April 30th, 2026 edition

St. LouiS AmericAn

Data center pushback

Ferguson slows data center project as residents press for answers

By Sylvester Brown Jr.

St. Louis American

Ferguson has delayed a final decision on

Project Butterfly, a proposal centered on roughly $1.8 billion in baseline redevelopment of the former Emerson campus that could expand dramatically under broader financing scenarios, intensifying questions about tax breaks, transparency and environmental safeguards.

The plan would transform the 217-acre former corporate site on West Florissant into what city records describe as a center for technology,

energy innovation, advanced manufacturing and research.

Led by SSL Investments and local attorney Jim Onder, the proposal’s initial redevelopment vision is far smaller than its outer financial ceiling: While developers have promoted roughly $1.8 billion in baseline redevelopment, city documents also contemplate scenarios that could involve up to $22 billion in bonds tied to broader long-term buildout and equipment investment, a scale that has amplified public scrutiny.

See Data Center, A10

Storm wounds reopened as May 16 approaches

Lashaundra Jackson stands outside her Ferguson home in apparent shock after a large tree crashed through her roof during Monday’s severe thunderstorm. The storm left more than 30,000 residents across the region without power just weeks before the one-year anniversary of the May 16 tornado. For many, the damage was a painful reminder of last year’s storm that tore through North and west St. Louis neighborhoods, severely damaging homes and other structures.

Normandy after Triplett

Can district turn reforms into results?

By Ashley Winters St. Louis American

Normandy Schools Collaborative faces a defining challenge: whether recent structural reforms can translate into meaningful academic gains for students and families.

That challenge now frames both the district’s recent progress and the tenure of departing Superintendent Dr. Michael Triplett, who took over in 2023 amid declining enrollment, academic struggles and a school system working to stabilize.

Triplett said his administration focused first on rebuilding foundation-

al systems that he believed had long been lacking.

“The district hadn’t had updated curriculum in a long time,” he said.

“We didn’t have college and career readiness programs in place.”

According to Triplett, district leadership implemented updated curriculum standards, instructional coaching

models, and data-driven monitoring systems designed to improve accountability and consistency. He also said attendance increased, staffing vacancies declined, and discipline policies shifted toward restorative practices, resulting in fewer suspensions and

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

As Dr. Peter H. Raven was retiring from his tenure as a transformative president of the Missouri Botanical Garden in 2010, Arnold Donald, then chair of the board of trustees, called him “a global icon.”

“Deservedly so,” Donald told The St. Louis American. “He built this institution to the point where the top people in the world in this space would salivate to be able to lead it, and that’s because of him, his legacy and what he has built here.” Raven died Saturday at age 89. Tributes from St. Louis and around the world continue to pour in.

“Dr. Raven, a revolutionary, globally recognized botanist and environmentalist who transformed the Missouri Botanical Garden into an international research center, was also a humanitarian and a staunch advocate for social justice and racial inclusion,” said St. Louis American Publisher Donald M. Suggs.

“Importantly, he was responsible for the inspirational George Washington Carver Garden that honors the life and achievements of the extraordinary Black plant scientist.”

Suggs added that beyond his brilliance, Raven had a natural levity that brought smiles to the faces of friends and confidants.

“The erudite Dr. Raven also had a

Ferguson residents meet with elected officials and council members to discuss the proposed data center development in the neighborhood.

Photo by Lawrence Bryant / St. Louis American

Photo by Lawrence Bryant / St. Louis American

Dr. Peter H. Raven

Guest Commentary

Just say no to bias in local, national media

Even when facts are technically accurate, they can be arranged, emphasized or stripped of context in ways that distort the full picture. That is not balance. That is framing.

By Frances Toni Draper

This is not a moment to be silent.

At a time when Black life, Black leadership and Black progress are too often presented through a distorted lens, it is important to say plainly what many in our community already understand: how a story is told matters just as much as the facts it contains — and the context it leaves out.

What we are seeing in segments of local media coverage is deeply troubling. This goes beyond tone or emphasis; it reflects a pattern that distorts, diminishes and, at times, dehumanizes. That should alarm anyone who values fair and responsible journalism.

In some local media coverage, the issue is not simply what questions are asked, but how those questions are constructed, what is omitted, and what too often reads as a steady drumbeat of unwarranted attacks, efforts to discredit and undermine, and innuendo suggesting that Black people are unqualified or unprepared.

Stories presented without context, history or acknowledgment of disparity — and shaped in ways that discredit, shift influence, suggest the redirection or misuse of public resources, and feed assumptions about motives that are implied but rarely examined — do more than inform; they shape how people understand what they are seeing.

To many, what is unfolding does not feel incidental. It feels targeted and deliberate — less about informing the public than about exerting influence and control.

Over time, perception influences policy, priorities and decision-making. We have seen this before in different forms and in different eras.

At its core, this reflects an editorial bent that, to many, reads as a sustained effort to erode credibility — at times blurring the line between scrutiny and unfair characterization, often under the guise of investigative reporting.

Even when facts are technically accurate, they can be arranged, emphasized or stripped of context in ways that distort the full picture. That is not balance. That is framing. This is not about oversensitivity; it is a recognition that some reporting has been relentless in its focus and uneven in its portrayal, particularly when it comes to Black leadership and decision-making in this state. At times, what is presented crosses a line. It reflects not just imbalance, but something more troubling that cannot be ignored.

To many, it also raises broader questions about intent — whether this reflects not just editorial judgment, but what appears to be a sustained, calculated and, at times, ruthless interest in shaping narratives that influence public perception, political outcomes and the flow of resources.

Framing is not neutral. Context is not optional.

For generations, Black progress has too often been reduced to a line item, while the centuries-long imbalance that made targeted investments in Black communities necessary is ignored. When the full story is not told — when wealth gaps, access and structural disparities are absent — what is presented as analysis begins to look more like narrative. And that narrative is not new. Outrage alone is not a strategy. But neither is silence. We are in the business of truth, context and responsibility — and of making deliberate choices. Coverage that distorts, diminishes or strips away context is not acceptable, and we will continue our work with clarity, context and a commitment to the kind of local journalism our community deserves. Because the most underappreciated power any reader, viewer or listener has is not what they say — it is what they support. These are not passive acts. They are endorsements.

If a news source consistently informs you, respects our community and reflects the full weight of our history — support it. If it does not, act accordingly. Turn it off. Change the channel. Cancel the subscription. Unfollow. Unfriend. Withhold your attention, your engagement and your dollars. And most of all, stop repeating, stop forwarding and stop talking about narratives that diminish our reality or disrespect our community.

Frances Toni Draper is publisher of The Afro newspapers.

Fund the postal service to protect American voters

By Marc Morial

There is an institution older than the United States itself that is now fighting for its survival, and too many people in power are watching it happen without lifting a finger.

The United States Postal Service was founded in 1775, a year before the Declaration of Independence. Benjamin Franklin was the first postmaster general. It has survived wars, depressions, and technological upheavals. It has never missed a day of service. Today, it is being quietly bled out, and the silence from Congress is its own kind of crisis.

Postmaster General David Steiner said before a House subcommittee that the agency is at a “critical juncture” and will run out of cash in less than a year unless Congress allows it to borrow more money.

This is not hypothetical. USPS suspended employer pension contributions in April 2026, pausing roughly $200 million every two weeks to free $2.5 billion in cash just to keep the lights on.

This is the slow unraveling of an institution that helped build the American middle class.

overnight. USPS has lost money almost every fiscal year since 2007, with net losses totaling approximately $109 billion from fiscal years 2007 through 2024. Much of that loss traces back to a 2006 law that forced the agency to pre-fund 75 years of retiree health benefits in just 10 years.

The Postal Service was never just a place to buy stamps. It was infrastructure. It was connectivity before broadband. It built a path into the middle class for generations of Black Americans who could not access employment in the private sector. Postal work was union work, stable work, dignified work — one of the first federal employers to hire Black men and women at a meaningful scale. In city after city, the post office was not just a government building; it was a community anchor.

USPS continues to operate its universal delivery network, visiting 168 million addresses six days a week. It remains the largest mail service in the world, delivering nearly 40% of mail sent globally. And it does all of this while operating under congressional mandates that private competitors never face, including the requirement to serve every address in America at a uniform price, regardless of how remote or expensive that delivery is.

The financial crisis did not appear

Privatizing USPS could mean the end of guaranteed mail service to every American address, leaving many rural customers without the deliveries they depend on. For communities of color, the elderly, people with disabilities and low-income families who depend on the Postal Service for medications, government benefits and financial correspondence, this is not an inconvenience. It is a rupture in the basic terms of citizenship. The Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling in Watson v. Republican National Committee months before the November midterm elections. The case centers on the Republican Party’s challenge to Mississippi’s law allowing mail ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they arrive within five business days afterward. Twenty-nine states, plus Washington, D.C., count at least some timely cast ballots if received within a brief window after Election Day.

The National Urban League filed an amicus brief defending those grace periods. Black, Hispanic and Native American voters encounter the greatest barriers to in-person voting due to greater polling relocation and removal. Mail voting is not a convenience for these communities. It is often their most reliable path to the ballot.

A weakened Postal Service cannot guarantee that a ballot mailed on Election Day will arrive within the shrinking window the courts may allow. The math is simple, and the intent is legible.

Congress must act. Not eventually. Now.

In November, the people will have something to say about who chose to stand by while the mail stopped running.

Marc Morial is president and CEO of the National Urban League.

Commentary

We are failing to protect our

By Benjamin Jealous

Look at the world around you. The sun rises on time. The seasons turn. A seed becomes a tree. A child grows into a person who can think and love and choose. Some people see all this and see an accident. Others see a plan. There is an old idea that helps explain the second view. If you find a watch on the ground, you know someone made it. The gears, the hands, the careful design — a watch does not build itself. If the world is even more complex than a watch, doesn’t it follow that someone, or something, made the world too?

I believe it does. And if there is a maker, we have a job. Take care of what we were given. We are not doing a good job.

Earth Day was April 22 and the proof is everywhere. Scientists now say the pace of species loss today is faster than anything Earth has seen in the 66 million years since the dinosaurs disappeared. They call this the sixth mass extinction. The first five were caused by forces no one could control — giant volcanoes, sudden ice ages, the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs. This one is different. This one is caused by us.

The story of human power starts with fire. When our ancestors learned to make it, everything changed. Fire kept us warm, cooked our food, gave us light at night, and let us travel into colder lands. Fire made us who we are. But it also started a pattern. Every time humans found a new source of power, we paid for it by taking something from the natural world.

History shows where this leads. Ireland was once covered in forests. So was Iceland. So were the hills of Greece, the cedars of Lebanon, and many islands in the Mediterranean. One by one, the trees came down — for ships, for fuel, for farms, for factories. Islands tell this story most clearly because their edges are easy

planet

to see. You can run out of trees on an island in a way you cannot run out of sky. What islands did to themselves over centuries, we are now doing to the planet. The fuels changed. The pattern stayed the same. First wood. Then whale oil. Then coal. Then oil and gas. Each one helped people live better. Each one also caused harm. Forests were cleared. Whales were nearly hunted to death. Mountains were blown apart. Oil leaked into our land and water. These fuels are called finite. That means they run out. And the damage often does not heal. A forest can grow back in a lifetime. A dead whale cannot come back. A species that has gone extinct is gone forever. But the same world that gave us these fuels also gave us better ones. The sun. The wind. The tides. The waves. These are called infinite, because they never run out. They are not perfect. Nothing humans build is. But there is a huge difference between energy that can be made cleaner over time and energy that destroys what we can never get back. So return to the watchmaker. I believe there is one. And if you believe there is a watchmaker too, ask yourself this: wouldn’t our watchmaker want us to move from the finite to the infinite as quickly as we can? Surely the maker did not put the sun in the sky, the wind on the plains, and the tides in the sea just for decoration. They were put there for us to find and use, when we were ready. The fuels we burned was a beginning. The clean ones are what we were meant to grow into. To move from one to the other, as fast as we can, is not just smart. It is doing what we were asked to do.

Ben Jealous is a professor of practice at the University of Pennsylvania and former president and CEO of the NAACP.

Guest Columnist Frances Toni Draper

Guest Columnist Ben Jealous

Columnist Marc Morial

“The

- New York Attorney General Letitia James

Local schools post gains as Missouri students continue recovery

By Ashley Winters

St. Louis American

As Missouri students continue to recover from pandemic-era learning loss, a group of St. Louis-area schools is showing signs of progress, with several posting gains in math and reading that outpace broader state trends.

The improvements will be recognized at an upcoming awards ceremony hosted by The Opportunity Trust, which highlights schools, educators and community leaders demonstrating measurable gains in student outcomes.

Recent assessment data shows Missouri students overall remain below pre-pandemic performance levels. But local results suggest a more uneven recovery, with some schools making steady gains in achievement, growth and school culture.

At Northside Community School, students have recorded some of the largest gains in math growth in the region, according to state data.

Executive Director Douglas Thaman said the recognition reflects sustained effort rather than a single year of results.

“This recognition represents the hard work our teachers, staff and students invest every day,” Thaman said. “It shows our efforts are building momentum.”

Several schools being honored reported improvements in core subjects. At Gateway Science Academy High School, math proficiency exceeds the statewide average, a notable benchmark as Missouri works to rebuild math achievement.

Northside attributes its prog-

ress to targeted instruction and intervention systems designed to support struggling students.

“Rather than looking for quick fixes, we’ve built systems that provide a safety net for all learners,” Thaman said.

Northside Grand Center Middle School Campus is also being recognized for posting major gains in math growth, a measure of how much progress students make over time regardless of starting level.

In reading, The Leadership School reported the largest gains among participating schools.

Executive Director Courtney Moulder said the results follow a shift to a structured literacy approach grounded in the science of reading.

“This award validates that our literacy strategy is working,” Moulder said. “We adopted a structured literacy curriculum in the early grades and invested in teacher training and external expertise.”

The approach includes weekly professional development, oneon-one coaching and dedicated planning time for teachers to analyze student data and adjust instruction.

“Our reading growth reflects the time and support teachers have to deliver targeted instruction,” Moulder said.

State and national data show the broader challenges remain significant. On the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress, 75% of Missouri fourth graders scored at or above basic in math, compared with 76% nationally. Among eighth graders, 59% reached that level in both Missouri and nationwide.

Students walk off campus after dismissal at North Side Community Charter Middle School at Grand Center on April 29, 2026. The middle school is set to be recognized for the greatest gains in math growth at The Opportunity Trust’s 2026 Spring Awards & Celebration, honoring measurable improvements in student outcomes across the St.

In reading, 58% of Missouri fourth graders and 65% of eighth graders scored at or above basic, closely mirroring national results. However, scores have remained largely flat in recent years.

Analysis from the PRiME Center at Saint Louis University shows math scores in grades three through eight have improved since 2021, while reading performance has stagnated. Average English language

arts scores remain at the “basic” level and below pre-pandemic levels in most grades.

The data also highlights persistent disparities. In 2025, fewer than one-third of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch reached proficiency in math or reading, though math scores for those students have improved modestly since 2021. Other schools recognized by The Opportunity Trust include Maplewood Richmond Heights

Elementary, where English language arts proficiency exceeds state averages, and Momentum Fox Park, which reported strong results in school culture measures such as student engagement and safety.

Individual educators are also being honored. David Lemkemeier of KIPP St. Louis Public Schools is recognized for leadership, while Destiny Baltimore of Premier Charter School is being honored for classroom instruction. BELIEVE Academy will receive an award for overall performance and growth.

The awards align with findings from the organization’s regional assessment review, which identified several St. Louis-area schools making measurable gains, including improvements among Black students and those from low-income backgrounds.

Thaman said closing achievement gaps requires sustained, long-term effort.

“Academic growth is rarely linear,” he said. “Addressing systemic gaps requires a long-term commitment to equity.”

Educators across the recognized schools point to a mix of strategies behind the gains, including targeted instruction, frequent assessment and a focus on school culture. At Northside, that includes smaller class sizes and consistent teacher-student relationships.

While statewide recovery remains uneven, the progress seen in these schools offers insight into what may be working—and what could be replicated—as districts continue efforts to improve student outcomes.

Photo by Lawrence Bryant | St. Louis American

Louis region.

Court ruling could reshape Missouri redistricting debate

A U.S. Supreme Court decision

Wednesday could give Missouri lawmakers more legal room to redraw the St. Louis-based 1st Congressional District in future elections, St. Louis Public Radio reported.

Major changes are unlikely before this year’s election because Missouri House Republicans lack enough votes to immediately enact a new map before the August primaries. Missouri Republicans have also previously explored reshaping the Kansas City-area 5th District, another Democratic

Ex-Alderman Bosley sentenced to prison in fraud case

Former St. Louis Alderman Brandon Bosley was sentenced Tuesday to 16 months in federal prison after being convicted of wire fraud and lying to the FBI in an insurance fraud scheme tied to a damaged car and false repair claims, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors said Bosley used his public office to help a business owner seeking city incentives, then sought an inflated insurance payout after his car was damaged. Bosley, elected in 2017, was also ordered to pay restitution. U.S. District Judge Henry Autrey told Bosley, once seen as a “rising star,” that “Your star burned out quickly,” The St. Louis PostDispatch reported.

Former St. Louis prosecutor now works in nursing program

Former St. Louis Circuit

Attorney Kim Gardner is now a nursing fellow at the University of California-Davis, according to university records cited by Fox 2 and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Gardner, who resigned in 2023 after years of controversy, is listed

stronghold, as part of broader redistricting efforts. The 1st District, which includes St. Louis and parts of St. Louis County, has long been a majority or plurality Black district. Voting rights advocates warned the ruling could make it easier to weaken minority voting power, while Attorney General Catherine Hanaway praised the decision.

Missouri’s Supreme Court has ruled lawmakers can revisit congressional boundaries in future sessions.

in psychiatry and behavioral sciences.

A Missouri audit found she attended nursing classes while on the city payroll. Gardner also faces a pending disbarment case tied to reimbursement payments.

Hazelwood names Bonita Jamison superintendent

Dr. Bonita E. Jamison

The Hazelwood School District Board of Education has named Dr. Bonita E. Jamison as its next superintendent, effective July 1. Jamison, currently superintendent of the Maplewood Richmond Heights School District, will succeed Dr. Nettie CollinsHart, who is retiring after a decade leading Hazelwood. Jamison has more than 25 years of experience in public education and previously lived in the Hazelwood district. She is also the parent of a Hazelwood West graduate. Hazelwood officials said community feedback helped shape the superintendent search.

Violence crosses borders. So must our response

By Ella Jones

As mayor of Ferguson, I have stood with families in some of their darkest moments. I have listened to the grief, the anger and the confusion that follows acts of violence in public spaces no community should have to endure — shootings inside a funeral home, outside a food truck and at a children’s outdoor track meet.

These tragedies happened in Ferguson, but the perpetrators came from neighborhoods across the region. Violence does not stop at a particular boundary line. And what we are facing is not just Ferguson’s problem. It’s a regional problem.

That is why our response must be far-reaching. Our efforts to prevent future violence must be effective, unified, collaborative and sustained across cities and towns, across law enforcement agencies and across the many community organizations and civic groups that offer support and strength.

That is why I support the regional anti-violence initiative Save Lives Now! The initiative began last fall at the request of regional elected leaders. Organized by the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, Save Lives Now! brings together law enforcement, community leaders, clergy, courts, probation and parole workers, health care workers and trusted street outreach workers in a coordinated system. The goal is to train and organize individuals across St. Louis city, St. Louis County and St. Clair County to use tactics proven to reduce shootings.

vene. They use specialized training to mediate disputes, interrupt retaliation and mentor individuals away from violent behavior. In another approach, law enforcement and community partners conduct strategic visits with individuals known to be involved in violence. During these visits, they warn individuals of the legal and personal consequences of continued violence and connect them with services.

These are not experimental strategies. They are tactics that have been proven in cities across the country to reduce shootings and homicides.

Right now, the reach of Save Lives Now! is limited — not because the need is not there, but because resources are scarce. In the city of St. Louis, trained street outreach workers are helping prevent violence. However, there is little funding or staffing to offer similar services in North St. Louis County.

In St. Louis County, a small group of law enforcement and community partners are doing a fantastic job stopping retaliation and violence by visiting individuals at risk and connecting them with services. But they do not have the staffing needed to train and fully involve smaller police departments in this work.

Officials in the county and smaller municipalities in North County continue to urge the St. Louis County Council to invest in Save Lives Now! County leaders have held about 20 public meetings to discuss the initiative, yet funding recommended by the county executive has not been approved.

This partnership focuses those tactics on individuals known in their neighborhoods to be most at risk for gun violence, either as potential victims of retaliation or as part of groups involved in violence.

Partners in Save Lives Now! are embedded in communities most impacted by violence. They are working in about 10 neighborhoods in North St. Louis city and county, with plans to expand into parts of East St. Louis and Cahokia Heights. The people working to prevent shootings and homicides in these communities are trusted and aware of disputes that could escalate into violence.

The people working to prevent shootings step in before a trigger is pulled. They inter-

At a time when national priorities are shifting away from prevention, we must decide what kind of communities we want to build.

We cannot arrest our way out of this problem. We cannot isolate our way out of this problem. We must collaborate our way out of it.

I urge residents to speak with their elected and volunteer community leaders and county officials about this initiative. Save Lives Now! is not just an initiative — it is an imperative. We must act now.

Ella Jones is the retiring mayor of Ferguson and a member of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments Board of Directors.

Ella Jones

APR. 30 – MAY 6, 2026

St. Louis city vehicles respond to a 20-inch water main break in June 2023 in the St. Louis Hills neighborhood. City officials say aging infrastructure, recurring repairs and mounting system costs are driving a proposed six-year plan to raise water rates.

Sinking underwater

Water hikes could add nearly $29 a month

St. Louis Public Radio and St. Louis American staffs

St. Louis residents could see their water bills rise significantly over the next six years under a proposed plan city officials say is necessary to stabilize an aging system strained by years of patchwork repairs, mounting deficits and growing infrastructure demands.

The proposal — introduced after an initial public town hall April 21 at Buder

Officials say the plan would help modernize an aging water system

Library and heading into another public meeting May 6 at O’Fallon Park Rec Complex — comes as city leaders warn that deferred investment, rising costs and looming federal mandates have pushed the Water Division to a financial and operational crossroads.

The six-year proposal fol-

lows a 3% CPI-U water rate adjustment that took effect Jan. 1 under a previous city ordinance. Under the new plan, the first phase would include two 18% increases in 2026 and 2027, followed by three 6% increases from 2028 through 2030 and two smaller increases in 2031

and 2032. Officials said that while the full plan could raise the average residential bill by roughly $29 a month by 2032, the initial increases would likely mean about $7 to $9 more per month during the early phases, depending on usage.

Residents currently pay about $35 to $45 a month on average, according to the Water Division. Even with the proposed hikes, officials

See Water Bill, A6

Black journalists honored for shaping St. Louis media landscape

Special to The St. Louis American

Four Black journalists whose careers helped shape newsroom leadership, community coverage and talent pipelines in St. Louis were inducted into the St. Louis Media History Foundation Hall of Fame on April 23. The honorees— Normal “Tweed” Webb, Donald E. Franklin, Bonita Cornute and Alvin A. Reid—were recognized for decades of work spanning print and broadcast journalism, as well as their roles in expanding access and representation in the media industry.

Webb, a longtime sports editor at the St. Louis Argus,

was honored posthumously for his coverage of Negro League and local Tandy League baseball. Beyond reporting, his work helped preserve records and elevate players whose contributions had been overlooked by mainstream media. His reporting and archival work contributed to the eventual induction of James “Cool Papa” Bell into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, underscoring the role local journalism can play in shaping national sports history. Franklin, also honored posthumously, was among the earliest Black journalists at the St. Louis PostDispatch. Joining the news-

paper in 1967, he worked as a reporter, copy editor and assistant city editor, covering crime and community issues. He later co-founded the Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists, which launched the nation’s first Urban Journalism Workshop in 1977. The program created a pipeline for Black students to enter print and broadcast media, an effort that continues to influence newsroom diversity initiatives.

publisher Donald M. Suggs with providing early career opportunities.

“I would not be here without the St. Louis American,” Reid said, noting his career has included stops at daily newspapers across several states and national publications.

Reid, current city editor of the St. Louis American and a panelist on Nine PBS’ “Donnybrook,” is among those who came through that pipeline. He credited the American and

PEOPLE On The Move

Watkins to command NASA Crew-13 mission

NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins will command the four-member Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station, scheduled to launch in September 2026. Watkins, selected by NASA in 2017, previously flew on the SpaceX Crew-4 mission in 2022, spending 170 days aboard the station. With the upcoming flight, she is expected to become the first NASA astronaut to launch twice aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

A Colorado native, Watkins holds a bachelor’s degree in geological and environmental sciences from Stanford University and a doctorate in geology from the University of California, Los Angeles. She previously worked on the Mars Curiosity rover science team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Stallworth, Thornton join Child Care Aware

Child Care Aware of Missouri has added two members to its management team.

George Stallworth

George Stallworth joined the nonprofit as an accounting specialist, where he will manage financial and accounting operations. He previously worked with the Salvation Army and Advantage 2000. Stallworth is a graduate of the U.S. Navy Logistics Specialist School and holds bachelor’s degrees in accountancy and business administration from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Ashley Thornton was named assistant director of customer service experience. She will oversee call center operations and lead the organization’s offsite customer support team. Thornton previously served as a call center supervisor for Keefe Group and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychological sciences from the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Lakesha Mathis promoted to partner

Lakesha Mathis has been promoted to partner at Greater St. Louis Inc., where she leads the organization’s community engagement team.

Lakesha Mathis

His career reflects a broader shift in local media, where journalists increasingly move across markets and platforms while maintaining ties to community-based outlets.

Cornute, a longtime broadcaster at KTVI, was recognized for a 35-year career that spanned reporting, producing

Mathis has led several regional initiatives, including GSL Inc., SupplySTL and the Diverse Business Accelerator, focusing on expanding equitable access to entrepreneurship and supporting inclusive economic development. She previously served as director of inclusive business solutions at the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association. Mathis holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

Promotion, board appointment, new hire, award... please submit your People on the Move item (including photo) to areid@stlamerican.com.

Jessica Watkins

Photo by Tristen Rouse / St. Louis Public Radio

Ashley Thornton

Alvin A. Reid

Bonita Cornute

St. Louis adds jobs in March, metro still lags

The St. Louis metro area added 2,300 jobs in March, reaching 1,424,600 total nonfarm jobs, according to Missouri’s latest employment report.

Construction led monthly gains with 5,200 new jobs, while leisure and hospitality added 4,900. Despite the increase, regional employment remained down 5,700 jobs, or 0.4%, from March 2025. Professional and business services posted continued annual losses.

Missouri lost 3,200 jobs in March, though the unemployment rate held steady at 3.9%. The data reflects short-term growth in construction and hospitality but longer-term weakness in service and white-collar sectors.

Water Bill

Continued from A5

said city water rates would remain among the lowest in the region.

City leaders said the proposal is based on a water rate sufficiency study conducted by engineering consulting firm Black & Veatch, which concluded that higher rates are needed to address staffing shortages, aging infrastructure, rising material costs and recurring system failures.

Special Assistant to the Water Commissioner Spencer Gould said the division can no longer afford to rely primarily on temporary repairs while larger infrastructure needs continue to grow.

“If you have a $20,000 car, spending $6,000 a year to (repair) it isn’t necessarily the best course

Brooklyn, Illinois, lands $2 million redevelopment boost

Brooklyn, Illinois, will receive $2 million in federal Community Project Funding to help transform “The Skating Rink” along historic Route 66 into a multipurpose community space, U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski announced.

Budzinski secured the funding through the fiscal year 2026 appropriations process. Founded by Priscilla “Mother” Baltimore in 1829, Brooklyn is recognized as the nation’s first predominantly Black incorporated town and a historic freedom village.

Local leaders said the project is intended to help revitalize the community and create new opportunities for residents in the Metro East town.

of action,” Gould said.

“Sometimes you need to just buy a new car. We have some parts of our treatment system that we are continuing to do patchwork repairs on, because we’re not in a fiscal position where we can fully replace them.”

Gould said the plan is intended to move the division from reactive emergency fixes to proactive long-term investment.

The financial pressure is substantial. Water Division officials told the Board of Aldermen in March that the system was projecting nearly a $10 million deficit by the end of June. Gould said the division has effectively operated at a deficit for about seven years, with federal relief funds providing only temporary support.

More than $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds have supported infrastructure projects

Good Shepherd Academy for Boys, an initiative of Foundation for Strengthening Families, held its groundbreaking ceremony April 16. Founder and CEO Cortaiga S. Collins said the school’s mission is to “build strong boys for a stronger future.”

St. Louis awards $544,887 for North Side boys preschool

St. Louis’ Community Development Administration has awarded $544,887 to the Foundation for Strengthening Families to help launch Good Shepherd Academy for Boys, a preschool for boys ages 3 to 5 serving Hamilton Heights, the West End, Wells-Goodfellow and surrounding North St. Louis neighborhoods.

The grant includes $413,533 in American Rescue Plan Act funds and $131,345 in Community Development Block Grant funding. Total project costs

are about $1 million, with additional support from tax credits and donations.

A groundbreaking and ceremonial check presentation was held April 16. The academy is expected to enroll 20 boys and will focus on early learning, social-emotional development and school readiness as part of the Show Me Family Zone initiative.

Supporters say the project is designed to strengthen families by expanding early childhood opportunities in historically underserved communities.

and customer assistance efforts, while the Board of Aldermen also approved redirecting about $5.5

million in unspent ARPA money to the system.

In March, Mayor Cara Spencer signed Board Bill 161, reallocating roughly $6.8 million more for water infrastructure replacement and repair.

Officials said those reallocations may provide important short-term support, but they do not resolve deeper structural problems.

Among the biggest challenges is compliance with a 2024 Environmental Protection Agency rule requiring cities to identify and replace lead service lines within 10 years — a process Gould said could cost St. Louis as much as $500 million.

The city is still working to identify about 50,000 unknown water lines, many dating back generations. In the meantime, officials said corrosion-control measures are being used to reduce lead exposure risks while the city pursues federal grants and other financing options.

Staffing is another major concern.

Gould said increased revenue would also help the division attract and retain skilled workers as it competes with private

Journalists

Continued from A5

and hosting community-focused programming. She joined the station in 1983 and became known for her consumer and public affairs reporting.

Her work highlights the role of local television in building audience trust and delivering service-oriented journalism—an area that remains central as stations adapt to digital platforms and changing viewer habits.

“I went to work every day committed to informing the community,”

employers and other utilities for operators, maintenance crews and technical staff. Mayor Cara Spencer has said city employees will soon receive at least a 3% raise.

“For us to be able to pay for that, we need to make sure that we’re collecting enough,” Gould said. “We need a stable workforce, and we’re

The city is still working to identify about 50,000 unknown water lines, many dating back generations.

competing for skilled operators, maintenance staff, technical positions all over our division.”

The average pay for Water Division employees was $72,069 in 2025.

The proposed increases also come as the city continues collecting millions in overdue water bills after ending a five-year pandemic-era moratorium. As of late last year, more than 16,000 accounts still had unpaid balances.

Officials expanded

Cornute said. She retired in 2018 and was previously honored with a Living Legend Award from the Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists. Together, the inductees represent multiple facets of the regional media ecosystem—from legacy print institutions to broadcast newsrooms—and illustrate how local journalists have influenced both coverage and career pathways. Their contributions come at a time when news organizations continue to confront challenges around workforce diversity, audience engagement and sustainable business models.

deficit for years, with temporary federal relief helping offset costs.

payment plans from 12 to 24 months and increased eligibility for assistance programs, but Gould said the proposed hikes are not intended to cover delinquent bills. Instead, he said, the increases are aimed at securing the long-term sustainability of the system itself.

“We’ve had a lot of success in addressing overdue bills,” Gould said. “Having a stable system puts us in a better position to work with customers.”

For residents, the proposal could mean paying more for water in the coming years. But city officials argue the larger cost of continued underinvestment could be even greater if aging infrastructure failures, workforce shortages and regulatory demands continue to escalate.

The next public town hall is scheduled for May 6 at O’Fallon Park Rec Complex. Residents can also submit comments online at stlwater.com.

“We’re going to put forward our proposal that was determined by our rate sufficiency study,” Gould said. “What may change is how we get there.”

Programs like the Urban Journalism Workshop and long-standing community outlets such as the St. Louis American remain key components of that landscape.

The Hall of Fame recognition highlights not only individual achievement, but also the broader impact of journalists who helped expand access to the profession while documenting underrepresented communities.

For a full list of the 15 newest St. Louis Media History Foundation Hall of Fame members, please visit https://stlmediahistory.org/

Photo by Eric Lee / St. Louis Public Radio

A St. Louis Water Division vehicle passes a security checkpoint in Forest Park in January 2024. City officials say the division has operated at a

Photo courtesy of Good Shepherd Academy

HealthMattersHealthMattersHealthMatters

‘Taking Care of You’

The fibroid slayer

One doctor’s fight for women too often dismissed

By Jennifer Porter Gore Word in Black

It was the kind of case most OB-GYNs considered too dangerous: A 17-week pregnancy, a 27-pound fibroid and a patient told repeatedly that saving her life likely meant sacrificing both her uterus and her unborn child.

But when Brionna Johnson reached Chicago surgeon Dr. Pierre Johnson, he saw another option. At Loretto Hospital, he removed the massive fibroid while preserving both pregnancy and fertility — a rare feat that has drawn national attention.

Known online as the “Fibroid Slayer,” Johnson has built a growing following by tackling complex cases, educating women

about fibroid care and speaking candidly about racial disparities in reproductive medicine. A South Side Chicago native, he says his mission was shaped early by witnessing inequities in his own community.

Word In Black spoke with Johnson about his origins, groundbreaking surgical techniques and what Black women need to know when seeking gynecological care. His comments have been edited for length and clarity.

WIB: When did you know you wanted to become a doctor?

Dr. Pierre Johnson: “I was about five or six years old. I’m just a very purpose-driven person. When I was a senior in high school, my term paper for my career goal was liter-

See Johnson, A8

Missouri Senate softens Medicaid work rules

By Steph Quinn Missouri Independent and St. Louis American staff

Missouri Senate Republicans have narrowed a proposed constitutional amendment affecting Medicaid, the government health insurance program for low-income residents, scaling back a broader House plan while preserving a debate that could affect healthcare access for many Missourians. The House version would have permanently written Medicaid work requirements into Missouri’s Constitution. A Senate committee instead revised the proposal so voters would authorize state lawmakers, the governor or the Department of Social Services to impose work requirements later if federal standards are weakened or repealed. The issue carries particular weight in Missouri’s largest metro areas, where Black residents make up a significant share of Medicaid recipients. Medicaid also covers many births statewide, mak-

ing eligibility rules especially important for maternal and family healthcare access.

Missouri voters approved Medicaid expansion in 2020, extending coverage to more low-income adults. Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, federal law already is set to require many Medicaid expansion recipients ages 19 to 64 to verify at least 80 hours a month of work, school or volunteer activity.

Supporters say Missouri should retain flexibility if federal requirements change.

“This is a trigger language,” Republican state Sen. Jill Carter said

Where Black women’s care falls short

By Dr. Ayanna Quamina

Black women’s health disparities remain a critical issue as limited research funding continues to impact care, treatment and understanding of common conditions affecting Black women. Women’s health research has historically been underfunded, and the numbers tell a sobering story. In 2023, the National Institutes of Health invested less than 8% of its total grant funding in women’s health, about $3.4 billion out of a $43.7 billion budget. While that may sound substantial, it represents only a small share of the resources devoted to understanding half the population. Research specifically focused on Black women’s health is even more limited.

Estimates suggest that only about 2% of U.S. health research is dedicated to studying the health needs of Black women.

Estimates suggest that only about 2% of U.S. health research is dedicated to studying the health needs of Black women. Organizations such as the Black Women’s Health Imperative are working to change that, including the largest menopause and perimenopause survey ever conducted specifically for Black women. Still, the overall level of research focused on Black women’s health remains deeply inadequate. This means there is limited information about how conditions uniquely affect Black women, how symptoms present differently in our bodies, and what treatments may be most supportive for our population.

As the only Black naturopathic

See Quamina, A8

Photo Envato

Chicago OB-GYN Dr. Pierre Johnson says women facing fibroid complications should understand they have options and carefully research providers when seeking care.

Envato

Dr. Ayanna Quamina

HealthMattersHealthMattersHealthMatters

‘Taking Care of You’

Medicaid

Continued from A7

during committee discussion, according to Missouri Independent. “If the federal government changes, then Missouri can respond.”

Backers, including House sponsor Rep. Darin Chappell, say work requirements help preserve Medicaid resources for residents with the greatest needs.

Opponents, including Senate Democrats and healthcare advocates, argue work requirements often cause eligible people to lose coverage because of paperwork or reporting barriers rather than unemployment.

Washington University research cited by Missouri

Johnson

Continued from A7 ally titled ‘My Life as an OB-GYN.’

“As a [South Side] kid, I saw just disparities, racism, just poor health care, and experienced it. Through my mother, through my family, and just watched it. As a kid, I knew that one of my goals was to provide care for women all over the world–but starting with Chicago.”

WIB: How did you become involved in Brionna Johnson’s case?

Johnson: “She actually — through marriage — is related to a distant cousin of mine. When my relative reached out to me and told me about it, it just didn’t sound right. Women with

Independent found most Missouri Medicaid recipients already work or qualify through caregiving, school, disability or other circumstances.

The Senate committee also removed broader constitutional language that critics said could have made future changes harder to reverse.

The proposal still requires full Senate approval, another House vote and statewide voter approval before taking effect.

While the Senate rewrite is less expansive than the original House plan, the measure keeps Missouri in a broader debate over whether Medicaid should remain an income-based health coverage program or include expanded work-related eligibility rules.

cases like hers typically have an issue getting pregnant. So, when I heard it, I said ‘I don’t care how big it is, I can do it.’”

WIB: What gave you that confidence?

Johnson: “I’d already done 20-pound fibroids preserving the uterus. I’ve perfected a skill, a technique that no one taught me, that I taught myself.”

WIB: How do you explain fibroids to patients?

Johnson: “Look at a uterus as a house. You’ve got the inside [rooms], the drywall, and the roof. Fibroids could be inside ... they’re a huge problem. They could be in the drywall ... somewhat of a problem ... Or they could be on the roof.

“If a tree branch falls

off a tree and hits your roof, you probably won’t know it happened. For this particular patient, these enormous fibroids were on the roof ... The baby is inside, not knowing everything that’s on the roof. So, getting the fibroid off of the roof should not impact what’s happening on the inside.”

WIB: How unusual was this surgery, even for you?

this patient, 27 pounds with this large mass, think about a carry-on suitcase ... and put that in your body.”

Johnson: “Before her, it was 20 pounds. A woman from the East Coast. Think about 20 pounds — that’s just walking around with an extra 20-pound weight on your body. ... But for

WIB: How did social media expand your work?

Johnson:

“When I finished residency in 2013 ... my mindset was: I’m not turning down any case. The hardest cases — I’m taking everything, no matter what it is. I will figure it out.”

WIB: What changed as your audience grew?

Johnson: “I started teaching people: if you have a problem, adjust your insurance so it can

Quamina

Continued from A7 doctor actively practicing in the state of Minnesota, I am particularly aware of these gaps. I see them reflected in my patients’ experiences every day.

Learning how your body works is one of the most powerful first steps toward protecting your health. Because large institutions have yet to fully prioritize research in this area, I’m sharing insight from the clinical side. Below are three of the most common conditions I see among my Black women patients, along with a brief look at both conventional and naturopathic approaches.

Fibroids

Also known as leiomyomas, fibroids are common benign growths made of uterine muscle and connective tissue. They affect many women during their reproductive years, but occur significantly more often in Black women.

Although fibroids are noncancerous, they can cause problems depending on their size, number and location. Some women live their entire lives without realizing they have fibroids, while others experience severe symptoms, including heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, severe menstrual cramping, pain during sexual intercourse, constipation, frequent urination and abdominal fullness or distention.

Depending on severity, conventional medicine offers several treatment options, including hormonal medications, surgical removal of fibroids or procedures such as uterine artery embolization.

In naturopathic medicine, the focus is on

give you the opportunity to move around and choose your care. Don’t let your geographical limitations hinder you. ... As I started preaching this on social media, the cases got way more complex.”

WIB: What should women ask before trusting a surgeon with fibroid care?

Johnson: “What is your experience with dealing with these types of cases? What is your philosophy about removing all fibroids? ... What is your percentage rate of success converting myomectomies to hysterectomies?”

WIB: Why is that last question so important?

Johnson: “Meaning, if the doctor goes into surgery planning to take

addressing underlying causes. In my clinical experience, fibroids often correlate with chronic stress and hormone imbalance.

One of my preferred diagnostic tools is a salivary cortisol and hormone panel, which helps us understand how a patient’s stress hormones and reproductive hormones interact. From there, we create a personalized protocol that may include stress management strategies, nutrition and eating habit adjustments, sleep optimization and targeted supplementation.

While naturopathic medicine does not surgically remove fibroids, I have seen cases where fibroids shrank significantly.

Perimenopause and menopause

Perimenopause and menopause are not diseases or signs that the body is failing. They are natural biological transitions as the body moves from one hormonal phase of life to another. However, because estrogen is one of the body’s most biologically active hormones, the transition can feel overwhelming for many women.

Common symptoms include hot flashes, mood changes, sleep disruption, brain fog and irregular menstrual cycles.

Conventional medicine uses several tools to manage symptoms. Hormone replacement therapy, once widely feared, is now being used more thoughtfully with improved safety protocols.

My approach to menopause is highly individualized. Some patients use HRT in collaboration with their medical providers. Others prefer botanical options such as black cohosh, chaste tree berry or passionflower to help

Opponents, including Senate Democrats and healthcare advocates, argue work requirements often cause eligible people to lose coverage because of paperwork or reporting barriers rather than unemployment.

out fibroids and restore the uterus, how many times has he or she ended up aborting that plan and having to take the whole uterus out? That’s an excellent question that people don’t ask.”

WIB: How should patients research a provider?

Johnson: “ChatGPT and Google are really not research if you’re looking at a provider. This person literally has your life in their hands for as long as you’re on that table under anesthesia.”

WIB: What does meaningful research look like?

Johnson: “Do research on them as a person, not just as a physician. Don’t just look at their Google reviews. Don’t just look at a website.”

support symptom management.

Equally important are lifestyle foundations, particularly stress management and healthy sleep patterns during this transition.

PCOS

Polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, is a complex hormonal condition. It may include irregular menstrual cycles, ovarian cysts, acne, excess facial hair and fertility challenges. Many women with PCOS also experience complications such as insulin resistance, weight gain, hypertension and elevated cholesterol.

Conventional treatment often focuses on managing symptoms and may include birth control pills, medications to improve insulin sensitivity or surgery.

Although the precise cause of PCOS is still being studied, research shows that insulin regulation, hormonal imbalance and stress all play important roles. My approach focuses on restoring balance in these areas through stabilizing eating habits, supporting insulin regulation and helping modulate hormone activity.

While the research world continues to catch up, one thing remains clear: knowledge is power. Understanding how your body functions, how it responds to stress, and how it signals imbalance can transform the way you approach your health.

Until research truly reflects the needs of all women, sharing knowledge within our communities and clinics will remain one of our most powerful tools.

Dr. Ayanna Quamina is a Minneapolis-based, board-registered naturopathic doctor specializing in family practice. This commentary originally appeared in the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

Dr. Pierre Johnson

Envato photo

Did Nelly deliver another MAGA performance?

St. Louis rap star Nelly was said to have been scheduled to perform at a members-only club owned by the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., in Washington DC, ahead of last weekend’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

The Grammy-winning music star was scheduled to take the stage on April 24th at Executive Branch, an exclusive club in Georgetown where a membership is rumored to start at $500,000. According to Politico, the guest featured senior Trump administration officials, leaders from the business and tech sector, and “non-fake news media.”

As of press time, there have been no confirmed reports or footage showing whether the performance actually happened.

Nelly previously defended his per formance at Trump’s second inaugu ration last year, insisting it wasn’t political and saying he was simply showing “respect for the office.”

Meg calls it quits with Klay

Thomas Foundation Gala in July.

‘Menace II Society’ actor Samuel Monroe Jr. on life support; family launches GoFundMe

Samuel Monroe Jr. — best known for his role as Ilena’s cousin in the 1993 classic “Menace II Society” — is fighting for his life in a Southern California hospital, according to TMZ. The 52yearold actor has reportedly been on life support for the past three days as he battles meningitis, and his prognosis remains unclear.

His wife, Shawna Stewart, says the family has launched a GoFundMe as medical bills continue to mount. The fundraiser reads in part: “The funds raised will go directly toward covering his mounting medical bills and providing for his children during this incredibly difficult time.”

Stewart also shared that Monroe first contracted meningitis about 18 months ago while filming a movie in Las Vegas — but repeated misdiagnoses allowed the illness to worsen.

Monroe’s career spans film and television, with memorable appearances in “Tales from the Hood,” “Set It Off,” “The Players Club,” “Out All Night,” “NYPD Blue” and the Wayans Brothers’ parody “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood.”

Jay Bryant pleads guilty in

Sources: CBS News, Instagram, NBC News, Politico, TMZ.com

keen sense of humor that often, impishly, bordered on the irreverent,” Suggs said.

June McAllister Fowler, chair of the garden’s board of trustees, said Raven “didn’t simply lead the garden; he redefined what it could be.”

“His vision elevated it to a world-class institution while deepening its roots in St. Louis.”

Michael McMillan, president and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis and a former Missouri Botanical Garden trustee, said Raven will be missed by the entire St. Louis community.

“Peter Raven helped transform the Missouri Botanical Garden into a

Data Center

Continued from A1

At the center of the debate is the data center itself — a facility that houses vast networks of computer servers powering cloud storage, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure.

Supporters tout such centers as engines of modern economic growth, but critics increasingly question their enormous electricity demands, water use for cooling systems, diesel backup generators and whether surrounding communities bear environmental and utility burdens disproportionate to the relatively limited permanent jobs they often create.

By restarting the approval process, Ferguson leaders have effectively bought more time for scrutiny — delaying any final decision while residents, schools and advocacy groups continue pressing for clearer financial terms, environmental safeguards and greater public accountability.

Supporters say the long-vacant campus could generate construc-

globally respected institution that attracts visitors from all over the world,” McMillan said. “His work is recognized locally, nationally and internationally.”

Time magazine named Raven a “Hero for the Planet” in 1999. He frequently warned that the loss of biodiversity was one of the central threats of the modern age. He shared his thoughts with The American in 2010.

“We are trashing biological diversity at such a speed we have to go back 65 million years to when the dinosaurs disappeared to find a time when biological diversity was disappearing so rapidly,” Raven told Chris King, then The American’s managing editor.

“So, the Garden’s role is really important in helping to build sustainability and conserve

tion work, preserve and expand economic use of a major industrial site, create at least 100 new full-time jobs under current incentive requirements and establish Ferguson as a larger player in the region’s growing tech economy.

But critics — including residents, the FergusonFlorissant School District, the Ferguson Library District and the St. Louis County NAACP — argue the project’s scale and public cost demand far more scrutiny before city leaders approve tax incentives that could shape Ferguson’s finances for decades.

Under the current proposal, Ferguson could grant up to 15 years of tax abatements on real estate, personal property and sales taxes, while SSL would make payments in lieu of taxes and other negotiated community payments rather than immediately paying full taxes under standard structures. For opponents, one of the biggest unresolved questions is whether public benefits would adequately match the extraordinary scale of possible tax concessions.

The debate is unfolding

biological diversity, which is what everything we do is ultimately based on.

All our food and many of our medicines are based directly on biological diversity, as well as environmental functions like moderating the flow of water, absorbing toxins, and preserving topsoil.”

Raven was born in Shanghai in 1936 to Walter and Isabelle Breen Raven. He earned his doctorate from University of California, Los Angeles in 1960 after undergraduate studies at University of California, Berkeley. Early fieldwork in Mexico studying folk taxonomy helped shape his lifelong interest in the relationship between people and plants.

Louis, he spent nearly a decade as a professor at Stanford University.

Time magazine named Raven a “Hero for the Planet” in 1999.

“He was among the most influential botanists of the past century. Over a career that spanned more than six decades, he combined taxonomy, evolutionary biology and conservation into a coherent body of work: to understand the diversity of life, and to argue for its preservation with a clarity that was unusual among scientists of his generation,” wrote Rhett Ayers Butler, founder of Mongabay, a website and nonprofit dedicated to raising interest in the natural world.

Before moving to St.

as other St. Louis-area communities are taking sharply different approaches to the fast-growing data center boom.

In St. Louis, city officials recently approved a major data center project near the historic Armory without local tax abatements, instead requiring direct community benefits and broader public safeguards. In Festus, backlash over a proposed $6 billion data center became a political flashpoint, with voters ousting multiple incumbents who supported the project after residents argued the process moved too quickly and lacked transparency.

Ferguson’s proposal is not identical to either case, but the regional contrasts underscore the larger question facing local leaders across Missouri: How much public incentive, oversight and community protection should accompany projects promising billions in private investment?

In Ferguson, public pressure has focused not only on the project’s economic promise, but on whether city officials and residents have had enough time and independent

In 2000, President Bill Clinton presented him the National Medal of Science.

China awarded him its National Friendship Medal, the country’s highest honor for foreign citizens.

Raven served on the council of the National Academy of Sciences and later as its home secretary. He also was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of numerous academies worldwide.

Raven served on the President’s Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology and as a trustee of the National Geographic Society. He was also a life member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

In 1985, Raven was awarded a MacArthur Foundation fellowship.

information to evaluate it responsibly.

City records and public meetings show repeated concerns over the speed of the legislative process, including objections that council members were being asked to weigh a massive redevelopment package without enough time for deeper analysis of financial projections, environmental risks, utility demands and legal implications.

Defining the proposal as a “rushed process” with a “lack of transparency,” the St. Louis County NAACP called on Ferguson to delay taxbreak approval and renegotiate community and environmental protections.

The council’s delay followed the April election of new Mayor Adrian Shropshire, who inherited negotiations largely shaped before he took office. Shropshire has sought additional time and detail before a final vote.

“I think we do need good economic development in our area. I just need to really know more about the project itself,” Shropshire said.

Current plans indicate the initial phase would

Triplett

Continued from A1 expulsions.

Triplett said Normandy also invested in safety and infrastructure, including expanded security systems, a districtwide crisis alert program, and delayed campus renovations, while stabilizing finances through reserve-building, federal funding and reduced operational costs.

District figures suggest those efforts produced progress in several foundational areas.

Kindergarten reading proficiency rose from 12% at the start of the school year to 70% by year’s end, according to district data. Normandy also reported a 25% increase in attendance, a 94% fill rate for certified teaching positions, and the return of Advanced Placement and dual enrollment opportunities for more than 45 students. Additional supports, including Read 180 and i-Ready diagnostics, were expanded to strengthen instruction for high school students and multilingual learners.

Those figures point to notable internal gains, particularly in operational stability and early literacy.

At the same time, broader academic benchmarks indicate that significant challenges remain.

According to U.S. News & World Report, 11% of elementary students tested at or above proficiency in reading and 10% in math, with similarly low outcomes at the middle school level. The contrast between district-reported gains and

At 35, he was appointed director of the Missouri Botanical Garden. During the next 40 years, he transformed it into a global cen-

largely involve converting existing warehouse space and expanding existing on-site infrastructure rather than immediately building one of the larger hyperscale campuses proposed elsewhere.

But residents and some council members say critical questions remain about long-term expansion, diesel backup systems, power demands and whether current details are sufficient before granting enormous public subsidies.

“Unfortunately, there are just too many unknowns and too much doubt for me to support the approval,” Councilman Jamil Franklin said.

Onder has argued environmental fears are overstated and that the site’s existing industrial zoning, private utility infrastructure and closed-loop water system make the project more viable than critics suggest.

“I want to create this as a center for entrepreneurship, a center for development. A center for green, environmentally friendly energy and resources,” Onder said.

Still, many residents remain unconvinced.

At town halls and coun-

outside academic benchmarks underscores ongoing questions about how quickly structural improvements may translate into broader academic progress.

“Data tells one story, but not the whole story,” Triplett said.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said Normandy remains provisionally accredited under the Missouri School Improvement Program, or MSIP 6, which evaluates districts on leadership, teaching quality, school culture, data use and student outcomes.

Since the current accountability framework was implemented in 2022, Normandy has remained under continued state monitoring, a status that reflects both progress and continued areas for improvement. State officials said governance and consistent leadership remain important during periods of transition.

For some community leaders, the district’s academic challenges are closely tied to broader conditions outside the classroom.

Chris Krehmeyer, president and CEO of Beyond Housing, said poverty, housing instability and family transience remain major barriers.

“For over 20 years, the transitory nature of families living in poverty in this region has significantly impacted the district’s ability to ensure every student has the opportunity to succeed,” Krehmeyer said.

Beyond Housing manages more than 400 homes within district boundaries, but Krehmeyer said that has not been enough to

ter for botanical research, building networks that extended across Latin America, Africa, Asia and other regions. Under his direction, the garden became involved in major international projects, including the Flora of China, a vast collaborative effort that cataloged more than 31,000 species. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Duncan Raven, a former director of the Mercer Botanic Gardens near Houston; four children, Alice Raven, Liz Raven McQuinn, Francis Raven, and Kate Raven; and four grandchildren. A celebration of Raven’s life will be held at the Missouri Botanical Garden at a later date. Donations may be made to the garden’s Dr. Peter H. Raven Memorial Fund.

cil meetings, residents have raised concerns about pollution, water use, utility costs and environmental justice in a predominantly Black community that many say has already borne disproportionate environmental burdens.

“Ferguson being a predominantly black American community… we are already dealing with environmental racism of all sorts,” resident Lady J Huston said. “So, we don’t need another one coming here in our back doors.”

For now, Ferguson’s fight over Project Butterfly has become more than a debate over one redevelopment deal. It is part of a broader regional reckoning over how communities pursue economic growth in the AI era — and whether billion-dollar promises are enough without public trust, meaningful protections and proof that the benefits will truly reach the people already living there.

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

offset what he described as a historic 40% annual student turnover rate.

“That level of transience makes it almost impossible to ensure that every child can fully access the educational opportunities available,” he said.

Krehmeyer said school reform alone cannot fully address broader challenges tied to housing, health care, infrastructure and economic opportunity.

“Until we have both high-quality academic delivery in every building and address issues like housing and economic stability at scale, our community will not be what everyone wants it to be,” he said.

He also argued that siloed investments have fallen short of producing broader community-level change.

“All aspects of a healthy community are interconnected,” Krehmeyer said. “Unless we recognize that and invest accordingly, we will continue to fall short. We can’t keep funding siloed efforts that have never produced community-level change.”

Triplett said he believes the district’s recent work helped establish a stronger operational foundation.

“I feel good about the work I’ve done — no regrets,” he said.

He said his leadership focused on students and long-term systems.

“My role as superintendent was never to appease adults or cultivate popularity,” Triplett said. “It was to serve and support every student and make decisions based on what was best for children.”

“You hold out hope for sustained eye

Living It

contact or a smile; even a hand squeeze can make you feel like they could come back to you ‘normal’ at any second. It’s brutal and it’s what he experienced, but it wasn’t who he was.” - Gabrielle Union on her father’s battle with dementia

The pause before the l

Counterpublic’s ‘Coyote Time’ invites St. Louis into a shared future

By Zaria Mac St. Louis American

Counterpublic is preparing to stretch St. Louis’ imagination again. This fall, the nonprofit arts organization will launch its third citywide exhibition, a triennial that threads artists, neighborhoods, and cultural institutions into one collective conversation. From September 12 through December 22, the exhibition will unfold across the city — not as a single event, but as a living, shifting network of placebased works.

This year’s theme, “Coyote Time,” was revealed during an artist launch party and concert at the Garage last Thursday. The

room felt like a crosssection of St. Louis’ creative ecosystem: DJs, curators, neighborhood organizers, museum leaders, and artists who don’t wait for institutions to validate their work. House DJ Nyara warmed the space with a steady pulse, and by the time Sir Eddie C hit the stage, the gathering had transformed from an announcement into a community moment.

“Coyote time” is a term borrowed from gaming. It takes place the split second after a character steps off a platform but can still jump before falling. Assistant Curator Charlie Farrell described it as “a forgiveness mechanic… the moment where you have jumped and the platform has yet to appear.” It’s a tiny window

Denise Thimes

marks 30 years of Mother’s Day magic

By Kenya Vaughn St. Louis American

What began as a daughter’s final gift has grown into a St. Louis tradition.

For St. Louis jazz diva Denise Thimes, the 30th Annual Mother’s Day Dinner and Concert taking place next Sunday at The Sheldon grew from a promise she made to herself in one of the most fragile moments of her life.

“I can’t even believe it myself,” Thimes said, reflecting on the milestone. “This started with my mom being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer… and me asking, ‘Okay, God, what can I do?’”

In 1997, her mother, Mildred Thimes, was given a devastating prognosis. At the time, the family knew little about the disease—only that it moved quickly. Doctors spoke in estimates. And according to them, her mother didn’t have long to live.

“I wanted my mother to have the opportunity to hear my voice on stage one more time,” Thimes said.

The next holiday on the calendar was Mother’s Day. With little more than faith and intention, Thimes approached the Sheldon Concert Hall about hosting a Mother’s Day concert.

“The first words out of his mouth were, ‘Good luck with that,’” she recalled with a chuckle. “He said, ‘People aren’t coming out on Mother’s Day.’ We laugh about that now on social media.”

But St. Louis showed up—about 250 strong.

What was meant to be a one-time offering—a chance for her mother to hear her voice, possibly for the last time—became something the community wasn’t ready to let go of.

“People started asking, ‘Are you

ap

ap

where hesitation, hope, and possibility all coexist.

As a metaphor, it lands squarely in the world we’re living in. “Coyote time is also a question of how we support ourselves through increasingly unstable times,” Farrell said. “What is the future we want to build toward? What are the platforms we can invest in to support ourselves and our communities?”

That question is already being answered in the work of artists like André Fuqua, a St. Louis–born artist, engineer, and scientist affiliated with Occupy

St. Louis

Faith and family take center stage as the Manns head to

By Kenya Vaughn St. Louis American

When the Love and Relationship Tour pulls into St. Louis on May 1 at the Stifel Theatre, the husband-and-wife duo of David Mann and Tamela Mann will bring more than a show. They’re offering a night of testimony, transparency and the kind of enduring love that has carried them through 38 years of marriage and more than three decades in the spotlight.

“This tour was birthed out of the necessity that our nation needs some healing right now — there is a lot of hurting going on,” Tamela said.

What began as a response to the times became deeply personal. The Manns admit the spark for the tour came from challenges within their own household. Their truth is a reminder that even those who minister to millions are not exempt from life’s storms.

“Our family went through a little trial with our kids, and we realized that healing wasn’t just for us,” David said. “We’ve seen families reconcile, we’ve seen families healed from this tour — that was our main goal in doing this.”

Instead of a traditional stop-andgo concert, the Manns have crafted a seamless flow of music, ministry and real conversation. The night opens with selections from their duet album Us Against the World, a project that pushed them creatively while offering fans an intimate window into their love story. For Tamela, stepping into that space required growth.

“I had a lot of hesitation doing the love project,” she admitted. “I wondered if people would judge me for singing love music. But then I realized I’m

Photo courtesy of @TamelaandDavidMann

With the Love and Relationship Tour Tamela and David Mann have crafted a seamless flow of music, ministry and real conversation.

Photo courtesy of Denise Thimes

Denise Thimes will return to the Sheldon stage on May 10 for the 30th Annual The Mildred Thimes Foundation Mother’s Day Dinner and Concert.

Sir Eddie C performing at the Coyote Time Artist Launch Party at The Garage on 4/23/26.

Photo by Taylor Marrie

Photo by Taylor Marrie

DJ Nayara at the Coyote Time Artist Launch Party at The Garage on 4/23/26.

CONCERTS

Fri., May 1, 7:30 p.m., The Love and Relationship Tour starring David and Tamela Mann, Stifel Theatre. For more information, visit www.stifeltheatre.com.

Sun., May 3, 8:30 p.m., City Winery St. Louis welcomes Rakim, City Winery, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis MO 63110. For more information, visit www.citywinery.com

Sun., May 10, 7 p.m. The Queens: 4 Legends, 1 Stage with Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight & Stephanie Mills Enterprise Center, 1401 Clark Ave, St Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit www.enterprisecenter.com.

Wed., May 13, 7 p.m. doors, Ari Lennox Vacancy Tour, The Factory at The District, 17105 North Outer 40 Road Chesterfield, MO 63005. For more information, visit www. thefactorystl.com.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Sat., May 2 - 3, 11 a.m. & 3:30 p.m. Foodies Eat First Fest 2.1, Trust, 401 Pine St. For more information, visit www.foodieseatfirst.com.

Sun., May 10, 11:30 a.m., Jazz St. Louis Mother’s Day Brunch with Anita Jackson, 3536 Washington Avenue. For more information, visit jazzstl.org.

STL Sites & Sounds

Sun., May 10, 3 p.m., The 30th Annual Denise Thimes & Friends Mother’s Day Concert, Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd. For tickets, visit www.metrotix.com

Wed., May 13, 7:30 p.m., Jazz St. Louis presents Miles in May, Whitaker Jazz Speaks,1980s-1990s – Late Career, Reinvention & Legacy, Miles Davis: A Life in Motion –Reinvention and the Final Years, Jazz St. Louis, 3536 Washington Avenue. For more information, visit www.jazzstl.org.

COMEDY

Fri., May 1-3, 7 p.m. Tisha Campbell, Helium Comedy Club, 1151 St. Louis Galleria St, St. Louis, MO 63117. For more information, visit https://st-louis. heliumcomedy.com.

Fri., May 1, 8 p.m. Hannibal Buress, The Sovereign, 3300 Washington Avenue. For more information, visit www.axs.com.

Sun., May 10, 6 p.m. & 8:30 p.m. Special Event: Damon Darling, Helium Comedy Club, 1151 St. Louis Galleria St, St. Louis, MO 63117. For more information, visit https://st-louis. heliumcomedy.com.

Sun., May 17, 7 p.m. Darius Bradford presented by Townsendx3.live, City Winery, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis MO 63110. For more information, visit www.citywinery.com

ST. LOUIS MUSIC

SPOTLIGHT

Thur., Apr. 30, 7:30 p.m. Purple Nights: A Tribute to Prince & The Time, Blue Strawberry, 364 N. Boyle Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108. For more information, visit https://bluestrawberrystl.com.

Sat., May 9, 7:30 p.m. Aida Ade, City Winery St. Louis, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis 63110. For more information, visit https://tickets.citywinery. com.

THEATRE

R&B royalty takes the stage when ‘The Queens: 4 Legends, 1 Stage’ — featuring Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight and Stephanie Mills — comes to Enterprise Center. For more information, see CONCERTS.

photo

Fri., May 1 - 3, 8 p.m., The Black Rep presents August Wilson’s Jitney in Italian with English supertitles, Strauss Black Box at Kirkwood Performing Arts Center. For more information, visit www.theblackrep.org.

May 5 – May 17, The Fabulous Fox welcomes Monty Python’s Spamalot, The Fabulous Fox. For more information, visit www.fabulousfox.com.

Sat., May 9, 3 p.m., JPEK Creative Works presents “Respect My Shoes: If These Shoes Could Talk,” a compelling and emotionally charged

stage play starring acclaimed performer and storyteller Drea Kelly, .Zack, 3224 Locust St. For tickets or more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

May 19 – May 24, The Fabulous Fox welcomes MJ The Musical, The Fabulous Fox. For more information, visit www.fabulousfox.com.

May 20 – June 7, The Black Rep presents Fat Ham, Washington University’s Edison Theatre. For more information, visit www.theblackrep.org.

ART

Thur., Apr. 30 - May 23, 10 a.m. Clearly Human VI, St. Louis Artist’ Guild, 12 N Jackson, Clayton, MO 63105. For more information, visit www.stlouisartistsguild.org/

Through Jun. 28, Martine Syms: Soliloquy, St. Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Drive, Forest Park, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit www.slam.org.

Through June 2026, The Future Is Female, 21c Hotel and Museum Hotel St. Louis, 1528 Locust St, St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit https://21cmuseumhotels. com.

Through Aug. 9, Teaser by Ayana Evans, Contemporary Art Museum, 3750 Washington Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108. For more information, visit https:// camstl.org.

Vacancy. Working alongside Brianna McIntyre, Fuqua is transforming vacant lots in the Vandeventer neighborhood into spaces for public reflection.

“All of the work deals with architectural remnants of the city, honor-

Thimes

going to do that Mother’s Day concert again?’” Thimes said. “And we just kept going.”

Over the years, the concert evolved. What began as a musical tribute grew into a full dinner-and-concert experience, bolstered by community partnerships and corporate support. There were seasons of abundance—and seasons of uncertainty.

“There were times we had to ask, ‘What do we do now?’” she said. “But we stayed obedient.” That obedience gave

ing its cultural heritage and history,” Fuqua said. Their installation, Reflected Memory on Traced Ground, outlines the footprint of a former home with flowers — a quiet act of remembrance. At the entrance, a single standing door with a mirrored back invites visitors to step inside and confront themselves, the past, and the lives once held in that space. Fuqua calls it “a

birth to the Mildred Thimes Foundation, an extension of her mother’s legacy dedicated to pancreatic cancer research and direct support for families navigating the disease.

“So many times our people don’t live long enough to give testimonials,” Thimes said quietly. “So we reach out to their families.”

Along with the longevity of the event, what humbles Thimes most is the legacy it carries.

“I’m pinching myself now,” she said. “My mother’s name will continue. That’s my mommy. She would not believe there’s a foundation in her name. She would be over the moon!”

of like minds.”

And just when the audience settles into the music, the tour shifts into what has become its most powerful element — an open, unscripted conversation.

singing about the love of my life — the man God allowed to find me.”

What once felt like internal conflict has now become freedom. Night after night, she stands on stage, looking at her husband, singing not just as an artist — but as a woman fully embracing her story.

“As a comedian, I walk a little more on the edge,” David said with a laugh.

“But this is what people need — music from people

moment of respite for the viewer.”

Beginning September 12, installations will appear across The Ville, Tower Grove, the St. Louis Riverfront, and inside institutions including The Luminary, Kemper Art Museum, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, and Saint Louis Art Museum. The exhibition’s reach mirrors its ambition: to imagine futures that feel

Mildred Thimes was, by her daughter’s account, “the epitome of a mother”—quiet, sacrificial, steady. The kind of woman whose impact wasn’t loud, but lasting.

And in many ways, the concert reflects that same spirit.

While framed around advocacy with respect to the proceeds, the heart of the event remains celebration.

“We don’t want to focus so much on the foundation on Mother’s Day,” Thimes said. “We want to celebrate those beautiful women who gave us life.”

That includes mothers still here—and those held in memory.

And for those navigat-

Each city brings its own panel of guests. They include pastors, couples, influencers and everyday people willing to share real-life struggles and breakthroughs. It’s where the walls come down and the healing begins. “We touch every emotion,” Tamela said. “But we also let people know they’re not alone. A lot of times we feel like we’re the only ones going through — and that’s not so.”

David said the impact has been undeniable.

“The nights that we’ve done this tour have been transformational,” he said. “Not just for the audience, but for the panelists too. We’ve seen families reconcile. We’ve seen families healed.”

Then comes the release.

David steps into his comedy set, delivering the kind of laughter that lifts heaviness and reminds people how good it feels to breathe again. Tamela follows, closing the night with the gospel-rooted sound that has made her voice a source of comfort for so many.

grounded in community rather than imposed from above.

“We’re thinking about near futures — what they look like, smell like, feel like,” Farrell said. “Things are rapidly changing. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but what we do have is our community, and that’s what we can invest in and build upon.”

Sir Eddie C, fresh off

ing complicated relationships with their mothers, Thimes offers grace, not judgment.

“Even if she is not perfect – and her life is in turmoil – mothers still want the best for their children,” Thimes said. “Life is too short. As far as I know, we only get one round at it.”

Returning to the Sheldon several years ago and being there the event’s 30th anniversary feels, in her words, like “being at home.”

“It reaffirms that this is divine order,” she said. “You don’t last 30 years doing something if your heart isn’t right.”

As for what audiences can expect this year?

A carefully curated

But beneath the music and the laughter is a message the Manns have earned the hard way.

“We told ourselves early to take divorce off the table,” Tamela said. “If I could go back, I’d tell myself to communicate better — to say how I felt, but in love.”

David sees their assignment as bridging a gap that too many families are falling through.

“There’s an increase in divorce, even in the church,” he said. “There’s a disconnect somewhere — and we’re trying to help bridge that gap.”

And the stories they carry with them are proof

his South by Southwest debut, delivered crowd favorites like “Up + Away” and “Groovy Pt. II (What Would Juve Do).”

He then brought Be.Be The Neosoul onstage for a soulful performance of “Godbody.” It is a collaboration born during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since been performed across the city. By the end of the night, the dance floor felt like

experience. It starts with a meal catered by Ces and Judy’s that she personally stands behind. “I’m a foodie,” Thimes said with a laugh. “I would serve something that is not delicious. It will culminate in a performance she’s intentionally keeping close to the chest.

“They have to come and see,” she said.

And after 30 years, St. Louis knows better than to miss it.

“For people to believe in you enough to support something tied to something this serious—that means everything to me,” Thimes said. “Because this isn’t just an event. This is people’s lives.”

Even now, 30 years

of what’s possible. From couples choosing to stay and fight for their marriages to a young fan with special needs who found his voice through their music — literally — the Manns have witnessed transformation up close.

“It’s an awesome feeling to use the gifts God has given us to bless people,” David said.

That spirit of connection is exactly what they expect to feel when they return to St. Louis — a city they say has always embraced them.

“We hope people take away healing — learning to trust again, to show grace, to love again,”

its own kind of platform. Survival mode gave way to joy, connection, and possibility. In that shared space, “Coyote Time” was a lived moment. Everyone was suspended between uncertainty and hope, choosing — together — to leap anyway.

For more information on Counterpublic’s “Coyote Time,” visit counterpublic.org.

later, the mission continues to evolve in ways she never imagined.

“When I say my mother’s name as part of the foundation, it does something to me,” she said. “It brings her right back. It conjures her up. It’s like she’s still here, still working through me.”

The Mildred Thimes Foundation 30th Annual Mother’s Day Dinner and Concert with Denise Thimes and friends will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 10 at The Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Blvd. For tickets or more information, visit www.thesheldon.org or denisethimes. com

David said. Tamela added, “Reconciliation — that’s what I want. Things can be fixed. There’s nothing impossible with the Lord. We need St. Louis to show up like you always have,” she said. “Come with a heart to receive. That’s what we’re looking for in May – on May 1st to be exact.”

David and Tamela Mann: The Love and Relationship Tour will take place at 8 p.m. on Friday, May 1 at Stifel Theatre. For more information, visit www.livenation.com.

S.T.L. (CITY SC of course).

Y’all I finally made it to a St. Louis CITY SC home game last Saturday against the San Jose Earthquakes and a time was had! That STL team spirit made those Earthquakes feel like a tremor –even though they edged us out at the last minute. The fans were litty, lit lit! And I’m saying this as somebody who saw the turnup of UAPB alums at the late, great Gateway Classic (RIP Earl Wilson)! Y’all, the fans have a chant and a song that they sing whenever CITY SC scores a goal – and they sing it with their whole entire chest! And I have to give it up to the flag bearers and the drum line fans who were pounding and waving like they were on City’s payroll. I was like, “They’re gonna need an Epsom salt bath after all this.” They got a little rest for halftime, but were right back at it for the whole rest of the game. I would be typing with a straw today if I had done all that. I bet they have arms like Tunde from Peloton underneath those jerseys. And while we are talking about jerseys, can we talk about the eye candy the team is serving up. What? Y’all didn’t come to Partyline for a match report! That Lukas MacNaughton is a sight to see. Imagine Glenn Powell’s face on Chris Hemsworth’s body. He might be slimmer than Chris, but yes, it’s like that! I am seriously considering getting one of those Tina Turner jersey’s customized with his name and number on the back. No shade to her wonderful husband, but Ms. Tina is probably checking for Lukas from up in heaven. Okay, back to the game.

It was an absolute blast. Shout out to St. Louis CITY SC for powering our inaugural St. Louis American Reader’s Choice Awards and be sure to cast y’all’s vote at www.stlamerican. com/readerschoice/

Blue’s birthday give back. Before I even get started, I want to give a birthday shout out to the one and only Larry Blue. I was primed and ready to kick it with him for his Three Stripes adidas themed bash featuring the one-and-only DMC. While that was postponed, Blue gave us a ram in the bush with his V.I.P. Giveback event Thursday at Angad with special guest Mike Epps. Proceeds benefitted the Backpacks to Briefcases Mentoring and Scholarship Program that is part of the St. Louis chapter of the National Sales Network. Is there anything better than a turn up and a give back at the same doggone time? The thing I loved about it was that it was clearly a corporate community kickback, but they were cutting loose in their business attire. I was downright shocked to see DayDay in a suit too. He was corner office suited from the ankles up, but the feet were full-fledged sneakerhead. I really feel like the only time I’ve seen Mike Epps in a suit other than Thursday was on the red carpet of the NAACP Image Awards. What? Am I lying? But back to the giveback, it was a vibe for a worthy cause – and a little birdie told me that purse strings and check books were wide open!

Laughing with them ones

Since I’m already talking about Mike Epps, I might as well get into the rundown of the St. Louis stop of the “We Them Ones” comedy tour Friday night at Chaifetz Arena. Mike’s set was cute. I got my life when he bounced across that stage to Sexyy Red. My favorites of the night were DeRay Davis and Karlous Miller. I have never seen DeRay and not cackled until my cheeks hurt and Friday night was no different. And Karlous has my heart because he has the exact same voice of my great-grandfather, who sat on the porch of his farm in a rocking chair wearing denim overalls and no shirt underneath for a living. So hearing paw-paw’s voice doing lowkey ratchet standup with cussword sends me every time. I’m sure he is funny to everyone else, but he is utterly hilarious to me! It doesn’t matter how funny the actual jokes are, all I think is, “Paw-Paw, you so

crazy!”

Birthday bashing with the Aunties and Uncs. Because I’ve come to an age where the actual event is all the after party I have to give, I made it my business to stop by the first of four parties that made up the 50th birthday experience of Ebony B. Girl, I only went to two and I’m ready for the nursing home! I stopped by Ash for the kick off of it all. Then I made my way to Reset, Mo Spoon’s Aunties & Uncs Happy Hour at Soul2Soul, before I hit up the Chaifetz. Sorry to all the Nupes for coughing your party out like I had COPD, but cigar smoke does me in. Blame the birthday girl! I know for a fact there were folks who accused Mo of having a super spreader event after the way my chest was rattling all up and through there. It didn’t stop them from kicking it in real time though. The icing on Ebony’s birthday weekend was definitely

her Crème Brûlée nearly white set at Hotel St. Louis. It was a whole entire vibe! Girl, let me know what extended care facility I should send these flowers – because you had to be wore down to the flo’ (yes flo’) after that epic weekend. I speak for everyone when I say it was worth it! Oh, and those hazelnut highlights are giving Keke Palmer a run for her money as my favorite pixie cut of 2026! A moment for ‘Michael.’ By now everybody and their mama has seen it, and have probably finished talking about “Michael.” But I’m willing to bet Michael Jackson super fans are still filing in movie houses to see it a second time. There were plenty of things that had me side-eyeing that screen, but it was worth me seeing Jaafar Jackson give uncle Michael his flowers through that performance. Nobody else could have done that. While I am over the moon with Jaafar, I’m gonna need some answers from Antoine Fuqua. I won’t spoil it all the way, but there was an AI animal moment that had me ready to slap him upside the head. But it is worth seeing, especially if you were a part of the “Thriller” and “Off The Wall” era of Michael’s career. You will enjoy yourself. After seeing it, I can almost understand that woman falling out after Jaafar came on screen as Michael and had his voice down pat. Okay, maybe not.

1. Comedian and film star Mike Epps (center) showed support for birthday boy Larry Blue and Kendra for their VIP Giveback event Thursday at the Angad Arts Hotel

2. American team members Pam and Courtney with their significant others Michael and Tre at the St. Louis CITY SC soccer game Saturday night at Energizer Park

3. Briana and Sarah Jo were just a couple of the fans who filled up Energizer Park as St. Louis CITY SC took on the San Jose Earthquakes Saturday night

Photos by Lawrence Bryant and Taylor Marrie/St. Louis American

“I have never compared myself to MJ because our games are totally different.”

— LeBron James on comparisons to Michael Jordan

InsIde sports

With Earl Austin Jr.

Celtics star putting up historic numbers sports eye

With Alvin A. Reid

Tatum on a roll

The National Basketball Association playoffs have been in full swing for the past week, and I am here for all of it. The playoffs are one of my favorite times of the year.

We are still only in the first round, but many storylines are taking shape. Of course, we will start with St. Louisan Jayson Tatum, who is continuing his remarkable return from the devastating Achilles injury he suffered last June in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Tatum averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds in the 16 regular-season games since returning from injury. He continues to improve and gain confidence with each game. Tatum has not only played excellent basketball against the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round, but he is also reaching career playoff milestones that place his name alongside NBA legends.

Last Friday, Tatum scored his 3,000th playoff point in the Celtics’ Game 3 victory. He became the fourth player in the Celtics’ storied history to score 3,000 playoff points. He joined former Celtic greats Larry Bird, John Havlicek and Kevin McHale.

Tatum also became the fifth player in NBA history with at least 3,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 500 assists in the playoffs. He joins Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Bird.

In Game 4 on Sunday, Tatum scored 30 points, grabbed seven rebounds and handed out 11 assists while making five 3-pointers in the Celtics’ big victory. He became the second forward in NBA history to record at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and five 3-pointers in a playoff game. The only other player to accomplish the feat is James.

Another big playoff storyline is the attrition rate among star players. Once again, several prominent players are missing games because of injuries. In the NBA playoffs, success sometimes depends on which team is healthiest, not necessarily which team is best.

Overall team depth is challenged; teams that can overcome injuries stand a good chance at winning a championship. The

Oklahoma City Thunder won a world championship last season because of great teamwork and superior depth.

Some players already on the injured list during the playoffs include Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) of the Los Angeles Lakers, Kevin Durant (ankle) of the Houston Rockets, Victor Wembanyama (concussion) of the San Antonio Spurs, Anthony Edwards (knee) and Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles) of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Aaron Gordon (calf) of the Denver Nuggets, Joel Embiid (appendix) of the Philadelphia 76ers and Jalen Williams (hamstring) of the Thunder.

Mason Johnson-Cook commits to Auburn Standout running back Mason Johnson-Cook of East St. Louis has committed to Auburn University.

The 6-foot-1, 220pound Johnson-Cook is a four-star prospect and one of the top running backs in the country. A big back with tremendous breakaway speed, Johnson-Cook rushed for 1,261 yards on 124 carries and scored 18 touchdowns. He averaged 10 yards per carry, helping lead the Flyers to a berth in the Illinois Class 6A state championship game.

St. Louis area prospects taken in NFL Draft

Several St. Louis-area football prospects were drafted in the National Football League Draft, which was held in Pittsburgh, resulting in a very productive weekend.

Leading the way was former CBC star Jeremiyah Love, whom the Arizona Cardinals selected in the first round with the No. 3 overall pick. Love, who had a stellar collegiate career at Notre Dame, became the highest

draft pick ever from the St. Louis area.

Former MICDS standout tight end Will Kaczmarek was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the third round with the No. 87 overall pick. Kaczmarek, who played the past two seasons at Ohio State, was rated the draft’s top blocking tight end.

Former St. Mary’s star Kevin Coleman was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round with the No. 177 overall pick. Coleman was the leading receiver for the Missouri Tigers last season. He is also a threat as a punt and kick returner.

Another former Mizzou standout taken in the draft was defensive back Toriano Pride, whom the Buffalo Bills selected in the seventh round with the No. 220 overall pick. Pride finished his prep career at East St. Louis.

Ray Hartmann is talking basketball in heaven

Had St. Louis landed an NBA franchise during his lifetime, Ray Hartmann, who died in a car accident last week, would have covered the team like a blanket.

As he did with the Riverfront Times in the late 1970s, Hartmann likely would have created his own publication. He would have been its reporter, columnist, statistician and photographer if that’s what was needed.

You see, Ray loved basketball. He was an enthusiastic fan of many sports, but basketball was his thing.

Don’t let his diminutive size fool you: He played basketball as a youth and followed college and NBA basketball closely.

Before LeBron James made “The Decision” to sign with the Miami Heat, Hartmann had decided to spend winter months at his condominium in Miami. Ray invested in season tickets and was one of the Heat’s biggest fans. He was there when another Ray — Ray Allen — hit the game-tying desperation 3-pointer that saved Miami from elimination in Game 6 of the 2013 NBA Finals against San Antonio. He was jubilant when the Heat went on to win that series. He was like a kid celebrating Hanukkah when sharing the exploits of Miami’s superstars and NBA titles.

Hartmann would have dearly loved to see a team here, but he doubted the St. Louis region would support one. It wasn’t an issue of crime or race, in his maind. He believed there would not be enough financial support through ticket sales, corporate advertising and suite ownership because those dollars were already going to the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Blues. Ray did own Blues season tickets, and for a few years he sat next to the Blues bench in the first row behind the glass. I disagreed with his NBA view, though. I believe St. Louis could get the job done when it comes to NBA support, especially if a ready-made team like the New Orleans Pelicans came to town. I’m also a sports wagerer, and I realize that Ray’s take has much better odds than mine.

“Donnybrook” viewers know that Ray and I agreed on many issues, but I enjoyed it when we didn’t. I also would joke with Ray that he was “the Black guy” before I joined the show. He got a kick out of that.

We also had a back-and-forth over something we saw coming that most — if not all — other sports media members refused to acknowledge.

We both made the call that the St. Louis Rams were destined for Los Angeles after Stan Kroenke purchased the franchise.

I think I was on it first. He thought he was. It doesn’t matter. Great minds sometimes really do think alike. I also am convinced that the team could have been saved. He thought it was a done deal regardless of St. Louis’ effort.

We had a “Donnybrook” taping the day it was announced that Kroenke had purchased the site of Hollywood Park, the former horse racing track in Inglewood, California. With wry smiles, we high-fived one another.

While local pundits clung to the notion that it was just a real estate purchase by a real estate tycoon, Ray and I knew better. We appeared on a radio show together shortly after the relocation, and both said we wished we had been wrong.

The region listened to Ray and respected him for most of his adult life. That life ended last Thursday afternoon when he was killed in a freakish car accident on I-64.

He’s talking basketball in heaven. He probably started with a guard with a small frame and a big heart like Bob Cousy. He’ll make his way to Wilt Chamberlain and, in his own Ray way, explain free-throw shooting.

One thing I know for sure: When Ray is speaking, all the immortals will listen.

Top metro track and field talent delivers

By Earl Austin Jr.

St. Louis American

The Dale Collier Invitational at Kirkwood High is annually one of the top late-season track and field meets in the St. Louis metro area. The meet features excellent programs from St. Louis and the Metro East, as well as teams from southeast Missouri and the Kansas City area. In the girls team com-

petition, Ladue finished first with 98 points while East St. Louis was second with 96. Blue Springs was third with 74, followed by Cardinal Ritter with 72. Ladue displayed the impressive depth that helped it win the Missouri Class 5 state championship last season. The Rams got first-place finishes from Taylor Gase in the 800meter run, Adele Salvatori in the 1,600, and Sabra Fink in the shot put.

In the sprints, Laila Murray and Arianna Freeman placed second and third in the 100, while Zoe Coleman placed third in the 200. The Rams also finished first in the 4x200 and 4x400 relays. East St. Louis swept the top two spots in the 100meter hurdles as Kendra Jennings finished first and Pea’Ton Walker followed in second. The Flyers also finished second in the 4x200 relay and third in

the 4x400. Cardinal Ritter finished first in three events, led by Aziza Hendricks’ win in the triple jump at 37 feet, 6 inches. MeKenzie Rogers won the 200 and ran a leg on the Lions’ first-place 4x100 relay team, which posted a time of 48.95 seconds. Sydney Lanton of John Burroughs was one of the meet’s top performers, winning the 300 hurdles and the long jump while

also finishing third in the triple jump. The girls 400 was among the day’s top races. Ava Tobias of Incarnate Word won in 55.67 seconds, followed by Aniya Davis of Hazelwood West in 55.92 and Jade David of East St. Louis in 58.48. On the boys side, Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience had an excellent showing. It won the 4x800 relay in 7:57.47, more than 14 sec-

onds ahead of its nearest competitor. Sophomore Max McFarlane won the long jump at 23 feet, 3 inches. Senior Moses Mugeny won the triple jump at 46 feet, 7 inches, while McFarlane finished third at 46-1. Joe Sperino of John Burroughs won the 800 in a meet-record time of 1:59.63. Pattonville won the 4x200 relay in an impressive 1:26.76.

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum shoots a 3-pointer over Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid during the first half of Game 5 of their first-round NBA playoff series Tuesday, April 28, 2026, in Boston.

Alvin A. Reid

Courtesy of AP

Earl Austin Jr.

Ray Hartmann

Tuesday, May 5, 2026 RUNG for Women 2717 Sidney Street St. Louis, MO 63104

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Polish Heritage Center 1413 N. 20th Street St. Louis, MO 63106

VIRTUAL OPEN HOUSE

Thursday, May 7, 2026 AT 7 PM

Must pre-register at https://bit.ly/GreenLineMay2026 or scan here

NOTICE REGARDING TREATMENT COURT COMMISSIONER VACANCY TO ALL ATTORNEYS RESIDING IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MISSOURI

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

A majority of the Circuit and Associate Circuit Judges will make the appointment for a term of (4) years, at an annual salary of an associate circuit judge, payable by the State of Missouri, pursuant to RSMo §478.003.

Missouri law requires the Treatment Court Commissioner(s) to possess the same qualifications as an associate circuit judge, including those set forth in the Missouri Constitution, Article V, Section 21, to wit, they must be qualified voters of the state, residents of St. Louis County, Missouri, at least twenty-five years old, licensed to practice law in Missouri; and possess all other qualifications as required by law. (See RSMo Chapter 478).

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

Completed questionnaires must be submitted in writing to St. Louis County Circuit Court, ATTN: Human Resources, 105 S. Central Avenue, Clayton, Missouri 63105, or via email to SLCCourtJobs@ courts.mo.gov on or before May 18, 2026

The appointment is scheduled to take place upon a vote of the majority of the Circuit and Associate Judges en banc on or about June 10, 2026. EOE. Please contact the Human Resources Department at 615-4471 (voice) or RelayMo 711 or 800-735-2966 if you need any accommodations in the application process, or if you would like this posting in an alternative form.

AGENCY PLAN FY 2026

ADVERTISEMENT: PUBLIC NOTICE

The St. Louis Housing Authority (SLHA) is submitting to HUD the Annual Submission of the FY 2026 Agency Plan. The Plan outlines the goals and objectives to accomplish its vision over the next five years. SLHA has posted the “Draft” FY 2026 Agency Plan for public review on its website at https://www.slha.org/document-center/ and the Plan will be available for viewing at SLHA’s Central Office, 3520 Page Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63106.

Additionally, the Admissions and Continued Occupancy Policy (ACOP), a component of the Agency Plan, and a revised Utility Allowance Schedule and the Flat Rent Schedule are simultaneously being made available for public review and comment. The link to the webpage is: https://www.slha.org/document-center/.

Also, the Capital Fund Program Five-Year Action Plan (FY 2026FY 2030) is simultaneously being made available for public review and comment.

Written comments may be submitted on the Plan. All written comments must be received by June 15, 2026. Please address comments to Deborah Fowler at defowler@slha.org Comments and suggestions received will become part of the public record.

SLHA will hold a Public Hearing on Monday, June 15, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at SLHA’s Central Office to discuss and accept comments on its Agency Plan, ACOP, Utility Allowance, Flat Rent Schedule and Capital Fund Program.

For additional information or questions, contact Deborah Fowler, Administrative Assistant, by email at defowler@slha.org or by telephone at (314) 286-4356 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

PROFESSIONAL PARK MASTER

The City of Velda City Mo. seeks professional Park Master Planning Services. Please contact Velda City for more details by 4pm May 8th, 2026.

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

Great Rivers Greenway is hiring a Civic Engagement Manager Go to greatriversgreenway. org/careers/ for information and apply.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

The Welcome Neighbor STL, 501c3 nonprofit organization, is seeking proposals from qualified driving schools to provide accessible driver education services for immigrant & refugee women that reside in St. Louis County. The goal of this program is to assist fully vetted, work-authorized immigrant & refugee women to enter the workforce by removing transportation barriers through driver education programs and ultimately obtaining a valid driver’s license. A copy of the complete RFP is available at https://docs. goo gle.com/document/d/ 1ioXCNwtBDU9zUbAL_yMxSAQhYSBT1X FC5xc-Co2m5x8/edit?us p=sharing. To be considered, proposals must be received no later than 3PM CST on May 21st, 2026.

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace HVAC & Mechanical Room Doors, Cottages A-E, Hawthorn Children’s Psychiatric Hospital, St. Louis, Project No. M2506-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, May 21, 2026. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Tennyson AML, Project No. Y2401-01, 1480 County Road 401, Fulton, MO 65251, 38.827789, -91.964014, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, May 21, 2026. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Repair to Historic Structure at J. Huston Tavern, Arrow Rock State Historic Site, Project No. X2501-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, June 2, 2026. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Renovations to Rebid Interior/ Exterior & Install Emergency Generator, Multiple Assets, Project No. R2502-01will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, May 19, 2026. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Troop F Headquarters Parking Lot Site Improvements/ CDL Super Site Parking Lot Repairs, Project No. R2401-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 5/21/26. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

FACILITIES MANAGEMENT SERVICES RFPS

2026

The Saint Louis Zoo seeks bids from qualified vendors for: Concrete & Masonry Services; Electrical Services; Tree Services; and Carpentry/General Construction Services. Bid documents are available as of 4/29/26 on the Saint Louis Zoo website: stlzoo.org/vendor

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace Concrete Driveway at Higginsville Veterans Cemetery, Project No. U2603-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, June 4, 2026. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Rebid Campground Loop 5 –Eelectrical Improvements, Project No. X2204-04 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 5/28/26. Project information available at: http:// oa.mo.gov/ facilities

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Requests for Quotes, Bids and Proposals are posted online for public download. Please navigate to www.msdprojectclear.org

> Doing Business With Us

> View Bid Opportunities

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

SOLICITING SEALED BIDS

Great Rivers Greenway is soliciting sealed bids for Mississippi Greenway: Maline Creek Streambank Stabilization & Trail Reconstruction in the City of St. Louis, Missouri.. Go to greatriversgreenway. org/bids/ for information and apply by June 05, 2026.

ROOMS FOR RENT

Upscale, Very Clean, Good heating and cooling. Cable 314-484-3147

SEALED BIDS

Bids for HVAC System Upgrades, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Troop C, Weldon Spring, Missouri, Project No. R2415-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, May 14, 2026. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Replace Roof & Renovate Basement and Access, Support Services Building, Project No. R2508-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 5/12/26. Project information available at: http:// oa.mo.gov/ facilities

YOUTH & FAMILY CENTER INTERIOR RENOVATIONS

Overview

The Youth & Family Center is seeking bid proposals for interior renovations at 818 Cass Ave. St. Louis, MO 63106. This project involves select interior Demolition, renovations to HVAC, ACT Ceilings, interior painting, Gym floor refinishing and replacing light fixtures.

See Bid Documents on: theyfc.org

Important Dates

• Mandatory Onsite Walkthrough: May 07, 2026. 9 AM CST

• Proposals Due: May 21, 2026 2 PM CST

• Award Announcement: May 28, 2026

Submission Instructions Sealed Bids are to be submitted at 818 Cass Ave. at 2p. Thursday May 21, 2026.

Contact Information

• Contact Person: Michael McClain

• Email: mmcclain@kwamebuildinggroup.com

• Company: Kwame Building Group

1, 3 & 4 Bed Apts & Rooms for Rent $600 - $1,000/mo Plus $500/Dep Section 8 Accepted 618-781-7968

ROOM FOR RENT Private, Spacious, Central West End, Furnished, Utilities, Wi-Fi, $600/mo Call Jared 314-399-7471 FOR RENT

WINTER GARDEN APTS.

HUD Low Income Sr. Housing Community

Now accepting applications for 1 and 2 bedroom waitlists; Age 62+ and/or disabled Recently renovated apartments with new interiors, cabinetry, HVAC & vinyl plank flooring Income restrictions apply. ADA. Pet friendly, gated, near Metro Link 5708 Kingsbury Place, St. Louis, MO 63112 314-361-7225 TTY 800-735-2966

Each 636-497-9697

Seniors 62 and older Apply now for an affordable 1-bedroom unit. Stop by the office or Call: (618) 345-7240 for an application Applications may be returned in person, by mail. Monday-Friday 8-5 Managed by Related Affordable Management

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE:

Advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, imitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial\status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.“We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.”

Call Angelita Houston at 314-289-5430 or email ahouston@stlamerican.com to place your ads today!

Religion

Bishop Calvin Scott, founding pastor of Believers Temple and community advocate, dies at 67

By Kenya Vaughn St. Louis American

Bishop Calvin Scott was a builder, a bridgemaker, and a steady voice for North County whose ministry reached far beyond the pulpit. Scott — founding pastor of Believers Temple Word Fellowship, civic leader, and a spiritual anchor for North County for more than three decades — died on April 16, 2026, after complications from ALS. He was 67.

For 32 years, Bishop Scott shepherded Believers Temple with a blend of conviction, compassion, and a deep belief that ministry must meet people where they are. What began in February 1993 as a storefront church with eight members on Natural Bridge grew — quickly and steadily — into a thriving congregation with nearly 1,000 members, a youth ministry campus and the multifaceted Family Life Center where worship is held today.

He often said he believed in “a holistic approach to the kingdom of God,” one that centered family, children, youth, leadership, and economic development. And he lived that calling far beyond Sunday mornings.

“The best part about being in the ministry is fulfilling my purpose and God’s will,” he previously told The St. Louis American. “Also, as a preacher, you’re helping people fulfil the purpose in their own lives and giving them a sense of hope.”

Bishop Scott’s ministry extended into the civic fabric of St. Louis County. He served more than eight years on the St. Louis County Housing Authority, first appointed in 2012 by County Executive Charlie A. Dooley. In April 2020, County Executive Dr. Sam Page appointed him president of the Housing Authority, recognizing his steady leadership and commitment to underserved communities.

Scott’s

As CEO of Believers Temple’s Urban Initiative Community Development Corporation, he helped secure land and oversee the $9.2 million development of Scott Manor, an independent living facility for lowincome seniors 55 and older — a project that stands as one of his most tangible legacies. Phase II of the project, which added another building that included 50 additional apartments, was completed in 2023.

His service also included the Community Advisory Committee for the Riverview Gardens School District, where he advocated for students and families with the same urgency he brought to the pulpit.

In 2011, Bishop Scott received the President’s Volunteer Service Award from President Barack Obama. That same year, St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley presented him with the key to St. Louis County and proclaimed June 19, 2011, as “Bishop Calvin Scott Day.”

His ministry reached far beyond Missouri. Dr. Scott traveled globally to spread the Gospel — to Israel, Sierra Leone, Jamaica, Brazil, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and more.

He was a lifelong learner and scholar of the Word, holding a PhD in Religious Philosophy from Tabernacle Bible College and Seminary, an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from St. Thomas Christian College, and a Master of Arts in Divinity from Remnant of the Lord Bible College.

While his public impact was vast, his daughters say his greatest ministry was at home.

“There are no words that could fully capture what he has been to us,” they shared in

a family statement. “He was our covering, our wisdom, our steady place… our best friend and above all, he was our father. To be loved by him was a gift we will carry for the rest of our lives.”

They added that they are comforted knowing he is “resting in the presence of Jesus Christ, at peace, healed, whole, and embraced in eternal love.”

Bishop Scott is survived by his three daughters — Sharita Scott, Pastor Leandra Green, and Ann “Scotti” Scott — and six grandchildren. Pastor Green, whom he appointed as his successor, celebrated her oneyear pastoral anniversary just weeks before his passing.

“I am doing the work that I have been called to,” he told The

I am an accidental banker with a challenged beginning. As a young boy, I knew very little about traditional banking. What I knew more about were payday lenders, pawn shops, and the ways families sometimes found cash when there were not many good options available.

The first time I was exposed to banking was while I was in an independent living program in the foster care system. I worked hard to earn money, and the group home would place what I earned into an account at a local bank.

But I didn’t really understand what that meant. I had money in a bank, but I did not yet understand the power of a banking relationship. That understanding came later, and over time, my knowledge and my confidence grew.

The first time I ever took out a loan outside of a car loan or a student loan was a $5,000 signature loan to help pay for our honeymoon. That may sound simple to some people. But for me, it represented something much larger. It represented access and trust. It represented a relationship with a mainstream financial institution that was designed to help me move forward, not take advantage of me.

I’ve come a long way from that boy who knew more about pawn shops than bank branches. Today, one of the things I enjoy most is exposing young people to traditional banking, especially those who may not yet have a concept for what banking can mean in their lives.

In America, we often talk about the unbanked and the underbanked. Those words describe real people and communities — people who are working, earning, striving, and surviving, but who may not yet be connected to the financial systems that help create stability, credit, ownership, and wealth.

The path to wealth creation often begins when someone has a place to deposit their money safely. It grows when they understand how to save, budget, borrow, and build credit. It strengthens when they have a banker or financial partner who

St. Louis American in an interview about his initial appointment to the St. Louis County Housing Authority Board, “which is to act justly, to love with mercy, and to walk humbly with God.”

The final services for Bishop Scott are as follows: Visitation Friday, May 1, 2026 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Believers Temple Word Fellowship 2115 Chambers Rd., St. Louis, MO 63136 Celebration of Life Saturday, May 2, 2026 8:30 a.m. Friendly Temple Church 5515 Dr. Martin Luther King Dr., St. Louis, MO 63112

Attendees are invited to wear shades of brown in unity and remembrance.

sees their dignity, not just their balance. And it expands when banking becomes more than a transaction. It becomes a relationship.

That is why efforts like Bank On matter. Bank On is about helping people gain access to safe, affordable, mainstream bank and credit union accounts. It’s about removing barriers, reducing fear, and helping people who may have been left out, pushed out, or priced out of traditional banking find a trusted pathway in.

For me, this is personal. I know what it feels like to stand outside systems that other people take for granted, to have access without understanding, to learn financial language later than others and still have to compete in the same world.

That’s why part of my mission at Midwest BankCentre is to help create conditions for people to live better lives. I believe that happens through what we earn, what we save, what we own, and our capacity to borrow responsibly. I also believe it happens when banks see themselves not merely as financial institutions, but as community institutions. Because when banking is done right, it can help people move from survival to stability. From stability to ownership. From ownership to legacy.

This work is not just about opening an account. It’s about opening a door. It’s about helping a young person understand that a checking account is not just a place to hold money. It can be the beginning of a financial identity. A savings account is not just a balance. It can be the beginning of discipline and hope. A loan is not just debt. When structured responsibly, it can be a tool for opportunity, mobility, and growth.

I was privileged to be part of a recent Bank On event because it aligned so deeply with my own story and with the work I believe community banks must continue to do — finding ways to make mainstream banking more accessible, more understandable, and more relevant to the people and communities that have too often been overlooked.

If