide for the best price. There’s no guarantee that buying directly from the manufacturer is cheapest.

• Trade in old devices. Some retailers give you store credit for your old electronics. It’s a good option if you have a device that’s just gathering dust on a shelf.

• Buy used. While used electronics may be older and slower than the latest model, that’s not always a problem. For example, some standardized tests forbid test takers from using newer webenabled graphing calculators.

awards to historically black Land-Grant Colleges and Universities.

“These awards help colleges and universities make improvements that support cutting-edge academic research and foster 21st century innovation that will shape the future of American agriculture,” said Joe Leonard Jr., USDAAssistant Secretary for Civil Rights.

The awards are made through the 1890s Facilities Grants program, which pro-

Bottom line: Understanding technology is a necessity for many of today’s students and professionals. Ensuring students have access to technology at home could help them excel at school and later in life. While some devices can be costly, there are programs and opportunities that can help you save money if you know where to look.

Nathaniel Sillin directs Visa’s financial education programs. To follow Practical Money Skills on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ PracticalMoney.

and professor of electrical and computer engineering.

The MU Data Science and Analytics master’s degree was developed as an onlineonly program for professional workforce training. It was adapted to meet specific NGA requirements for on-site instruction at NGA locations in St. Louis and Washington, D.C. MU faculty members who hold appropriate security clearances and have data science expertise will teach at these locations, and this will allow government participants

vides funding for the acquisition and improvement of food, agricultural, and human sciences facilities and equipment, including libraries, so that the 1890 land-grant institutions, including Tuskegee University, “may participate fully in the production of human capital in the food and agricultural sciences,” the USDA said in a release.

To learn more about National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s impact on agricultural science visit www.nifa.usda. gov/impacts or follow NIFA on Twitter @usda_NIFA.

to earn graduate-level credit at MU for all the program courses. NGA and other IC workforce participants enrolled in the program will have the ability to earn a graduate certificate in data science and a master’s degree from the University of Missouri.

NGA estimates about 1,800 participants from 60 different work roles will take courses from the program, with more than 500 NGA employees completing a program of data science courses that will help them earn a graduate certificate in data science For more information about the Data Science and Analytics program, visit dsa.missouri.edu.

If you’re looking for a particular type of tablet or laptop, search far and wide for the best price. There’s no guarantee that buying directly from the manufacturer is cheapest.

n “Latin people here in the United States are the spark plug of the country’s economy. Whoever opposes that is going to lose.”

– David Ortiz

PreP Football Notebook

It was a Lovie-fest in Champaign on Saturday

Instant classic in ESL

East Side edges CBC 32-28

There is only one thing better than having an early non-conference showdown between area powerhouse programs. It’s better when that showdown far exceeds all of the pre-game hype. Such was the case last Saturday night when East St. Louis edged CBC 32-28 in the featured game of the Gateway Scholars Classic at a jam-packed Clyde C. Jordan Stadium in East St. Louis. The game qualifies as an instant classic, complete with sparkling individual performances and a dramatic finish.

The outcome was decided until the game’s closing seconds when East Side’s Jarrell Anderson scored on a 10-yard run for the game-winner. Anderson’s winning touchdown put the finishing touches on a 40-carry, 235-yard performance.

CBC junior Kamryn Babb put on a show on both sides of the ball for the Cadets.

n Jarrell Anderson’s winning touchdown put the finishing touches on a 40-carry, 235-yard performance.

The junior standout caught six passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns on offense. He also had two interceptions on defense. For CBC, there is very little time to lick its wounds after a tough loss to the Flyers. Making a visit to CBC on Friday night will be Chaminade in a big Metro Catholic Conference showdown. Both teams played for state championships last season. The Cadets defeated Chaminade 55-7 in last year’s meeting.

Shootout in Pattonville

One of the most entertaining games of last weekend was Eureka’s 48-45 victory at Pattonville in a real offensive shootout. If you love offense and didn’t mind staying out well into the late evening, Pattonville was the place to be last Friday

With 25 games remaining in the regular-season, St. Louis Cardinals sluggers have blasted an incredible 201 baseballs out of the park. Tuesday, the team tied the National League record for most consecutive games with a home run at 25. Last season, the Redbirds hit 137 home runs in the entire season. Where did the Cardinals find all power? The answer is simple: Brandon Moss Jedd Gyorko and Stephen Piscotty The Cardinals acquired Brandon Moss from the Cleveland Indians at the 2015 trade deadline for minor league pitcher Rob Kaminsky. Moss hit just four home runs for the Redbirds last season, but 19 for the season. With his bat in the lineup for an entire season, Moss has launched 25 long balls out of the park already. That is

despite the fact that he missed nearly a month with an ankle sprain. Gyorko was acquired from the San Diego Padres for Jon Jay during the offseason. Jay’s contribution to the Cardinals power total in 2015 was a single home run. With the Redbirds on his chest, Gyorko has rediscovered the power he flashed during his rookie season when he hit 23 home runs. He has hit 26 so far in 2016. Piscotty was called up from the minors in mid-season last year and hit seven home runs. This year, with Jason Heyward gone to Chi-town, Piscotty has used his increased playing time to knock 20 balls out of

With Earl Austin Jr.

Earl Austin Jr.

Photo by Wiley Price

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

It was a Lovie-fest in Champaign on Saturday

The Lovie Smith era got underway last Saturday at Illinois in outstanding fashion before almost 50,000 fans in Memorial Stadium.

The Illini dismantled Murray State 52-3 in Smith’s college head coaching debut.

“There was a lot of anticipation for this,” the former Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Bucs coach said following the game. “I didn’t get a whole lot of sleep last night. I was just very excited about the game.” Murray State, a FCS member, left Champaign with a $350,000 check and a solid thumping. Things now get a lot tougher for Smith’s Illini. Illinois takes on North Carolina at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, and the crowd is expected to be near 60,000. The Tar Heels are ranked 22 after dropping a hard-fought game to Georgia.

Smith family, to say the least.” David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune capped the day perfectly by writing, “Only the Illinois football family enjoyed the day more.”

I was wrong on Kaepernick

So much for my bold prediction that Colin Kaepernick would be unemployed by now.

Not only is he still a member of the San Francisco 49ers as backup quarterback, other players are joining his protest and his jersey sales have skyrocketed.

After sitting down during the national anthem before the 49ers third playoff game and setting off a week of debate on his actions (and a ton of racial and ethnic slurs), Kaepernick and teammate Eric Reid knelt on one knee as the song was played in San Diego last Saturday.

“We’re excited about this night game. We’re excited about the game-day atmosphere. We keep talking about having a home-field advantage here. It should be a special one this week,” Smith said. North Carolina blasted the Illini 48-14 last season at Chapel Hill. Smith can’t bask in the win over Murray State, as he prepares for hopeful revenge against the Tar Heels.

n “It’s one win, we’re excited about it, and I can’t wait to watch the video and make those corrections we’ll need to beat North Carolina.”

– Lovie Smith

Reid said he agreed with Kaepernick’s concern with police shootings and wanted to show his support. But he also met with the quarterback to come up with a way of demonstrating other than sitting down. They chose to kneel.

“It’s one win, we’re excited about it, and I can’t wait to watch the video and make those corrections we’ll need to beat North Carolina,” Smith said.

Smith’s arrival remains the buzz of the campus. Most fans wore orange T shirts with “Lovie” on the front, and hardly a billboard in Champaign doesn’t have his photo. Illinois also registered a jump of 2,200 season ticket holders since his arrival last March.

Following the win, Smith stood with his wife, MaryAnne, and family and said, “It’s a good day for the

“People thought it was disrespectful for him to sit down,” Reid told the San Francisco Chronicle. “So he was able to decide: What if he took a knee instead of sitting? And that came off as more respectful to the country, to the anthem, to the military. And I agree with that. It shows that he hears the people that were hurt by him sitting, but he still believes in the cause that he wants to bring awareness to.”

Kaepernick, who plans to continue kneeling during the anthem, told ESPN, “I’m not anti-American, I love America. That’s why I’m doing this.”

The most surprising part of the week is that Kaepernick’s No. 7 jersey shot from 20th on the 49ers to first. By Monday, Kaepernick jersey sales ranked third on NFL.com, behind only Dallas Cowboys rookie running

back Ezekiel Elliott and New York Giants receiver Odell

Beckham Junior

As with any retail product in America, it won’t top sales without a lot of white people buying it.

Demoff got it done

For about two years, I worked in a small independent

bookstore called STLBooks in downtown Kirkwood. A woman and her young son came in one day and purchased several books, including some Dr. Seuss classics. I noticed the last name on the credit card –Demoff. I had met Rams executive Kevin Demoff several times, so I asked with a smile, “Are you a Rams’ Demoff.”

She smiled and said, “Yes, that’s my husband.” It was Jenn Demoff

While Demoff is the target of ridiculously misguided insults and ire in St. Louis, the L.A. Times has a lengthy

feature on his life story and the work he did in helping the Rams relocate to St. Louis. St. Louis is not mentioned much in the article, but Demoff told the Times that Rams fans never fully were on board with the franchise because of the stadium situation – even before an arbitrator ruled in the Rams’ favor in regard to Edward Jones Dome improvements.

This was St. Louis’ last chance to secure the Rams and, as I warned on radio and in print beginning in 2011, we were dropping the ball.

“When you work at a team, your job is to build an

emotional connection with the fan base,” Demoff told the Times. “The [St. Louis] stadium situation always gave reason for fans to not completely commit to you. Because – in the back, deep part of their minds – there were stadium issues that were unresolved. And, even worse, it was a city that had lost a team before.”

Alvin A. Reid is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook and appears on ABC’s The Allman Report and several sports radio shows. His Twitter handle is @aareid1.

Alvin A. Reid

The Lovie Smith era got underway last Saturday at Illinois as the Illini dismantled Murray State 52-3 in Smith’s college head coaching debut.

Continued from B3

night. Not only did the two teams combine for 93 points, they also amassed a total of 1,053 yards from scrimmage.

Quarterbacks Kaleb Eleby of Pattonville and Michael Orso of Eureka passed for a combined 762 yards and nine touchdowns. Eleby passed for 423 yards and four touchdowns while Orso threw for 339 yards and five touchdowns.

McCluer South-Berkeley is 3-0

McCluer South-Berkeley has been impressive in moving out to a 3-0 start. The big highlight for the Bulldogs was their 30-12 victory over McCluer North in a first-ever battle of Ferguson-Florissant district schools. The Bulldogs feature one of the area’s top collegiate prospects in senior Jordan Cole, who excels at wide receiver and defensive back. In a 40-12 victory over Orchard Farm last weekend, senior Tavion Willis threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score.

McCluer South-Berkeley will visit rival Jennings on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Top performances

Here are a few top performances from last weekend’s action:

Quarterback Jordan Jackson of Ladue passed for 327 yards and three touchdowns to lead

the Rams to a 28-20 victory over Webster Groves.

Wide receiver Jordan

Sommerville of Lutheran North had 10 receptions for 227 yards and a touchdown in the Crusaders’ 24-21 victory over Westminster Christian.

Running back Donnell Hawkins of Francis Howell North rushed for 210 yards on 24 carries and scored three touchdowns in the Knights’ 43-27 victory over Fort Zumwalt South.

Wide receiver Keiondre

Jordan of MICDS caught three passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns in the Rams’ 28-20 victory at Lutheran South.

Top games of the week

Chaminade at CBC, Friday, 7 p.m.

Lindbergh at Lafayette, Friday, 7 p.m.

Ladue at Parkway Central, Friday, 7 p.m.

Borgia at St. Dominic, Friday, 7 p.m.

Marquette at Eureka, Friday, 7 p.m. Fort Zumwalt East at Fort Zumwalt North, Friday, 7 p.m.

Hillsboro at Festus, Friday, 7p.m.

DeSmet at SLUH, Friday, 7 p.m.

Ritenour at Webster Groves, Friday, 7 p.m.

Westminster at John Burroughs, Saturday, 1 p.m.

McCluer South-Berkeley at Jennings, Saturday, 2 p.m.

Hazelwood East at Hazelwood Central, Saturday, 1 p.m.

All-Stars Elite complete successful season

CLUTCH

Continued from B3

the “Star Spangled Banner” to support Kaepernick and the fight against injustice towards people of color.

Rapinoe told ESPN, “I am disgusted with the way he has been treated and the fans and hatred he has received in all of this. It is overtly racist.”

Not surprisingly, Rapinoe’s gesture did not attract the same level of hate and spite as Kaepernick’s. A quick browsing through social media revealed mostly positive and supportive reactions to Rapinoe’s silent protest. The threats, name-calling and calls to leave the country were notably absent from Twitter.

CSN’s Sebastian Salazar reported via Twitter that security measures have been ramped up by police at the Reign’s practices in light of Rapinoe’s protest. Meanwhile, San Francisco cops are threatening to stop providing security for the 49ers to protest Kaepernick’s stance. ‘Merica!

Yikes! Vikings put faith in two ex-Rams QBs After a gruesome, non-contact knee injury to starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, the Minnesota Vikings were forced to go to desperate measures in an attempt to salvage its season.

The team traded for former Rams quarterback Sam

Bradford. Though the Vikings had already exceeded the number of recommended ex-Rams QBs (with the exception of Kurt Warner) on a NFL roster with Shaun Hill serving as Bridgewater’s backup, the team rolled the dice on acquiring Bradford from the Philadelphia Eagles for a first- and fourthround pick in the 2017 draft.

Eagles GM Howie Roseman would’ve likely traded Bradford for a seventh-round pick and a bulk pack of Pringles after drafting Carson Wentz with the second overall pick in this year’s draft.

upright, feed the ball to Adrian Peterson and hit an open wide receiver off play-action a few times a game. Sounds easy enough, but Hill could have done it, just as average, for a lot less money.

Fury vs Klitschko II signed

After a fairly slow start in 2016, boxing is finally picking up some steam with intriguing matchups. Tyson

It was the Eagles’ intention to let Wentz watch and develop from the sidelines during his rookie year. However, it was inevitable that he was going to supplant Bradford as the starter at some point this season, whether by injury or insufficient production. With the move, Roseman absolves the franchise from the highly questionable two-year, $35 million contract that Bradford was gifted during the offseason.

In Bradford’s defense, he’s not a terrible QB. He’s just terribly average. The Vikings simply hope that he can stay

Deontay Wilder and IBF titlist

Anthony Joshua

Fury shocked the world last November when he defeated longtime champion Wladimir Klitschko by unanimous decision to become the WBA, WBO and IBF titles After much trash-talking, a postponement and a doping scandal, the two fighters will finally get in the ring for a rematch on October 29 in England. Should Fury win again, it will likely signal the official end to the Klitschko era in boxing. If Klitschko regains the heavyweight crown, it will likely set up something that hasn’t been seen in the heavyweight division in seemingly forever, a meaningful trilogy. Regardless of the outcome, whomever emerges from the ashes will have worthy competition by the way of WBC titlist

Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @ IshmaelSistrunk

The ST. LouiS AmericAn PreP AThLeTeS of The Week

Damon Bonds

Chaminade – Football

The senior running back enjoyed a big night in leading the Red Devils to a 30-28 victory over Metro Catholic Conference rival SLUH last Friday night. Bonds rushed for 202 yards on 12 carries and scored three touchdowns on the evening. Showing great versatility, Bonds scored on a 58-yard run, a 14-yard pass reception and a 97-yard kickoff return.

For the season, Bonds has rushed for 258 yards on 22 carries and has five touchdowns. He is averaging more than 11 yards per carry.

Chaminade will visit CBC in a big Metro Catholic Conference showdown on Friday night at 7 p.m.

Jarrell Anderson

East St. Louis – Football

The junior running back was the star of the night in the Flyers’ 32-28 victory over CBC in last Saturday’s big non-conference showdown.

The 5’11” 195-pound Anderson carried the ball 40 times for 235 yards and three touchdowns. He scored on a 10-yard run with 32 seconds left in the game to give the Flyers’ the dramatic victory.

In two games, Anderson has rushed for 324 yards and five touchdowns. He scored two touchdowns in East St. Louis’ opening season victory at Providence Catholic.

East St. Louis will face Alton in its Southwestern Conference opener on Friday night at 7 p.m.

The All-Stars Elite boys basketball team just completed another successful season in which it compiled a record of 71-9, which included the championship of several area tournaments. Front row: DeMarion Shanklin, Devyn Jones, Rico Barfield, Eric Jones (head coach). Back Row: Marco Shanklin (assistant coach), Charles (Duke) Aaron, Rico Singleton, Alijah Carter, Mario Fleming. Not pictured: Tommy Harris (assistant coach).

Adrian Peterson will now have to take his handoffs from former Rams QB Sam Bradford after Teddy Bridgewater went down with a serious knee injury in practice.

continued from page B1

science sector.

“When our students learned about, touched and tasted the soy protein that is manufactured by DuPont and is an ingredient in the everyday meat products we eat – from Slim Jims to frozen beef patties – that got them really interested in exploring food engineering and science careers,” Dixon said.

Pryor said her company has been invited to develop a year of programming for the center.

Pryor also is looking to engage minority students at a more mature stage in their development. PryCor Technologies is incubating in the supportive, collaborative environment of CIC@CET, a partnership between St. Louis’ Cortex Innovative Community (CIC) and the Center for Emerging Technologies (CET), based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She sees an opportunity to build a bridge between the region’s innovation hub and an historically black university less than two miles away.

“I am working on building a collaboration with HarrisStowe State University,” Pryor said. “We know of no other HBCU that has partnered with a start-up to work in an innovation district and do research.”

Pryor is well-positioned to be that bridge. A native of Pensacola, Florida, she did her undergraduate work at an HBCU, Talladega College in Alabama, before becoming the first African-American woman to obtain a doctoral degree in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University. Having been a science student at an HBCU, she understands the challenges – and how to make opportunities out of them.

“At Talladega College, I learned what it means to be a young scientist who didn’t have the opportunity to do research because I was at a small college,” she said. But she sought out opportunities to do summer research at prestigious mainstream institutions, such as the

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Fortune 500 tech firms, such as IBM. “You don’t have to have the resources,” Pryor said. “You just have to have someone else who has the resources. You just need access.”

That also describes her company’s incubation at CIC@ CET, located at 20 S. Sarah St. in Midtown, just across Forest Park Parkway from Cortex proper. PryCor is one of some 150 companies in residence at CIC@CET, but not one of the 50-some startups with their own dedicated office space at the center. Pryor described the space as a “collaboratory,” where start-ups share space and support staff, yet can book private meeting rooms when needed.

Since she stepped into the tech start-up space (also called, with metaphorical grandiosity, an “ecosystem”) in January, she came to realize how many people who look like her have

n “Cheryl Watkins-Moore really inspired me with the notion that the same things I do for one company, I can do for many companies. She inspired me to enter the entrepreneurial space.”

– Seqwana Pryor

no idea this is happening in St. Louis. “I know many highly educated blacks – corporate people, lawyers – who don’t know this is here,” she said. She sees this as an additional opportunity to draft mature talent from other sectors in St. Louis to diversify the tech start-up scene.

Pryor was enticed into this sector by another African-American woman, Cheryl Watkins-Moore, director of Bioscience & Entrepreneurial Inclusion for BioSTL, which focuses on entrepreneurial application and commercialization of

bioscience research. WatkinsMoore convinced her to take the start-up plunge after DuPont, which moved Pryor here in 2013, tried to relocate her again this January.

“Cheryl really inspired me with the notion that the same things I do for one company, I can do for many companies,” Pryor said. “She inspired me to enter the entrepreneurial space.”

Pryor’s core competency –which also is her company’s main business line – is using

data to help a company streamline and improve its processes and products. The industry name for this is “Six Sigma,” which she described as “a data-driven approach to eliminate defects in any process. It can be applied to manufacturing, transactional businesses like banks, keeping medical records, really any product or service.”

Her husband, Travis Pryor, co-founded the company, though does not work for it.

PryCor has four employees, whom Seqwana Pryor described as consultants.

PryCor is a certified Minority and Women’s Business Enterprise.

Pryor said that WatkinsMoore, BioSTL and its annual VISION symposium have been critical to her company moving so far in such a short span of time.

VISION 2016

VISION 2016, hosted by BioSTL, is a regional symposium aimed at building an inclusive, diverse innovation community. “We welcome anyone seeking to learn more about opportunities in bioscience, IT and advanced manufacturing,” organizer said. VISION 2016 will be held 4-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 21 at St. Louis Community College Forest Park s. For more information, visit http://www. visionstlouis.com/.

“As a minority- and womenowned business in the biotech space, as well as only living in the area for three years, it can be challenging to make the right business connections,” Pryor said. “Through networking and programming events such as VISION, this allows entrepreneurs like myself to bring diversity and innovation into the St. Louis tech and biosciences community.”

The next such BioSTL symposium, VISION 2016, will be held 4-8:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 21 at St. Louis Community College – Forest Park. For more information, visit http://www. visionstlouis.com/ For more information on PryCor Technologies, email contact@prycortech.com or call 302-528-0965.

PryCor Technologies organized a five-week program for Upward Bound students at the Southern Illinois University

Edwardsville East St. Louis Center where they learned about the science and engineering involved in food processing and food innovation, including a tour of a DuPont Company facility.

Photo courtesy of SIUE East St. Louis Center

Mama Africa’s life in song

By Kenya Vaughn

“Her earning the name ‘Mama Africa’ was basically saying she understood that she had to lend her talent to the fight for the liberation of black people around the world,” said Niyi Coker, E. Desmond Lee Distinguished Professor of Theatre and Media Studies at The University of Missouri-St. Louis.

Coker first introduced St. Louis audiences to the late South African music legend Miriam Makeba, known globally as Mama Africa, when he presented Mika Kaurismäki’s documentary “Mama Africa” as part of his annual Africa World Documentary Film Festival back in 2013.

When he himself watched the film, he saw the potential in Makeba’s life story for a magnificent piece of musical theatre, so he went to work at creating it.

“Miriam Makeba: Mama Africa the Musical” debuted in South Africa this past winter and, after a critically acclaimed and commercially successful run in her native South Africa, it will make its North American premiere next week at the Touhill.

“I felt like it was time – especially with all of the problems that are going on here – to look at an icon like Miriam Makeba,” Coker said.

terms of

and

The evolution of Tre’von

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

At 23, Tre’von Griffith has packed a lot of living into his young life. An 11-year veteran of the musical theater stage, he was a child when the critical acclaim started coming his way, thanks to performances in plays like “Caroline, Or Change” and “Raisin.”

“It’s really been a great ride,” Griffith said. “And very interesting evolving in front of people.”

He was still a teenager when he began the framework for The G Arts Foundation. He founded the nonprofit organization to aid the next generation in pursuing the arts as a career, providing a creative outlet for them to perform –mainly through the showcases he produced and presented that featured fresh talent from the St. Louis music scene. Through G Arts, he mounted shows and produced a live recording of the production of “VOICES: Sounds of America,” a musical montage he created with Lauron Thompson Griffith left St. Louis for the East Coast to attend Boston’s famed Berklee College of Music – where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Music Business and Management. Now he’s home and is diving headfirst into music with his recently released EP, aptly titled “I’m Back.”

“If I jump off, I want it to be from home,”

Stepping into greatness

By American staff

“The future is in whose hands?” Gentlemen of Vision cofounder Marlon Wharton asked his step team as they rehearsed for an upcoming competition. “Ours!” they proclaimed. In seven years, Wharton has used stepping – a form of performance made popular by AfricanAmerican college fraternities and sororities – to change lives of young men in North County.

The guidance counselor from Riverview Gardens High School is as much a life coach as a step coach as he leads and shapes the young minds of Gentlemen of Vision (GOV), most of whom are students at Riverview Gardens. He has used stepping to fuel success in his students and feed his passion for helping these young black men. They win national championships through GOV and win in life as individuals by the tools and nuggets of wisdom he imparts along the way.

The organization is molded after his own experiences as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He demands team members’ time, discipline, good grades, and a clear plan for the future after graduation. He also asks them to think beyond the competition and remember that they have choices – and failure is not one of them. Since

alive while he was in prison. She lifted the consciousness of everyone in the world, as far as the struggles of people of African descent.”

The singer and activist became an international sensation in the 1950s as part of the first wave of artists to popularize African

music outside of

Of The St. Louis American

How to place a calendar listing

1. Email your listing to calendar@stlamerican. com OR

2. Visit the calendar section on stlamerican.com and place your listing

Calendar listings are free of charge, are edited for space and run on a space-available basis.

concerts

Sat., Sept. 10, 7:30 p.m.

The Formation Tour with Beyoncé, The Dome at America’s Center. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

Sat., Sept. 24, 8 p.m. doors, Mo Investment presents Joe and Vivian Green, The Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry Rd. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Sat., Sept. 24, Pops presents Method Man and Redman. For more information, visit www.popsrocks.com.

Tues., Oct. 4, 8 p.m. (7 p.m. doors), Café Soul welcomes Andra Day and Corrine Bailey Rae, The Pageant, 6161 Delmar. For more information, visit www.thepageant.com.

special events

Fri., Sept. 9, 12 p.m., The National Association of Black Accountants 35th Annual Scholarship Luncheon. The Scholarship Luncheon is designed to help high school and college students majoring in Accounting, Finance or Business to afford higher education. This year’s guest speaker will be Emily Pitts, Principal of Inclusion & Diversity with Edward Jones. The Highlands Golf & Tennis Center, 5163 Clayton Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www.naba-stl.org.

Fri., Sept. 9, 6 p.m., Beloved Streets of America presents the Martin Luther King, Jr. Legacy Dinner. Support us in our first ever charity dinner to raise awareness to Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and the poor light and infrastructure in which he and his work have been sadly shown. Join us to learn how

to change this. Omega Center, 3900 Goodfellow Blvd., 63120. For more information, call (314) 814-1043.

Sun., Sept. 11, 3 p.m., All-N1 Entertainment presents the 4th Annual I Am Exquisite Fashion Show: The Grand Finale. Join us for our charity red carpet fashion show as our adult and kid models rip the runway. Vendors will be on site for retail. Mandarin Banquet Hall, 8004 Olive Blvd., 63130. For more information, call (314) 6903660.

Wed., Sept. 14, 9 a.m.,

HireLive presents the St. Louis Sales & Management Career Fair. This is your opportunity to interview face to face with 15+ Fortune 500 and Industry Leading companies seeking talented, experienced and enthusiastic sales, retail and management candidates. Opportunities include Account Executives, Retail Managers, Insurance Sales, Customer Service, Merchandiser, Financial Planner, Human Resources and much more. DoubleTree Westport Hotel, 1973 Craigshire Rd., 63146. For more information or to register, call (949) 599-1867 or visit www.hirelive.com.

Sept. 16 – 18, Budweiser Taste of St. Louis. Features 35+ restaurants on 314 Hot Sauce Restaurant Row, the Stella Artois Chef Battle Royale, the Goose Island School of Cooking, an ArtWalk, Sachs Properties Kids’ Kitchen, and more. Chesterfield Amphitheater, 631 Veterans Pl Dr., 63017. For more information, call (314) 534-2100 or visit www. tastestl.com.

Sat., Sept. 17, 7 p.m., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Omicron Theta Omega Chapter and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Upsilon Omega Chapter present the H.B.C.U. Throwback T-Shirt Party. Proceeds will benefit

Mo Investment presents Joe and Vivian Green Live at The Ambassador. See CONCERTS for additional details.

Featured Event

Fri., Sept. 9, 12 p.m., The National Association of Black Accountants 35th Annual Scholarship Luncheon. The Highlands Golf & Tennis Center, 5163 Clayton Ave. For information, visit www.naba-stl.org.

the organizations’ scholarships and mandated programs. Omega Center, 3900 Goodfellow Blvd., 63120. For more information, call (314) 441-2212 or (314) 385-4100.

Sept. 23 – 25, Chaifetz Arena presents Disney on Ice: Worlds of Enchantment 1 S. Compton Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 977-5000 or visit www. chaifetzarena.com.

Sat., Oct. 1, 5 p.m., The St. Louis American Foundation presents the 29th Annual Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship & Awards Gala. America’s Center, 701 Convention Plaza, 63101. For more information, call (314) 533-8000 or visit www.stlamerican.com.

literary

Sun., Sept. 11, 5:30 p.m., ZMG Books presents Lyrics & Laughter. Join us for an evening of spoken word,

comedy, and soulful singing. Featuring some of St. Louis’ finest artists and special guest museum Angelo “Sax” Shaw. The Signature Room, 9002 Overland Plaza, 63114. For more information, call (314) 877-8804 or visit www. zmgbooks.com.

Wed., Sept. 14, 6 p.m., St. Louis County Library hosts author Colson Whitehead, author of The Underground Railroad. Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For more information, call (314) 994-3300 or visit www.slcl. org.

Tues., Sept. 20, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author Ben Westhoff, author of Original Gangstas: The Untold Story of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Tupac Shakur, and the Birth of West Coast Rap. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108. For more information, call (314) 3676731 or visit www.left-bank. com.

The Collection on Display Experience an interactive, specially-commissioned work of art by alumna Ebony G. Patterson, made in partnership with La Patisserie Chouquette. 1 Brookings Dr., 63130. For more information, call (314) 935-4896 or visit www. kemperartmuseum.wustl.edu.

Sat., Sept. 17, 11 a.m., The Griot Museum of Black History presents Family, Fashion, Fun Day. Storytelling, drumming, gelee and lapatyping; block print and pattern making, jewelry-making, repurpose fabric, accessories, home décor and more with artists Kenya Ajanaku, Elaine Young, Mama Lisa, and others. 2505 St. Louis Ave., 63106. For more information, call (314) 241-7057 or visit www.thegriotmuseum.org.

comedy

Fri., Sept. 9, 6:30 p.m., The Derek Martin Food Drive presents The Annual Comedy Fundraiser. Featuring Maurice G and Friends, Hosted by Rev Lil’ Nate on the turntables Old School 95.5’s Don D2ThaC Clair. Join us for a night of memorable laughs and assist us in our efforts to feed 1000+ families this Christmas. Polish Heritage Center, 1413 N. 20th St., 63106. For more information, call (314) 359-3258.

Sept. 23 – Sept. 25, Aug. 13, Helium Comedy Club St. Louis welcomes Adele Givens, Helium Comedy Club, 151 St. Louis Galleria St., St. Louis, MO 63117. For more information, call (314) 727-1260 or visit http:// st-louis.heliumcomedy.com

Sat., Oct. 8, 7 p.m., Jazzy ENT presents Laughs in the Lou Comedy Explosion Featuring Darius Bradford, Jeremiah “JJ” Williamson, Michael Colyar, T.K. Kirkland, and Brandon “Hot Sauce” Glover. The Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, call (409) 571-9454 or visit www. ajazzyevent.com.

Fri., Sept. 9, 6 p.m., Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum Fall 2016 Opening & Celebration. Festivities will include open studios and demos, local food trucks, live music, a photo booth, and the opening of Real / Radical / Psychological:

Through October 8, The Griot Museum of Black History presents Wandering Spirits: African Wax Prints. The exhibit is a vibrant visual exploration of the historical journey across Asia, through Europe, and into Africa where, ingrained in African culture and society, they reflect the stories, dreams and personalities of the people who love and identify them as their own. 2505 St. Louis Ave., 63106. For more information, call (314) 241-7057 or visit www.thegriotmuseum.org.

Through Oct. 30, COCA presents Outside In: Paint for Peace. Showcasing the power of the arts, the exhibition presents a selection of the murals painted on the boardedup storefronts by amateur and professional artists in the days and weeks following the 2014 protests in Ferguson. 524 Trinity Ave., 63130. For more information, call (314) 7256555 or visit www.cocastl.org.

theatre

Through Sept. 25, The Black Rep presents Miss Julie, Clarissa and John. Edison Theatre, Washington University, 6465 Forsyth Blvd., 63105. For more information, call (314) 534-3810 or visit www. theblackrep.org.

Sat., Sept. 10, 2 p.m., Prince of Peace Church presents the National Gospel Musical Play – It Must be Love ‘Cause Hate Don’t Hurt this Bad. 9350 Natural Bridge Rd., 63134. For more information, call (314) 258-0480 or visit www.princeofpeacechurchstl. com.

Series presents Café Society: Where Entertainers Met Cafe Society was the first integrated Cabaret Club in New York, a club where black and white performed and socialized together. FCC Theatre, 1 James J. Eagan Dr., 63033. For more information, call (314) 921-5678 or visit www.florissantmo.com.

Sept. 15 – 18, UMSL Department of Theatre and Cinema presents Miriam Makeba: Mama Africa the Musical. The story, life and times of Miriam Makeba are told in a dramatic fashion, outlining her activism in helping to bring down apartheid (and impact on the global civil rights movement), her fame & international success owing to her magical voice and her endurance in overcoming betrayal, failed marriages and the death of her only daughter, Bongi, while in exile. Set in Africa, the USA, and Belgium this is an inspirational, universal story that will appeal to a multi-generational audience worldwide. Touhill Performing Arts Center, One University Blvd., 63121. For more information, call (314) 5164949 or visit www.touhill.org.

Through Oct. 9, Stages St. Louis presents Sister Act. A divine comedy about a sassy, low-rent lounge singer forced to hide out from the mob in the last place anyone would ever look for her – a convent. The Robert G. Reim Theatre, 111 S Geyer Rd., 63122. For more information, call (314) 821-2407 or visit www. stagesstlouis.org.

lectures and workshops

Sun., Sept. 11, 11:45 a.m., School to Prison Pipeline Presentation with Metropolitan Churches United. Do you want to break the school-to-prison pipeline in St. Louis? Are you ready to make a difference in the lives of children of color across the St. Louis region? ‘Break the Pipeline’ is a campaign that works to end the criminalization of youth of color by organizing school, police, and juvenile justice reforms. Grace United Methodist Church, 6199 Waterman Blvd., 63112. For more information, call (314) 863-1992 or visit www.

graceumc-stl.org/index.php.

Mon., Sept. 12, 4 p.m., Thomas Dunn Learning Center presents Basic Household Budgeting. A budget is a plan for your future income and expenses that assists you in getting ahead financially. In this workshop, you will be provided with budget sheets and learn how to work them. This workshop is free to attend. 3113 Gasconade St., 63118. For more information or to register, call (314) 353-3050.

Thur., Sept. 15, 6 p.m., Thomas Dunn Learning Center presents Know Your Rights with Law Enforcement. This program is an interactive workshop where attendees will learn best practices and their rights when engaging with law enforcement during pedestrian and vehicle stops and searches along

with searches of one’s home.

Presented by the American Civil Liberties Union, this workshop is both necessary and timely, and will allow attendees to leave with a better understanding of their rights. Teens strongly encouraged to attend. Please register online or call (314) 353-3050.

Sat., Sept. 17, 2 p.m., Effect of Caucasian Personality on African-American Personality: Black Mental Health in a Time Like This by Dr. Daudi Ajani ya Azibo, The lecture is dedicated to the memory of Drs. Frances Cress Welsing, Bobby Wright, and Cheikh Anta Diop. Thomas Dunn Learning Center, 3113 Gasconade Street.

Wed., Sept. 21, 4 p.m., Vision St. Louis presents Diversity in Bioscience, IT and Advanced Manufacturing. A regional symposium aimed at building

www.alz.org/stl/walk.

Sat., Sept. 10, 9 a.m., The Sickle Cell Association invites you to the 5th Annual Sickle Cell Stroll. A walk to raise awareness of sickle cell disease, celebrate the lives of those with sickle cell disease, and educate the community about the disease. Whether you have sickle cell, know someone who does or would like to show your support, come stroll with us. Hudlin Park, 700 South Kingshighway, 63110. For more information, call (314) 833-6751 or visit www. sicklecellassociation.org.

Sun., Sept. 18, 7:30 a.m., Free to Breathe 5K Walk

Boot Camp. Station styled boot camp with 1 minute at each station for three rounds. North County Recreation Center, 2577 Redman Rd., 63136.For more information, call (314) 898-8898.

spiritual

Through Sept. 11, 12 noon daily and 7 p.m. nightly, Solomon’s Temple Church Ole Time Community Tent Revival: All About Souls, Solomon’s Temple Church, 5569 Page, St. Louis, MO 63112. For more information, call (314) 361-4660.

a wholly inclusive, diverse innovation community. We welcome anyone seeking to learn more about opportunities in these growing industries. For more information, visit www.visionstlouis.com.

health

Sat., Sept. 10, 8 a.m., Alzheimer’s Association presents the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Participants will complete a one or three mile walk and will learn about Alzheimer’s disease, advocacy opportunities, clinical studies enrollment and support programs and services from the Alzheimer’s Association. Walk participants will also join in a meaningful tribute ceremony to honor those affected by Alzheimer’s disease. Scottrade Center, 1401 Clark Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 801-0446 or visit

The lung cancer community is on a mission to make surviving lung cancer the expectation, not the exception. Attendees can participate in a 5K walk, along with a silent auction, live music and children’s activities including face painting and games. All proceeds from the event support Free to Breathe, a lung cancer research and advocacy organization dedicated to doubling lung cancer survival by 2022. Creve Coeur Park, 13725 Marine Ave., 63043. For more information, visit www. freetobreathe.org/stlouis.

Tues., Sept. 20, 5 p.m., Seniors Home Care presents Family Caregiver Training

The class is taught by a Seniors Home Care registered nurse. For more information or to reserve a spot, call (314) 962-2666 or visit www. seniorshomecare.com.

Mondays, 6:30 p.m., Yoga & Chill. A beginner-friendly, all levels (75 minute) class that spends time working through fundamental yoga postures and shapes while exploring alignment, breathing, relaxation techniques, and a good time. Modern Healer Studio, 1908 Cherokee St., 63118. For more information, visit www.eventbrite.com.

Tuesdays & Thursdays, 7:30 p.m., Get Sexy Movement

Sun., Sept. 11, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Gregg Chapel A.M.E. Church Men’s & Women’s Day Celebrations, Gregg Chapel A.M.E. Church, 4433 Elmbank Ave.

Sun., Sept. 11, 4 p.m., Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Church Chancel Choir presents “Then Sings My Soul” A Musical Tribute Commemorating the 60th Church Anniversary, Cote Brilliante Presbyterian Church, 4673 Labadie at Marcus Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63115. For more information, call (314) 381-2770.

Fri., Sept. 16, 6 p.m., Christ Pilgrim Rest M.B. Church will honor Pastor William Johnson, Sr. for 9 years of Pastoral Leadership with a Celebratory Banquet, The Ameristar Conference CenterSecond Floor 1 Ameristar Blvd. St. Charles, MO 63301. For tickets or additional information please call (314) 367-2974.

Sun., Oct. 23, Festival of Praise Tour starring Fred Hammond, Karen ClarkSheard and many more. The Fox Theatre. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Sat., October 8, (6 p.m. doors), Cedric Shannon Rives and The Brothers, The Sun Theatre. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com

Café Soul welcomes Andra Day (above) and Corrine Bailey Rae to The Pageant. For more information, see CONCERTS.

“Gentlemen of Vision,” a documentary about a step team organized by a guidance counselor from Riverview Gardens High School, premieres on the PBS Nine Network at 7 p.m. on Monday, September 12.

Nine Network’s short, digital segments on social media.

the organization’s inception in 2009, members boast a 100 percent high-school graduation rate.

GOV’s story was so compelling that they became the subject of a New Nine Network documentary by Frank Popper – which premieres on Monday, September 12.

“Y’all like winning, right?

What about being successful in life? What about school – y’all like being on honor roll, right?”

Wharton asked in a promotional clip for the documentary entitled “Gentlemen of Vision.”

The doc will play throughout the fall on Nine PBS and across the community. As part of the release of the film, the community is hosting watch parties, sharing step moves on social media using #ShowMeStep, and learning more about GOV through the

their coach and champion.

Continued from C1

said Griffith, who goes by TreG as a musical artist. “I’m all about St. Louis and putting my energy into the arts community at home.”

The seven-song project reflects the hip-hop flavor of the current R&B scene, but with vocals that pay homage to the genre’s classic form.

“R&B is not dead,” Griffith said.

He was itching to delve back into the performance side, but wanted to step outside of the box that made him a familiar face on the St. Louis arts scene.

all about truth – being in the truth and enjoying the process. At first I was nervous, but then I thought, ‘If not now, when?

If I don’t stop being worried about what people think today, will I ever?”

His intention with releasing the project went beyond him simply making a splash on the mainstream music scene through music that details his life journey.

community through his theater roots. He works with the Black Rep in several capacities on the administrative side, and he’s in an upcoming Washington University production of the hit Broadway musical “Passing Strange.” His love for music and theater is more than just to share his gift – for him, the gift is in the sharing.

St. Louis Public Radio caught up with Rollins after the award’s announcement and asked her to reflect on her writing and the award.

On winning the Ruth Lilly award:

“I hope that I am relatable and that there’s some other young woman out there who through me sees an opportunity. I definitely grew up a young black girl in the city. I never imagined that I would be able to merge being able to write with having a career, like being able to pay

n “Y’all like winning, right? What about being successful in life? What about school – y’all like being on honor roll, right?”

– Marlon Wharton

The film depicts the tremendous journey of members of the Gentlemen of Vision (GOV) competitive step team during the 2015-2016 season.

The documentary follows the team as they strive to win their national competitions, graduate from high school, and position themselves to achieve success in life. The film celebrates their resilience, their brotherhood, and the enduring bond with

my bills and still produce as an artist.”

On her writing: “I think my writing deals with what it means to be a woman, what it means to be a woman of color. On a more universal scale, as human beings, maybe the trauma that we mentally hold or physically hold in our bodies. What it means to overcome fear. What it means to challenge the status quo.

On poetry and language: “As poets, you try to imagine a better sense of what we could be as a society and you try to complicate and play with language, the limitations of language, and the ways those limitations can be exposed. And then push

The St. Louis International Film Festival, which runs November 3-13, will host multiple screenings of a director’s cut of the film. This version will also be entered into national film festival competitions.

The story of the Gentlemen of Vision emerged from the Nine Network’s work on the American Graduate initiative. The Nine Network leads this national and local initiative to help young people succeed in school and in life, with the goal of increasing the graduation rate nationwide to 90 percent by the year 2020.

“Gentlemen of Vision” premieres on the PBS Nine Network at 7 p.m. on Monday, September 12. For more information about the film, visit http://americangraduate. ninenet.org/gov/.

For more information about Gentlemen of Vision as an organization, visit http://www. gentlemenofvision.org/.

[language] into new realms that aren’t maybe even allowed in everyday speech.”

On serving as a catalyst:

“There are still so many voices that are going unheard, or so many persons that creatively feel invisible. So if this can serve as a catalyst in any capacity to bring greater attention to this region, to areas where people are operating off the grid but still have something to contribute, I hope that it does so.”

Rollin’s writings can be found online and in the publications Poetry, River Styx, and Vinyl.

Reprinted with permission from http://news.stlpublicradio. org/.

“Me coming from the musical theater world, I just wanted to do something different,” Griffith said. “This EP is basically my stamp on the adult Tre.”

Getting his grown man on, he unapologetically laid his feelings over the tracks.

“For the first time, I feel like I was able to create from an authentic place,” Griffith said. “These songs really are about where I am mentally, spiritually and emotionally right now. It’s

AFRICA

Continued from C1

apartheid. The South African government responded by canceling her passport in 1960.

“She sacrificed her life for this movement,” Coker said. “She was persona non grata in her own home.”

Fellow singer and activist Harry Belafonte took Makeba under his wing in the early 1960s. She enjoyed initial success in the United States – and even sang for President John F. Kennedy.

During that period, she also provided testimony to the United Nations about the ills of apartheid, which caused South Africa to permanently revoke her passport and later ban her music. She was unable to return for nearly 30 years.

But her marriage to radical civil rights activist Stokely Carmichael stopped her U.S. career in its tracks. “There should be more about her,” Coker said. “The fact that she escaped South Africa and all the years of apartheid only to come to the U.S. and experience the same problem – and exercised the freedom to marry who she wanted,

“I just want people to know that whatever they put their minds to, they can really do it,” Griffith said. “One thing that was really important about me getting back into music was that if I’m going to try to tell younger people about doing it, then I have to be doing it – and if I’m doing it, they’ll see that they can do it too.”

Griffith is so passionate about emerging talent because he sees so much potential in St. Louis’ arts scene.

“We’ve always created good stuff here – the quality is really good – but a lot of it is the culture,” Griffith said. “What needs to happen is make sure you expose different communities to it so that it becomes the norm.”

He’s still pouring his many gifts into the St. Louis arts

which cost her her career in the United States. There was a major irony there.”

St. Louis audiences will see her life unfold, understand the sacrifices she made, and hear the beautiful music which served as her own personal soundtrack as the 40-person cast of South African natives tells the story.”

“Miriam Makeba: Mama Africa the Musical” shares the crushing heartbreak and magnificent triumphs she experienced over the course of her career and life.

“The biggest joy in this is that a whole new generation is going to be introduced to her – even in South Africa, there are a lot of kids who don’t know who she is,” Coker said. “When the younger generation in the cast began to hear the music and the stories, they said ‘Oh, our parents used to listen to this woman.’ You have to remember that her music was banned in South Africa.”

Because of her activism, she was a woman without a country for many years. She fled the U.S. for Guinea, only to be forced to leave her home there for Brussels because of turmoil and political unrest. All the while, she kept the struggles of her homeland top of mind.

“She had a very global

“It’s all about how your passion for your art really makes an impact on somebody,” Griffith said.

“Whether you’re doing a play or a show or making music, you have the opportunity to change a person’s life in that moment – to take them to a new realm or place through your art. To hear somebody say, ‘I really needed that today,’ or ‘you really touched me’ – that’s what all of this is about for me.”

TreG’s “I’m Back” is available through all digital music outlets such as iTunes, Amazon and bandcamp.com. For more information about Tre’Von Griffith, visit www. tregmusic.com . He can be found on social media channels Twitter and Instagram via @ treg_music.

African perspective – and that Africa is not just a continent, but the African imprint is all over the world,” Coker said. She fervently campaigned for Nelson Mandela’s freedom and the liberation of disenfranchised people of African descent everywhere, which led to her beloved moniker. It was Mandela who invited Makeba home for the first time in nearly three decades following his release from prison after 27 years and historic successful run for the presidency of South Africa. She continued to lend her name to fight injustices experienced by all –particularly people of color – until her death in 2008 at age 76. “I think that her story is one that people in St. Louis should know about – especially with the Ferguson situation,” Coker said. “Once they get to see this, they will see that there is a lot of hope and they can emulate her life and her passion.”

“Miriam Makeba: Mama Africa the Musical” will run from September 15-18 at the Anheuser-Busch Theatre inside the Touhill Performing Arts Center. For more info, call (314) 516-4949 or visit http:// www.touhill.org/events/detail/ makeba.

Anniversary

Congratulations to Raymond Fields Jr. and Allison N. Fields, who celebrated 40 years of marriage on September 5.

Stage Star

I’m so very excited that my daughter, Bria Alexis Walker will have a supporting role in the traveling stage play Spare the Rod Spoil the Child. The play starts on November 5 in Washington, DC at Lincoln Center. Congratulations Bria, dreams do come true. Love always, Mommy Arline

Reunions

Beaumont High School Class of 1966 50th Reunion, October 14-15 at the Sheraton Westport Plaza Hotel, 900 Westport Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63146. Contact: Jacque’ HughesHayes (314) 914-4858 or Josh Beeks (314) 303-0791 for more information.

Beaumont High School Class

of 1976 will have its 40th year reunion September 23-25, 2016. For more detailed information please email bhs1976@ swbell.net or Facebook: Beaumont High class of 76.

Cardinal Ritter College Prep Class of 1987 is hosting an “Old School Hip Hop” party September 24, 2016 from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Omega Center, 3900 Goodfellow Ave., St. Louis, 63120. Tickets: $20 at door, $15 in advance. Call April Brown at 314-446-5500 for more information.

Hadley Technical High School Class of 1961 will celebrate its 55th class reunion, September 16-18, 2016 at the Renaissance Airport Hotel. For more information, contact

Celebrations

Birthday

Happy Birthday to our terrific teen, Keenan Squires, who will turn 14 on September 16. We are very proud of you and the young man that you have become. Have a blessed birthday! Love, The Squires Family

Just Married

Kenneth and Sheri Whittaker are pleased to announce the marriage of their daughter, Shivon Tannan of St. Louis, to Anthony Bowers of Chicago, Illinois. Shivon, a Referral Services Manager with Cook County Health and Hospital Systems, married Anthony, a Manager of Drayage Solutions with Hub Group in St. Louis on September 4, 2016.

Ralph Johnson 477-2042, Shirley Woods 361-5351, or Jeffery Raybon 3821875. Send updated contact information to celiajteach@ gmail.com. Our picnic is Sept. 4th at John L. Brown Park, 4300 Calvert Ave.

Harrison School All Class Reunion Saturday September 10, 2016, 6:30 pm-10:30 pm at Ambruster Great Hall (6633 Clayton Rd. Tickets are $60 per person.For more info contact; Judy Darris at 314-443-6741, Yolanda Beck at 314-346-8103 or Làshell Tolliver at 314-420-3566.

Old Neighborhood Reunion celebration, the last Annual Street Festival, on September 17, from Noon—6 pm.

Leffingwell, Howard, Madison, Glasgow, Garrison, Cass, Sheridan, Thomas, Dickson, Dayton, Elliott and Jefferson.

Soldan High Class of 1966 has planned its 50-year reunion for September 9-10, 2016 at Christian Hospital Atrium, 1111 Dunn Road St. Louis, Mo 63136. For more information, please contact: Meredith Wayne Farrow, 314.521-8540, Robert Collins, 908.313-5002 or Marilyn Edwards Simpson, 341.837-7746. Facebook, soldan class of 1966 or email: stlsoldan1966@yahoo.com.

Sumner Class of 1965 is planning a “70th” Birthday Cruise for October 2017. If

you’re interested and want to receive more information, please contact Luther Maufas (314) 541-4556, Brenda Smith Randall (314)382-1528, or Laura Young (314) 328-3512 with name, address so the info can be mailed to you.

Vashon Class of 1957 is having its 60-year reunion on May 20, 2017 at the Atrium at the rear of Christian N.E. Hospital on Dunn Road. Classes 1955-1959 are welcomed. For more information, please contact Lovely (Green) Deloch at 314867-1470, Marlene (Randall) Porter at 314-653-0107, Mae (Simmons) Mahone at 314653-0818 or Phyllis (Bolden) Washington at 314-531-9925.

OF CHARGE

Do you have a celebration you’re proud of? If so we would like to share your good news with our readers. Whether it’s a birth, wedding, engagement announcement, anniversary, retirement or birthday, send your photos and a brief announcement (50 words or less) to us and we may include it in our paper and website – AT NO COST – as space is available Photos will not be returned. Send your announcements to: kdaniel@stlamerican. com or mail to: St. Louis American Celebrations c/o

Reunion notices are free of charge and based on

Deadline is 10 a.m. on Friday. If you’d like your class to be featured in a reunion profile, email or mail photos to us.

Our email address is: reunions@ stlamerican.com

Next Up’s J. Holiday nightmare. While the venue was small scale compared to the others, it doesn’t make two-hit wonder J. Holiday’s appearance as the celebrity headliner for Wrist Factor’s Next Up One Year Anniversary Celebration Saturday at The Rustic Goat one of the biggest performance fails in live music recent history. Actually, Memorex would be more appropriate since he was singing to tracks with backing vocals. Either way, he really should consider changing his name to J. Nightmare after that tragic showing. But before I get on him, let me say that the event itself was primed to be a massive win. The Rustic Goat was packed to the gills like in its glory days, artists were amped up and ready to give their all and the audience was eager to see what they were serving. Too bad J. Nightmare got in his feelings when the crowd didn’t faint and fallout from fandom a la Michael Jackson. And he responded by offering the stage show equivalent of punching them in the face. He starts the set with a song nobody’s heard of and then gets infuriated when nobody sings along. “Oh, so y’all just gonna stand there and stare at me? I already got paid, so I’mma stand here and stare at y’all, so you can see how it feels!” This rant was less than one verse into the first song. Then he tells the track master to go to the next song – which was one people knew – and they started singing along. “Oh, don’t sing along and try to feel now…” He says, interrupting himself at the start of the song. People are genuinely confused as far as what to do next, so they talk amongst themselves about how bizarre and erratic his behavior is. “Y’all got me [expletive] up,” J. Nightmare responds. “I already got paid for being here – and plus I have more money than anybody in here anyway.” That’s when the folks decided to come for him as only people from St. Louis can. He accuses the crowd of “acting like [N-word expletive].” One man tries to be diplomatic as he could about it. He stood up and told J. Holiday he was tripping and everyone came to have a good time and he was being disrespectful. J. Holiday said that dude was lame and he wasn’t going to enjoy the company of any young ladies (edited to make safe for Partyline). The vast majority of the crowd came to the other man’s defense, and verbally unleashed on J. Nightmare in a way he wasn’t ready for. One woman had to be carted out by the sheriff out of fear that she would bum rush the stage and beat him down. At this point he decided that he would try to get back to his performance – which was more confusing than anything. He was getting cussed out so badly that before the chorus of his biggest hit, the audience put his whole performance to bed.

Post-show shenanigans. Continuing in his oppositional defiance, J. Nightmare stood around outside Rustic Goat for a good little minute as folks complained about how wack he was. It was his way of proving “he’s from Washington D.C. and didn’t nobody run him off stage.” He didn’t get run off, but he sure got cussed off! Then, the folks dragged him for dear life as he stood right next to them – like he wasn’t still there. It was awful brave of him to stay out there considering how furious everyone was following his little stunt. A group of young ladies walked up to him like fans only to give him a group reenactment of Beyoncé’s “middle fingers up.” Then, the woman who had to be escorted out swooped down alongside him in her big white Cadillac and hurled insults at him. He finally jumped in an unmarked Chrysler 300 and sped off. The fact that he escaped without a scratch had me proud my folks were able to keep their emotions in check – there were a few moments when I was nervous that J. Nightmare was going to catch some windmill action from one of his former fans. I will say that he is so lucky that it was an R&B crowd instead of one of those savage hip-hop shows, because the promoters would have hemmed him up for his tacky, tired tantrum before the crowd had a chance.

Wheelin’ and dealin’ day party. I went all the way out of my way to Creve Coeur to the Plaza Jaguar dealership to get a dose of the BFree and Shift58 day party collaborative. As per usual with their events, it was a nice mix of folks that made for the most handsome of crowds. It wasn’t as packed out as I expected, but if any of the folks were like me, they got lost trying to find their way – even though it was right on Olive. Folks seemed to enjoy themselves – and they certainly dressed the part to be around all of those fancy whips!

A concrete pool party. When I heard that the Marquee was holding a swim party, I was preparing myself to write the most petty synopsis y’all have ever seen. But I must say that other than the plastic pool constructed of struggle, it wasn’t the least bit bad. And in hindsight, why would they pull out the stops for a pool that nobody was going to swim in anyway? They hit up the Home Depot summer clearance rack for some outdoor tents that became VIP stations and got the biggest portable pool in Walmart’s whole inventory and turned the Marquee parking lot into a tropical asphalt paradise – with a full-fledged performance stage. And again, I was ready to read the folks for being out of order with their swimwear, being built any kind of way and letting it all hang out, but everybody essentially kept it super cute. All shapes and sizes were slaying in shape appropriate for swimsuits and beach wear. Raunchy was the exception to the rule. There was a Dollar Tree Kardashian that was driving the boys wild and Luke fitness had the girls fish bowling that hot upper body for dear life. For the first time ever Rob Ruger had no scarf on – but instead made a life vest the focal point of his fun in the sun ensemble. The booty model celebrity vixens came through when they felt like it, but nobody really seemed bothered by their tardiness.

Will Henton, Shantell and Deacon were dressed to the nines for the BFree and Shift58 Pre-Labor Day party Sunday afternoon @ Plaza Motors’ Jaguar

Mrs. Meeks and Drissa were among the stylish crowd that came through the day party at Plaza Motors’ Jaguar Sunday afternoon to party with Shift58 and BFree

Angie, Camille and Ashley helped Camille celebrated her birthday Sunday with a day party at Plaza Motors’ Jaguar showroom

Brittany and Sonya made a splash at the Marquee’s pool party on Sunday afternoon

Melva, Eric, Brandie and Eric were part of the dapper crowd that came to kick it at Plaza Motors’ Jaguar showroom on Sunday @ Jaguar Plaza.

Jerrard, Candice and Dietrich came out to First Friday Gallery Walk’s 1year anniversary Friday @ Parks

Michelle and Natlie gave the summer a perfect sendoff with the Marquee pool party on Sunday

Tamika and Kim came through for the Next Up Anniversary celebration to check out R&B star J. Holiday @ The Rustic Goat

Beauties Bell and Angel were a pleasure to see as always as they enjoyed some art and poetry @ The First Friday Galley Walk

Rose and Whitney helped The Marquee say goodbye to the outdoor swimming season with their Splash Party on Sunday

Promoter Kool- Aid and Host Dano Da Mano hung out with rap star Shawty Lo Friday as he started off three days of consecutive Labor Day weekend kicking it Friday night at The Marquee.

Photos by Lawrence Bryant

of Logistics & Operations Management The Logistics & Operations Management (LOM) Department in the College of Business Administration at the

of

Louis is seeking a full-time nontenure-track Associate/Assistant Teaching Professor for Spring 2017 (January).

This position will fill staffing needs in

KELLER CONSTRUCTION INC.

Requests subcontractor and or material supplier quotations from Illinois Department of Transportation Certified subcontractors, suppliers and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises for the letting to be held September 16, 2016. Interested parties should contact Keller Construction at (618) 656-0033. All quotations must be submitted by 4:30 PM Thurs September 15, 2016.

REQUESTFOR BIDS

NOTICE OFREQUEST FOR SEALED BID PROPOSALS

REQUESTFOR PROPOSALS

is requesting proposals from firm(s) with expertise to successfully provide Human Resource and Payroll Services. Solicitation Schedule Issue Date: Packets available Friday, August 26, 2016, after 2:00 p.m.

Pre-Proposal Conference: Wednesday, September 14, 2016, 11:00 a.m.

Proposals Due: Tuesday, September 27, 2016, 3:00 p.m.

For further information, contact Kathy Doss at 618-646-7211 or visit www.eslha.org.

TDDY1-800-545-1833, ext.471.

REQUESTFOR PROPOSALS

The Metropolitan Zoological Park and Museum District Board has authorized its management to secure proposals for design and production services related to the organization’s 2016-2017 Report to the Community. The deadline for response is October 7, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. For more information or to secure a proposal package, please contact: J. Patrick Dougherty, Executive Director Metropolitan Zoological Park and Museum District 314 862 4222 metzoodist@sbcglobal.net

REQUESTFOR QUALIFICATIONS

Project Controls Design and Implementation Services

The Great Rivers Greenway District (GRG) requests services of qualified professionals for Project Controls Design and Implementation Services. Questions or information related to this request should be directed to: Michael Sorth, Director of Conservation and Community, at 314-932-4916 or via email msorth@grgstl.org Specifications can be found at http://greatriversgreenway.org

Submittal Due Date: 4:00 pm CST, Friday, September 23, 2016 to Great Rivers Greenway District, 6178 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63112 Attn: Project Controls and Implementation Services.

GRG reserves the right to reject any or all proposals. EOE

SEALED BIDS

for Various Facility Renovations, Gov. Joseph P. Teasdale State Office Building, Raytown, Missouri, Project No. O1616-02 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 9/29/2016. Forspecific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

SEALED BIDS

HVAC Upgrades - Phase II, Capitol Building, Jefferson City, Missouri, Project No. O1325-02 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 10/13/2016.

Forspecific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities

ESLHAreserves the right to cancel this RFP, reject any or all proposal, and waive minor informalities for proposers as deemed necessary by ESLHAand the public’s best interest. ESLHAis a fair housing and equal opportunity employer.

Submitted By: Mildred

A.

Motley Executive Director

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Notice is hereby given that the City of Brentwood, Missouri, is accepting sealed proposals from qualified firms of certified public accountants for "Audit Services", for fiscal years starting January 1 and ending December 31, 2016, 2017 and 2018. The audits are to be performed in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States and the provisions of the OMB Circular A-133 and according to the instructions and general conditions shown in the specifications. The City may choose to use the selected firm for other accounting or professional services. A copy of the City’s December 31, 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report may be accessed on the City’s website at www.brentwoodmo.org under Departments/Administration Sealed proposals shall be clearly marked “Audit Services Proposal” and will be received until 4:00 p.m., Thursday,September 22, 2016, in the Office of the City Clerk; Brentwood City Hall; 2348 S. Brentwood Blvd.; Brentwood Mo, 63144; at which time they will be publicly opened and announced. Bid forms and specifications are available at Brentwood City Hall by phoning 314-963-8608 or by visiting our website at http://www.brentwoodmo.org/bids.aspx

The City reserves the right to accept or reject all or any part of the proposal, to waive technicalities, and to accept the offer the City Administrator considers the most advantageous to the City. OFFICE OF THE CITYCLERK

LETTING #8622

IMPROVEMENTS TO TOWER GROVE PARK TASK II – REFURBISH (6) TENNIS COURTS

Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 208 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on October 4, 2016, then publicly opened and read. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

Apre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held on September 19, 2016 at 10:00 A.M. in Room 208 City Hall. Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State and Federal laws (including MBE/WBE policies).

All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order11246, “Notice of Requirement forAffirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Specifications” set forth within and referenced at www.stl-bps.org (Announcements).

MWBE PREBID MEETING NOTICE

The SITE Improvement Association is hosting a Prebid meeting for Qualified and Certified MWBE contractors to discuss working on Lee Ave. #337 Storm Sewer Contract Letting No. 10006-015.1

The prebid meeting is being held on behalf of the following SITE contractor members: The meeting will take place at 10:00 a.m. September21, 2016

SITE Improvement Association 2071

Fred M. Luth & Sons 4516 McRee Avenue St. Louis, MO 63110 314/771-3892 METROPOLITAN

ADVERTISEMENT

SITE Improvement Association 2071 Exchange Drive, St. Charles, MO 63303 For questions regarding this prebid meeting, Contact the SITE Improvement Association office at 314/966-2950.

REQUEST FOR BIDS

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 Vida at 314-289-5406 to place your

ad today!

North County church affirms Hazelwood students

Plus, clergy and community support for Normandy Schools Collaborative

American staff

August 10 marked the first day of school in the Hazelwood School District. The Reverend Michael G. Cleveland of Trinity Mount. Carmel Baptist Church, 11755 Mehl Ave. in Florissant, and men from his congregation welcomed and affirmed students and parents to Keeven Elementary for the first day of school.

Church members held signs of encouragement and cheered on the students and parents as they arrived to Keeven Elementary School, on day one of the 2016-17 school year. One sign read, “We’re proud of you, stay in school.” Another read, “Your education is important to us.”

“Pastor Cleveland came to me with the idea to cheer students on the first day of school, as a way to help build community partnership,” said Shanise Terrell, principal at Keeven Elementary. “It’s very important that our students know that their community supports their education.”

Clergy support for Normandy Schools Collaborative

What do you do when the world is going crazy? How do you handle it when nothing makes any sense?

It seems that there is no normal anymore. Our sanity is challenged by the world’s insanity. I’ve come to believe that confusion reigns where there is an absence of God. By absence, I mean distance between you and God. By not seeking the kingdom of God first, you invite chaos into your life.

I have found myself many a time wandering through life like the Israelites, lost without a clue. In today’s world, that is not difficult.

A minister friend of mine recently reminded me that being a Christian is a full time job, believe it or not. You don’t get summer vacations and definitely no spring breaks. Yep, you also work nights and weekends.

part that’s says, “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me”?

the group. He pointed to the improved climate in the schools, reduced number of suspensions, and increase in the number of dual enrollment/dual credit and advanced placement courses in the district.

Shields. “We have a moral obligation to do what is necessary to take care of each other. We can’t rely on others. This is something we can do and together, we will do.”

Led by the Rev. E.G. Shields Jr., pastor of Mount Beulah M.B. Church, 7823 Racine Dr. in Hanley Hills, the 24:1 Clergy Coalition is an effort to harness the power of the religious community and partner with other entities such as the Normandy Schools Collaborative, area mayors, police and other community leaders. The 24:1 refers to the 24 municipalities that make up the Normandy school district.

Charles Pearson, superintendent for Normandy schools, provided an update to

More than 50 members of the clergy and community responded to the call to meet and begin a new coalition to improve the communities of the Normandy Schools Collaborative. Clergy in attendance represented various denominations including Catholic, Baptist, and nondenominational congregations.

“We need a caring adult for every student,” Pearson said. “Some of our teachers are the only consistent adult in some of our students’ lives. The meals our students get at school may be the only good meal they get. We need your support.”

Rev. Shields, whose youngest daughter is a 2016 graduate of Normandy High School, is confident the partnership will make a positive impact on the 24:1 communities.

“These are our communities and our children,” said Rev.

A critical partner in the coalition is Beyond Housing, a not-for-profit community development agency with a long and successful track record in the 24:1. Their most recent projects include a new senior living center in Pine Lawn, a new movie theater, the 24:1 Cinema, in Pagedale, and several new home construction projects, including one in Hillsdale. Beyond Housing CEO/President Chris Krehmeyer attributed the organization’s success to the power of collaboration.

You can never get too full of yourself thinking you are doing God’s will. The reason I say this is that the devil is vigilant. When you get tired, the devil has a bed for you to sleep in. When you’re thirsty, he’s got just the right thing to quench your thirst. When you lose focus, guess who has the right thoughts to fill your imagination?

If you’re not careful, one day you’ll wake up thinking you’re close to God and find out Satan is your new sidekick. The good news is that once God gets your attention, He has ways of letting you know that it’s your time to get busy again. There is work to be done by you on you. For me, it’s Psalm 23. You know the

This came to me one day when chaos reigned in my life and confusion was on the creep. When I found myself surrounded by chaos, God came knocking with Psalm 23. It’s the “with me” part that hit home. Somehow God wasn’t with me or I wasn’t with Him. I had let Him fall by the wayside, and you can guess who was more than willing to ride shotgun. With just a little faith, God will let you and the devil know that somebody is in His seat and He ain’t havin’ it. I found myself face down in prayer one night wondering what the hell was going on. I wanted to be okay but I wasn’t, until I reframed the thought to wondering what the heaven was going on. I then remembered Psalm 22, the part that says, “All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord and all the families of the nations will bow down before Him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and He rules over the nations.” I could then immediately close the expanding gap between me and God. I again submitted all I had and all that I am to Him. Peace of mind can be a powerful thing. Now and again, you need to remember God is able, particularly when you think your situation is impossible. It’s then that you know it’s the impossible that God has already set you free from.

Columnist James Washington

Members of Trinity Mt. Carmel Baptist Church cheer students and parents for the first day of school at Keeven Elementary, in Hazelwood School District.