St. LouiS AmericAn
A challenge to some misguided Black men
By Keith Boykin
The firestorm that former President Barack Obama ignited concerning Black men and manhood while speaking in Pittsburgh on Oct. 17, 2024 is still raging.
Obama warned about the attitude of “sitting out” of the election “or supporting somebody who has a history of denigrating you because you think that’s a sign of strength.” “Putting women down” is “not acceptable,” he said.
His comment sparked criticism from those who felt Obama was scolding Black men again. I have a more nuanced take with two key points.
First, Black men are a success story for Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party. After all the gaslighting from Republicans about Black men leaving the Democratic Party four years ago, Joe Biden won 87% of the vote from Black men in 2020. That makes us the second most loyal constituency of the Democratic Party. Only Black women, who voted 95% for Biden, are more supportive.
A Washington Post-Ipsos poll last month found Black men overwhelmingly support
Attendee hold signs as former President Barack Obama speaks during a campaign rally supporting Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 at the University of Pittsburgh’s Fitzgerald Field House in Pittsburgh.
Second that emotion
By Sylvester Brown, Jr.
By Sylvester Brown, Jr.
Louis American
Billboards, a Catholic Diocese and right-wing politicians have resorted to desperate, last-minute campaigning to undermine support for Amendment 3, say supporters of the Missouri abortion rights initiative on the November 5
Realtor Keaira Anderson shares STL love on TV show
and real estate of St. Louis. Page B1 BUSINESS
an article noting billboards that have “popped up” in Columbia, St. Charles, Cape Girardeau and other areas in the state, that spread “claims designed to undermine support” for the amendment. Some of the billboards warn voters
Former entertainer and restaurateur, Robbie Montgomery, plans to invest millions in North St. Louis … again.
More than 30 years ago, Montgomery opened Sweetie Pie’s soul food restaurant in Dellwood followed by a location in the Grove area (now closed) and another, Sweetie Pie’s Upper Crust, on Delmar in the Grand Arts District, which closed in 2022.
Robbie Montgomery Robbie Montgomery invests in St. Louis again
Her estimated $7 million vision will be in north St. Louis on Dr. Martin Luther King Drive near Kingshighway. The venture will include
“Sweetie Pie’s 2nd Act,” an event space next door and other commercial and residential projects. A part of Montgomery’s comeback is based on a $1.5 million grant she was awarded from the city of St. Louis’ $37 million in federal pandemic money dedicated to North Side businesses and nonprofits. Unfortunately, she said, because the program is currently under scrutiny, she hasn’t received a check yet.
The holdup, Montgomery asserts, is all about politics and race.
“It’s a shame,” Montgomery said.
“When the ‘other’ people ran this city, nobody opened their mouths when they put no money over on the north side. Now that there’s money available, everybody’s jumping up and acting all crazy over it.”
By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American
Basically, an area non-profit is being healed as the savior of a city
tribution plan that was challenged in
and stalled by a judge. The James S. McDonnell Foundation (JSMF), in collaboration with other local private funders, is providing $1 million to extend the St. Louis Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) program through December 2024. The program offers $500 per month to 540 households and data is being gathered to determine the effects on the lives of the recipients and the St. Louis economy. In July after a judge’s ruling, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones said, “The City of McDonnell Foundation funds stalled
Born and raised in St. Louis, Keaira Anderson decries the negative narratives about her hometown. On “American Dream TV,” she highlighted the lifestyle, culture,
St.
Texas congresswoman and St. Louis native Jasmine Crockett along and Mo. State Sen. Brian Williams meet with students at Jefferson Elementary School in the Normandy Schools Collaborative District Wednesday morning. It is the same school they attended together as children.
Photo courtesy of the AP
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American Both
Diddy hit with new lawsuits
According to NBC News, Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing several new sexual assault and rape accusations.
The outlet obtained five new civil lawsuits filed Sunday in the Southern District of New York by Texas-based attorney Tony Buzbee. They say the suits do not name any of the plaintiffs.
The five suits include allegations Combs sexually assaulted or raped the plaintiffs in separate incidents from 2000 to 2022. Two of the plaintiffs are men and three are women. NBC News says that Combs is also accused of drugging one of the men and the three women, according to the suits.
Buzbee told NBC News he plans to file a total of seven suits Sunday night. He filed six other suits against Combs last Monday.
Combs issued a statement through his attorneys that denied all of the accusations.
A$AP Rocky trial delayed
People.com is reporting that a judge has pushed back the trial of rapper-ac-
tor-model A$AP Rocky. The trial was related to claims surrounding an alleged 2021 physical altercation with his former friend and plaintiff A$AP
Relli
In a Tuesday, Oct. 22 hearing in Los Angeles, Rocky’s trial was moved from its original November date to Jan. 21. His lawyer, Joe Tacopina, announced the delay was due to a scheduling conflict with his show at Rolling Loud Thailand 2024.
“Things were moved in part because Rocky has a benefit concert in Bangkok in late November and in part because we’re still dealing with some issues on discovery,” Tacopina told reporters outside the courtroom, according to People. “We all agree with Thanksgiving... and Christmas... I think everyone decided it’s best to do this in January. It’s a firm date.”
Relli filed a civil suit for assault, battery and emotion al distress against Rocky on Aug. 10, 2022. Rocky has denied all claims.
Brentt Leakes receives a new heart
Brentt Leakes, son of popular reality tele
vision personality NeNe Leakes, took to Instagram to share that he recently underwent heart transplant surgery.
Brentt, 25, posted videos of himself in the hospital following his ordeal.
“In July of this year, I went into a 14-hour heart transplant surgery and now have a brand new heart in me,” Brentt said in the caption for one of the videos. “Now that I’m back (still in recovery), I’ve essentially had to relearn how to walk and communicate. But I’m even more fluent.”
The videos included footage of him in the midst of his recovery process during his hospital stay.
“This experience has FOREVER changed my life. I am so thankful to the family that donated the heart,” Brentt said. “A huge thank you to MY MOM, Marshella, Nyoni, Big Janae, Nikiyah, my friends, doctors, nurses, and everyone else who was pushing, pulling and praying me through this.”
NeNe Leakes was one of the many who expressed their support in the video’s comments.
“To God Be Glory,” NeNe exclaimed. “It has been A LOT.”
Jay-Z and NFL continue to play ball
Bloomberg.com was the first to report that JAY-Z and Roc Nation have officially extended their deal with the NFL. Bloomberg said that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed the extended partnership during the league’s annual owners meeting in Atlanta on Tuesday, October 15.
“It’s been a mutually positive relationship, I’m not sure either one of us really spend much time talking about contracts,” Goodell said, according to Bloomberg. “Jay is happy. Desiree Perez is happy. I’m happy, so we’re all good.”
The fine print of the details regarding the contract – including the money and its worth – are currently unknown. ESPN reported that the first deal between Roc Nation and the NFL struck in 2019 was worth $25 million. The initial deal was built on boosting “the NFL’s efforts around social justice” and leading “the league’s endeavors in music and entertainment.” According to Espn.com, the league’s social justice program Inspire Change has distributed $375 million in grants.
Sources: Billboard.com, People.com, Espn.com, Bloomberg.com, Essence. com, Instagram.com
Jay-Z
Urban League achieves
Five-Star Status for 20th year
By Alvin A. Reid
St. Louis American
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis is celebrating its team for its “tireless dedication and hard work,” which has enabled the organization to maintain its prestigious Five-Star Status for an incredible 20 years, says Michael P. McMillan, Urban League president and CEO.
This distinction, originally awarded under the leadership of Marc Morial, National Urban League president is measured by the National Urban League’s Standard for Excellence. This includes analysis of 128 key indicators of success that are judged in governance, finances and programs.
As the first affiliate to achieve this designation, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis is also honored to be the longest-standing recipient of the recognition.
“Achieving and maintaining Five-Star Status requires rigorous and continuous evaluations in governance, financial accountability, and program execution, ensuring that the organization consistently meets the highest standards,” said McMillan.
“We are immensely grateful to our dedicated staff for their unwavering commitment to upholding our legacy of excellence. Their efforts allow us to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the communities we serve.
“With more collaborations and partnerships than at any point in its history, the Urban League continues to expand its reach and services, positively affecting
the lives of thousands in the St. Louis region.”
The honor comes after a stellar summer for the Urban Lague in which it opened a senior apartment building and broke ground on a new Urban League Plaza in Dellwood.
In addition, St. Louis was again recognized as a National Urban League Affiliate of the Year and received the John W. Mack Medal of Honor.
The award recognizes high-performing affiliates across the nation and celebrates their “exceptional leadership and unwavering dedication to supporting marginalized communities.”
Urban League affiliates that demonstrate outstanding performance in their respective market sizes—large, medium, and small – are honored with the award.
Boeing bound
The Urban League celebrated the commencement of a Save Our Sons class on October 14, with several gaining employment with Boeing.
“Congratulations to graduates of our Save Our Sons program, who are taking off into exciting new careers with Boeing,” said McMillan.
“Your dedication and resilience have brought you to this amazing achievement, and we couldn’t be prouder. This is just
Sons (SOS) assists economically disadvantaged African American men living in the St. Louis region in finding jobs and possible future careers. For many, it is the first opportunity to earn livable wages. The four-week program includes instructions on how to find a job; how to keep a job; how to receive a promotion; and how to remain marketable in the
a $10.6 million donation to 20 nonprofits working to address racial equity and social justice in the United States.
“Boeing has played a critical role in supporting people getting jobs and economic opportunities to advance themselves and their families,” said McMillan.
David Calhoun, former Boeing president and CEO who retired in August, said the firm
“acknowledges the toll that systemic racism and social injustice have had on people of color, particularly Black communities here in the United States.”
The Urban League appreciates the multi-faceted relationship of our two organizations that long term sustainable growth and upward mobility for our clients.”
“As we work internally to confront these issues, we also
Photo courtesy of Urban League
From left are Wayne Rock, NUL consultant, Michael P. McMillan, STL Urban League president and CEO, Herman Lessard, NUL Affiliate Services senior vice president and Isaiah Hall, NUL Compliance & Programmatic Oversight senior director.
Guest Editorial
A message to fellow Black men voters Commentary
By Marc Morial
“The history of the United States is a story about the disenfranchisement of millions based on their Blackness. More than a hundred years of violent voter suppression, poll taxes, literacy tests, and gerrymandering have created a climate that is nothing shy of hostile towards Black men that choose to stand up and be a part of the electoral process.”
— The Black Male Voter Project
In a presidential campaign that has been overwhelmingly centered on the issues of women’s reproductive rights, immigration, and taxation of the ultra-wealthy, it would be understandable if we — especially the younger ones among us — didn’t feel the same sense of urgency about voting as other groups.
Former President Barack Obama last week drew criticism for pointing out, “we have not yet seen the same kinds of energy and turnout in all quarters of our neighborhoods and communities as we saw when I was running.” But a poll released this week backed him up: only 64% of Black voters and 49% of voters under 34 are enthusiastic about the election. Compare that with 93% of Black voters and 83% of young voters who said they were enthusiastic when Obama first ran for the office in 2008. But apathy is not what I’m seeing among the young Black men I’ve met as I travel the nation as part of the National Urban League’s Reclaim Your Vote initiative. I see thoughtfulness. I see concern. I see pride. And I do see some skepticism. It’s not only fair, but imperative to wonder whether the candidates will live up to their promises. It’s fair to weigh
their past actions against their words. That’s what it means to be a responsible citizen.
What’s neither fair nor responsible is to fall for misinformation or divisive rhetoric and to let your voice be silenced.
Vice President Kamala Harris this week unveiled an economic agenda aimed at creating opportunity for Black men. It includes forgivable small business loans to boost entrepreneurship, job training and mentorship, and the legalization of marijuana with a focus on opportunities to succeed in the recreational marijuana industry.
Donald Trump has not issued a policy proposal aimed specifically at Black men. He has claimed that immigrants are taking Black jobs, and that his criminal indictments have boosted his appeal to Black men victimized by an unjust legal system.
The vice president told the National Association of Black Journalists in September, “It’s very important to not operate from the assumption that Black men are in anybody’s pocket. Black men are like any other voting group: You gotta earn their vote.”
Speaking to the same group in July, Trump touted his support for opportunity zones and funding for HBCUs while suggesting the vice president is not authentically Black.
As my fellow New Orleanian Wendell Pierce said in his own message to Black men, “Vote for what you want. Declare what your values are then go out and make the choice on that.”
Marc Morial is president/CEO of the National Urban League.
A numbers game
By Mike Jones
A quote by novelist and screenwriter William Goldman about Hollywood is applicable to presidential elections.
“Nobody knows anything…Not one person in the entire motion picture field knows for a certainty what’s going to work. Every time out it’s a guess and, if you’re lucky, an educated one,” he said.
Predicting with certainty the winner of an American presidential election is difficult because the absurd anomaly of the Electoral College determines who wins, not the collective popular vote.
However, you can make an informed assessment of the most critical factors in determining an outcome. The candidate and their campaign is an obvious one. Since July 21, when she entered the race, Vice President Kamala Harris and the Harris-Waltz Campaign have not been good, they’ve been perfect. If she isn’t the winner on November 5 it will not be because there’s something she or the campaign did or didn’t do.
You can think of a presidential election like the Super Bowl. The best team doesn’t always win.
To win the Super Bowl you don’t have to be the best team; you have to play well enough on that Sunday to prevail.
A football team has three components, offense, defense and special teams. A Democratic presidential campaign has three components as well, Black voters, Asian and Hispanic voters and white women voters.
White male voters are on the practice squad, they dress for the game, but we have no expectation they’ll play.
Hilary Clinton won the popular vote, but Trump won the Electoral College vote and the election.
Clinton got 91% of the Black vote (Black women gave Clinton 98%), Hispanics gave Clinton 60%, Asians 65%, but she got only 39% of the white vote.
She received the most votes from women but only 45% of white women. That’s not unusual. A Democrat hasn’t won a majority of white voters since Lyndon Johnson in 1964.
The 2020 election trended much like 2016. Biden also won the popular vote, including 93% of the Black vote, 60% of the Hispanic and 65% of the Asian, but only 41% of the white vote (46% white women).
But he won the Electoral College, and the election, because he won Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania by a combined 211,000 and Clinton had lost them by a combined total of 80,000 votes.
Kamala Harris is the political equivalent of Patrick Mahomes. She’s done everything, and then some, to put Democrats in a position to win. The question is about the rest of the team.
The only subgroup that outvotes Black men in support of Democrats is Black women.
On Nov. 5, Harris will get 90-plus percent of the Black vote, including 85-90% of the Black male vote. She will also do better than Clinton and Biden with Hispanics and Asians. The question is will that be enough to prevail. The answer is “maybe.”
We must vote for ‘a more perfect union’
The path to full rights begins at the ballot box. That’s why we must participate in national and local elections — to ensure our communities are represented, and our voices are heard.
By Nolan Williams Jr.
The framers of our Constitution understood that their work was imperfect. I believe this because of eight critical words embedded in that historic document: “in order to form a more perfect union.”
The nation’s founders aimed to establish a new form of democracy distinct from theirs in Europe. They aimed to build a government that would empower people and guarantee their inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Sixty years ago, over 700 courageous individuals embarked on a “nation-perfecting” mission in Mississippi. These diverse Civil Rights volunteers, driven by a deep sense of justice and equality, ventured into rural communities to register Black voters who were disenfranchised from our democracy.
They also established Freedom Schools in places such as Philadelphia and Meridien, Mississippi, to offer alternative learning opportunities for Black children who were marginalized by the state’s segregated public school system.
lot box. That’s why we must participate in national and local elections — to ensure our communities are represented, and our voices are heard. As history proves, progress is possible and must be fought for and protected. Every time we vote, guided by our convictions and aspirations for ourselves, our families, neighborhoods, towns, cities, states, and nations, we perfect the work the founders initiated… beyond what they could envision.
Their actions enraged the Ku Klux Klan, who sought to make an example of three of these Freedom Summer workers: James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner. The KKK abducted and murdered these young men in an attempt to stop the progress for which these three and their Civil Rights colleagues were advocating.
The sacrifices of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner are not just stories from our past — they are living, breathing reminders of the fierce resistance many have faced in the fight for equality. Yet, they also remind us of what is possible when we build diverse coalitions to achieve progress.
And they empower us to claim and demand our full rights of citizenship even though our enslaved ancestors were not considered when the framers were developing our Constitution.
The path to full rights begins at the bal-
Lest we forget, the Black American vote has a rich and powerful legacy, beginning in the Reconstruction era and continuing to the present day. Our vote is more than a right; it is a powerful tool of transformation and direct action that honors the sacrifices of those who fought and died to gain that right to vote. While it is true that we face barriers to voting, from voter suppression to lack of access to polling stations, these challenges — and those who strategize to implement them — only serve to underscore how powerful are vote truly is. We must persevere in our civic engagement despite these obstacles. Our collective acts of voting can bring about the change we seek, and our shared responsibility is to ensure that every voice is heard and every vote counts. This election — and every election — is about what this nation can and should be. It’s about our future and our responsibility to each other. And that must be the undying commitment of those like me who still believe in the promise of this nation. Yes, our union is imperfect, but great strides have been made because of unsung heroes like our “Freedom Summer 3.” And greater strides will come as more of us commit to using our platforms and influence to make our nation a more just, equitable, and inclusive society. Perfecting our union is still worth fighting for. Vote!
Nolan Williams, Jr., CEO of NEWorks Productions, is an award-winning artist who explores storytelling of cultural expressions and unsung histories.
For a Democratic candidate to win a presidential election the three components must contribute. Let’s look at the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections to examine how the team comes together.
America is less diverse on Election Day because America’s white population is older, has higher turnout rate and votes with more frequency than America’s nonwhite population.
In 2016 and 2020, white Americans made up 73% of the turnout, with 71% of eligible white voters voting in 2020.
In 2016 and 2020 Black and Hispanic voters were 20% of the turnout (10% each) with 58% of eligible nonwhite voters participating in 2020 election. How did Democrats do in those two contests?
You would always like greater turnout from Black, Hispanic and Asian voters because of the margins they produce, but an incremental increase of a smaller number is a small number, an incremental increase of a bigger number is a big number.
This race will not be decided by Harris or nonwhite voters but by white women.
In 2020, 67 million white women voted in the presidential election; 58% voted for Trump (39 million). A 4-5% switch from Trump is 1.5 to 2 million votes. This would doom him in the election.
If LBJ and Civil Rights made most white women Republicans, the Supreme Court decision on Dobbs v Jackson could have again changed the equation.
Mike Jones is an award winning frequent guest columnist for the St. Louis American.
Columnist Mike Jones
Columnist Marc Morial
Guest Columnist Nolan Williams Jr.
Mind and Money Conference Oct. 26 in Collinsville
Metro Hope and Midwest BankCentre have partnered to present the Mind and Money Conference from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday October 26, 2024, at Living The Word Church in Collinsville, Illinois, 17 Gateway Drive.
Orvin Kimbrough, Midwest BankCentre chair and CEO, said, “I love the scripture in Romans 12:2, ‘Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind’—and that’s exactly what this conference is about.”
According to a 2024 poll by the American Psychiatric Association, 43% of adults say they feel more anxious than they did the previous year.
With 24 resource experts on-site and engaging info sessions, attendees can access financial freedom and mental wellness support services, providing a comprehensive approach
to self-care and prosperity.
“We’ve assembled an outstanding group of seasoned experts, including therapists, nurse practitioners, investors, legal professionals, wealth managers, and counselors, to give actionable insights on how to address mental health concerns and make better choices financially,” said David Hawkins, Metro Hope president.
“The average American has over $100,000 in debt. With financial burdens like these weighing on so many, it’s clear addressing the toll taken is vital to see communities thrive, according to Hawkins.”
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. There is a $15 fee, which includes breakfast, lunch, and a resource bag. Visit metrohopestl.org to register and view a list of speakers.
HBCUs again hold an answer
By Barbara Diggs-Brown
For Black students, the desire to attend an “elite” institution appears to be more difficult to fulfill than two years ago.
Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court ended what are called race-conscious admission programs at colleges and universities. The consequences are real: Black students make up just 5% of MIT’s incoming class; last year it was 15%. At Harvard, the percentage of incoming Black students dropped from 18 to 14
But what if we’re looking at the situation through the wrong lens?
What if most of the college rankings are just rewarding institutions for their wealth, fame and exclusivity?
America needs a new definition of higher education excellence, one that measures what colleges do for their country, instead of for themselves.
A better way to rank colleges is by evaluating them on their commitment to three goals: social mobility, research, and public service. That’s exactly what Washington Monthly magazine does in its College Guide.
What we see is that colleges that serve nonwealthy students and their communities do exceedingly well with these metrics, including historically Black colleges and universities, such as the ones below:
National Universities (A significant number of doctoral degrees)
• Winston-Salem State University: #96 (out of 438 institutions)
• Jackson State University: #102
Master’s Universities (A significant number of master’s degrees)
• Tuskegee University: #50 (out of 589)
Bachelor’s Colleges: (Award mostly bachelor’s degrees)
Elizabeth City State University: #4
• Central State University: #24
• Bluefield State University: #28
Best Value — South:
• Jackson State University: #18
• Paul Quinn College: #27
• Kentucky State University: #30
Best Value —Southeast:
• Elizabeth City State University: #12
• Winston-Salem State University: #13
Bethune-Cookman University: #15
HBCUs offer incredible opportunities and support. Beyond HBCUs, regional public universities are too often overlooked, even though they graduate 60% of Black students with 4-year degrees. Despite these findings, the Ivy League still holds the public’s imagination in terms of prestige. Yet, Professor David Kang reports that 14 of the 20 CEOs at the nation’s biggest companies by revenue went to public colleges, not elite private programs.
It’s challenging to precisely figure out the value of higher ed. Just counting on one rating service can steer students the wrong way and could really dissuade them from going to college at all. Students should look at the rankings which examine the value individual colleges offer to individual students and to the country.
Professor Barbara Diggs-Brown co-authored an analysis of race relations in the U.S., “By the Color of Our Skin: The Illusion of Integration and the Reality of Race.”
David T. Hawkins, Metro Hope president and Living The Word Church senior pastor, is partnering with Midwest BankCentre Chair and CEO Orvin T. Kimbrough in hosting the Mind and Money Conference on Oct. 26, 2024, in Collinsville, Illinois.
Photo courtesy of David T. Hawkins
Barbara Diggs-Brown
Black Men
Continued from A1
Harris over Trump on every issue, including abortion, crime, the economy, and immigration.
The Pew Research Center found that Black men are more confident in Kamala Harris than Trump to make good decisions about issues that affect us.
A CNN poll last month found very little gender divide among Black voters. And research this summer found that Black men in Georgia supported Kamala Harris and strongly disapproved of Trump.
That means Kamala Harris will probably win 85 to 90% of Black men. That’s good news, and Black men should be celebrated for that.
Personally, I don’t understand how any Black man could vote for Trump after he led a lynch mob
Amendment
Continued from A1
to “STOP Child Gender Surgery” even though the amendment doesn’t mention gender-affirming care. Others claim the Amendment will permit abortions in the ninth month of pregnancy, according to ProPublica.
The problem? None of this is true.
The last-minute misinformation campaign doesn’t end with billboards. Last month, St. Louis Public Radio reported on Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley’s effort to falsely connect the issue to gender-affirming care for young people.
“This is about an effort to come into our schools behind your backs without your knowledge, to tell our kids that there’s some-
against the now exonerated Central Park Five, lied about Barack Obama’s birth certificate, blackballed Colin Kapernick out of the NFL, and bragged about bringing back racist policing tactics like stopand-frisk
But I also know that unanimity of opinion is unattainable. No candidate or party is ever going to get 100% of Black people to support them, but 87% is pretty damn good.
That’s why I’ve said before that we can’t pathologize Black men for our voting patterns when other groups, mainly white women, are the real problem.
That brings me to my second point. Contrary to the hot takes on social media, I don’t think Obama was scolding or pathologizing Black men. Instead, he was having an internal conversation with Black men to get us to examine some of the reasons that some of us don’t support Kamala
thing wrong with them and to give them drugs that will sterilize them for life … and there will be nothing we can do about it,” Hawley claimed while referring to Amendment 3.
Hawley’s Senate race opponent, Democrat Lucas Kunce, the ACLU and other supporters of the amendment condemned his remarks as false and an attempt to distract from poll numbers that show strong support for the measure.
Another Republican, State Rep. Brian Seitz, justified attacks on the abortion-rights amendment by claiming it’s really an attempt to protect transgender men playing women’s sports and sex changes for minors.
“I say it’s a multi-subject amendment that should not even be on the ballot. So, might we look at those individual sub-
Harris. That’s why the Black men Obama was speaking to in the room seemed to agree with him.
The question is how do you increase voter turnout for Black men, when 66% of Black men said they planned to vote compared to 71% of Black women, and that tiny gap could make a huge difference in
jects? Of course, we will,” Seitz claimed defiantly.
In 2023, Missouri passed a sweeping ban on gender-affirming care for minors, which largely restricts the procedure. Amendment 3 is totally unrelated to trans health care for minors. Hawley and Seitz’s fear mongering is disinformation.
This attempt to make the abortion rights amendment about something unrelated to abortion has become part of a national trend. As ProPublica stressed, “Republicans are leveraging cultural issues like transgender rights to confuse voters and “build a broader base against the amendment.”
“If you’re going to lose on the substance of that issue, you sort of have to try to make it about something else,” Matthew Harris, an associate professor of political science
a close election. Obama made a point that a small but vocal contingent of men, including Black men, refuse to support any woman candidate for president. Many of them have unrealistically high expectations for Kamala Harris but don’t hold Trump to the same standards.
at Park University, just outside Kansas City, told ProPublica. “Abortion rights, he added, “are broadly popular all across the country, even in red states.”
Unfortunately, it’s not just politicians engaged in the act of misleading or outright false claims about the amendment.
Last month, KCURFM, Kansas City’s national public radio affiliate, reported that the Catholic Diocese of Kansas CitySt. Joseph “sent a letter to every household registered with a Catholic parish in the area urging recipients to vote against legalizing abortion in Missouri.”
In the letter, which was later posted on the diocese website, Bishop James V. Johnston claimed that any health care professional — including a dental hygienist or pharmacist — could legally perform
Former President Barack Obama spoke in Pittsburgh at a rally for Kamala Harris after a previous stop in a campaign field office where he urged Black men — a demographic key to his two presidential victories — to support the vice president.
Obama wasn’t speaking to all Black men. He was speaking to Black men who have no problem with Trump selling cheap mugshots and $400 gold sneakers as “Black outreach” but when a Black woman who spent her entire life around Black people tries to get them to vote for her it’s considered
an abortion.” The bishop further stated that the amendment could lead to late-term abortions, “even when a preborn child is old enough to feel pain.”
KCUR also cited the part of Bishop Johnston’s letter that said the amendment would “protect those performing abortion procedures from civil or criminal consequences if their negligence caused harm to the pregnant person or fetus.”
While a religious institution risks losing IRS tax-exempt status it endorses a specific candidate, they can urge congregations to vote for or against a ballot initiative.
Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft made claims like Johnston’s when he tried to decertify the petition.
Ashcroft proposed incendiary language for the ballot question that would have asked voters to “allow for dangerous, unregulated, and unrestricted abortions.”
Attorney General Andrew Bailey pushed a sensationalized estimate – recommended by anti-abortion proponents – of a potential $12.5 billion loss to the state to be added to the ballot summary.
In response, Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, the organization that got Amendment 3 on the ballot, sued Ashcroft, saying his information was “an inaccurate and biased rep-
“pandering.” Just stop lying about why you’re voting for Trump because you’re making yourself sound ridiculous. Being a man is not about controlling women, mocking the weak, or insulting the vulnerable. That’s a caricature of manhood that Trump creates. Manhood is about honesty, fairness, responsibility, duty, and courage. A real man is secure enough in his identity to stand up in a crowd of “yes men” and tell them “No” when they do wrong. True manhood is powerful. It’s about using our strength not just to help ourselves, but to help those in need.
“Black Vote, Black Power,” a collaboration between St. Louis native Keith Boykin and Word In Black, examines the issues, the candidates, and what’s at stake for Black America in the 2024 presidential election.
resentation of the amendment.”
Cole County Circuit Court Judge Jon Beetem, agreed with the organization and struck down both Ashcroft and Bailey’s language, ruling that Ashcroft’s misleading summary was particularly “problematic.”
In September, Ashcroft tried to all-together decertify the ballot measure and block it from even appearing on November’s ballot. The Missouri Supreme Court, however, quickly ruled against Ashcroft by a 4-3 margin to keep the amendment on the ballot. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, every ballot measure seeking to expand abortion access, from Michigan to Ohio, has succeeded. A poll released in late August by SLU/YouGov found that out of 900 Missourians polled, 52 percent supported Amendment 3, with 34 percent opposed and 14 percent unsure. Those numbers have apparently sent pro-life opponents into a collective panic. They’ve run out of legal and constitutional options, so they seem to be advancing desperate efforts to make sure Missouri maintains one of the strictest abortion bans in the county. … Even if it takes misinformation to accomplish that goal.
Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.
Photo by Pete Sirianni / Courtesy of New Castle News
Continued from A1
St. Louis will follow the judge’s order. We are exploring our legal options, and my administration continues to find every avenue possible to support the families of St. Louis City.”
An avenue to JSMF was found after the organization connected with city leaders to help continue the program after the court ruling paused it, according to Jason Q. Purnell JSMF president.
“Our focus is on ensuring that families receive the resources promised to them and that the program can continue to gather valuable data on how GBI might contribute to St. Louis’s economic growth,” he said in a release.
“Our priorities are the well-being of these local families and the insights that could emerge to inform more inclusive growth strategies.”
Conner Kerrigan, a
Montgomery
Continued from A1
Montgomery purchased an abandoned building in the 4900 block of MLK Blvd. that was built as a movie theater in the 1920s, became an A&P grocery store in the 1960s and early ‘70s then a Family Dollar discount store before it was shuttered a few years ago.
Even without knowing when (or if) she’ll receive her grant money, Montgomery is moving forward. She has options on vacant lots in the two blocks surrounding her proposed restaurant and hopes other entrepreneurs will join her.
“We as Black people need to get together and buy up this property and bring it back. That’s what I’m trying to do,” she said.
Montgomery, 84, said she wants to revisit that time when Black people crowded Wellston on MLK (formerly Easton Ave.) every weekend to shop. She also remembers places like Freidman’s Railroad Salvage on Easton Avenue near Kingshighway, where people bought furniture, groceries, cars and clothing from other local businesses.
“This part of Easton had nothing but businesses and families,” Montgomery recalled. “When you walked down the street, people spoke to one another … ‘How you doing?’ It was that Southern hospitality thing.”
She’s embracing the idea of kicking off an economic renaissance in
spokesman for Jones’ office, told St. Louis Public Radio last week that the city was able to resume the program because it found a private funder. Court records show that the lawsuit is ongoing “We’re not using any public dollars,” Kerrigan said. “The lawsuit and the order from the judge prevented us from using public dollars for the programs. However, it did not restrict us from using private dollars.”
In March, the McDonnell Foundation announced it would focus all resources and expertise on St. Louis, and its assistance with the GBI program aligns with its mission to promote inclusive growth and shared prosperity in St. Louis, says Purnell.
Research shows that economic inequality derails regional growth. By supporting organizations and initiatives that address long-standing disparities, JSMF is working to build a more equitable and prosperous region.
a long-neglected part of north St. Louis.
“I’m right in the ‘hood where nobody else wants to come,” Montgomery said. “I don’t have a problem going in the ‘hood. I’m from the ‘hood; I ain’t scared!”
Indeed.
Robbie Marie Montgomery was born on June 16, 1940, in Columbus, Miss. At the age of six, her parents moved Robbie and her six brothers, James, Walter, Robert, George, and Everett and two sisters Linda and Janice to St. Louis.
She attended Pruitt Elementary School, then Vashon High School after it moved to the former Herbert S. Hadley Vocational School building at 3405 Bell Ave. After graduating high school, Montgomery said she worked at Billy Burke’s restaurant, near Sumner High School, “flipping burgers.”
While living in the Pruitt-Igoe Housing Projects, Montgomery participated in school talent shows and sang in the church choir. She makes her transition into the music scene seem seamless.
She and a group of girls from her building formed a singing group called the “Rhythmettes.” At that time, Montgomery recalled, there were a lot of “ettes,” female backup singers like Ike Turner’s “Ikettes” and Ray Charles’ “Raelettes.”
The Rhythmettes were discovered by a man she called “Mr. Goodlow,” who lived in the projects,
In addition to a persistent strain on individuals and families, poverty imposes significant costs on the St. Louis economy by hindering economic development, increasing healthcare costs, and contributing to safety concerns.
Direct payment programs in other regions have proven effective in addressing these challenges. Research indicates that such programs can:
• Improve children’s educational outcomes and their future earnings.
• Enhance the health of both children and parents, reducing healthcare costs.
• Reduce crime rates.
“JSMF believes that the St. Louis GBI program has the potential to yield similar returns for its recipients and our entire community. By supporting this initiative, the accompanying evaluation can also continue gathering data to inform future strategies for inclusive growth and shared prosperity in St. Louis,” said Purnell.
The James S.
who put on talent shows and wound up managing her group. Goodlow hooked her group up with legendary rhythm and blues singer, Art Lassiter.
The “Rhythmettes” became the “Artettes,” singing alongside Lassiter. Lassiter eventually formed a band, called the Bel-Airs, who by 1955 were recording and singing backup for Ike Turner. The “Artettes” eventually became the “Ikettes,” featuring future superstar Tina Turner.
The group recorded the hit song, “Fool In Love” in 1959. After a brief stint with Chicago blues guitarist Earl Hooker, Montgomery officially joined Ike & Tina’s band in 1961 and started traveling the world.
From 1968 to 1988, Montgomery recorded and sang background for groups like the Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd and spent eight years as a “Nighttripper” backing up New Orleans blues, jazz, R&B, soul and funk musician Dr. John. Throughout her career, she sang behind B.B. King, Barbra Streisand, Debbie Reynolds, Joe Cocker, Stevie Wonder and other well-known artists.
Health concerns caused Montgomery to quit singing and touring. She came back to her hometown and had to find a “regular job.” It was a humbling experience.
“I’d been all over the world and had to come back and work a job. I wasn’t rich when I quit singing rich so, I just swallowed that pride,” Montgomery laughed.
McDonnell Foundation (JSMF) is a private philanthropic institution based in St. Louis. It was founded by its namesake to improve the quality of life. JSMF invests in organizations and initiatives working to improve economic mobility for St. Louisans facing the starkest disparities. To date, JSMF has awarded more than $400M in grants.
In August, the foundation launched its open call for grant proposals in “Civic Infrastructure” and “Wealth-Building” with a total of $2 million in awards.
JSMF encourages applicants to propose innovative ideas that advance inclusive and equitable economic growth in the St. Louis region.
JSMF is seeking additional funding partners to support the remainder of the St. Louis GBI program through mid-2025. For more information about JSMF and its effort to promote inclusive growth, please visit jsmf.org.
Oprah Winfrey’s company, OWN, found Montgomery when they were looking for a restaurant for a possible reality TV series. Apparently, the “sizzle reel” which captured a sassy and savvy Montgomery along with her humorous and entertaining family beat out other contenders and Montgomery was offered a seven-year contract on Winfrey’s network.
“Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s,” which premiered in 2011, was filmed at Montgomery’s Grove and Grand Center locations. The popularity of the show drew busloads of fans from across the country.
The ninth and final season premiered in 2018.
by
The closure of the Upper Crust location came in 2022 after Montgomery’s son, Tim Norman, was found guilty of arranging his nephew Andre Montgomery’s death to get a $450,000 life insurance policy. He has since been sentenced to life in prison.
Although Montgomery loves St. Louis, she expressed frustration with the litany of rumors and social media allegations that the Grand Center restaurant’s closure was related to her son’s crime.
“I’m not the only mother with a son in prison or who has been in trouble … that had nothing to do with it,” Montgomery fumed, stressing the real reason
the eatery closed. Montgomery has led an economic resurgence in two neighborhoods. Arguably, the Grove or the Grand Center was what they are today before Sweetie Pie’s pioneered the terrain and drew thousands of locals and tourists into those areas.
“These are my stomping grounds; this is where I lived and I’m gonna do whatever I have to do,” Montgomery said, alluding to the unknown status of her business grant.
“I’ll sell chicken on the corner if I have to, but I’m gonna make this work!”
Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.
U.S. Navy Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Steven Bynum, a native of St. Louis, assigned to the USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), embraces his wife on the pier at Naval Base San Diego, Oct. 18, 2024. Sailors assigned to Harpers Ferry returned home to San Diego after a seven-month deployment.
Photo
Evan Diaz
‘Taking Care of You’
A drop of hope
New blood test approved for colorectal cancer screenings
While a new blood test could lead to more African Americans being screened for colorectal cancer, the colonoscopy remains the most reliable type of test. African Americans are about 20% more likely to get colorectal cancer and about 40% more likely to die from it than most other groups, according to the American Cancer Society.
By JoAnn Weaver St. Louis American
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S., even though it can be successfully treated if caught early. The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that more than 150,000 people will be diagnosed with CRC in 2024, and the disease will be responsible for more than 53,000 deaths.
African Americans are about 20% more likely to get colorectal cancer and about 40% more likely to die from it than most other groups, according to the ACS. Its research also concludes that African Americans have the highest rates of colorectal cancer when compared to any racial/ethnic group in the US.
The FDA recently approved Guardant Health’s “Shield” blood test
Joel Riley
for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening in adults aged 45 and older who are at average risk for the disease. It is the first blood test to be approved by the FDA as a primary screening option for CRC.
This is also the first blood test for CRC screening that meets the requirements for Medicare coverage.
“The interesting things about African Americans with colon cancer are that they have the lowest survival rate when they’re detected, they’re usually more advanced when [detected], and they’re more likely to get it at a younger age,” Dr. Joel Riley, a gas-
troenterologist at SSM Health Medical Group, said.
“They’re not as responsive to the chemotherapy if it’s an advanced disease, so there’s a difference in treating some African American patients compared to the white populations.”
According to the gastroenterologist, the early onset of colon cancer is also disproportionately affecting the African American population, for which the causes are being researched.
“I’ve seen some very alarming and shocking cases of some young people with colorectal cancer. Chadwick Boseman, [he was] 43, you know. He’s a young cat who was in several great films, and I don’t believe he had a family history of colon cancer. But that’s what he had, so we’re seeing it a lot,” Riley said.
See CANCER, A9
Intimate partner violence remains prevalent
By Denise Hooks-Anderson
Many years ago, I was dismissed as a potential juror in a domestic violence case. I recall the defense asking my thoughts when I heard the case was about domestic violence. I told the young attorney that I immediately thought of the women over the years who had suffered mentally or physically in relationships. Shortly after, I was told my services were not needed. I guess I was deemed biased.
n Intimate partner violence (IPV) is defined as aggression or abuse that occurs in a romantic relationship.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is defined as aggression or abuse that occurs in a romantic relationship. Current or former spouses and dating partners could be classified as an intimate partner. Abuse can vary in frequency and intensity. The abuse could have occurred once or be severe and span many years. IPV can be characterized by the following types of behavior:
1. Physical violence: trying to hurt someone by physical force
2. Psychological aggression: use of non-verbal and verbal communication with the intent to harm a partner emotionally or mentally or to exert control over a partner
3. Sexual violence: forcing or attempting to force a partner to take part in a sex act, sexual touching, or a non-physical sexual event when the partner does not or cannot consent
4. Stalking: a pattern of repeated, unwanted attention and contact by a partner that causes fear or concern for
See ANDERSON, A9
Affinia opens WIC clinic in Children’s Hospital
St. Louis
Affinia Healthcare has opened
WIC clinic in
Hospital, which is open MondayFriday for hospital patients
The WIC program provides services to pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children up to their 5th birthday based on nutritional risk and income eligibility. Its services include healthy supplemental food, risk assessment, nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding promotion and support, health screenings, and referrals to health care.
To be eligible for WIC, applicants must have an income of less than or equal to 185% of the poverty level and be at nutritional risk.
n “Affinia Healthcare is extremely proud to work with St. Louis Children’s Hospital to provide these vital services to families who have children receiving care at the hospital.”
– Kristen Gore, Affinia Healthcare WIC Director
The new clinic is located at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, One Children’s Hospital Place near the Central West End, and will serve those families with children who are patients at the hospital.
“Affinia Healthcare is extremely proud to work with St. Louis See AFFINIA, A9
Melanie Vaughn, WIC certifier, assists a parent at the 2023 Backto-School fair at the Affinia Healthcare location in North St. Louis. Affinia Healthcare WIC has opened a new office at St. Louis Children’s Hospital for families of the hospital’s patients.
Photo courtesy of ACS
Dr.
Photo courtesy of Affinia Healthcare
Denise HooksAnderson
Cancer
Continued from A8
Riley emphasizes the importance of colon cancer screenings, which can aid with early detection and improve the survival rates.
“Colon cancer is a problem, particularly among African Americans, but for all people, and we’re starting to see it at a younger age,” Riley said.
“We used to screen at 50, but now we’re down to 45, so any time we can try to prevent things from happening, that’d be great.” When colorectal cancer is found at an early stage before it has spread, the five-year relative survival rate is about 90%, according to the ACS.
“Colon cancer is a disease that you want to catch early, and a colonoscopy is the gold standard to see if we find something in the colon,” Riley said.
According to the gastroenterologist, a colonoscopy typically requires the patient to take a day off work, drink bowl prep, and come into the office where they are sedated for the invasive procedure.
“A colonoscopy requires a lot of work, and it can be inconvenient. A lot of people are afraid to move on that, so they would prefer to do some non-invasive tests to see if colon cancer can be detected early. I’m for anything that will make people move in the direction of getting their colon checked out,” Riley said.
According to Guardant’s website, Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers a blood-based biomarker screening test to check for colorectal cancer if the individual is between the ages of 45–85, shows no symptoms of colorectal disease, and is at average risk for developing colorectal cancer.
“Our hesitation to screen our younger populations, particularly
Affinia
Continued from A8 Children’s Hospital to provide these vital services to families who have children receiving care at the hospital,” said Kristen Gore, Affinia Healthcare WIC Director.
“Providing high-quality care to families is the core of what we do and to be able to work with a nationally recognized organization like St. Louis Children’s Hospital to help alleviate some of the other concerns families may be dealing with, is an honor and a privilege.” To schedule an appointment call (314) 898-1701. For more information on the WIC program, visit https://www.affiniahealthcare.org/department/wom-
Anderson
the African American population, has decreased because most of the time when they do seek medical care, particularly if they have seen several doctors before the diagnosis is made, there may be significant precancerous polyps or colon cancer,” Riley said.
“We are more attentive to our younger population with the possibilities of developing colon cancer by listening to their alarm signals like bleeding or loss of weight or pain.”
Screenings should also be sooner for those with a
en-infants-and-childrenwic/or WIC.Mo.Gov The Affinia Healthcare WIC program also has offices at the organization’s health centers and satellite locations throughout the St. Louis metro area. WIC supplemental food packages provide foods high in protein, iron, calcium, and vitamins A and C. Eligible women and children receive fortified milk and cheese, eggs, whole grain bread products, hot or cold cereals, 100% fruit juices, and fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables.
The WIC program recommends breastfeeding and provides breastfeeding support, baby foods, and infant cereal. For women who cannot or choose not to breastfeed, infants may receive supplemental, iron-fortified formula.
Continued from A8 about gender roles
one’s own safety or the safety of someone close to the victim
There are many individual risk factors for perpetrators of intimate partner violence such as:
1. Negative views of women 2. Traditional beliefs
3. History of being physically abused
4. History of emotional or physical abuse as a child
5. Antisocial personality traits Relationship issues may also increase the risk of intimate partner violence such as unemployment, infertility, or death of a loved one. Communities with high rates of poverty,
n “A colonoscopy requires a lot of work, and it can be inconvenient. A lot of people are afraid to move on that, so they would prefer to do some non-invasive tests to see if colon cancer can be detected early. I’m for anything that will make people move in the direction of getting their colon checked out,”
– Dr. Joel Riley, SSM Health Medical Group gastroenterologist
family history and people with a history of colon cancer and irritable bowel
disease.
More than three out of four individuals who die
from colorectal cancer (CRC) are not up to date with their screening. If the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, the five-year relative survival rate is 14%.
“The persistent gap in colorectal cancer screening rates shows that the existing screening options do not appeal to millions of people,” said Daniel Chung, MD, a gastroenterologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.
The CRC screening rate in the U.S. is only
about 59%, which falls well below the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable’s goal of 80% for eligible individuals.
“The FDA’s approval of the Shield blood test marks a tremendous leap forward, offering a compelling new solution to close this gap,” Chung said in a statement.
“This decision will help make screening tests more broadly accessible and propel blood-based testing and CRC screening into a new era; with increased screening rates and early cancer detection, many more lives can be saved.”
low educational status, high levels of crime, and high rates of joblessness are also risk factors.
However, it is important to remember that IPV may not necessarily originate from one single cause, but it may be multifactorial, and just because the risk factor is present doesn’t necessarily mean that its presence equals causation. In the US, millions of people are affected by
intimate partner violence. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 41% of women and 26% of men experienced contact sexual violence, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner during their lifetime and reported a related impact. For many of these individuals, the violence may have started in their teen years. Gender and sexual minority youth are
at greater risk of experiencing sexual or physical dating violence.
Per data from US crime reports, about one in five homicide victims are killed by an intimate partner. Domestic violence calls are some of the most dangerous situations for which police must intervene.
Educating our community on this important issue is a first step to managing the problem. Secondly,
we must teach people what healthy relationships should look like. Lastly, improving access to mental health resources is also a vital component to lowering intimate partner violence rates.
Denise HooksAnderson, MD, FAAFP can be reached at yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.com
The St. Louis American’s award winning NIE program provides newspapers and resources to more than 8,000 teachers and students each week throughout the school year, at no charge.
Questions or comments? Contact Cathy Sewell csewell@stlamerican.com or 618-910-9551
CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT
Students Cadyn Edwards and Byi’E Donelson in Ms. Cheryl M. Christian’s 9th grade class at Jennings Senior High School, analyze data (percent, average and graphing) using Skittles while collaborating and sharing information in a team setting.
Photo by Cheryl Christian
SCIENCE
CORNER
What do you think of when you hear the word “pest?” Most people think of bugs or insects. Did you know that bugs and insects can actually be helpful? Insects can visit plants and spread pollen to help new fruits, vegetables, and flowers grow. Insects can also eat other insects that damage plants. However, when insects cause harm, they are considered pests. For example, there are worms and bugs that eat plants and crops, and insects that bite people or animals and spread disease.
Pest control is tricky. The important thing is to eliminate the pest without causing harm to people, animals, or the environment. According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), there are three ways to control pests: 1.) predators, which hunt and kill pests for food, 2.) parasites, which live on or inside pests and also may kill them, and 3.) pathogens,
SCIENCE INVESTIGATION
What do plants need to grow? Your answers probably include water, sunlight, and healthy soil. Did you know that plants also need space? In this experiment, you will see how space affects the growth of plants.
Materials Needed:
• 2 Flower Pots • Potting Soil • Seeds • Water Process:
which cause disease in pests. Pathogens are germs like bacteria or viruses.
Pesticides are chemicals made to kill pests. Pesticides can be found in the form of spray, gel, or pellets. There are three main types of pesticides: insecticides to kill insects, herbicides to kill plants, and fungicides to kill mold and fungus. Pesticides contain chemicals and they are very dangerous. They are only to be used by adults. Remember to keep them away from family pets, as well.
For more information, visit: http://pestworldforkids.org/. Learning Standards: I can read nonfiction text for main idea and supporting details. I can make text-to-text and textto-world connections.
Crowded Seeds
w In the second flower pot, place the seeds close together.
e Observe the seeds as they begin to grow and germinate.
r Record your observations.
t Draw conclusions: How does space affect the growth of plants?
SCIENCE STARS
Kenyan Entomologist and Educator Thomas Odhiambo
Thomas Odhiambo was born in 1931 in Mombasa, which is a city on the coast of Kenya. He was one of 10 children. Odhiambo was very passionate about learning and graduated from CMS Maseno, which is a public school in Kenya. Next, he received his Cambridge overseas school certificate in 1949. For the next four years, he studied biology at the Makerere University College in Uganda. He used this knowledge to work as an entomologist. Odhiambo then studied natural sciences at Cambridge University and earned his PhD in insect physiology in 1965. For the next five years, he taught zoology at the University of East Africa in Nairobi.
Odhiambo wanted to spread knowledge and wanted to train scientists.
He helped to establish several schools including the Third World Academy of Sciences in Trieste, Italy (1983), the Kenya National Academy of Sciences in Nairobi (1983), and the African Academy of Sciences in Nairobi (1985). At the University of Nairobi he set up the departments of entomology and agriculture.
He also created the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (Icipe) in Nairobi. He was the first dean of the University of Nairobi’s department of agriculture, and was the founding president of the African Academy of Sciences. He also created a secondary school near Mombasa, founded a children’s publishing house, and wrote six children’s books. Next to sharing knowledge and education, Odhiambo is known for studying and creating nonchemical methods of insect control to preserve crops. This was important because pesticides that had been previously used contained chemicals that were harmful to both people and the environment.
q In one flower pot, add potting soil and plant seeds with the recommended amount of space between them.
z A Kentucky farmer needed to apply pesticide to his summer crop of corn. If one container of pesticide covered 12 square acres and the farmer’s corn was 3 acres long by 5 acres wide, how many containers of pesticide would he need? ______
x Brenda has a square garden plot that is 10 feet on each side. What is the perimeter of her garden?______ What is the area of her garden?______
Learning Standards: I can follow sequential directions to complete an experiment. I can make observations and draw conclusions.
Citizens of Kenya depended on their crop of maize as a source of many foods; but the crops were being eaten by moth larva. Odhiambo solved the problem by using wasps from Pakistan to attack the moths. In 1987, he received the African Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger. Odhiambo also received the Albert Einstein Medal, the Gold Mercury International Award, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Oslo. He died May 26, 2003.
c Joe has a rectangular herb garden that is 16 ft long and 12 ft wide. What length of fencing does he need to fence in his entire garden? ______
v Pam has a rectangular flower garden that is 10 ft long and 2 ft wide. One bag of soil can cover 8 square feet. How many bags will she need to cover the entire garden? ______
This special Newspaper In Education initiative is made possible, and delivered to classrooms through the
b Challenge Problem: Tom purchased 4.5 acres of land for $76,500. Bill wants to purchase a strip of Tom’s land measuring 108.9 feet by 100 feet. What should this strip cost Bill if Tom sells it for the same price per square foot he originally paid for it? ______ (Note: 43,560 square feet are in one acre.)
Learning Standards: I can add, subtract, multiply, and divide to solve a problem.
Learning Standards: I can read a biography about a person who has contributed to the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.
Enjoy these activities that help you get to know your St. Louis American newspaper.
Activities — Story Outline: Underline the main ideas in a feature story in the newspaper, circle the supporting details, and then outline the story.
Descriptive Writing: Make a list of at least 15 descriptive words you find in the advertisements. After compiling your list, write one or two paragraphs describing something. Use as many of the words as you can.
Learning Standards: I can use a newspaper to locate information. I can write for a specific purpose and audience.
Teachers, if you are using the St.
MAP CORNER
Pest Control
Gardner enters pre-charge agreement with Feds
Can avoid prosecution
By Rachel Lippmann St. Louis Public Radio
Former St. Louis Circuit
Attorney Kim Gardner, through her attorney, is adamant she did not break the law regarding use of campaign funds for personal spending, regardless of media reports.
In a statement released by Gardner’s counsel Ronald L. Sullivan Jr., the former city prosecutor entered into a pre-charge diversion agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s office.
“The parties agreed to resolve the matter prior to any criminal action commencing and to spare the district the time and costs associated with defending any claim of criminal wrongdoing. While Ms. Gardner was prepared to vigorously defend any allegations that may have been lodged against her, she and the government agreed to end any dispute
and terminate any investigation with the pre-charge diversion agreement” “Ms. Gardner has not been charged with a crime. Accordingly, Ms. Gardner has not entered a guilty plea to any crime, nor would she do so. The pre-charge diversion agreement resolves a potential dispute between Ms. Gardner and the government, without need for a federal trial, involving whether Ms. Gardner was lawfully reimbursed from a proper Circuit Attorney Office account for certain expenses she incurred while she served as the Circuit Attorney. Federal prosecutors announced the pretrial diversion agreement on Wednesday. According to prosecutors, Gardner avoids possible prosecution if she does not become involved in another “illegal acts” and pays back the funds in 18 months.
St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner sits behind her attorneys in a St. Louis courtroom on Tuesday in the first hearing of a lawsuit by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey seeking to remove her from office.
in public funds.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office has jurisdiction in the case because the City of St. Louis receives federal program funds in excess of $10,000 annually and because Gardner admitted misusing more than $5,000
The agreement defers prosecution for a period of 18 months, during which time Gardner must avoid violating any laws, report to a pretrial services officer and follow the instructions of that pre-
trial services officer. She is also required to repay the diverted funds to the Circuit Attorney’s Office as restitution.
“The agreement follows a thorough investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI, during which investigators interviewed all pertinent witnesses and reviewed all available evidence and financial records,” said U.S. Attorney Sayler A. Fleming in a statement.
“This is a just and fair outcome for a case involving a former official and the misuse of public funds that just met the minimum required under the pertinent federal criminal statute.”
The Missouri Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that Gardner had violated several ethics rules in her prosecution of former Gov. Eric Greitens and fined her $750. She also had to cover the cost of the disciplinary proceedings against her, which totaled $4,254.33. Altogether, she was required to pay
$5,004.33. According to Fleming’s office, Gardner had employees of the circuit attorney write checks from the circuit attorney contingent fund to reimburse her for the payment. Under state law, that fund can only be used for expenses like bringing in witnesses from other states or printing copies of briefs.
Because the amount drawn from the contingency account was more than $5,000, and the city receives more than $10,000 in federal funds a year, Gardner violated federal theft laws.
Gardner’s time in office is under review by state Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick and is the last report that’s needed to finish a 2018 request by the St. Louis Board of Aldermen to do a comprehensive audit of the city.
St. Louis Public Radio’s Rachel Lippmann contributed to this report
Woke Voter Brunch at Levels Nigerian Cuisine Oct. 27
St. Louis American
Action St. Louis will host a Woke Voter Brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, October 27, 2024, at Levels Nigerian Cuisine, 1405 Washington Avenue.
In partnership with Ono Celebrations, the free event offers the opportunity to learn about critical issues on the ballot while enjoying a relaxed and engaging atmosphere.
“Our goal is to create a space where voters can come together, enjoy good food, and leave with a better understanding of what’s at stake this election season,” said Kayla Reed,
Action St. Louis. executive director.
“This brunch is about fostering community, civic participation, and ensuring that every voter feels confident when they head to the polls.” Event highlights include:
• In-depth discussions on key issues on the ballot, including local measures and state races.
• An opportunity to connect with fellow community members and activists who are passionate about voter engagement.
• Free brunch provided to all attendees This event is part of
Action St. Louis’ efforts to increase voter turnout, particularly among Black voters and marginalized communities, as the Nov. 5, 2024, General Election draws near. Action St. Louis encourages all attendees to bring friends and family to the event and make this brunch a powerful moment of political engagement.
To RSVP for the Woke Voter Brunch, please visit eventbrite.com/e/ the-wokevoter-brunchby-actionstl-and-onocelebrations-free-tickets-1047900758377.
David Carson / pool photo
Business sPotlight
A ‘Dream’ come true
Realtor Keaira Anderson shares STL love on TV show
By Kenedee Fowler
For the St. Louis American
Born and raised in St. Louis, Keaira Anderson decries the negative narratives about her hometown. She used her opportunity on the nationally syndicated “American Dream TV,” to highlight the lifestyle, culture, and real estate of St. Louis. Anderson, a realtor and agent with EXP Realty in St. Louis, isn’t just about selling homes, saying “it’s about connecting people to their communities.”
This has been Anderson’s mission
since serving on the board of the housing ministry in the West End neighborhood.
Before selling homes, Anderson was active in social work and economic development. She served as executive director of a non-profit housing ministry. She was the first woman and African American to lead the organization and resided in the neighborhood she represented. She helped provide housing to the underrepresented communities, stayed involved in neighborhood stabilization and supporting families transitioning to
a better economic status.
“I saw their strengths, and not that they needed [low cost] housing conditions. They were grateful,” she said
She believed it was important not only to work and support those communities in housing but also to build relationships and be involved in the neighborhood as well.
“We’re not just going to focus on our housing and bringing more people in, with tenants behind on their rent for two years. Nobody is asking for that. That builds unhealthy habits,” Anderson said.
After years of working on the board
See ANDERSON, A9
Navigating the homebuying process
By Jeannine Murphy
In recent years, the dream of homeownership has felt increasingly out of reach for many people. However, for those navigating the market for the first time, there are unique advantages and programs designed to help make this dream a reality. Understanding these benefits, as well as the responsibilities that come with homeownership, is essential for any potential homebuyer.
Who qualifies as a first-time homebuyer?
The definition of a first-time homebuyer might be broader than you think. It includes individuals who have not owned real estate in the three years before making a new purchase. This also encompasses those who have previously owned property with a former spouse. Interestingly, even those who have owned investment properties while renting their primary residence might qualify under certain conditions. However, those who have been listed on a relative’s home title may not qualify.
Advantages for first-time homebuyers
The journey to homeownership is paved with several incentives for firsttime buyers. These individuals can look forward to lower down-payment options and more lenient credit qualifications, making the initial financial hurdle less daunting. Special loan programs and terms are also in place to cater to their needs. Moreover, grants and down payment assistance programs offer substantial financial support. To ensure informed decision-making, homebuyer education, and pre-purchase counseling services are readily available and sometimes required.
Understanding
the mortgage payment
A typical mortgage payment is divided into several parts: the principal and interest and escrow payments, which cover real estate taxes, homeowner insurance, and, if applicable, private mortgage insurance (PMI) or mortgage insurance premium (MIP).
A typical mortgage payment is divided into principal, interest, and escrow payments, which cover real estate taxes, homeowner insurance, and, if applicable, private mortgage insurance (PMI) or mortgage insurance premium (MIP).
The responsibilities of homeownership
Owning a home comes with responsibilities, including additional household expenses for utilities, water, sewer, trash services, and Homeowner’s Association (HOA) fees. Renters might traditionally not worry about these costs, as landlords often cover them.
The unparalleled benefits of owning a home
The benefits of homeownership extend beyond the financial. It provides stability in an otherwise fluctuating market. Moreover, with every payment made, homeowners build equity, increasing financial security over time. This investment increases in value, offering not just a place to live but a valuable asset.
Homeowners enjoy complete control over their living space and freedom from the uncertainties of renting, such as unexpected hikes in rent, changes in management, or the property being sold. The ability to personalize one’s home and the security of knowing it’s yours is unmatched.
As the landscape of homeownership evolves, the initial step into the market can seem overwhelming. Yet, with the proper knowledge and resources, firsttime homebuyers can confidently navigate the process, making the dream of owning a home a reality.
Jeannine Murphy is vice president CRA/Community Development of FCB Banks
Lamar Johnson joins City of Dellwood staff
The City of Dellwood has hired Lamar Johnson for a full-time position in its Public Works Department. Johnson completed the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis “Save Our Sons” job training program, where he gained valuable employment and career skills. Johnson, who was wrongfully convicted and spent over 28 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, “earned the opportunity to work for the City of Dellwood through his dedication, perseverance, and strong performance during the interview process,” said Mayor Reggie Jones.
Harris represents SIU-E at conference
Jessica C. Harris, PhD, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Vice Chancellor for Anti-racism, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion was a recent panelist at the Southern Illinois University (SIU) System’s conference, “Gathering and Strengthening Historically Underrepresented Students” at SIUCarbondale. According to Harris, a proponent of creating a data culture around student success, “As much as quantitative data can drive and inform decisions and strategies related to student success, the stories and perspectives of our students are just as instructive.”
Harrison’s catering firm lands $15,000 grant
LaMay’s Catering, Inc., owned by Jason Harrison, has been awarded a $15,000 community grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. LaMay’s is a food service company providing catering and event space along with food trucks and community cafes, and a small business customer of First Mid Bank & Trust
“This grant will allow us to set up a new catering contract along with updating kitchen equipment. We are thankful to First Mid and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago for believing in our vision,” said Harrison.
Robin Wilkins joins St. John’s Bank
Robin R. Wilkins
Robin R. Wilkins recently joined St. John’s Bank as the vice president of loan operations. She brings over 40 years of credit, loan administration and loan operations with her to the bank. Wilkins has a bachelor’s degree in theology and psychology from St. Louis Christian College. St. Johns Bank is a locally owned, community bank with four full-service locations in St. Louis and St. Charles counties.
Lamar Johnson
Jessica Harris
Internationally acclaimed St. Louis artist Cbabi Bayoc hosted a watch party for Keaira Murphy’s “American Dream TV” debut when it aired this summer. From left are Bayoc, Amber l. Howlett-Bayoc, James Anderson, and Alderwoman Shameem Clark-Hubbard.
Photo courtesy of Cbabi bayoc
Jason Harrison
Jeannine Murphy
Racial and ethnic distribution of realtors, by real estate experience
(Percentage of respondents)
All realtors 2 years or less 3 to 5 years 6 to 15 years 16 years or more
Note: Respondents could choose more then one racial or ethnic category.
• Less than 1 percent
Source: National Association of REALTORS 2024 Member Profile
Anderson
Continued from A8 and “changing the organization [from] inside-out,” Anderson explained the non-profit transitioned into a Community Development Corporation (CDC). This led to more funding and institutional partners supporting the west-end neighborhood. The transition also helped protect and preserve housing options with a $20,000 lottery for residents living there prior to the transition in 2015.
In 2019, Anderson devoted herself to real estate full-time.
“In the school of social work, we always talk about how you should work yourself out of a job. If you strengthen the community, leave resources behind, and help educate and inform, people should be able to do the work themselves,” Anderson said.
It became clear to Anderson that the knowledge she gained in community planning was useful in her real estate career.
“I want to leverage [real estate] into a way to inform potential home-
owners and sellers about their voice and how they can make change happen just by being a homeowner or renter,” Anderson said.
“Showing up to neighborhood meetings is where you apply your voice to make change happen.”
Anderson felt she had a lot to give to the city she calls home, a city many people leave to seek careers elsewhere.
“When I transitioned from the executive director role back then, I remember saying, ‘I’m a darn good asset.’ I will never sign up for
anything in the future that I don’t feel 100% committed to because I have so much to give,” Anderson said.
Five years later, Anderson was presented with an opportunity on “The American Dream,” when it selected five St. Louis realtors to host “American Dream, Selling St. Louis.”
When she learned she was selected, “I picked a corner of the room to just go there and cry,” Anderson said.
“We just came from a situation of only having $9 in our account. I had no idea all these great things
were getting ready to happen in my life.”
“American Dream TV” informs, empowers, and engages with viewers through real estate, finance, and lifestyle, and in this case, in the city of St. Louis.
“I already love conveying to potential buyers why sellers love their neighborhood and what they feel makes it unique,” Anderson said.
“I’m already doing it locally, but this is an opportunity to do it nationally.”
“The American Dream, Selling St. Louis,” provided
Anderson with a stage to share the positive aspects of St. Louis.
“I want people to visit this space and say, ‘I had no idea this space was here.’ Also, ‘I have an additional reason to be proud of being from St. Louis.’” Anderson said. Anderson has uploaded her individual episodes to her personal YouTube page, theeSTLrealtor. You can also watch episodes on The American Dream TV network site or through streaming services such as Amazon, Apple TV, Roku, and more.
n “It’s kind of what the people wanted, what we all wanted.”
– Dodgers star Mookie Betts on facing N.Y. Yankees in World Series
InSIdE SportS
With Earl Austin Jr.
East St. Louis hopes to fly against IMG Academy
The final weekend of the high school football regular season is here, bringing several important matchups as teams gear up for postseason play.
The big game in the Metro East comes on Friday night as nationally-ranked IMG Academy from Bradenton, Florida pays a visit to East St. Louis to take on the undefeated Flyers. IMG Academy enters the game ranked No. 6 in MaxPrep and No. 7 in the USA Today Super 25 rankings. East St. Louis is currently 8-0 with impressive victories over Imotep (PA) and Illinois Wilmette Academy this season. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
A huge matchup on the Missouri side features state championship contenders Cardinal Ritter and Lutheran North, who will meet on Friday night at Ritter. Ritter is ranked No. 1 in Class 5 and currently riding a 35-game winning streak while Lutheran North is ranked No. 1 in Class 4. Both teams feature tremendous talent on both sides of the ball.
One more big game of note will feature a Missouri vs. Illinois matchup as DeSmet visits Edwardsville. Both teams are strong postseason contenders in their respective large-school classes. Both teams are coming off losses against formidable opponents last weekend. DeSmet lost to Missouri power Cardinal Ritter last week while Edwardsville is coming off a tough 14-7 loss to Southwestern Conference rival East St. Louis.
Week 8 standouts
Running back Madden
Irving of Chaminade rushed for 315 yards on 35 carries and a school-record seven touchdowns in the Red Devils 62-35 victory over Hillsboro.
Quarterback Carson Boyd of Cardinal Ritter rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass in the Lions’ 28-3 victory over DeSmet.
Receiver Dekari Weaver of Chaminade had six receptions for 172 yards and a touchdown in the Red Devils 62-35 victory over Hillsboro.
Quarterback Zion Taylor of Cahokia completed 12 of 17 passes for
on
250 yards and two touchdowns in the Comanches 26-9 victory over Collinsville.
Running back Martez Stephenson of Lutheran North rushed for 246 yards on 11 carries and five touchdowns in the Crusaders’ 71-7 victory over Lutheran St. Charles
Running back Jordan Taylor of SLUH rushed for 281 yards on 28 carries and three touchdowns in the Jr. Bills 31-3 victory over St. Mary’s What’s on tap for Week 8
Thursday, October 24 Kirkwood at
Hazelwood Central, 6 p.m.
Jennings at University City, 6 p.m.
Timberland at Fort Zumwalt North, 7 p.m.
Friday, October 25
Parkway West at Hazelwood East, 6 p.m. Rockhurst at SLUH, 6 p.m. Summit at Ritenour, 6 p.m. Rock Bridge at Francis Howell, 7 p.m. St. Mary’s at CBC, 6 p.m. Eureka at Pattonville, 7 p.m. Webster Groves at Seckman, 7 p.m. Ladue at Fox, 7 p.m. MICDS at Mexico, 7 p.m. Lafayette at Marquette,
SportS EyE
With Alvin A. Reid
7 p.m.
Warrenton at Fort Zumwalt South, 7 p.m. Festus at Jackson, 7 p.m.
Chaminade at Hickman, 7 p.m.
Lindbergh at Mehlville, 7 p.m.
Saturday, October 26
Clayton at Riverview Gardens, 11 a.m.
Gateway STEM at Soldan, noon
Roosevelt at Miller Career Academy, noon Confluence at John Burroughs, 1 p.m. St. Dominic at Westminster, 1 p.m.
Earl’s World
Several St. Louis area
football standouts were front and center in Mizzou’s big come-from-behind 21-17 victory over Auburn last Saturday in Columbia. First and foremost was starting quarterback Brady Cook (Chaminade) who injured his ankle in the first quarter, went to the hospital, then came back in the fourth quarter to lead the Tigers back from a 17-6 deficit. Receiver Mookie Cooper (Trinity Catholic) had a 78-yard reception to set up a touchdown. Running back Jamal Roberts (St. Mary’s) scored the winning touchdown in the closing seconds. Defensive back Marvin Burks Jr. (Cardinal Ritter) had a teamhigh 10 tackles while defensive back Toriano Pride had a big fumble recovery. Receiver Luther Burden III (East St. Louis) had a team-high six receptions…St. Louisan Napheesa Collier had a historic postseason run in leading the Minnesota Lynx to a runner-up finish in the WNBA playoffs. The former Incarnate Word star had 22 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks in the Lynx’ loss to the New York Liberty in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals. The 6’1” Collier’s playoff resume included most points scored in a single postseason, most points in a playoff game (42), most steals in a WNBA Finals series, most stocks (steals and blocks) in a single postseason. Collier was the only player in WNBA history to average 40 points in a series, which she did in the first round against Phoenix.
Dodgers’ fate rests on Flaherty’s World Series performance
The World Series showdown between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees will include a host of former MVPs including Major League Baseball’s two most prominent Black stars –Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts and Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge. Ratings will be astronomical with Juan Soto, Giancarlo Stanton, pitcher Gerrit Cole playing for the Yanks and Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman taking the diamond for L.A. Yet, the deciding factor in this epic clash could be a former St. Louis Cardinal – and I’m not talking about National League Championship Series MVP Tommy Edman. Jack Flaherty pitched a seven-inning gem against the New York Mets in a 9-0 win in the first game of the NLCS. He surren-
dered no runs, recording six strikeouts and allowing only two hits and two walks.
Whie pitching for Detroit before a trade to the Dodgers, Flaherty had a sparkling 2.95 ERA over 18 starts and a 7-5 record. In 55.1 innings with the Dodgers, Flaherty recorded a 3.58 ERA and 61 strikeouts. He had allowed three or less runs in eight of 10 outings.
Flaherty, a free agentto-be in search of a huge payday following the season, was the talk of the town, as he prepared to start Game 5 of the NLCS in New York. The Dodgers were another dominant Flaherty performance from reaching the World Series.
To say Flaherty flopped would be an understatement.
Flat from the first pitch on, Flaherty gave up eight runs and eight hits over
just three innings. The Mets skipped to an easy 12-6 win. It can’t be overlooked that Flaherty was far from flawless in a 10-2 loss to the San Diego Padres in a Division Series game on October 6. He gave up four runs over 5.1 innings.
A native of Southern California, Flaherty bristles at the mention of any added pressure because he pitches for the Dodgers.
“[T]here’s no added frustration because I grew up here. I’d be [upset] no matter where I was playing. So, kind of tired of that,” he told reporters following his New York shelling.
All signs are pointing to a Flaherty vs. Cole showdown in Game One
of the World Series on Friday night Oct. 25 in Los Angeles. If Flaherty is on fire, the Dodgers will seize momentum and likely triumph in the best-of-seven series. Should Flaherty struggle, the Yankees will be in control.
The Reid Roundup
Former St. Louis Cardinal Tommy Edmund helped propel the L.A. Dodgers to a National League Championship Series win over the New York Mets in six games. Edman, who was traded in a three-team swap involving the Chicago White Sox, hit .407 with 11 RBI in the NLCS…Edman is the third former Cardinal to win a Championship Series MVP award in the
last five years. Randy Arozarena did so with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020, and Adolis García did it with the Texas Rangers in 2023… Patrick Mahomes is having one of his worst years statistically as Kansas City Chiefs quarterback. His team is 6-0 following a dominant 28-18 win over the San Francisco 49ers. It’s called leadership… Why is anyone surprised that classless Cleveland Browns’ fans cheered when Deshaun Watson blew out his Achilles and was carted off the field?...An NBA scout told CBS Sports radio host Bill Reiter that L.A. Lakers’ guard Bronny James “would [have] trouble in the G-League.” Ouch… Former New York Jets receiver Brandon Marshall asked Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin during his postgame press conference was it one of his bolder decisions to start
Russell Wilson over Justin Fields “That’s why I’m well-compensated,” Tomlin responded… Speaking of the Jets, former Las Vegas Raiders receiver Davante Adams whined (and possibly faked an injury) before being traded to New York and joining pal Aaron Rodgers. Adams had three catches for 30 yards in the Jets’ 37-15 loss to the Steelers…After refusing to concede anything to holdout linebacker Haason Reddick, Jets owner Woody Johnson stepped in to work out a deal and waive $12 million in accrued fines. The only reason Johnson did this is to save face after unjustly firing former head coach Robert Saleh…The Chiefs running game mauled the 49ers. Do not be surprised if coach Kyle Shanahan asks Saleh, former San Francisco defensive coordinator, to return to the 49ers this season in some capacity.
Earl Austin Jr.
Alvin A. Reid
Riverview Gardens wide receiver Jayshyne Cotton (1) is tackled by Jennings defensive back Ny’leon Brown (18) during action
Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. Riverview Gardens prevailed 26-20.
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Jack Flaherty
Photo by Brad Penner
CBTU holds 36th Annual Ernest and De Verne Calloway Awards Banquet
The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) honored civic and union leaders during its 36th Annual Ernest and De Verne Calloway Awards Banquet on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel
The Awards are given in honor of Ernest and De Verne Calloway. Ernest Halloway served as Teamster’s Local 688 director of education and St. Louis NAACP president. His wife De Verne was the first Black woman elected to serve as a state representative in the Missouri Legislature, and remained a political, civil and human rights leader throughout her life. The CBTU 2024 Calloway Awardees are Ray Cummings, American Federation of Teachers Union (AFT) Local 420 president and
The St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) has announced the dates for its 4th Annual Holly Jolly Holiday Hiring Fair.
The event series offers opportunities for job seekers to connect with companies hiring for seasonal and permanent positions during the holiday season, according to SLATE Executive Director Fredrecka McGlown.
“Whether you’re seek-
Lenny Jones, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare Workers executive director. “They are being honored for their years of support and leadership in the
From left, CBTU President Jay Ozier; Lenny Jones, International Union SEIU Healthcare Workers executive director, Maceo Cumming, the son and representative for Ray Cummings, American Federation of Teachers AFT Local 420 president; and Executive Vice President Natashia Pickens, CWA Local 6400/ co-chair CBTU International Women Committee and Rev. Tommie Pierson during the Ernest and De Verne Calloway Awards Banquet. Jones and Ray Cummings are the 2024 Calloway Awardees.
SLATE sets dates for Holly Jolly Hiring Fairs
ing extra income for the holiday season or a longterm career, this event provides an excellent chance to find the right opportunity. It’s truly a special time for our SLATE team as we help individuals take the next step in their professional journey,” said McGlown.
The Holly Jolly Holiday Hiring Fair will be held at SLATE’s first-floor conference room, located at 1520 Market Street, from
9 a.m. to noon on Monday October 28; Wednesday November 6; Wednesday November 13; Thursday, Nov. 21; and Friday, Dec. 6. Participation is free, and attendees can meet with employers from industries including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, and customer
service. Some employers will conduct on-the-spot interviews, and some will be prepared to make immediate job offers. SLATE staff will also be available to share information about employment and training opportunities provided through our agency.
Employers scheduled
to attend include: AOS Staffing, Sodexo, FedEx, ADB Companies, the City of St. Louis, Union Station Hotel, People’s Health Center, St. Louis Public Schools, Smiley Manor LLC, Southwest Airlines, Unleashing Potential, Affinia Healthcare, Hope Healthcare, Union Manor, and the St. Louis Forensic Treatment Center.
Paid parking is available at the Kiel Center Garage, located behind the
building at Clark and 16th. Job seekers are encouraged to bring resumes and dress for success to maximize their opportunities.
SLATE offers free resume workshops at the SLATE Missouri Job Center, 1520 Market Street from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays, 2 to 4 p.m. Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays. For more information, visit www.stlworks.com or call (314) 589-8000.
Photo by Erica M. Brooks / Business Pluss++ Photography
Fredrecka McGlown
Living It
Truth through knowledge
“It’s important to use your voice, I’m encouraging everyone to get out and vote, please.”
Eminem, who joined Barack Obama, at a Kamala Harris rally in Detroit
Julien Sinzogan, Beninese, born 1957; “Return of the Spirits”, 2008; colored inks on paper, image: 27 9/16 x 39 3/8 inches; The Newark Museum, New Jersey; © Julien Sinzogan.
Historic ‘Narrative Wisdom and African Arts’ now open at SLAM
By Kenya Vaughn
The St. Louis American
There is a common thread of misinformation that has been woven into the origin stories of descendants from the Diaspora. Whether dispersed around the world as a result of the intercontinental slave trade, or colonized for the sake of empire building – a dangerous myth is perpetuated. At the crux of the fable is the unspeakable horrors experienced as a result of either, or both, were ultimately for the greater good of Black people.
The story goes that the systemic racism, dismissal of agency and humanity, theft of natural and human resources and the practice of imposing a sense of inferiority in the grand scheme of global citizenship were insignificant byproducts from the blessing of Eurocentric civilization and culture.
This thread is unraveled upon the entry of “Narrative Wisdom and African Arts.” The highly anticipated multi-media exhibition opened at the Saint Louis Art
Museum on Friday, October 18. It is their largest institutionally organized ticketed exhibition of sub-Saharan African art.
“This exhibition is a groundbreaking
Left: Chokwe artist, Angola; “Chihongo Mask”, late 19th–early 20th century; wood, plant fibers, feathers, metal, pigment; 30 x 31 x 20 inches; Saint Louis Art Museum, Friends Fund Endowment and Museum Purchase 61:2024
Photo courtesy of SLAM
examination of how visual arts, oral traditions and memory intersect,” said Min Jung Kim, Barbara B. Taylor Director of the Saint Louis Art Museum in her opening remarks for the “Narrative Wisdom” audio guide. “Featuring historical arts from across sub-Saharan Africa and contemporary art by artists working in Africa and worldwide, the exhibition demonstrates a wide range of material, political, and philosophical approaches to narrative.”
“Narrative Wisdom” continues through
See Wisdom, C12
The art of illustrating Black family trauma
Acting, cinematography propel ‘Exhibiting Forgiveness’ beyond formulaic drama
By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American
With his cinematic debut, visual-artist-turned-filmmaker Titus Kaphar asks an emotionally charged and highly debated question that permeates within segments of the Black community.
“Can generational curses be broken in spite of unhealed trauma?” Through “Exhibiting Forgiveness,” Kaphar answers with an emphatic yes, but pivots to the price that must be paid. The critically acclaimed film Starring André Holland, Andra Day, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and John Earl Jelks premiered at Sundance Film Festival 2024. It opened in theaters nationwide on Friday, October 18. “Exhibiting Forgiveness” gives agency to the Black boys who fight tooth and nail to protect their sons from the parenting sins they suffered at the hands of their fathers. Whether it was physical or emotional absence, abuse
SLSO kicks off second season of Live at The Sheldon
for
Louis Symphony Orchestra’s Live at The Sheldon concert series. Season two of the popular performances opened two weeks ago with an outstanding performance curated by Erin
and Shawn Weil.
By Chris King For The St. Louis American
or dysfunctional relationships dynamics within the family unit. Although Kaphar never says so, the film feels autobiographical. If it appears nowhere other than in the similarity of the artwork of the main character Tarrell, there is at least one parallel.
is a painter who has emerged within the mainstream arts community for his vivid imagery in the depiction of Black males. He is far from a starving artist. Through his work he has created
See Film, C3
n This music was not so much delirious as poised, controlled, and intense.
The greatest surprise in the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s ongoing exile from Powell Hall has been the Live at The Sheldon chamber music series introduced last season. In this new series, SLSO musicians are chosen to curate a program of music and staff it with fellow musicians. The second season of Live at The Sheldon kicked off Thursday, October 10 with a program of music for strings curated by Erin Schreiber and Shawn Weil. They programmed two string quartets, a violin duet, a violin duet with piano, and a piano quintet. They rounded out the musicians in their string quartet with Shannon Farrell Williams (viola) and Bjorn Ranheim (cello), and for piano they tabbed Peter Henderson. They opened the program with a tale of two string quartets. Caroline Shaw’s Entr’acte (2011) is a challenging piece of new music. Shaw has the musicians play dissonant harmonics, one single string - at times, only a total of four strings were being played on the four stringed instruments - and empty air, or what Schreiber described as “sandpaper wings.” I know it’s new music when a musician is making a stringed instrument sound like a dental drill; when a quartet did that, it sounded like a whole dental school. There is an art to making virtuosic musicians sound like they don’t know how to play their instruments, and Shaw has mastered it.
“Molto Adagio” from String Quartet No. 1 (1946) by George Walker - the first Black composer to receive the Pulitzer Prize in Music (for Lilacs for voice and orchestra, 1996) - returned these gifted musicians to playing the customary parts of their strings with the customary parts of their bows. The audience heard melodies and harmonies our ears were accustomed to hearing.
Weil introduced Stefan Freund’s violin duet Delirium (2000) by saying he served as the best man in the composer’s wedding. Freund, who teaches composition at the University of Missouri, then said he wrote the duet as a recital piece for his then-girlfriend to play with her roommate; he and his wife Julia now are parents of a 17-year-old daughter. You could feel the love.
The music, too, was full of love in the form of virtuosic interplay. However, I quibble with the title of the piece. “Delirium” implies a disturbance in attention and awareness, but these parts, as performed by Schreiber and Weil, displayed consummate attention and awareness. This music was not so much delirious as poised, controlled, and intense. For Pablo de Sarasate’s Navarra (1889), the two curators were joined onstage by Henderson on piano. On a night of string music programmed by violinists, Henderson was treated to some sweet piano parts. Navarra calls for spry cabaret piano, romantic dance piano, and piano as percussion. The piano provided
See SLSO, C12
Tarrell
Courtesy photo
André Holland and Andra Day star in ‘Exhibiting Forgiveness.’ The debut feature film by visual artist Titus Kaphar opened in theaters nationwide on Friday, October 18.
Photo courtesy of SLSO Grand Center Arts District neighbor The Sheldon Concert Hall plays host
St.
Schreiber
Courtesy of the Artist and October Gallery, Londott
CONCERTS
Through Oct. 27, Jazz St. Louis welcomes saxophonist and composer Immanuel Wilkins, Ferring Jazz Bistro (inside of The Harold and Dorothy Steward Jazz Center), 3536 Washington Ave. Visit https://my.jazzstl.org/ for tickets.
Fri., Oct. 25 & Sat., Oct. 26, 8 p.m., Usher: Past Present Future, Enterprise Center, 1401 Clark. For tickets or more information, visit www.livenation. com.
Sat., Nov. 2, 8 p.m., Anthony Hamilton and Fantasia Chaifetz Arena. Please Note: This venue has a CLEAR BAG policy and is CASHLESS for concessions. Visit chaifetzarena. com for more details.
Fri., Nov. 8, 7 p.m., AG Touring & Mammoth present the Rod Wave Last Lap Tour, Enterprise Center. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.
Sat., Nov. 9, 8 p.m., Lupe Fiasco Samurai Tour, The Factory STL, 17105 N. Outer 40 Rd. Chesterfield, MO. For more information, visit TheFactorySTL.com.
Sat., Nov. 16, Derrick Sr. presents The F.L.A.M. (Fight Like A Mother) Benefit Concert Series with Glenn Jones, Shantay Savage, Tracie Spencer, Tony Terry and Shanice Wilson. The attire is all black with a pink twist. The Ambassador, 9800 New Halls Ferry. Tickets are available at https://www. eventbrite.com/
SPECIAL EVENTS
Sat., Oct. 26, 1 p.m., Solutions Publishing and Tina
STL Sites & Sounds
Enterprises present the Grand book launch, the book about Black grandmothers by Tina E. Grimes features several co-authors, including Dr. Denise Hooks-Anderson, Lumen Events STL, 2201 Locust Street, St. Louis, MO 63103.
Wed., Oct. 30, 6 p.m., The Urban League Young Professionals Personal & Professional Development Committee presents Mental Health Matters, a panel discussion featuring Dr. Donte Kara, Dr. Kezia Jackson, Linda Robinson and Taquera Walker, The Drip Community Coffeehouse, 3615 Potomac St Saint Louis, MO 63118. For more information, visit https:// ulypstl.wildapricot.org/
Sat., Nov. 2, 9 p.m. (8 p.m. doors), THIMES 2 PROMOTIONS presents the historical and legendary MISS FANNIES BALL 2024. The Ambassador, 9800 New Halls Ferry Rd. For more information, contact the Ambassador @ 314-869-9090 or THIMES 2 PROMOTIONS @ 314-324.0945.
Sat., Nov. 9, 5 p.m., NABJSTL, The National Association of Black Journalists – Saint Louis 2024 Living Legends Awards reception. This year’s honorees include St. Louis broadcasting legend Julius Hunter, St. Louis American News Editor Alvin A. Reid and 5 On Your Side evening co-anchor Kelly Jackson, Nine PBS, 3855 Olive Street, St. Louis, MO 63108. For tickets visit, https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/2024living-legends-award-programtickets-999737751527?
aff=oddtdtcreator
Sat., Nov. 9, 7 p.m. (5:30 p.m. reception) Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Salute to Women in Leadership 20th Anniversary Celebration fea-
turing Regina Belle and Kenny Lattimore, honorees include Noémi Neidorff and Lynn Whitfield. Marriott St. Louis Grand, 800 Washington Ave. For more information, visit www. ulstl.com.
Sat., Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m., Dance St. Louis presents Pilobolus re: Creation, Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center. For more information, visit dancestlouis.org.
LOUIS
ST.
MUSIC SPOTLIGHT
Fri., Nov. 1, 8 p.m., Live Music with Chuck Flowers, Lit Cigar Lounge STL, 17049 N. Outer 40 Rd, #189, Chesterfield, MO. For more information, visit litstl.com Wed., Nov. 13, 6 p.m. World
Chess Hall of Fame Music Series featuring Louis York, which is comprised of Grammy winner and East St. Louis native Chuck Harmony and Claude Kelly, 4652 Maryland Ave. For tickets, visit https://worldchesshof.regfox.com/
Sat., Nov. 15, 7 p.m. (6 p.m. doors), The Coleman Hughes Project featuring Adrianne, Le Belle Coeur, 1117 S. Main Street, St. Charles, MO. For tickets, visit https://tchpfaf.ticketbud. com/nov2024
COMEDY
Fri., Oct. 25 – Sun., Oct. 27, Helium welcomes Tommy Davidson, Helium Comedy Club, 1151 St Louis Galleria Street St Louis MO 63117. For more information, call 314.727.1260 or visit st-louis.heliumcomedy.com.
Fri., Nov. 14 – Sun., Nov. 16, Flyover Comedy Festival featuring Joyelle Nicole Johnson, Anointed Greens Presents: Unsung Black Sheroes, DC Ervin and more. Various locations including Stifel Theatre. For more information, schedule and full lineup visit www.flyovercomedyfest.com.
Sat., Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m., Eddie Griffin Live, The Factory STL, 17105 N. Outer 40 Rd. Chesterfield, MO. For more information, visit TheFactorySTL.com.
Fri., Nov. 29 – Sat., Nov. 30, Helium welcomes St. Louis’ own Lavell Crawford, Helium Comedy Club, 1151 St Louis Galleria Street, St Louis MO 63117. For more information, call 314.727.1260 or visit st-louis.heliumcomedy.com.
THEATRE
Sat., Nov. 9, 7 p.m., St. Louis Black Repertory Company will present their 9th Annual Gala featuring The Spelman College Glee Club and honoring the achievements of playwright Pearl Cleage, designer Daryl Harris and Denise Thimes –who will receive the Woodie King Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award Maxine Clark and Rudy Nickens, who will receive the Frankie Muse Freeman Service Award, 560 Music Center. For more information, visit www.theblackrep.org or call 314.534.3807.
Through Nov. 17, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis’ Steve Woolf Studio Series returns with The Roommate, Emerson Studio Theatre, Loretto-Hilton, 130 Edgar Rd. Webster Groves, MO. For more information, visit www.repstl.org.
High on the Hog author to speak at museum
By
The aroma of collard greens, cornbread, turkey, dressing, and sweet potato pie connects Black Americans to the cultural tradition of soul food. These memories surrounding food evoke a cultural connection of gathering around the kitchen table. From the sensory experience of sight, smell, and flavor, Black communities find enjoyment in gathering and communing over a meal, a tradition that is deeply rooted in a shared experience that has strengthened bonds for generations.
The Missouri History Museum is proud to celebrate this rich Black culinary heritage by welcoming Dr. Jessica B. Harris author of High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America and the inspiration behind the popular Netflix documentary, on Thursday evening, November 7. Harris’s book describes how West African culinary influences survived the tumult and trauma of the Middle Passage and slavery, impacting the American continent.
Harris shares the preservation of culinary history for Black communities and the journey of its development. Her research about food and foodways investigates historical examples of foods like yams, okra, and black-eyed peas and explores common misconceptions about foods that have become popular staples in the Black American household.
In her book she mentions one recipe that often becomes a topic of debate within the Black
community: grits, which she defines as “one of the Southern uses of corn that settlers adopted from the Native peoples.” Harris settles the debate by describing grits as a savory dish with “salt to taste,” water, butter, and wholegrain grits. She describes lesser-known recipes with connections to the transatlantic slave trade, such as rice gruel, a porridge that was served during the voyage on slave ships. “In some parts of the world,” Harris notes, “rice gruel is served as a meal for the ill or as a breakfast food with additions that make it either sweet or savory.”
Many of us in the St. Louis region have ties to the South through the exodus of Black ancestors.
As migration patterns shifted and brought Black people out of the south, many chose to settle in Missouri rather than venture west or farther north. One example occurred when Black southerners fled the south in droves during 1879. Known as the Black Exodusters, many traveled through Missouri in their quest to reach what they considered the promised land, Kansas, but others decided to stay in Missouri.
Part of the story of Black migration is the transmission of Black culinary tradition that traveled as well, informing domestic work and the preservation of this heritage. For Black St. Louisans in the early 20th century, this tradition played a crucial role in shaping what was in kitchens and local ingredients that were in use each season. As families continue to share existing recipes, we have the opportunity to pass down ancestral practices
that we have adopted into our lives and even develop new ones. The intersection of tradition and innovation reflects the way Black St. Louisans have navigated food as a means of cultural preservation and adaptation, while echoing the themes Harris explores.
On November 7, as part of the Thursday Nights at the Museum series, we hope to inspire you to create memories in your own kitchen by passing down recipes that capture the flavors of the past.
Happy hour begins at 5pm, with food and drink available for purchase, as well as resource tables to explore. At 6:30pm, the presentation will begin in the Lee Auditorium.
Harris will share stories of her career, the history of soul food, and some of her favorite heritage dishes, and then she will join Emmy-awarded host and producer Jade Harrell for an on-stage conversation. Books will be available for purchase, and a limited number of guests will receive free tickets to have their books signed by Harris. These tickets will be distributed on a firstcome, first-served basis.
From 5pm to 6pm, African American History Initiative (AAHI) Community Circle members are invited to a special reception with a soul-food tasting featuring recipes from High on the Hog. If you are interested in participating in this exclusive experience, we invite you to join AAHI Community Circle at mohistory.org/ events/black-writers-program.
AAHI programming is presented by Wells Fargo. The Thursday Nights at the Museum series is presented by WashU.
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a comfortable and loving environment for his wife and young son. Their home beams with love –and creativity thanks to his wife Aisha’s singing career. But he is suffocating under the weight of anxiety and pressure from internalizing his childhood wounds. They are tender to the touch – and become exposed when his mother Joyce stages an impromptu reunion with his long estranged father LaRon without Tarrell’s permission.
Tarrell relents, but the reconnection is anything but a joyous one. He forces Laron to confront the demons that destroyed their family. Beaten down by the world, Laron drilled into his son that his value as a human being is tethered to his ability as a provider. Laron shares details of the trauma that was passed down from his father as if it were an heirloom. Tarrell continues to suffer because of his decision to bury it within. Tarrell’s experience with LaRon haunts him, but also inspires him creative-
ly. Meanwhile the pieces of what LaRon left of the family suddenly scatter.
“Exhibiting Forgiveness” is a slow burn wrapped in an emotional rollercoaster. The film starts heavily and consistently remains that way. Instead of building to a climax, there is a steady simmer that may feel under pace for the palates of movie goers who have settled into comic book franchises and fervently unhinged dramas. Kaphar – who also wrote the film – adheres to a somewhat safe formula with respect to the situations that ease the story along. But it is more satisfying than the run of the mill predictable broken family drama thanks to powerful acting coupled with stunning visual and audio aesthetics.
Even from the interesting way the opening credits unfold, audiences are aware that the film is being handled with an artist’s eye. Cinematographer Lachlan Milne makes the film feel as if it is on canvas with the depth and vivid imagery of a contemporary painting. The haunting vocals of co-star Andra Day as her character Aisha, a sing-
er/songwriter/musician, tinkers with what will become the song “Bricks” gives insight on the inspiration and collaboration of romantic partners who are also creatives.
The chemistry between André Holland’s Tarrell and Day as his wife Aisha is art in its own right, but the performances of Holland and Ellis-Taylor deliver poignant authenticity. Ellis-Taylor elevates the performance of Jelks as Laron with every scene they share. But the moments when EllisTaylor and Holland connect – and conflict – are masterful. Both are underutilized within the industry for artists of their caliber. The hope is that Ellis-Taylor won’t be ignored during awards season thanks to her performance in “Exhibiting Forgiveness” and the soon-to-be-released “Nickel Boys” by RaMell Ross. And that Holland’s ability to bear the weight of the film will finally garner the leading man status his talent warrants.
Exhibiting Forgiveness is open in theaters nationwide. The film is rated R with a running time of 117 minutes.
per room)
Cicely Hunter Missouri Historical Society
Photo courtesy of the Missouri Historical Society
Dr. Jessica B. Harris will be at the Museum on November 7.
undeniable link between faith and healing
By Dorothy Boulware Word In Black
Every Black Christian worshiper has heard this phrase at one time or another: “Oh, you can do better than that.” It’s often said in reference to the vim and vigor of the phrases of praise offered by the congregation. Or the lack thereof.
“You can do better than that,” is repeated, as if what’s being uttered is never good enough for the recognition of God’s blessings. As if more vigorous praise is a more acceptable offering with an added benefit for the “praiser.”
And maybe rightfully so. For many people of faith, praise is more than just a spiritual practice — it’s a tool for better health. From the familiar call to “do better than that” in expressing praise to the quiet strength of individual worship, faith, and wellness have long been intertwined.
“I’ve seen it close up, that people of faith heal quicker and require less pain medicine, even if they have had a more extensive disease,” says Baltimorebased licensed practical nurse Tammy Saunders. who’s been a nurse for years and is now a consultant.
Referring to her work on a cancer unit, “I’ve always been meticulous about getting meds to my patients on time and often, more often than not, more women than men, would not need the medicine at that time.”
“They’d ask for help going to the bathroom or answering some other need, but it would be almost time for the next dose before they needed more meds,” Saunders says.
“And I wasn’t even saved then to understand what was going on. I just easily recognized the difference.”
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, many traditional Black churches began to exchange choirs for “praise and worship” teams who led the entire church
in a section of congregational
singing of repetitive choruses in lieu of hymns with three to five stanzas and the gospel hymns that had previously been the mainstay and staple of church music.
As an addendum to the singing, congregants are encouraged to lift their voices with chants of phrases like “Praise the Lord,” “Hallelujah,” “God is good,” and “We bless you Lord,” — or whatever else flows out of the heart and soul.
Churches often establish a sort of praise character — some loud, others not so loud. And within that collective praise is the added expression of all the arts, instruments, dance, singing, artistic expression, and even
reading of scriptures of praise.
And studies seem to highlight the correlation between the utterances of praise and the health of the praisers.
A 2017 study, “Church Attendance, Allostatic Load
and Mortality in Middle-Aged Adults,” suggested that “people who attend services at a church, synagogue or mosque are less stressed and live longer.”
The study used data from the National Health and
Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. Researchers found that middle-aged (ages 40 to 65) adults—both men and women—who attend church or other houses of worship reduce their risk for mortality by 55%.
One of the researchers, Vanderbilt professor Marino Bruce — who is also a Baptist minister — wrote that they “found that being in a place where you can flex those spiritual muscles is actually beneficial for your health.”
In “Neurophysiological Benefits of Worship,” Michael Liedke, a nurse practitioner, suggested that worshiping God
Outwardly expressing praise and faith has been found to help some patients recover faster and use less medication, according to studies.
causes an increase in BPNF, a neurotransmitter that helps grow healthy brain cells. “Every morning, we wake up with 300 million more brain cells. When we worship, gamma waves are created in our brain that can actually help us feel the presence of God.”
Psalm 22:3 says God inhabits the praises of his people, and “we actually get a physical boost as these gamma waves fire in our brains while we worship,” he wrote.
According to Liedke, Gamma waves do more than just make us feel better, they actually increase our intelligence, too.
“Research has shown that as you worship, you increase in wisdom, and there’s an increase in your capacity to understand the goodness of God,” he wrote.
“So, your relationship with God deepens as you worship him. As you worship, your brain is comprehending wisdom from the living Word helping grow your capacity to understand that God absolutely adores you. Interestingly, just seven minutes of worship every day will change your brain.”
Photo courtesy of The Afro American
SEALED BIDS
Bids for Renovate Women’s Locker Room, Academy Physical Training Building at Missouri State Highway Patrol General Headquarters, Project No. R2402-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, November 19, 2024 via MissouriBUYS.
Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities
SEALED BIDS
Bids to Replace Roof, Warrensburg Veteran’s Home, Project No. U250101 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, November 19, 2024. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
Proposal for Parking Facilities 10 Year Capital Maintenance Study Proposals will be received by City of St Louis Treasurer UNTIL 3:00PM 11/4/2024 For specific project information, go to https://www.stltreasurer.org/ Request for Proposals/
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Requests for Quotes, Bids and Proposals are posted online for public download. Please navigate to www.msdprojectclear.org > Doing Business With Us > View Bid Opportunities
Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
SEALED BIDS
Bids for Improvements to Exterior and Replace VCT Flooring, Shady Grove State School, Project No. E2405-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, November 19, 2024. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http:// oa.mo.gov/ facilities
SEALED BIDS
Bids for Design & Install Domestic Water Plant, Project No. U2409-01 St. James Veterans Home will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, December 10, 2024. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities
LETTING NO.8778
INVITATION FOR SEALED BID
UAW Labor Employment and Training Corporation (UAW-LETC) is accepting Sealed Bids for Shop Equipment and installation of equipment, Tools, and (4) vehicles to set up a training lab for its Automotive Technology Training Program. Please contact Kelly Spangler at kspangler@letc.com or 314-716-3331 to request a bid packet with sealed bid instructions. Bid documents may also be obtained at 500 NW Plaza Drive, Suite 409, St. Ann, MO 63074, between the hours of 9:00am and 3:00pm from October 11 to November 1, 2024. All bids must be received by UAW-LETC by November 8, 2024, at 2:45pm. UAWLETC encourages M/WBE’s to apply. Bids received late or incomplete will not be considered.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING
TUCKER BOULEVARD CYCLE TRACK FEDERAL PROJECT NO. TAP-5603(610)
Electronic bids submitted through the Bid Express Online Portal will be received by the Board of Public Service until 1:45 PM, CT, on November 19, 2024, then publicly opened and read. Proposals must be submitted electronically using the “Bid Express Online Portal” at https://www. bidexpress.com/businesses/20618/home. The bidder must pay $40 to submit a bid through the Bid Express service. Monthly subscriptions are available.
Plans, Specifications, and the Agreement may be examined online through Bid Express at https://www.bidexpress.com/ businesses/20618/home?agency=true and may be downloaded for free.
A pre-bid conference for all contractors bidding on this project will be held on October 29, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. The pre-bid conference will be held in City Hall, 1200 Market Street, Room #325, St. Louis, Missouri 63103. Bidders shall comply with all applicable City, State, and Federal laws (including MBE/WBE policies).
All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order 11246, “Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Specifications” set forth within and referenced at www.stl-bps.org (Announcements).
A public meeting for the Hoffmeister Avenue Sidewalk Improvements Project, St. Louis County Project No. CR-1889, Federal Project No. TAP-4900(643) will be held on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at St. Andrew Catholic Church located at 309 Hoffmeister Avenue, St. Louis MO, 63125. The goal of this meeting is to inform the public and local stakeholders of St. Louis County’s plans to upgrade the sidewalk on the southwest side of Hoffmeister Avenue to current County and ADA standards between Lemay Ferry Road and St. Louis County’s end of maintenance at Broadway. All existing sidewalk and curb ramps on the northeast side of Hoffmeister Avenue will be made ADA compliant. The intersection signal at the intersection with Gentry Avenue and Military Road will be rebuilt to provide a safer pedestrian experience. In addition, the new curb bulb-outs are being considered to shorten crossing distances at the Wachtel Avenue intersection. The following QR code will link to the in-person meeting information on the St. Louis County Department of Transportation and Public Works website: http://bit.ly/4eUyz4C
www.stlamerican.com
DEMOLITION, ABATEMENT, CONCRETE, MASONRY RESTORATION, STRUCTURAL STEEL, CARPENTRY, CASEWORK, COUNTERTOPS, WATERPROOFING, MEMBRANE ROOFING, SHEET METAL FLASHING AND TRIM, PEDESTAL PAVERS, FIRESTOPPING, JOINT SEALANTS, DOORS, FRAMES, AND HARDWARE, OVERHEAD DOORS, ENTRANCES AND STOREFRONTS, ALUMINUM WINDOWS, DRYWALL, INTERIOR FINISHES, SIGNAGE, TOILET ACCESSORIES, FIRE PROTECTION SPECIALTIES, POSTAL SPECIALTIES, WARDROBE AND CLOSET SPECIALTIES, APPLIANCES, WINDOW TREATMENTS, EARTHWORK, ASPHALT PAVING, FENCES AND GATES, LANDSCAPING, AND SITE UTILITIES. Access to documents is available from our Smartbid link. If you do not receive a bid invitation, please send your company information to tlalexander@paric.com.
A PREBID meeting will be held on Wednesday, 10/23 at 9:00am at the project site.
Questions / RFI’s are due to Paric by November 7th, 2024. BIDS WILL BE DUE ON November 20th, 2024 @ 2:00pm. Send all questions to Grant Whitson (gwhitson@paric.com). This
requirements.
(field)
or fax (636-561-9501).
CITY OF ST. LOUIS BOARD OF PUBLIC SERVICE
SEALED BIDS
Bids for Replace Fire Alarm PanelsInfrastructure, Crossroads Correctional Center, Project No. C240401 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 12/3/24 For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http:// oa.mo.gov/ facilities
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR OPEN-ENDED ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING AND CONSULTING SERVICES AT ST. LOUIS LAMBERT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. Statements of Qualifications due by 5:00 PM CT, NOVEMBER 6, 2024 through the Bid Express online portal at https://www. bidexpress.com/businesses/20618/home?agency=true RFQ may be obtained from BPS website https://www. stlouis-mo.gov/government/ departments/public-service/, under BPS RFQ and RFP Announcement, or email Board of Public Service at bryanth@stlouis-mo.gov. 25% MBE and 5% WBE goals.
St. LouiS american Bids & Public Notices St.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY
The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of the County of St. Louis (“LCRA”) requests proposals to purchase and redevelop an approximately 28.33-acre property, commonly known as the Wellston Industrial Park and located at 1335 Ogden Avenue, Wellston, St. Louis County, Missouri 63133. Further information, including the complete RFP and a site informational packet, is available at https://stlpartnership. com/rfp-rfq/ or upon request at LCRA’s offices. Proposals must be received no later than 3 PM CT on Friday, December 13, 2024.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY
The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of the County of St. Louis (“LCRA”) requests proposals to purchase and redevelop an approximately 15-acre property, commonly known as the Plymouth Industrial Park and located at 6440 Page Avenue, Wellston, St. Louis County, Missouri 63133. Further information, including the complete RFP and a site informational packet, is available at https:// stlpartnership.com/rfp-rfq/ or upon request at LCRA’s offices. Proposals must be received no later than 3 PM CT on Friday, December 13, 2024.
CITY OF ST. LOUIS OFFICE OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS – YOUTH JOB PROGRAMMING FOR AT-RISK YOUTH
The City of St. Louis Office of Violence Prevention invites proposals from qualified nonprofits for youth job training programs targeting at-risk youth aged 15 to 24. Find the RFP online: https:// tinyurl.com/ovp-youthjobs Direct all communications to Cynthia Davis at violence-prevention@stlouis-mo.gov, 314-299-2196. Submission deadline: November 17, 2024, 11:59 P.M. CST. Late proposals will not be accepted.
SEALED BIDS
Bids for Replace Switchgear, Power Plant & Maintenance Building, Eastern Reception and Diagnostic Correctional Center, Bonne Terre, Project No. C233001 – Re-Bid, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, November 21, 2024 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities
SEALED BIDS
Bids for Replace Fire Alarm PanelsInfrastructure, Eastern Reception and Diagnostic Correctional Center, Bonne Terre, Project No. C2405-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, November 21, 2024 via MissouriBUYS. Bidders must be registered to bid. Project information available at: http://oa.mo.gov/ facilities
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
The Heartland Regional Investment Fund, LLC issues this request for proposals for qualified legal services firms to provide ongoing advice and legal counsel for current and future New Markets Tax Credit projects. A copy of the RFP is available at https://stlpartnership.com/ rfp-rfq/. Proposals must be received no later than 3:00 PM on Friday, November 15, 2024.
St. Louis Economic Development Partnership Equal Opportunity Employer
DISCOVERY 3D SITE MODEL RFP 2024
The Saint Louis Zoo seeks bids from qualified firms to submit proposals. Bid documents are available as of 10/23/24 on the Saint Louis Zoo website: stlzoo.org/vendor
CITY OF ST. LOUIS ST. LOUIS LAMBERT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Solicitation For Bids (SFB)
Service: Interior Live Plant Maintenance Services
Pre-Bid Meeting Date: October 24, 2024, 11:00 AM
Question Due Date: October 28, 2024
Bid Due Date: November 19, 2024
& Incentives:
Bidders. Point of Contact: Gigi Glasper – gxglasper@flystl.com
documents may be
at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, Airport Properties Division, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., or by calling (314) 890-1802. This SFB may also be obtained by visiting our website at www.flystl.com/ business/contract-opportunites. Robert Salarano Airport Properties Division Manager
SERVICE DIRECTORY 314-289-5430
NOTICE OF ELECTION OFFICIAL BALLOT GENERAL ELECTION
CITY OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2024
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a General Election will be held at the designated polling place for each precinct in the City of St. Louis, State of Missouri, on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. The polls will be open between the hours of 6:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. for the purpose of electing candidates for President and Vice President, U.S. Senator, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Attorney General, United States Representative District 1, State Senator District 5, State Representative Districts 76-82 and 84, Circuit Attorney, Sheriff and Treasurer. Voters will also be able to vote on whether certain Judges on the Missouri Supreme Court, the Missouri Court of Appeals for the Eastern District of Missouri, the Circuit Court and Associate Circuit Court for the 22nd Judicial Circuit should be retained in office, as well as on five Missouri Constitutional Amendments, a Missouri proposition, three City Charter Amendments, and a City proposition.
The last day the Board of Election Commissioners could accept an application to vote an absentee or mail-in ballot by mail in the November 5, 2024 General Election was 5:00 P.M. on Wednesday, October 23, 2024. Absentee voting in person will conclude at 5:00 P.M. on Monday, November 4, 2024. The Board of Election Commissioner’s office will be open on Saturday, November 2, 2024, from 9:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M., as will the seven satellite locations, although times vary. Check the Election Board’s website for the times at each location.
THE OFFICIAL BALLOT WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY IN THE FOLLOWING FORM:
INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTERS: In today’s election, you will receive a paper ballot that contains the names of the candidates, judges and issues for whom you may vote, regardless of your polling location. To cast your ballot, completely darken the box to the left of the name of the candidate of your choice. To vote on the retention of a judge, if you are in favor of retaining that judge darken the box to the left of the word “YES.” If you are opposed to retaining that judge, darken the box to the left of the word “NO.” To vote on a proposition, if you are in favor of the proposition darken the box to the left of the word YES.” If you are opposed to the proposition, darken the box to the left of the word “NO.” When you finish marking your ballot, insert it into the scanner.
Do not try to punch through the ballot. Use only a black or blue ink pen to mark your ballot. If you tear, deface or make a mistake and incorrectly mark your ballot, return it to the Election Judges and obtain a new ballot.
FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT (A VOTE FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT IS A VOTE FOR THEIR ELECTORS) (Vote for One Pair)
Donald J. Trump/JD Vance – Rep Kamala D. Harris/Tim Walz – Dem Chase Oliver/Mike Ter Maat – Lib Jill Stein/Rudolph Ware – Grn
Write-In _____________________ FOR U.S.
Slantz- Lib
Paul Lehmann – Grn
Write-In __________
FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR (Vote for One)
Dave Wasinger - Rep Richard Brown - Dem
Ken Iverson - Lib Danielle (Dani) Elliott – Grn
Write-In __________ FOR SECRETARY
Hartwig, Jr. – Lib Reagan Haase – Grn
Write-In __________
FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL (Vote for One)
Andrew Bailey – Rep Elad Jonathan Gross – Dem Ryan L. Munro – Lib
Write-In __________
FOR U. S. REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 1 (Vote for One)
Andrew Jones - Rep Wesley Bell – Dem
Rochelle A. Riggins – Lib Blake Ashby – Btr Don Fitz - Grn Write-In __________ FOR STATE SENATOR DISTRICT 5 (Vote for One)
Robert Vroman – Rep Steve Roberts – Dem Write-In __________
FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 76 (Vote for One)
Marlon Anderson – Dem Cameron McCarty - Lib Write-In __________
FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 77 (Vote for One)
Kimberly-Ann Collins - Dem Write-In __________
FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 78 (Vote for One)
Jim Povolish – Rep Marty (Joe) Murray – Dem Write-In __________
FOR STATEREPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 79 (Vote for One)
LaKeySha Bosley – Dem Write-In __________
FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 80 (Vote for One)
Kirk Hilzinger - Rep Elizabeth (Lilly) Fuchs – Dem Write-In __________
FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 81 (Vote for One)
Jake Koehr - Rep Steve Butz – Dem Write-In __________
FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 82 (Vote for One)
Donald W. Flecke - Rep Nick Kimble – Dem Write-In __________
FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 84 (Vote for One)
(Ricky) Cowell - Rep
FOR TREASURER (Vote for One) Jerry Vanderweir - Rep Adam Layne - Dem Don De Vivo – Grn Write-In __________
MISSOURI SUPREME COURT JUDGES
Shall Judge Kelly C. Broniec of the Missouri Supreme Court be retained in office? Yes No
Shall Judge Ginger K. Gooch of the Missouri Supreme Court be retained in office? Yes No
MISSOURI COURT OF APPEALS JUDGES EASTERN DISTRICT
Shall Judge Robert M. Clayton of the Eastern District Court of Appeals be retained in office? Yes No
Shall Judge Gary M. Gaertner of the Eastern District Court of Appeals be retained in office? Yes No
Shall Judge Renee Hardin-Tammons of the Eastern District Court of Appeals be retained in office? Yes No
Shall Judge Cristian M. Stevens of the Eastern District Court of Appeals be retained in office? Yes No
Shall Judge Michael S. Wright of the Eastern District Court of Appeals be retained in office? Yes No
CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES 22nd Judicial Circuit
Shall Judge Theresa Counts Burke, Circuit Judge of Judicial Circuit No. 22 (Division No. 13), be retained in office? Yes No
Shall Judge Lynne R. Perkins, Circuit Judge of Judicial Circuit No. 22 (Division No. 14), be retained in office? Yes No
Shall Judge Craig K. Higgins, Circuit Judge of Judicial Circuit No. 22 (Division No. 15), be retained in office? Yes No
Shall Judge Jason M. Sengheiser, Circuit Judge of Judicial Circuit No. 22 (Division No. 18), be retained in office? Yes No
Shall Judge Joan L. Moriarty, Circuit Judge of Judicial Circuit No. 22 (Division No. 20), be retained in office? Yes No
Shall Judge Michael W. Noble, Circuit Judge of Judicial Circuit No. 22 (Division No. 22), be retained in office? Yes No
Shall Judge Paula Perkins Bryant, Circuit Judge of Judicial Circuit No. 22 (Division No. 23), be retained in office? Yes No
Shall Judge Thomas Adrian McCarthy, Circuit Judge of Judicial Circuit No. 22 (Division No. 31), be retained in office? Yes No
ASSOCIATE CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES 22nd Judicial Circuit
Shall Judge Nicole Colbert-Botchway, Associate Circuit Judge of Judicial Circuit No. 22 (Division No. 16), be retained in office? Yes No
Shall Judge Catherine A. Dierker, Associate Circuit Judge of Judicial Circuit No. 22 (Division No. 26), be retained in office? Yes No
Shall Judge Michael J. Colona, Associate Circuit Judge of Judicial Circuit No. 22 (Division No. 27), be retained in office? Yes No
Shall Judge Rochelle Monea Woodiest, Associate Circuit Judge of Judicial Circuit No. 22 (Division No. 28), be retained in office? Yes No
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
NO. 2
Proposed by Initiative Petition
Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to: *allow the Missouri Gaming Commission to regulate licensed sports wagering including online sports betting, gambling boats, professional sports betting districts and mobile licenses to sports betting operators; *restrict sports betting to individuals physically located in the state and over the age of 21; *allow license fees prescribed by the Commission and a 10% wagering tax on revenues received to be appropriated for education after expenses incurred by the Commission and required funding of the Compulsive Gambling Prevention Fund; and *allow for the general assembly to enact laws consistent with this amendment?
State governmental entities estimate onetime costs of $660,000, ongoing annual costs of at least $5.2 million, and initial license fee revenue of $11.75 million. Because the proposal allows for deductions against sports gaming revenues, they estimate unknown tax revenue ranging from $0 to $28.9 million annually. Local governments estimate unknown revenue.
Yes – For the Amendment No – Against the Amendment
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
NO. 3
Proposed by Initiative Petition
Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to:
*establish a right to make decisions about reproductive health care, including abortion and contraceptives, with any governmental interference of that right presumed invalid; *remove Missouri’s ban on abortion; *allow regulation of reproductive health care to improve or maintain the health of the patient; *require the government not to discriminate, in government programs, funding, and other activities, against persons providing or obtaining reproductive healthcare; and *allow abortion to be restricted or banned after Fetal Viability except to protect the life or health of the woman?
State governmental entities estimate no costs or savings, but unknown impact. Local governmental entities expect costs of at least $51,000 annually in reduced tax revenues. Opponents estimate a potentially significant loss to state revenue.
Yes – For the Amendment No – Against the Amendment
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO. 5
Proposed by Initiative Petition
Do you want to amend the Missouri Constitution to: *allow the Missouri Gaming Commission to issue one additional gambling boat license to operate on the portion of the Osage River from the Missouri River to the Bagnell Dam; *require the prescribed location shall include artificial spaces that contain water and are within 500 feet of the 100-year base flood elevation as established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and *require all state revenues derived from the issuance of the gambling boat license shall be appropriated to early-childhood literacy programs in public institutions of elementary education?
State governmental entities estimate one-time costs of $763,000, ongoing costs of $2.2 million annually, initial fee revenue of $271,000, ongoing admission and other fee revenue of $2.1 million annually, and annual gaming tax revenue of $14.3 million. Local governments estimate unknown revenue.
Yes – For the Amendment No – Against the Amendment
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO. 6
Proposed by 102nd General Assembly (Second Regular Session) SS SCS SJR 71 Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to provide that the administration of justice shall include the levying of costs and fees to support salaries and benefits for certain current and former law enforcement personnel? State and local governmental entities estimate an unknown fiscal impact.
Yes – For the Amendment No – Against the Amendment
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT NO. 7
Proposed by 102nd General Assembly (Second Regular Session) SS SJR 78
Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:
*Make the Constitution consistent with state law by only allowing citizens of the United States to vote; *Prohibit the ranking of candidates by limiting voters to a single vote per candidate or issue; and *Require the plurality winner of a political party primary to be the single candidate at a general election?
State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.
Yes
– For the Amendment No – Against the Amendment
PROPOSITION A
Proposed by Initiative Petition
Do you want to amend Missouri law to:
*increase minimum wage January 1, 2025 to $13.75 per hour, increasing $1.25 per hour each year until 2026, when the minimum wage would be $15.00 per hour; *adjust minimum wage based on changes in the Consumer Price Index each January beginning in 2027; *require all employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every thirty hours worked; *allow the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to provide oversight and enforcement; and *exempt governmental entities, political subdivisions, school districts and education institutions?
State governmental entities estimate one-time costs ranging from $0 to $53,000, and ongoing costs ranging from $0 to at least $256,000 per year by 2027. State and local government tax revenue could change by an unknown annual amount depending on business decisions.
Yes – For the Proposition No – Against the Proposition
PROPOSITION B City Charter Amendment
Shall Article XVI, Section 3, Paragraph 2 of the Charter of the City of St. Louis be changed to permit the Board of Aldermen to add or remove items in the appropriations proposed in the City of St. Louis’ annual budget ordinance and to increase, as well as decrease, the amount of any items in the appropriations proposed in the City of St. Louis’ annual budget ordinance without needing approval or consideration from the Board of Estimate and Apportionment. Any increase made to the amount of an item in the appropriations proposed in the City of St. Louis’ annual budget ordinance shall be offset by a reduction to an item or items in the appropriations proposed in the City of St. Louis’ annual budget ordinance in an amount that is equal to the amount of the increase. The proposed change shall not apply to items or amounts fixed by Missouri State Statute, or for the payment of principal or interest of the City’s debt, or for meeting obligations established by City ordinance.
Yes – For the Proposition No – Against the Proposition
PROPOSITION T City Charter Amendment (Department of Transportation Amendment)
Shall the Charter of the City of St. Louis be amended to change the Department of Streets into a Department of Transportation with the authority and duty to maintain and repair public streets, sidewalks, alleys, bridges, streetlights, and traffic lights; to perform waste removal services; and to plan, engineer, and design City transportation projects and transportation programs relating to safe travel for all modes of transportation?
Yes – For the Proposition No – Against the Proposition
PROPOSITION V City Charter Amendment
In order to make the City of St. Louis more effective in the enforcement of laws pertaining to vacant and deteriorated property, shall the City of St. Louis Charter be amended to add an exception to the $500 maximum fine for ordinances relating to vacant and non-owner-occupied deteriorated property?
Yes – For the Proposition No – Against the Proposition
PROPOSITION
and promote and
JERRY M. HUNTER Chairman/Member GERALDINE M. KRAEMER Member ANDREW L. SCHWARTZ Member (Seal) Attest: JOSEPH A. BARBAGLIA Secretary/Member
February 16, 2025 and includes a robust array of related programming that began this weekend and continues in the coming months.
“‘Narrative Wisdom’ emphasizes the intersections between the visual and verbal in African arts,” said Nichole Bridges, Saint Louis Art Museum’s Morton D. May Curator of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. “The exhibition explores the ways that African arts help to make oral histories and individual and collective memories tangible and concrete.”
Curated by Bridges, “Narrative Wisdom” takes the viewer from ancient sub Saharan Africa to the post-colonial continent of today. The exhibition was six years in the making. It features more than 150 works in a variety of media including sculptures, textiles, works on paper, photography, painting and time-based media created by artists from sub-Saharan Africa as well as contemporary African artists working globally.
The chronological timeline of featured works ranges from the 13th to the 21st century. According to the museum, the exhibition considers how historic and contemporary works— facilitate, document, reinforce or critique narratives, such as leadership legitimacy, memory of place, prescriptions for healing and destiny, and enduring ancestral wisdoms.
“Narrative Wisdom” presents nearly 50 works from the museum’s collection along with objects on loan from museums and private collections around the world. Works from SLAM’s collection include 16 given in 1983 by Morton D. May – the museum’s most prolific donor – as well as 18
more recent acquisitions that have enriched the museum’s African art collection.
Bridges’ passion and depth of knowledge was apparent from the moment she started discussing the introductory gallery. As she talked about the intention of the introductory space, sounds of African instrumentation and voices played in the background.
“In this gallery, we have a number of musical instruments,” Bridges said. “They help to suggest and remind our visitors that anytime these oral traditions were relayed, it was a multisensory experience. It wasn’t just one person
talking – like I’m doing now. There was usually musical accompaniment. There was often a call and response interaction, with clapping and repetition –to make sure that this was very much a communal activity.”
Her description mirrored a definition of what one is likely to experience while visiting a Black church. The ambient sounds described conjured the same energy. The moment was the first of many demonstrations of how there are ties that bind us to this very day, despite our traumatic forced separation. Ironically, the title of the sound art installa-
tion she was describing was entitled “Ties That Bind.” The 2019 piece by Emeka Ogboh helped set the tone for “Prelude: Oral Traditions.”
“At the heart of the composition is the use of mbem, an ancient Igbo oral performance art, narrated by Igbo musician Nwachukwu Uwakwe. Mbem is a unique blend of song and speech, serving both educational and entertainment purposes,” Ogboh says in the exhibition’s audio guide. “Mbem plays a crucial role in transmitting cultural knowledge and history, and in this piece it narrates the story of the Bantu migration,
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an evolving backdrop for daring and frenzied violin playing, furious sawing with undulating dynamics.
The program closed with Robert Schumann ‘s Piano Quintet in E-flat major (1842), which kept making me think of better words than “delirium” for Freund’s duet and the rest of this intense, exciting concert. Fervor, maybe? They played the Schumann with group ferocity - even the movement that sounded like a dirge was an ensemble dirge, played like lovers clutched in a death grip. Henderson pounded on the piano like a man possessed. Or maybe that’s what it was - not delirium, but possession.
Part of the fun of Live at the Sheldon is seeing symphony musicians interact in small groups on an intimate stage. Ranheim on cello was engaging throughout the concert, expressive in body and face. Williams on viola at times searched the other musicians’ faces and danced in her chair with the viola playing the Schumann. The curators, however, were sphinxlike. Only when they stood to play the violin duets did they fully use their bodies and show traces of
a significant event in African history.”
As Bridges guided a small group through subsequent galleries, moments of kindred connections were everywhere along the path. And refreshingly, “Narrative Wisdom” is not framed through a theme of shared suffering.
“While you explore, I hope you will consider how these arts—made by historical artists across Africa and by contemporary African artists who work around the globe— support or challenge narratives centered around four primary themes: leadership, memory, destiny, and ancestral wisdoms,”
Bridges said in the audio guide. Through “Narrative Wisdom” the full truth about Africa – including her strength, history and legacy – are displayed front and center.
The Saint Louis Art Museum’s presentation of “Narrative Wisdom and African Arts” continues through February 16, 2025 at Saint Louis Art Museum, One Fine Arts Drive, St. Louis MO 63110. For more information and details about programming related to the exhibition, visit www. slam.org.
emotion on their faces.
It must be said that they both looked beautiful, however much or little they moved or emoted. With Schreiber in her pale olive gown and Weil in his gunmetal blue suit, they looked like a prom queen and king or a pair of wedding cake toppers.
The strongest group connection was expressed as everyone gathered focus and strength to play the final movement of the Schumann, the last piece of the concert. All five musicians quietly shared a smile just before they started the last movement. When they began to perform again, the Sheldon was audibly and visibly filled with the joy
of play - playing music, but it was a spirit of joy in play that we took with us out of the concert hall to whatever else we wanted or needed to do.
Next up at SLSO: Fri., Oct. 25, 10:30 a.m. and Sun., Oct. 27, 3 p.m., Slatkin’s Legacy: A Birthday Celebration at Touhill Performing Arts Center. Sat., Nov. 2, 7 p.m. and Sun., Nov. 3, 3 p.m. ‘Coco’ In Concert at Stifel Theatre. For tickets and more information, visit slso.org. Live at the Sheldon continues with concerts on December 5, January 30, March 6 and April 24. File under: must see and hear. Visit https://slso.org/
Photo courtesy of SLAM
Gosette Lubondo, Congolese, born 1993; “Imaginary Trip II, no. 3”, 2018; inkjet print; image: 19 5/8 × 29 1/2 inches sheet: 22 × 32 inches; Saint Louis Art Museum, The Helen Kornblum Fund for Women Photographers, and Gift of August A. Busch Jr., by exchange 40:2021; © Gosette Lubondo, work produced as part of the photographic residencies of the Museum of Quai Branly-Jacques Chirac.
Photo courtesy of SLSO
Erin Schreiber and Shawn Weil curated the opening performance of the second season of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s Live at The Sheldon on Thursday, October 10.