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ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JANUARY 1 - 7, 2026
2025 St. Louis American Year In Review
Photo by Wiley Price I St. Louis American
May 16 — “This is our Katrina.” A deadly tornado rips through the St. Louis area, leaving five people dead and an estimated $1.6 billion in damage.
Carlton, St. Louis. Honorees A tornado rips through St. Louis, are Larry Thomas, Lifetime Rodney Boyd, political chaos reigns in Jefferson City Achiever; Entrepreneur of the Year; Williams, Corporate and Washington, D.C., but the Black Jeremy Executive of the Year; Michelle D. Walker, Nonprofit Corporate community meets its challenges Executive of the Year; and Chris Krehmeyer, Excellence in and continues unprecedented Community Impact. 21 — Voletta Wallace, progress on many levels. mother of iconic rapper The JANUARY
the accident.
1 — A terrorist inspired by ISIS drives a Ford F-150 pickup into pedestrians on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, killing 14 people and injuring 57. U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell is sworn in to represent Missouri’s 1st Congressional District. 6 — When Normandy Schools Collaborative students return from winter break, they are among the first in Missouri districts not allowed to use cellphones inside school buildings. 7 — Wildfires scorch the Los Angeles area, destroying thousands of homes and businesses. The historic Black community of Altadena is among those devastated. 16 — Explore St. Louis announces that the Church of God in Christ Holy Convocation will return to St. Louis in 202628. 20 — As the nation celebrates the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, President Donald Trump is sworn in for his second term. Among his first executive actions is the elimination of DEI initiatives throughout the federal government. 29 — An American Airlines regional jet collides with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., killing all 67 people aboard both aircraft. In December, the U.S. government claims some responsibility for
FEBRUARY 2 — Beyoncé wins three Grammys. Her first album of the year award is historic, as she becomes the first Black woman to win a Grammy for best country album, for “Cowboy Carter.” She extends her record to 35 total Grammys. 5 — Music executive Irv Gotti, who collaborated with artists including Ashanti and Ja Rule, dies. He was known for co-founding Murder Inc. Records under Def Jam Recordings. 9 — Two Black quarterbacks square off in the Super Bowl as Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles defeat Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22. Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show is hailed as one of the Super Bowl’s strongest for its music, choreography and political relevance. 13 — Due to “diminished funds,” Annie Malone Children and Family Services announces that the 2025 Annie Malone May Day Parade would not be held on May 18. The decision is later reversed, but the parade is postponed in the aftermath of the May 16 tornado. 20 — The St. Louis American Foundation celebrates the 23rd Annual Salute to Excellence in Business Networking and Awards Luncheon at The Ritz-
Notorious B.I.G., dies at 78. She had recently entered hospice care. 24 — Roberta Flack, the legendary vocalist behind “Killing Me Softly With His Song” and “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” dies at 88. She had been diagnosed with ALS and was unable to perform in her final years. MARCH 1 — R&B singer Angie Stone dies at 63. The Associated Press reports she died from injuries sustained in a car crash. 2 — Zoe Saldaña wins the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mexican lawyer Rita Castro in “Emilia Pérez.” 4 — Alderwoman Cara Spencer handily tops Mayor Tishaura O. Jones and other candidates in the mayoral primary. As the top two vote-getters, Spencer and Jones will face off in the April 8 mayoral election. U.S. Rep. Al Green of Texas heckles President Trump during the president’s address to Congress. 11 — The Missouri Legislature, ignoring the will of city residents and voters statewide, strips authority over the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department from the city and places it under Gov. Mike Kehoe. Mayor Jones calls the action “cowardly.” 20 — The St. Louis American reports that a three-bed facil-
ity controversially carrying the name “Homer G. Phillips Hospital” is officially closed by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. 21 — Boxing legend and entrepreneur George Foreman dies at 76. 24 — Great Rivers Greenway celebrates the groundbreaking of the north connector of the Brickline Greenway, which will create a paved path from Grand through north St. Louis near downtown. APRIL 1 — George Nnanna begins his tenure as founding director of the University of Missouri–St. Louis School of Engineering. The school will welcome its first class of engineering students in August. He previously served as the founding dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Texas Permian Basin. 4 — Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. opens its 91st Central Regional Conference in St. Louis. More than 4,000 AKAs from eight states attend the weekend conference.
5 — Hundreds of thousands of protesters, including thousands of St. Louis area residents, take to the streets to protest the Trump administration during the first “Hands Off” Day. U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell challenges St. Louisans to rise up and actively protest Trump during the “Resist to Exist” rally at St. Paul African Methodist Church. 7 — U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey begins his historic 25-hour rebuke of President Trump and his policies on the Senate floor. 8 — Alderwoman Cara Spencer wins 64% of just over 50,000 ballots cast to unseat incumbent Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. Only 25.7% of the city’s registered electorate voted in the election. “Together, we have accomplished so much,” Jones says after conceding defeat. Donna Barringer defeats longtime Comptroller Darlene Green. 10 — The St. Louis American reports that David Steward, co-founder and chair of World Wide Technology, is listed at No. 213 on Forbes’ 2025 list of the world’s billionaires.
Photo by Wiley Price I St. Louis American
May 3 — The Old Courthouse celebrates its grand reopening after major renovations.
Photo Dawn Suggs I St. Louis American Photo courtesy of the AP
January 7 — Wildfires scorch the Los Angeles area, destroying thousands of homes and businesses. The historic Black community of Altadena is among those devastated.
Photo by Wiley Price I St. Louis American
February 25 — St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones being interviewed by St. Louis American reporter Sylvester Brown at her campaign headquarters in South St. Louis.
April 5 — Hundreds of thousands of protesters, including thousands of St. Louis area residents, take to the streets to protest the Trump administration during the first “Hands Off” Day.