July 10th, 2025 edition

Guest Editorial Commentary

History will remember who is honored

By Marc Morial

In 2020, as the nation reckoned with systemic racism in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, the U.S. Department of Defense took a long-overdue step: initiating the process to rename military bases that bore the names of Confederate generals—men who fought to preserve slavery and divide the Union.

This was not a symbolic gesture. It was a deliberate act to honor the values of unity, equality, and democratic service over the legacy of white supremacy. That progress is now under threat.

Reports that the Department of Defense is considering—or being pressured into—reverting to Confederate names is more than a policy shift. It is a moral failure, a capitulation to revisionist history and the weaponization of nostalgia.

These bases, from Fort Bragg (now Fort Liberty) to Fort Hood (now Fort Cavazos), were renamed not to erase history, but to correct the record. These installations train and house a multiracial, multiethnic force of patriots.

To ask them to salute the names of men who waged war against the United States—who fought and died to preserve human bondage—is not just offensive. It is indefensible.

enemy,” said Dr. William Sturkey, a historian and assistant professor teaching the history of race in the American South at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Stuckey said the U.S. government, “was more worried about mobilizing troops,” following the war.

“They just let locals name it without thinking there would ever be a World War II, let alone a Vietnam War. They had no idea of the long-lasting impact it would have on Fayetteville, N.C.

For the record, Fort Bragg was named after Braxton Bragg whose success in the Mexican-American War made him a national hero, according to an ABC11 report by Akilah Davis in 2020. Bragg, a slave owner who owned a sugar plantation in Louisiana, was exposed as a weak general during the Civil War.

“It’s pretty rare for the country to have a major military installation named for somebody who fought against that country. It was the Confederacy against the United States of America. He was killing American troops. He didn’t fight under the banner of the United States of America and therefore, he was the

Let’s be clear: Confederate names do not reflect “Southern heritage.” They reflect a legacy of racial terror, of rebellion against the United States Constitution, and of treason cloaked in mythology. Keeping those names is not about honoring history. It is about choosing which history to honor. This retreat fits into a disturbing pattern. From school boards banning books about race to corporations quietly walking back diversity commitments, there’s a coordinated effort to roll back even the most modest steps toward racial equity. And this rollback is rarely framed honestly. It hides behind rhetoric about “tradition,” “neutrality,” or “not being divisive”—as if honoring Black service members and rejecting white supremacy is somehow controversial.

The National Urban League calls on the administration and the Department of Defense to stand firm. Do not reverse course. Do not dishonor the generations of Black, Latino, Native, and Asian American troops who have served under the American flag—not the Confederate one.

We’ve already seen how quickly progress can be unraveled. But we’ve also seen what happens when communities, advocates, and leaders refuse to accept silence and backsliding as the status quo.

History will remember what we chose to honor in this moment.

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

Commentary

High waters can’t drown American spirit

By Ben Jealous

On the Fourth of July, Donald Trump signed his “megabill.” The law boosts the dying fossil fuel industry with tens of billions of taxpayer dollars.

It aims to stop dead in its tracks the clean energy transition and the green manufacturing jobs boom the Inflation Reduction Act was already starting to create.

Just hours later, a climate-fueled storm settled over and dumped four months worth of rain on Texas Hill Country. The Guadalupe River rose 26 feet within 45 minutes. The resulting flash floods killed at least 119 people – at the time of this writing, although that number will go up – mostly in Kerr County. That death toll includes dozens of young girls attending the Camp Mystic youth camp.

This disaster was not a random event. It was a crisis written by the climate crisis and made far worse by the types of policies being pushed by this administration everyday.

Before the absurdly named One Big Beautiful Bill Act landed on Trump’s desk, his administration had already begun gutting America’s frontline defenses against climate disasters – like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s climate labs, the National Weather Service, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

As questions abound about why parts of the flood-impacted region did not receive adequate warning about the floods, Trump insisted that “nobody expected it” and it was a “once in 100 years” event. But storms like this, as well as increased flooding from the Guadalupe River, were expected – and predicted. The US Geological Survey –another vital body Trump is trying to eviscerate – issued a report to that effect in 2019. The science is clear: warmer air holds more moisture, intensifying storms and accelerating flood risk. We’re now witnessing the violent proof of these predictions.

As for the “one in 100 years” claim, those events are now happening far more often thanks to the climate crisis! Between 2015-2019, one St. Louis suburb had three major floods and at least two of them were considered “1-in-100-year events.”

It is not hard to see how the climate crisis became a political debate. Decades of anti-science propaganda from the coal, oil, and gas industries. Politicians bought and paid for by fossil fuel oligarchs. A current administration with a cabinet full of industry shills.

Democracy depends on remembering

By Stacey Abrams

In 51 weeks, our country will mark 250 years since its founding — a moment that should inspire reflection, reckoning, and renewal.

But instead of preparing to honor the full scope of our shared American story, a dangerous movement is rising — one that seeks to erase the truth, silence entire communities, and rewrite history for political gain.

The same forces who continue to divide us by race, gender, and identity are targeting the tools we’ve built to create a more inclusive nation since America’s inception.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are not political buzzwords nor new concepts. They are the building blocks of a better America, as old as our nation’s founding.

From the enslaved people who built the foundations of our economy, to the immigrants who fueled its innovation, to Indigenous communities who have survived centuries of displacement — our nation has always been shaped by diversity, equity, and inclusion.

many in favor of the few.

Over the last year, this hateful doctrine has been used to remove women from senior leadership in the military and terminate disabled veterans. Books that tell the story of Black, Latino, and Jewish communities are being banned. Executives are threatened for championing equity in the workplace. When you silence language, you silence identity. As much as we forfeit our history, our progress as a nation is stunted.

These attacks are not rooted in fact. They are rooted in fear — fear of competition, fear of change, and fear of what happens when power is shared. But as a country, we must be braver than that and face this fear head-on like we have in the past.

After the Civil War, during Reconstruction, Black Americans made extraordinary strides in civic and economic life. They held elected office, built businesses, and founded schools.

In an outraged response, a vicious backlash took hold — one that used violence, legislation, and propaganda to halt their progress. Politicians and institutions systemically dismantled what had been built, ushering in a century of Jim Crow laws and state-sanctioned discrimination.

Today, we are witnessing echoes of that very past. Every time marginalized communities make gains, those threatened by change and progress work to push us backwards. DEI is the continuation of every justice movement that came before it, from the Freedmen’s Bureau to the Civil Rights Act to Title IX. The honorable mission owes nothing to quotas or retribution.

The conservative doctrine on DEI, now championed by the Trump administration, is as clear as it is alarming: silence the truth, consolidate power, and exclude the

The Trump administration, its allies, and complicit corporations are not defending our founding values — they are undermining them.

To corporations: Do not let political pressure scare you into silence. Equity is not partisan — it’s patriotic. Your consumers, your workers, and your children are watching.

To educators and parents: Defend honest education. Demand that our children learn the truth — not a sanitized version of it. Because history, no matter how uncomfortable, teaches us how to be better. And to all Americans: Our democracy depends not just on voting, but on remembering. On refusing to forget whose shoulders we stand on. On protecting the truth — especially when it is under attack. We can be a nation that finally tells the full story of who we are and who we’ve been — or one that lets fear write the next chapter.

The future of this country belongs to those brave enough to remember — and bold enough to keep building toward a more perfect union.

Stacey Abrams served 11 years in the Georgia House of Representatives, seven as minority leader, and was the first Black woman to become the gubernatorial nominee for a major party in the U.S

STAFF

Guest Columnist Ben Jealous

Big Oil alone spent a whopping $445 million through the 2024 election cycle to influence Trump and Congress. A staggering figure to be sure, that does not include donations funneled through dark money groups (likely tens of millions of dollars more – at least). And it still falls short of the $1 billion Donald Trump asked the country's oil executives to kick in to his campaign -- an amount Trump insisted would be a “deal” for the industry because of what he was willing to give them. But it is high time that our leaders to stop kowtowing to a toxic and unnecessary industry built on death, illness, and poisoning our communities. It is time they treat this crisis as a struggle for survival – a fight for the future our children deserve.

We are at a crossroads: We can double down on denial and let superstorms, heatwaves, droughts, floods, and fires determine our fate. Or we can lead –with science, resilience, courage, and a recommitment to our values.

If we harness our outrage and come together to fight like hell for our collective future, we will win. Because when people stand up and demand a safe planet, nothing – not even rising water –can drown the American spirit.

Ben Jealous is the Executive Director of the Sierra Club and a Professor of Practice at the University of Pennsylvania.

Columnist Marc Morial

Educators for Gun Safety (EGS) at Confluence Academies has been honored with a FOCUS St. Louis 2025 What’s Right With the Region Award.

From left are EGS Student Ambassadors Jayvonte Hughes Jr., Jahlil Latchison, Bry’an Boyle, and Xyaire Phillips.

Confluence gun safety initiative honored by FOCUS

St. Louis American

Educators for Gun Safety (EGS), an initiative of Confluence Academies, recently received a FOCUS St. Louis 2025 What’s Right With the Region Award.

Honored in the Emerging Initiatives category, EGS was celebrated for its student-led work in gun safety education, advocacy, and community outreach.

Founded in 2022 in response to the rise in gun deaths among children in the St. Louis region, EGS brings together educators, community leaders, and students to raise awareness, distribute resources, and drive policy change.

EGS began by distributing hundreds of free gun locks in partnership with St. Louis Public Schools, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, and Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice. Gun locks are now available at every Confluence Academies campus.

The initiative also introduced a gun safety

curriculum that reaches every Confluence student. It includes classroom lessons, take-home literature, and special engagement events such as Gun Safety Day and a student-focused Gun Safety Panel.

From that panel, EGS’s Student Ambassadors initiative was born. Students from Confluence Preparatory Academy and Grand Center Arts Academy traveled to Jefferson City in April 2024 to meet with lawmakers.

The group collaborated with community leaders and legislators to introduce a bill during the 2025 legislative session that would establish a state-approved task force.

“EGS is not just about education, it’s about empowering students, shifting culture, and saving lives,” said Dr. Candice Carter-Oliver, CEO of Confluence Academies.

“Receiving a FOCUS St. Louis 2025 What’s Right With the Region Award is a wonderful acknowledgment of the work our students and educators are doing every day.”

Republicans have failed our children

By Marian Wright Edelman

The Annie E. Casey Foundation has released its 2025 edition of the KIDS COUNT Data Book, an annual resource that measures national and state data on economic well-being, education, health, and family and community factors.

As they sum up their latest findings: “This year’s trends paint a complex picture: steady progress in some areas, setbacks in others and persistent opportunities to do better for kids and their families. Since 2019, seven of the 16 key indicators have improved, six have worsened and three have not changed.”

Among the troubling results, “the number of teenagers disconnected from school or work has risen sharply, academic outcomes are still worse than before the COVID-19 pandemic, and, most concerning, more young people are dying.”

GOP members of the House and Senate slashed without discretion. Senators adopted cuts to critical health, nutrition, and financial stability programs.

The Casey Foundation report did not help Trump-dominated Republicans to determine the right thing to do for children, young people, and families in their respective states

Our nation should embrace every opportunity to lift up what is working and what remains necessary in order for children and families to thrive. It failed.

One of the report’s features is its breakdown of indicators by state, ultimately giving each state a ranking: “Where a child lives continues to matter deeply, with stark geographic disparities shaped by local and state policies, economic conditions, community investment and infrastructure.

This year’s Data Book highlights these patterns clearly: States facing the biggest challenges are largely in the South and Southwest — Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia.

In contrast, many Northeast and Midwest states rank near the top — Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota and Vermont. Utah also stands out as a strong performer.

Where does your own state fall in studies like this, and where do your state’s elected officials stand right now on the budget choices that matter most to children and families in your community?

Strategic investments in basic needs programs like Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Child Tax Credit and the Social Services Block Grant have now been slashed by Congressional Republicans.

They are more than optional line items on a spreadsheet; they are essential, proven tools that help families stay afloat and help children and young people thrive as they grow into healthy, productive adults. Every state must face a dramatic defunding.

There are many ways to tally the facts on how much “kids count” in our nation. Choosing children over corporations should be a test too simple to flunk. Congress earned an “F.”

Marian Wright Edelman is founder and president emerita of the Children’s Defense Fund.

Photo courtesy of Confluence Academies

Marian Wright Edelman

Blacks

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the gains we’ve made and push for the progress still to come.

“The work is difficult. The road is long. But we know from experience that the arc of history does not bend toward justice on its own— it must be bent by those with the strength and will to see it through.”

According to the report, a coordinated campaign to reverse decades of progress is being waged against African Americans. This includes:

-In 2025, federal departments protecting civil rights have been defunded, voting protections rolled back, and diversity programs criminalized.

-Far-right actors have weaponized the term “woke” to attack civil rights, equity, and even historical truth.

The Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, once a champion for justice, is now a tool for political retaliation.

According to the NUL,

Hicks

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while continuing to proudly serve our community with integrity, insight, and relevance.”

Hicks acknowledged the challenges he and newsroom leaders nationwide face as the media landscape continues to shift — less advertising revenue, shrinking audiences and a surge of

social media platforms rolling back safety policies have led to a surge in hate speech “and progressive voices are being silenced.”

false or misleading online content masquerading as news — all at a time when public trust in professional journalism already is fragile. These issues are even greater for ethnic media, which have shown resilience while continuing to serve their communities, Hicks said.

“I’ve always respected the role the Black press has played throughout the history of African Americans,” said Hicks, a Birmingham, Alabama,

Contributors to this year’s report range from civil rights leaders and attorneys to elected officials who share a commit-

native. “That role is just as vital today, if not more. I’m honored that Dr. Suggs has entrusted me with carrying on the editorial legacy of The American.”

Hicks’ appointment marks a return to both local journalism and the St. Louis media market. He managed the St. Louis Post-Dispatch news operation in the evenings for 2½ years, including in 2008 when a gunman killed six people during a Kirkwood

ment to defending democracy, fighting for diversity, and protecting the progress of the Civil Rights movement.

City Council meeting.

The coverage was a finalist for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news reporting.

Most recently, Hicks served as director of ethics and diversity at the Society of Professional Journalists, where he helped shape national conversations on professional integrity and newsroom inclusivity. He also helped journalists across the country navigate ethical challenges, drawing

The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis was recognized as a National Urban League Affiliate of the Year during the organization’s 2024 conference in New Orleans. From left are NUL Board Chair Tim Murphy of Mastercard, Urban League of Metro St. Louis President and CEO Michael McMillan, and National Urban League President Marc H. Morial. The NUL will release its 2025 State of Black America report next week in Cleveland at the 2025 conference.

Several civil rights leaders joined Morial in denouncing the Budget Reconciliation Bill during the Essence Festival in

on the SPJ Code of Ethics and his extensive newsroom experience.

“SPJ was deeply fortunate to have Rod Hicks on its team for the past seven years,” said Caroline Hendrie, executive director of SPJ. “Rod juggled a varied portfolio of responsibilities — parsing thorny ethical dilemmas, writing and editing articles, managing training programs and much more — with great care and good humor. The St. Louis

New Orleans last week.

Attorney Damon Hewitt said, “it’s time to turn up the volume and fight back.”

“Whether it be repeal and replace, whether it be the appropriations process. Now is the time for moral clarity. Now is the time for accountability. This is a place where industries like health care and education are going to take big hits,” said Hewitt.

“We’re not quitting. We’re not rolling over. We’re not letting this happen without a fight. And we will prevail. Because that’s what we do. We are resilient people, and we’ve been through a lot, and we’ve demonstrated that we get through it together. Morial stated, “This is not business as usual.”

“This is an emergency. The National Urban League urges vigilance, mobilization, solidarity, and support. This year’s State of Black America is a call to action to stand together as we defend our rights and the principles of American democracy in our courts, our communities, and our coalitions,”

American couldn’t have a more thoughtful professional at the helm.” Before joining SPJ, Hicks spent nearly a decade as an editor at The Associated Press in Philadelphia, then a regional hub covering 10 northeastern states. The position allowed him to work on major national and international stories, including the Boston Marathon bombing, the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting and the Bill Cosby sexual assault trials.

Amanda Barrett was a deputy regional editor at AP when she hired Hicks. She came to admire how he approached his work and the rapport he built with reporters. He’s thoughtful and cool under pressure, she said, and adept at helping reporters find the angle or voice they were missing. She and Hicks stayed in touch after he left AP.

“Rod has proven to be a staunch defender of the craft of journalism,” said Barrett, now AP’s vice president of standards.

“He holds himself and others to high standards for strong work, ethics and integrity. I am excited to see how he leads the St. Louis American and its team into the future.” Hicks held newsroom leadership positions at The Detroit News; the Detroit Free Press; the Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, New Jersey; and the Birmingham Post-Herald, where he began his editing career as night city editor after working as a reporter for several years. Hicks began his professional career in 1985 as a reporter at The Anniston Star in Alabama.

But he first saw his name atop a news story in a local newspaper when he was 13. At the request of a teacher at his elementary school, Hicks wrote a story about stolen school equipment that was published in The Birmingham World, a now-closed Black-owned weekly newspaper. After completing high school, he volunteered at The Birmingham Times another Black-owned weekly, and later was an intern there.

Hicks is a longtime member and former board member of the National Association of Black Journalists and managed three of its popular national conventions, in 2015 in Minneapolis. He holds a master’s degree in newspaper management from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and a bachelor’s degree in advertising and marketing from the University of Alabama.

Photo courtesy of National Urban League

do. This betrayal will not be forgotten by the American people.”

On the national and local fronts, Democrats vow to make the GOP pay when the mid-term elections are held in November 2026.

“Ann Wagner just voted to rob her constituents blind,” said Missouri Democratic Party Chair Russ Carnahan.

“This wasn’t just a vote; it was a betrayal. [The congresswoman] chose to punch down on working Missourians so Trump’s billionaire buddies could cash out. She owns the consequences, and come Election Day, she’ll pay the price.”

Carnahan also called out Hawley for “pretending to be undecided and voicing concerns about Medicaid cuts.”

“Hawley weakly caved to GOP leadership. Missouri voters won’t forget who sold them out,” he said. Here is what Missouri has coming, based on recent analysis.

• Missouri households will face $2.1 billion in higher energy costs over the next decade

• 37,400 jobs will be lost by 2035

• The state’s GDP will shrink by $27 billion

• Up to 260,000 Missourians could lose their health insurance

• 4 rural hospitals are at risk of closing

• Tax hikes on the lowest-income Missourians

“This is an immoral thing,” said House Democratic Leader Congressman Hakeem

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ly launched into its case against the sheriff.

The state’s allegations included Montgomery failing to take inmates for medical treatment, and his alleged use of sheriff’s department staff to transport his children to school.

Mason responded by providing the judge with the Supreme Court’s “Rules of Professional Conduct,” stating that lawyers are prohibited from making “false statements,” and are supposed to correct any statements they “know to be false.”

Addressing Bailey’s allegation that the sheriff “failed to take inmates in for medical treatment,” Mason provided a contract “that the state should have known about,” that explicitly dictates that the city, not the sheriff’s department, is responsible for “administering, managing and supervising healthcare” for inmates.

Mason then proceeded to challenge Bailey’s claim that Montgomery hired his half-brother as a deputy, by providing Ohmer with birth certificates to dispute the charge.

Jeffries.

“The attack on healthcare is not just going to result in millions of people losing access, but hospitals will close, nursing homes will shut down. Communitybased health clinics won’t be able to provide assistance.”

Nationally, nearly 79 million people received coverage under Medicaid or the Children›s Health Insurance Program as of March.

The insurance can cover doctor appointments, hospital visits, long-term care, prescription drugs, and lab testing. Eligibility varies across the country; recipients need to have an income near the poverty line to qualify in most states.

“This bill wasn’t about cutting waste, balancing budgets, or fiscal responsibility. It was about taking from the poor to give even more to the rich,” said Bell.

“This is the result of a political movement that has spent decades pushing one message: gut programs like Medicaid and Medicare, slash food assistance, and strip basic dignity from working people, just to hand billionaires and big corporations another tax break.

“Children will fall through the cracks. Seniors will lose the care they rely on. Families already stretched to the limit will be left to fend for themselves. And what do we get in return? A bill that adds trillions to the national debt, hands more power to the already powerful and tells struggling families to keep waiting their turn.”

Regarding Bailey’s allegation that the sheriff “misused public resources” by ordering a deputy to pick up his children from school, Mason argued that the person who picked up the children was “off-duty” and was so well known by his kids they called her “grandma.”

Not-so-subtly inferring that the prosecution was providing “false statements,” Mason thundered: “There are no violations here, your honor, and I’m going to call them out on it every time!”

Bailey, as he did when he issued quo warranto action against St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner in 2023, has initiated the same process with Montgomery.

“Quo warranto” has been defined as “a legal action used to challenge someone’s right to hold a public office or franchise.” It was not traditionally used to address misconduct in office but rather to determine if the person is legally entitled to hold his/ her position.

Attorney Michael P. Downey, who represented Gardner, said the “Missouri Revised Statute” 106.220 pertaining to “forfeiture of office” expanded the standard definition.

The statute states, in part, that “any person elected or appointed… who shall be guilty of any willful or fraudulent violation… shall thereby forfeit his office…”

The “who shall be guilty of…” portion of that statute still seems questionable in Bailey’s case because Montgomery hasn’t been found guilty of any charges.

In 1978, St. Louis Sheriff Benjamin L. Goins was removed via a quo warranto writ filed by St. Louis Circuit Attorney George Peach (D). That action, however, followed Goins’ conviction on federal racketeering and tax evasion charges.

In 1999, then-Attorney General Jeremiah (Jay) Nixon (D) filed a quo warranto petition after an investigation of corruption involving Sheriff Tom Russell of the Miller County Sheriff’s department.

Ohmer eventually shut down the back and forth between the lawyers and went about the business of setting dates for “discovery and motions,” eventually landing on a court date of November 10 at 11:00am.

Until then, Ohmer ruled, “the sheriff will

continue with his duties in that office.”

“I think that is a drastic step,” Ohmer said Bailey’s first removal effort.

“I don’t think we’re there at this point.”

The case timeline is as follows:

• July 21: Sheriff’s office submits its answer to the quo warranto • Aug. 29: All discovery completed • Sept. 19: All motions filed • Nov. 10: Bench trial begins

Meals on wheels

• Additional status hearings, if needed, on Aug. 29, Sept. 26, Oct. 29

Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.

Food vender Shekela Vester enjoys festvities on the Arch grounds Friday, July 4, 2025 in celebration of the country’s 249th birthday.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Sylvester

THE

WAY I SEE IT

An Independence Day ‘sucka punch’

By Jamala Rogers

On July 4, 2025, while many St. Louisans were grilling burgers or cleaning up from the May 16 tornado, the MAGA regime signed into law a bill that will beat you down a few more economic notches.

It is the biggest transfer of wealth in modern U.S. history and cements the financial standing of the white billionaire class for decades to come.

The sucka punch may seem like it came out of nowhere. It did not. It started with a big tax cut for the wealthy during President Trump’s first term.

This is one of the most devious, calculated pieces of legislation in a long time. Amidst distractions and disinformation, most Americans could not focus on the bill or resistance to it with all of the distractions and disinformation swirling around them.

The Republicans were ruthless in their timeline: the most harmful components don’t kick in until after the midterm elections. This is just in case the Democrats get the House and Senate back in 2016.

Then they’ll be left holding the bag, trying to mitigate the damage, and deflecting the blame while

LISTEN UP!

Republicans and their buddies count the billions extorted from taxpayers.

Here are some of the ugly bill’s highlights that are anything but liberating:

Deep cuts to social safety net programs It means $186 billion in SNAP cuts and over $1 trillion dollars in Medicaid cuts. Nearly 12 million people will lose health insurance over the next decade, and the measure would throw health care systems into a downward tailspin. Rural hospitals and centers would close, especially in already struggling Red states.

Big increases to defense spending including

The mighty Madigan goes down hard

By James Ingram

For a half-century for-

mer Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was “the godfather” of Illinois state politics, holding sway as the longest-serving state legislative leader in U.S. history.

But on June 13, 2025, following a four-month trial, his reign and legacy ended in disgrace as he was sentenced to seven and a half years in federal prison and fined $2.5 million. The highly publicized corruption case, in which he used his official posi-

tion to solicit money and favors and to enrich himself and his cronies, brought the mighty Madigan down. Madigan was convicted on 10 of 23 counts of a corruption plot involving a conspiracy to solicit monetary payments from utility company Commonwealth Edison, for his associates, in the form of cushy “ghost jobs” requiring no legitimate work.

Additionally, Madigan plotted with a Chicago alderman, in a quid pro quo scheme, to steer legal work to

Madigan’s law firm, in exchange for Madigan’s assistance in getting the official appointed to a compensated state board.

And, adding insult to injury, Madigan perjured himself repeatedly, during his trial, after foolishly deciding to “testi-lie” on his own behalf and showed no remorse during his pre-sentencing remarks.

However, U.S. District Judge John Blakey, before handing down his sentence, made a point to excoriate Madigan saying, in part, “He had no reason to commit these crimes…The defendant’s

The St. Louis American Foundation Salute to Excellence in Education awards are presented annually to honor outstanding Black educators throughout the St. Louis region. Nominations are open to individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to the education and advancement of Black students. Eligible nominees may include classroom teachers, counselors, principals, administrators, support staff, and professionals in related fields such as higher education, youth development, community education, and college or career access. Scan

anti-immigration efforts

The Pentagon can expect $1 trillion for its budget for domestic and foreign bullying. A whopping $350 billion has been allocated to border security. This includes $46 billion for a border wall, $45 billion for detention centers such as Alligator Alcatraz, the hiring of 10,000 ICE agents, and the outsourcing of detainees to other countries like El Salvador. Clean energy tax credits and subsidies to be greatly reduced or eliminated

This piece has pissed Elon Musk off because he won’t get subsidies for his precious Teslas. We should be more concerned that the action will set back years of environmental activism for sources of renewable energy like

testimony was littered with obstruction of justice… To put it bluntly, it was a nauseating display…You lied, sir. You lied. You did not have to.”

So ends the career of Mike Madigan, who must report to prison on October 13.

Yet, I suspect that no lesson will be learned by Illinois politicians, where corruption and politics have, historically, become synonyms.

solar and the deregulation of outdated energy industries like coal. Over time, it also means higher utility bills for working people. An estimate $5 trillion will be added to the national debt U.S. debt is currently at $36.2 trillion. The MAGA minions are glad that most people don’t understand the national debt and its relationship to their household finances. What it basically means is the inflation and interest rates are bound to increase.

National economic growth is slowed, and foreign investors are less than eager to take a risk on U.S. investments. All increases in costs for goods and services will always be passed on to consumers so that the greedy corporate sectors maintain their mega profits.

Even concessions like relief on child tax credits and no taxes on tips are smoke and mirrors. The moratorium on taxes on tips is only for three years. Any belief that the Big Ugly Bill benefits the majority of working people is pure delusion. The pain of the bill will be merciless, but it is making it clearer how we must organize and who are the targets. The MAGA base will be big losers so there’s also the potential for new allies. As the safety nets are destroyed and the regulations in favor of the wealthy are eliminated, we must face the reality that our salvation lies with us. We don’t have the luxury of wasting time with leaders and politicians with pipe dreams and empty promises. We must be singing in harmonizing unison, “we are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”

After all, four of the last 10 governors of the state are now convicted felons, the last being Rod Blagojevich.

Locally, former East St. Louis Mayor John T. Connors, grandfather of tennis star Jimmy Connors, was indicted for malfeasance in 1947 (ignoring

evidence of illegal gambling and election irregularities) and was known to be a good friend to legendary East St. Louis mobster Frank “Buster” Wortman. Unfortunately, in 2025, that legacy of political corruption, indictments, convictions and incarceration of political figures in East Boogie and St. Clair County has continued.

And I suspect, the “poli-tricks” will continue as long as the newest political crooks on the block believe they are smarter than their predecessors, that the voters are dumber than they are, and as long as there is a dollar to be pilfered, purloined and pocketed.

That’s the sad reality and the cynicism toward

politicians, irrespective of party, makes it incumbent upon the voters to continue to take to the streets, town hall meetings, social media and other platforms, as we’re beginning to see, to express their outrage in what has flagrantly become a willingness among politicians to insult the intelligence, and brazenly violate the trust, of voters. Mike Madigan will be a 90-year-old man before he is eligible for parole. Yet, he got away with corruptly manipulating Illinois politics for 50 years before finally being caught and punished. That must never happen again. If it does, it isn’t the politician’s fault. In an information-driven age, it will be the exclusive fault of the lethargic, apathetic voter.

Columnist Jamala Rogers

Columnist James Ingram

HealthMattersHealthMattersHealthMatters

‘Taking Care of You’

GreaterHealth to extend its reach in north St. Louis

Up in smoke

Big Tobacco free from accountability

By Charles Debnam

Kenneth Powell, a GreaterHealth Pharmacy and Wellness pharmacist, and other staff members have been providing free non-perishable fresh fruits and vegetables to victims of the May 16, 2025, tornado. Founder and CEO Marcus Howard plans to open a new location in North St. Louis after receiving $600,000 in funding from the St. Louis Community Development Administration.

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis Amerian

When the Walgreens at N. Kingshighway Blvd. and Natural Bridge Road in St. Louis’ Penrose neighborhood shuttered its doors on March 27, 2025, it was more than just a store closing.

n The City of St. Louis Community Development Administration (CDA) recently approved $600,000 in funding to GreaterHealth, Missouri’s only Black-owned pharmacy. Receives $600K CDA funding

The abrupt end to the pharmacy located within the store meant that many of its customers, including seniors who have difficulty finding transportation, would have to travel more than four miles to the nearest Walgreens.

Making minority mental health a health priority

July is an important month

By Ashley Winters St. Louis American

Awareness of the importance of mental health is just as essential as taking action, according to Lutheran Family and Children’s Services (LFCS).

LFCS joins with health and social service organizations throughout America in recognizing July as National Minority Mental Health.

Over its 31 days, the month highlights the disproportionate burden of mental illness within minority populations, addresses systemic barriers to care, and promotes culturally responsive mental

Other national pharmacies have also recently closed, creating a “pharmacy desert.”

GreaterHealth Pharmacy and Wellness, in the Delmar DivINe area, has a remedy, though. It plans to open a new location soon to serve its nearby neighborhoods.

The City of St. Louis Community Development Administration (CDA) recently approved $600,000 in funding to GreaterHealth, Missouri’s only

See FUNDING, A11

After more than 17 years of legal battles and public health advocacy, the U.S. tobacco industry will soon be free from a rare form of accountability: the court-mandated requirement to publicly admit wrongdoing.

Beginning on July 1, Big Tobacco no longer must post corrective statements in stores, on cigarette packaging, or through other public messaging. This requirement stemmed from a 2006 federal court ruling that found major tobacco companies guilty of engaging in a decades-long conspiracy to deceive the American public about the dangers of smoking.

Let that sink in.

The court found that companies like Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds knowingly lied — about nicotine addiction, the risks of secondhand smoke, and the targeting of children in advertising — and only then were they ordered to publicly correct the record. Now, those statements are ending. But the damage lingers.

Tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States, killing more than 480,000 Americans each year. Black communities, low-income neighborhoods, and youth have disproportionately borne this burden — often by design. Menthol cigarettes were heavily marketed to Black Americans.

n Tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United States.

A 2019 CBS News report quoted a study of historic internal company documents in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research

“In 1953, Phillip Morris commissioned the Roper organization to conduct a general survey of Americans’ smoking habits. The only menthol cigarette on the survey and the only one of any importance in the early 1950s was Kool.

“The Roper survey showed that only 2% of White Americans preferred the Kool brand. By contrast, the survey reported that 5% of African Americans

See DEBNAM, A11

health services. The month is named in honor of Bebe Moore Campbell, an author, mental health advocate, and co-founder of National Alliance on Mental Illness NAMI.

Moore Campbell played a crucial role in raising awareness and advocating for mental health care for minority communities. National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month emphasizes the need for a collective effort in addressing mental health disparities.

“While mental health challenges affect all communities, we know that individuSee MENTAL, A11

Photo courtesy of GreaterHealth

Photo courtesy of NAMI

In 2008, the U.S. House established National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month in honor of Bebe Moore Campbell, a New York Times bestselling author, mental health advocate, and co-founder of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Campbell died from brain cancer at 56 on November 27, 2006.

Charles Debnam

Funding

Continued from A10

Black-owned pharmacy, to expand access to its services for more North St. Louis residents.

GreaterHealth founder Dr. Marcus Howard said his pharmacy will be in an area “where access to vital medications and pharmacy care has become even more limited due to the closure of several local Walgreens stores.”

Howard said a location is being determined, adding that GreaterHealth plans to partner with a leading healthcare provider in North St. Louis “to

Mental

Continued from A10

als from Black, Hispanic, Asian, and other racial and ethnic minority backgrounds often face unique hurdles in accessing care,” said Lindsay Jeffries, director of Behavioral Health at LFCS.

“We are determined to close this gap and ensure everyone has access to quality care, regardless of their background.”

LFCS, one of Missouri’s longest-serving social service agencies, recognizes the significant impact of factors such as discrimination, cultural stigma, and a lack of culturally competent providers, according to Jeffries.

Throughout July, LFCS is encouraging individuals and families to advocate for equitable access to care. The community is invited to join in these efforts by learning more about LFCS’s culturally sensitive mental health services and resources at lfcsmo.org.

Updates are available on social media at #MinorityMental HealthMonth and #MMHAM.

Jeffries says LFCS licensed therapists “provide trauma-informed, culturally sensitive care, including individual and family counseling, anxiety and depression support, and specialized programs tailored to diverse needs.”

ensure residents receive a comprehensive, coordinated healthcare experience.”

“I am deeply grateful for the CDA’s support and excited to expand GreaterHealth’s services to more residents in North St. Louis, the neighborhood where I grew up,” Howard said.

“Our goal is to ensure every family has easy access to the care they need to stay healthy.”

A recent report from the St. Louis City Department of Health shows that a sizable number of North St. Louis residents live in pharmacy deserts, with limited options for medication access.

“The problem has worsened as national pharmacy

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chains have shuttered locations throughout the community,” said Howard.

Howard, a 2023 Excellence in Healthcare Award recipient during the St. Louis American Foundation Salute to Excellence in Healthcare, said the new location will offer “the same trusted services” available at GreaterHealth’s Delmar location.

This includes free home delivery, virtual medication counseling, care coordination, vaccines, and exceptional customer service “tailored to the unique needs of North St. Louis residents.”

“This expansion marks

a major step forward in addressing health inequities and improving quality of life for thousands in North St. Louis,” said Howard.

With the help of financial backers including Maxine Clark, CEO of Delmar DivINe, Howard opened his first location in that development in 2023 with the assistance of the St. Louis Health Department, the St. Louis County Health Department, Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) and Seed STL.

GreaterHealth has also partnered with SSM Health to create an Express Urgent Care clinic on site, which serves a community without an urgent care

center nearby. “Every day and at all times that the pharmacy is open, there’s a nurse practitioner who can prescribe medication and a physician’s assistant who can talk to patients about any health issues they are experiencing,” Howard told STLMade.

Another partner is the St. Louis Community Credit Union, which carries the pharmacy’s free delivery cards in select branches and is collaborating with Howard on a joint marketing campaign.

“Our goal together is to make sure the community is healthy and wealthy, right? So, we’ve collaborated on a community health, community wealth

A recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the healthcare systems can prioritize minority mental health by ensuring mental health services are culturally and linguistically appropriate, screen patients for depression and other mental health conditions refer

Debnam

Continued from A10 preferred Kools (Roper, 1953). This small difference in preference was successfully parlayed by Brown & Williamson executives, and later by the tobacco industry, into the 70% vs. 30% difference that we see today between Black and white menthol smokers, respectively.”

According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report released last January, 80.9% of Black American adult smokers used menthol cigarettes, compared to 43.4% of adult smokers overall.

In addition: -Black American smokers have disproportionately used menthol cigarettes for decades. As a result, between 1980 and 2018, menthol cigarettes were responsible for 1.5 million new smokers and 157,000 deaths among Black Americans.

-In 2018, more than half (51.4%) of Black American middle and high school students who smoked used menthol

cigarettes, compared with 50.6% of Hispanic smokers and 42.8% of White smokers.

-Black American youth also have higher past 30-day menthol cigarette use compared to other races (56% vs. 47%) between 2018–2020.

Research shows that Black American smokers start to smoke later compared to those of other races. However, Black American adults who smoke menthol cigarettes are less likely to quit compared to other races and have lower quit rates than Black Americans who smoke non-menthol cigarettes.

According to the Truth Initiative, which states its mission “is to prevent youth and young adult nicotine addiction and empower quitting for all,” shares on its website that Black Americans have a higher prevalence of smoking compared with other racial and ethnic groups.

“They are disproportionately affected by tobacco use in several ways. For example, Black Americans have higher

patients to accessible mental health services.

National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month also addresses the mental health of children and teens. LFCS is helping aid those efforts in school mental health services, including individual therapy, family therapy, group

counseling, crisis intervention, consultation and collaboration, preventative education and trauma-informed care.

According to a 2023 KFF Survey on Racism, Discrimination, and Health, significant disparities persist in access to mental health care across

racial and ethnic groups.

Among adults with any mental illness, 52% of white adults received mental health services, compared to just 39% of Black adults, 36% of Hispanic adults, and 25% of Asian adults.

These findings highlight ongoing inequities in

death rates from tobacco-related causes and are more likely to be exposed to secondhand smoke,” a statement which is backed up by American Lung Association research.

The tobacco industry has targeted Black Americans and strategically marketed its products to appeal to the community for decades, including by placing more advertising in Black neighborhoods

and in publications popular with Black audiences.

The most striking example is menthol cigarettes, which are easier to smoke and harder to quit. 80.9% of Black American smokers use menthol cigarettes, and about 45,000 Black Americans die from smoking-related disease each year. Experts believe that racial differences in socioeconomic factors and secondhand smoke expo-

initiative,” said Howard. Howard is a Metro High School graduate who attended the University of North Carolina, where he earned an undergraduate degree in exercise and sports fitness. His education pursuit continued at North Carolina State where he earned two post graduate degrees, including a PhD, in education.

In addition to his pharmaceutical endeavor, Howard is also founder of ROSA, a mental health agency which developed the app Rosa Powered. It has quickly gained popularity and is used in school districts throughout the region.

the U.S. mental health care system and underscore the need for targeted efforts to address barriers faced by communities of color.

An Office of Minority Health study shows Asian Americans are less likely to receive mental health treatment than non-Hispanic whites.

MedCity News KFF data shows those disparities are compounded by the reality that minority groups are less likely to have health insurance, more likely to face high costs of care, and often experience longer wait times if they can even find a provider who understands their background and experiences. In 2024, LFCS provided counseling services to 10,454 children and their family members across Missouri, delivering over 30,331 service hours.

LFCS has also expanded its services directly into schools in the St. Louis area and Kansas City, reaching young people who might otherwise lack access to care. In addition, LFCS is currently offering free summer counseling and psychiatric services for youth aged 3-19 in St. Louis County, St. Charles County, and Franklin County, ensuring critical support is available while school is out.

For more information about Lutheran Family and Children’s mental health services, visit https://lfcsmo.org/, call 866-326-LFCS, or email help@lfcs.org

ventions.

The end of this court order is not a sign that the tobacco companies have changed. It’s a sign that the legal clock has run out. But while their court-ordered speech may end, our obligation to speak up continues.

Now is not the time for complacency. With new products like e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches flooding the market — and often escaping regulatory scrutiny — we risk repeating history. We must push for policies that reduce tobacco use, hold the industry accountable, and protect future generations from being deceived and addicted.

sure may play a role. The corrective statements were never about punishment. They were about the truth. For once, Big Tobacco had to say aloud what it had long known and long concealed: that smoking kills, that it’s engineered to be addictive, and that it was sold with ruthless disregard for human life. These statements weren’t ads — they were public health inter-

Corrective statements may be coming down, but our fight for health equity and tobacco justice and liberation must remain on full display. Charles Debnam is a Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist (CTTS). He is chair of the Washington, DC Tobacco Free Coalition, and the D.C. representative for the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council.

Your Health Matters is provided in partnership with

Graphic courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

JULY 10 – 16, 2025

McDonnell Foundation supports tornado recovery effort

Will invest nearly $3 million

By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American

The James S. McDonnell Foundation (JSMF) has announced a nearly $3 million investment to support recovery and rebuilding efforts following the deadly May 16, 2025, tornado that struck the St. Louis region.

This investment is focused on some of the hardest-hit areas in North St. Louis and aligns with JSMF’s ongoing commitment to investing in the people and places facing the starkest disparities in the region.

n This investment is focused on some of the hardest-hit areas in North St. Louis and aligns with JSMF’s ongoing commitment to investing in the people and places facing the starkest disparities in the region.

“This tornado hit a part of North St. Louis where many people were already doing the hard work of building opportunity in disinvested neighborhoods,” said Jason Purnell, president of the James S. McDonnell Foundation. “Now the need is even greater and more urgent. Our commitment is not just to recover what was lost, but to strengthen the systems and supports that help communities thrive.”

The Foundation’s new investments include:

• $1 million to Invest STL for its direct cash assistance initiative, The Northside Resilience Fund. In total, with backing from additional funders, the program will support up to 1,300 North St. Louis individuals and families most severely impacted by the storm, helping to stabilize household finances and prevent further loss of income and wealth.

• Additional support across six organizations focused on urgent and long-term recovery, including:

-Action St. Louis, Invest STL, and 4theVille to strengthen neighborhood-based response and civic coordination efforts.

-Home Repair Network to repair homes and develop a more scalable model for critical home repair in dam-

As work to repair extensive damage from the May 16, 2025, tornado that tore through the St. Louis region continues, the James F. McDonnell Foundation has announced a nearly $3 million investment in organizations working on tornado relief projects including Invest STL for its direct cash assistance initiative.

aged neighborhoods.

-Gateway Early Childhood Alliance and IFF to help early childhood education centers reopen, retain staff, and ensure families can return to work with access to safe, stable childcare.

This new round of funding builds on $90,000 in immediate emergency grants the Foundation released just

days after the storm, including funding for immediate relief coordination by Action St. Louis, basic needs support through the United Way, and wraparound health and mental health services via Power4STL.

The Foundation’s investments are grounded in its mission to support organi-

See McDONNELL, B2

Ameren adjustments can help keep customers cool

Programs began on June 1

St. Louis American

Missouri is reminding customers of several adjustments to its assistance programs for those needing help with their energy bill this summer. As of June 1, the following changes went into effect:

• Keeping Cool/Keeping Current –Funding increased to $6 million per year (an increase of 41%).

– Keeping Cool provides up to five bill credits of $50 from May through September.

– Keeping Current provides a monthly bill credit of $35 to $90 and past due balance forgiveness with on-time monthly payments.

• Weatherization – Funding increased to $2 million per year for electric customers (an increase of 50%). In 2024, Ameren Missouri provided an additional $1 million for energy-efficient improvements to help homeowners and renters reduce their energy bills.

• New Start Energy Relief –Eligibility has expanded to include

individuals who have been in domestic violence shelters and seniors with past due balances who are at risk of eviction from public housing.

“Many customers don’t realize they’re eligible for energy assistance and may even qualify for more than one program,” said Joe Solari, vice president of customer experience for Ameren. “We encourage you to visit our website, watch for our in-person

Ameren’s Connie Taylor carries a new air conditioner for distribution to families in need during the Cooldown St. Louis event on Tuesday June 24, 2025 at Ameren. Ameren is reminding customers that programs are available to help pay bills and stay cool.

events on social media, and apply at your local community action agency as soon as you need assistance with your energy bill, regardless of the status of your service.” In 2024, Ameren Missouri’s customers received more than $37 million in energy assistance from multiple sources, including the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The com-

See AMEREN, B2

Anthony Thompson speaks at KU graduation

Anthony ‘Tony’ Thompson

Tony Thompson, founder and chair of Kwame Building Group, returned to his undergraduate alma mater on May 16, 2025, to speak during the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Design graduation recognition ceremony at the Lied Center. More than 300 people attended the ceremony which honored graduating undergraduates, masters, and doctoral students who have or will finish their degree completion requirements in the Fall 2024, Spring 2025, and Summer 2025 terms.

Nicole Scott is one of five new members appointed to the Miriam School and Learning board of directors. Scott is an IT professional with over 20 years of experience driving leadership, innovation, and operational excellence who has “consistently steered organizations toward market leadership by integrating strategic project management with a robust expertise in client relationships and team leadership,” according to Meg Bamford, Miriam head of school. Joining her on the Miriam board are Erin Chien, Brian Dull, Tom Strickland, and Sunali Wadehra, MD.

Steenz Stewart profiled in Pages and Panels

Webster University Adjunct Professor Christina “Steenz” Stewart was the subject of an article in Pages and Panels, an online blog about illustrators. Stewart is the lead cartoonist for the syndicated comic strip Heart of the City and co-creator of the graphic novel Side Quest: A Visual History of Roleplaying Games. Throughout their career they have had many roles in the world of comics: Illustrator, Editor, Professor, and Mentor.

Dr. Shenita Mayes honored as a top principal

Dr. Shenita Mayes, principal of Hixson Middle School in the Webster Groves School District, was selected as the St. Louis Association of Secondary School Principals (SASSP) Middle School Principal of the Year for 2024-25.

Dr. Shenita Mayes

“Hixson is a very special place to be, and I feel very privileged and honored to be a part of this community. This award reflects the incredible team at Hixson and the amazing students we serve. I am grateful to be part of such a supportive and dynamic school.”

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

Photo courtesy of the McDonnell Foundation

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Nicole Scott joins Miriam School board Nicole Scott

Christina ‘Steenz’ Stewart

McDonnell

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zations and initiatives working to improve economic mobility for those facing the starkest disparities, for their futures and the growth of the entire region.

“St. Louis will truly thrive when more people see this as a place of economic opportunity, starting with the people who already call St. Louis home,” Purnell said.

The McDonnell Foundation, a leader in global research support and philanthropy, was established in 1950 by James McDonnell, founder of the McDonnell Aircraft Corp.

He made the foundation’s mission “to improve quality of life by supporting advancements in complex areas of science.”

Its impact has reached all corners of the world since its cre-

Ameren

Continued from B1

pany partners with hundreds of community agencies and nonprofits across the state to host in-person events and successfully assist customers with paying their energy bills.

“These in-person events provide an opportunity to learn more about programs and receive help with applications,” said Page Selby, manager of customer advocacy for Ameren Missouri.

“Last year, our outreach efforts provided over 3,500 customers with more than $1.4 million in energy

ation in 1950 by James McDonnell.

In March 2024, Purnell announced that the foundation would focus all resources and expertise on St. Louis.

“Our North Star is shared prosperity and quality of life in St. Louis,” Purnell, who has led the foundation since Feb. 1, 2023, said after the announcement was released.

In December 2024, the foundation gifted the University of Missouri – St. Louis $8 million for its new School of Engineering.

The JSMF grant is one of the largest one-time philanthropic gifts in the history of the university.

“We understand that economic mobility and inclusive economic growth aren’t going to happen on autopilot,” said Purnell.

“This investment is a down payment on the infrastructure necessary to make sure that people have opportunities to succeed, and that the region succeeds as a result.”

assistance. For those looking for a meaningful way to give back, we encourage participation in our Dollar More program as 100% of donations help customers in our communities in need.”

“We know costs are rising across the board for families, and utility expenses driven by periods of extreme heat could stretch budgets even further,” said Jake Bodi, director of customer operations at Ameren Illinois.

“If you’re worried about the upcoming heat, visit our website for options on managing your bill and energy costs before temperatures become unbearable.”

Keeping bills lower

Summer is nearing its midway point and high temperatures, and humidity will remain constant in Missouri and Illinois in the coming weeks.

“Extreme heat is a serious health and safety risk, and we want our customers to stay safe and comfortable over the next few days,” said Tony Lozano, director of energy efficiency and demand response at Ameren Missouri.

“This is why we are constantly investing in our energy grid across both states to ensure it remains reliable and resilient even during

extreme weather conditions.”

In addition to measures Ameren has taken, there are simple ways customers can prepare or adjust their habits when heat waves hit:

• Create a breeze. Run ceiling or box fans with your air conditioner; you can raise the thermostat 3 to 4 degrees without sacrificing comfort.

• Change or clean filters. A clogged or dirty filter forces your system to work harder and wastes energy.

• Block the sun. Closing blinds or drapes with white backings can cut indoor heat gain by up to onethird.

• Cook smart. Grill outdoors or use small appliances like air fryers or slow cookers to reduce excess kitchen heat.

• Program your thermostat. Smart or programmable thermostats automatically adjust settings when you are away, saving the average household about $180 per year.

• Level out your bill. Enroll in Budget Billing in Missouri or Illinois to spread seasonal highusage costs over equal monthly payments.

• Know where to cool off. If your home becomes too warm, visit an aircondi-

The James F. McDonnell Foundation is helping address disparities in the ongoing tornado recovery effort by investing nearly $3 million in organizations in addition to the $90,000 in immediate emergency grants the Foundation released just days after the storm.

tioned public space or local cooling center in Missouri or Illinois Outdoor safety matters, too. Drink plenty of water (8 ounces every 15 to 20 minutes), take frequent shade breaks, and wear lightweight, lightcolored clothing. Visit Ameren. com/Assistance for details on the variety of programs available to help customers offset energy costs this summer. Rebates and savings opportunities on energy-saving products are available at AmerenMissouri Marketplace.com or Am erenIllinoisEEMarketpla ce.com

Photo courtesy of the McDonnell Foundation

n “It’s just cool to be honored. It’s cool to be able to represent.”

– James Wood on being named to his first MLB All Star team

College football season is nearing, and former CBC standout Jeremiyah Love is receiving plenty of preseason “love” after an outstanding sophomore year at Notre Dame.

Long-time National Football League draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN has tabbed Love as the No. 1 running back in his latest NFL Draft rankings.

Despite late-season injuries, 6’0” 214-pound Love helped the Fighting Irish to a berth in the national championship game of the College Football Playoff.

Love rushed for 1,125 yards on 163 carries and scored 17 touchdowns.

InSIdE SportS

With Earl Austin Jr.

Love is in the air of college football elite

mitted to the University of Missouri. On the girls’ side, standout forward Kennedy Stowers of Lutheran St. Charles will play at Illinois State.

Adkinson will play for head coach Dennis Gates after averaging 24.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.2 steals a game while shooting 42% from 3-point range. During the summer grassroots season, he has been playing with the MoKan Elite 16U team on the Nike EYBL circuit.

He averaged nearly seven yards per carry. He also caught 28 passes for 237 yards and two more touchdowns. He had one of the most electrifying runs of the 2024 season, which was a 98-yard dash in Notre Dame’s victory over Indiana in the CFP first round.

Love has also received plenty of Preseason AllAmerican recognition as well. He was selected to the Walter Camp Preseason All-American First Team and the Athlon Sports Preseason AllAmerican First Team.

As a senior at CBC, Love led the Cadets to the Class 6 state championship. He scored four touchdowns in the Cadets’ overtime victory over Lee’s Summit North in the championship game.

Adkinson, Stowers stay near home

Adkinson, the respective St. Louis American and Gatorade Player of the Year, led Webster Groves to the Class 5 state championship a in 2025.

Stowers is a 6’2” senior forward who has been a starter for Lutheran St. Charles since her freshman year. In her freshman year, Stowers helped the Cougars to the Class 5 state championship. She helped lead Lutheran to a runner-up finish in the state finals as a sophomore. As a junior, Stowers averaged 13 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.0 steals while shooting 56 percent from the field in helping lead the Cougars to a 23-5 record. She is currently playing with the Napheesa Collier Elite 17U team during the summer grassroots season.

Earl’s World

STL area high school football standouts are finding college football homes in a frenzy…Defensive end Titan Davis of Class 6 state champion DeSmet has given a commitment to Michigan…Safety Keenan Harris of SLUH is head-

Webster Groves boys’ basketball standout guard Scottie Adkisson has comand its international soccer team.

Louis

First Team and the Athlon Sports Preseason All-American First Team. Mel Kiper Jr., of ESPN has the former CBC star at the top of his 2025 college running backs list.

ed to Missouri…Joining Harris at Mizzou will be wide receiver Devyon Hill-Lomax of East St. Louis…Fresno State has landed defensive end Jake Plummer of CBC… Defensive back Nick McClellan of CBC will be a Wildcat at Kansas State, as will defensive back Garrick Dixon of Fort Zumwalt North…Running

back Jordan Taylor of SLUH is going west to Sacramento State… Defensive back Kameron Hurst of Lift for Life will play at Washington State…Tight end Gabe Weaver of MICDS will join Minnesota, defensive back Nick Hankins of Belleville West has committed to Illinois, and wide receiver Kortez

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

Rupert of East St. Louis is also Big Ten bound and destined for Indiana….I am making my annual trek to Louisville, KY to attend the Run 4 Roses, billed as the largest girls basketball exposure event in the world. The event, which features more than 1,000 girls’ grassroots American and international basketball programs, is spread over 100 courts at the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center and Freedom Hall. The St. Louis area will be represented by teams including Napheesa Collier Elite, Lady Brad Beal Elite and Missouri Phenom. There are also 75 teams from the state of Missouri in the event as well.

STL must score future international soccer events

When the soccer world comes to your doorstep, you should welcome it with open arms.

A semifinal of the CONCAAF Gold Cup tournament was played on Wednesday July 2, 2025, at Enterprise Park, just a short walk from the St. Louis American.

In spring 2021, SC City was preparing for its inaugural MLS season as stadium construction was nearing its end. The morning the speaker system was first tested, Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” blared throughout west St. Louis.

It was the loudest thing I’ve heard coming from Enterprise Park until last Wednesday when the USMNT took on Guatemala.

With the game two days before the 4th of July, I expected parking lots to be a mosaic of red, white, and blue. Instead, it was light blue and white. The colors of the Guatemalan flag

While the SC City crowds begin filling parking lots about 90 minutes before kickoff, Guatemalan fans were jamming spaces more than four hours before the 6 p.m. game. The license plates told a story of their own – fans of Guatemala traveled from Arkansas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Kentucky, and Virginia. They joined with local ‘Gua-tay’ fans in an impromptu street party.

Hundreds of fans poured down Pine Street to the stadium, and vendors sold flags, horns, pennants, jerseys, and other items.

“Gua-tay, Gua-tay,” they shouted with zeal. Spanish was the language of the day, although most fans I spoke to were fluent in English. I mentioned the loudest thing I’ve heard emanate from the stadium: No.

2 is now the singing of the national anthem of

Guatemala. Seconds after the opening notes, the voices of thousands of Guatemalan fans roared into the summer evening. The top thunderous moment I’ve heard is when Guatemala scored its goal, the lone tally in a 2-1 loss. It sounded like the final out of the World Series. It was a roar unmatched at an outdoor sporting event in St. Louis for quite some time.

Importantly, it was the

sound of opportunity. I was suddenly envious of Kansas City and its once-in-a generation opportunity to host World Cup games in 2026.

Next year, Kansas City will host World Cup group stage matches on June 16, 20, 25 and 27. A knockout game (round of 16) will be played on July 3, and a quarterfinal match will be there on July 11.

The scene will be

worth getting over to Kansas City for, if only to be part of the global festival.

The USA lost to Mexico 2-1 in Houston on Sunday in the Gold Cup final before a crowd of more than 70,000. Most fans in attendance were cheering for Mexico.

Following the game, USA coach Mauricio Pochettino noted the atmosphere at his team’s games, in Minneapolis, St. Louis, and Houston.

“I think that today, like in (St. Louis against) Guatemala, it’s a thing in our country to see how important are the fans to be in the stadium, to stay with the team, to support, not only through Instagram, social media, or behind the TV,” he said.

“It’s to be here and translate the energy.”

Did you hear that, America? Were you listening, St. Louis? We can’t retreat on the goal to become a truly international city. The more days like July 2 in St. Louis, the better.

The Reid Roundup

There are few Black MLB players destined for the All-Star Game on July 15 in Atlanta. NY Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is an American League starter. He is joined by fellow Yankee Jazz Chisholm and Minnesota outfielder Byron Buxton Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood is the only Black player on the National League roster…Dave Roberts of the World Champion L.A. Dodgers is NL manager…Mookie Betts of the Dodgers is noticeable in his absence from the NL roster…A special place on the roster was made for Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw…The New York Islanders selected defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson with the No. 17 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. A dynamic player of color, nhl.com says, “He can quarterback a power play and be a shutdown, in-your-face type performer. He enjoys playing physical and can back it up.”

Earl Austin Jr.

Alvin A. Reid

St.

native Jeremiyah Love has been selected to the Walter Camp Preseason All-American

Photo courtesy of Michael Clubb / South Bend Tribune / USA TODAY Netwrok via Imagn Images

While their team lost to the USA 2-1, Guatemalan soccer fans packed Enterprise Park and created a festive scene outside the stadium that attracted a new fan – me.

Photo by a wonderful Guatemalan soccer fan

Veterans Upward Bound Resource Fair set for August 14

Job interviews, employment opportunities, a plethora of services, free clothing, door prizes and more will be available to former military service personnel at the St. Louis Metro Veterans Resource and Job Fair from 10 a.m.-

3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14 at the John F. Kennedy Community Center, 315 Howdershell Road in Florissant, Mo. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) is co-hosting the fair with the City of Florissant and The Kaufman Fund.

“The Resource and Job Fair allows veterans to highlight the amazing skills and talents they have from serving their country,” said VUB Outreach Coordinator Bill Schnarr, a U.S. Army veteran.

“The partnership between SIUE Veterans Upward Bound, The Kaufman Fund, and the City of Florissant is an amazing opportunity that

allows veterans to seek resources and careers that will help improve their lives outside of the military. Veterans have so much to offer and can still serve their country.”

Schnarr, who was wounded, served from 2000-13.

Vendors from area veteran service organizations, community agencies and businesses with programs to support military personnel will take part in the resource and job fair. More than 40 vendors are expected to participate, according to Schnarr.

“This will mark the third time for this Veterans Resource and Job Fair,” said VUB Director Jim Robbins, a U.S. Air Force veteran from 1971-75.

“Last year’s fair was a tremendous success. I’m excited that the sponsors are committed to making it an annual event. We can never do too much for our veterans.”

Veterans Upward Bound assists with the

Resource Fair will be held on August

pursuit of vocational/ technical, associate and bachelor’s degrees. Its mission is to provide supportive services to military veterans and

members of the National Guard and Reserve to enable them to enter or re-enter a vocational/ technical school or a twoor four-year college.

Veterans Upward Bound is a program at the SIUE East St. Louis Campus. It is funded by a grant from the United States Department of

Education.

For more information or to sign up as a vendor by Friday, July 18, contact Schnarr at wschnar@siue. edu

Affinia Healthcare awarded $25,000 grant for health outreach

Affinia Healthcare has been awarded a $25,000 grant from the Episcopal Presbyterian Health Trust to support community outreach events for increased access to health care.

“This generous grant supports our continued commitment to delivering essential care to uninsured

and underinsured individuals in our community,” said Affinia Healthcare President and CEO Dr. Kendra Holmes. The funding will support 12 outreach events planned throughout the remainder of the year, with an opportunity for the grant to be renewed for

two additional years.

Outreach events are held to offer Medicaid enrollment and appointment assistance. The outreach team also organizes medical and dental events for adults and children at the various health centers, and a monthly mental health event for men. The grant will help cover expenses related to outreach initiatives including facility and security staffing and marketing.

“Our outreach team works to ensure everyone in the community has access to healthcare by eliminating barriers like lack of insurance,” said

Outreach Director LaDon Meriweather. “Receiving this grant helps us to continue our efforts to ensure anyone who may be eligible to receive Medicaid and access high quality healthcare, can do just that.” On average, the outreach team assists with

Photo courtesy of SIUE / VUB

Veterans Upward Bound program directors Dominique Bibbs and Yasin Jackson speak with veterans (from left) Paul Ferguson, Kevin Dickerson, and Lawrence Goodrich during a VUB Resource Fair in August 2024 on the Wyvetter H. Younge Higher Education Campus in East St. Louis. A

14, 2025, at the John F. Kennedy Community Center, 315 Howdershell Road in Florissant, Mo.

Living It

“There seems to be a misconception out there that I am somewhere on the Riviera with my feet up.”

- Lauryn Hill on criticism because, though not her fault, her ESSENCE Festival concert began two hours late at 2:30 a.m.

Shakespeare in the Zoo

‘Romeo

and Zooliet’ allows Ricki Franklin to reimagine classic role

By Kenya Vaughn

The St. Louis American

Every time Ricki Franklin steps into character as Juliet for the upcoming Saint Louis Zoo and St. Louis Shakespeare Festival collaborative presentation of “Romeo and Zooliet,” she feels an indescribable sense of pride. She’s proud to be an artist with the opportunity to share her passion with an audience. There’s also an epic scale of hometown pride.

“I’m so St. Louis, doing St. Louis things in St. Louis places,” Franklin said. “Being able to be a part of these two major cultural institutions coming together in this way for the first time –institutions that are quintessential to my city – is just so special.”

This weekend Franklin stars alongside Jordan Moore and a talented, diverse and multigenerational cast when “Romeo and Zooliet” opens this weekend at the Saint Louis Zoo.

“I’m still reckoning with the ‘I can’t believe I’m about to be Juliet’ of it all” Franklin said.

The production, which is also part of St. Louis Shakespeare Festival’s 25th anniversary programming, continues through August 17. It is one of the most famous roles in the history of the stage, but Franklin’s Juliet looks a bit different thanks to the “play within a play” premise. After Zoo patrons, staff and Zookeepers go home, the animals get bored. To pass the time, they decide to start their own theater company. They go about staging a production of “Romeo and Juliet.” Franklin’s Juliet is a grizzly cub. Her Romeo is a prairie dog. The Montagues are herbivores and the Capulets are carnivores.

“She is a bit rougher and she has more of a temper than you see human Juliets portray,” Franklin said. “It’s been really fun to explore that and get to put that new twist on it. It’s such a classic character, so I have been so blessed to have the built-in asset of her being an animal as I put my own twist on the role and bring that to life.”

Ricki

Louis Shakespeare Festival. The play opened July 8 and continues through August 17 at The Saint Louis Zoo.

‘The

book of Joel’

East St. Louis’ own

will be home this weekend to present ‘A Great Gospel Musical Volume One: The Book of Joel’ on Saturday, July 12 at The Grandel Theatre.

East St. Louis native returns home to present new musical

By Zaria Mac The St. Louis American

The title might suggest otherwise, but “A Great Gospel Musical Volume One: The Book of Joel” is not a musical autobiography for Joel P.E. King. It is an interpretation of the book that inspired the actor, producer, playwright, visual artist and East St. Louis native’s name.

Debut feature from Josalynn Smith to play

St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase

By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American

The path to becoming a filmmaker began for Josalynn Smith at around 12 years old. Her grandmother, Elaine Bolden, gave her a special edition DVD of “Titanic.” Through the director’s commentary portion, she was able to hear James Cameron discuss his process. The 1997 blockbuster romance is one of the most iconic films in cinema history. But that is not what drew her to the craft. It was the obstacles and roadblocks Cameron faced – and ultimately overcame – that got Smith’s attention.

“Making a film is really about being able to beat the odds,” Smith said. “And not a lot of people get to do it – to make

“The ability that the whole cast had –how we were all able to learn how to move these beautifully intricate puppets in this span of time and to adapt to the challenges that came with that – I’ll be able to take that with me anytime I approach a challenge.”

Franklin decided to become an actress after constantly being called a “drama

The family friendly adaptation explores the theme of building friendships despite differences. The production features animal puppetry by world-renowned Michael Curry Design, known for its work on Broadway’s “The Lion King” and “Frozen” along with Olympic and Super Bowl ceremonies.

queen” by her mother.

“At a point, I was like, ‘You know what, that is what I am going to make of my life,’” Franklin said. She can still recite the first line she ever performed while appearing as a munchkin in an elementary school production of “The Wizard of Oz.” The Lutheran North and Baylor

a film that is at a major festival, like Tribeca. There were definitely a lot of moments that teetered between ‘is this going to happen’ and ‘this is too good to be true.’”

It happened – and it’s true. Smith’s first feature film, “Ride or Die” played

at the famed Tribeca Film Festival last month.

“It was really a great full circle moment for me,” Smith said. “I went to Columbia [for film school] – and being in New York, I attended the festival as a student. I remember seeing Nia DaCosta’s

“This musical tells the story of the prophet Joel, as written in the book to examine what was happening during that time,” said King. “And how the gospel is a constant expression of our culture and history.”

“A Great Gospel Musical: The Book of Joel” will play the Grandel Theatre at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 12.

“A Great Gospel Musical is not this story of protagonist versus antagonist,” King said. “It’s church! It is an opportunity to sit back and listen to these melo-

See JPEK, C3

Brianna Middleton and Stella Everett star in ‘Ride or Die,’ the first feature film from St. Louis native Josalynn Smith. The film will kick off the 25th anniversary programming for Cinema St. Louis’ St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase on July 18. The showcase continues through July 27.

courtesy of Cinema St. Louis

film ‘Little Woods’ premiere there in 2018. She’s a really amazing filmmaker and I am really inspired by her. So, it was great to be at that same festival [with my film] years later.”

Oscar winner Jamie Foxx was among the film’s producers. “Ride or Die” was shot right here in St. Louis – which is something that brings joy to Smith, a graduate of MICDS and Washington University. “Growing up and driving around St. Louis and greater St. Louis, I always thought that there were so many things about St. Louis that were really filmic

Photo courtesy of Joel P.E. King

Joel P.E. King

Photos by Wiley Price/St. Louis American

Franklin, who portrays Juliet, during rehearsals for ‘Romeo and Zooliet’ presented by the Saint Louis Zoo and St.

Photo

CONCERTS

July 12, 5 p.m., 6Th annual

WerQfest, headlined by R&B vocalist and Broadway star Avery Wilson. The STL-made lineup includes Golliday, Soumir, DJ Naybahood, Anansi Spins, S.A.Y., MASC_ ERROR, and Strawberry Bounce, plus resident DJ, DJ PBNJEFFY, Atomic Pavilion by Jamo, 4140 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110.

Fri., July 18, DJ Jazzy Jeff with DJ Mahf Presented by Jamo x MATI Festive and Conference, Atomic Pavilion, 4140 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit https://www. thegrovestl.com.

Mon., July 21, 6:30 p.m. Wiz Khalifa & Sean Paul - Good Vibes Only Tour w/ Special Guest DaBaby, Hollywood Casino Amphitheater, 14141 Riverport Dr, Maryland Heights, MO 63043. For more information, visit https://www. ticketmaster.com.

Fri., July 25, 7 p.m. Macy Gray On How Life Is 25th Anniversary Tour, The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd, Saint Louis, MO 63112. For more information, visit https:// www.thepageant.com.

Thurs., Aug. 7, The Factory at The District welcomes K. Michelle, 17105 North Outer 40 Road Chesterfield, MO 63005. For more information, visit www.thefactorystl.com.

Fri., Aug. 8, 8 p.m. Jeezy with Color of Noize Orchestra, Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market St, St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit https:// gotickets.com.

STL Sites & Sounds

SPECIAL EVENTS

Sat., July 12, 8 p.m. Movie Night By iFX, The Improv Shop, 3960 Chouteau Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit https:// theimprovshop.com.

Fri., July 18 – July 27, Cinema St. Louis presents the 25th Annual St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase. For more information, visit www. cinemastlouis.org.

Sat., July 19, 3 p.m., National Thoroughbred League’s Nelly Cup at Fairmount Park, Collinsville, IL. For tickets or more information, visit www.NTL. Racing.

Sun., July 27, 5 p.m. I Don’t Give A Fashion, The Fabulous Fox, 527 North Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit https://www. eventbrite.com.

COMEDY

Thurs., July 10, 7 p.m. Special Event: Jalen Hinton, 1151 St. Louis Galleria St, St. Louis, MO 63117. For more information https://st-louis.heliumcomedy. com.

Fri., July 11-12, 7 p.m. Special Event: George Wallace, Helium Comedy Club, 1151 St. Louis Galleria St, St. Louis, MO 63117. Various showtimes available. For more information, visit https://st-louis. heliumcomedy.com.

Sat., July 26, 10 p.m. Josh Johnson: The Flowers Tour, The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63112. For more information, visit https://www.

Grammy and BRIT Award winning singer and actress, Macy Gray will return to St. Louis with a concert to celebrate the 25th anniversary of her debut album, “On How Life Is,” at The Pageant. See CONCERTS for more details.

ticketmaster.com.

ST. LOUIS MUSIC SPOTLIGHT

Thur., July 10, 5 p.m. Downtown Summer Nights: Aida Ade, Kiener

Plaza, 500 Chestnut St, St. Louis, MO 63101. For more information, visit https://www. stlsummernights.com.

Fri., July 11, 9 p.m. Rents Due, Atomic by Jamo, 4140 Manchester Ave St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit https://www.ticketweb.com.

Fri., July 11, 8 p.m. Po. Mia with Hodge + Francis Roman, The Dark Room, 3610 Grandel Sq, St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit https:// kranzbergartsfoundation.org.

THEATRE

Sat., July 12, 4 p.m., A Great Gospel Musical Volume One: The Book of Joel, Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. For more information, visit www.jpek.org.

Through July 14, 8:15 p.m. The Muny presents Disney’s Frozen, The Muny, 1 Theatre Drive St. Louis, MO 63112. https://muny.org.

Through Aug. 17, 7:30 p.m., Saint Louis Zoo and St. Louis Shakespeare Festival presents Romeo and Zooliet, St. Louis Zoo, for more information, visit stlzoo.org.

ART

Through July 27, Roaring: Art, Fashion and the Automobile in France, 1918–1939, Saint Louis Art Museum, 1 Fine Arts Dr, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit www.slam.org.

Through July 27, Veronica Ryan: Unruly Objects, Pulitzer Arts Foundation, 3716 Washington Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63108. For more information, visit https://pulitzerarts.org.

Through Aug. 10, Like Water, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, 3750 Washington Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108. For more information https://camstl. org/.

Photos by Wiley Price/St. Louis American

This weekend Ricki Franklin stars alongside Jordan Moore and a talented, diverse and multigenerational cast when “Romeo and Zooliet” opens this weekend at the Saint Louis Zoo.

Festival has allowed her to do.

University grad’s first professional acting gig was with St. Louis Shakespeare Festival’s touring production of “Othello.”

“Growing up as an African American kid, the images of Shakespeare [actors] that came to mind was some older white man in a ruffle top, holding a skull,” Franklin said.

But then she saw a production of a Shakespeare play staged by The Black Rep and realized that she too could lend her talents to his iconic canon, which the St. Louis Shakespeare

JPEK

Continued from C1

dious, soulful tunes while having these interludes of storytelling that doesn’t look like your regular stage play.”

King has been creating musicals since he was twelve years old. His repertoire of original work spans about 20 musicals – or “plays with music” as he describes them. The storytelling is done with sermons found in the book of Joel.

“The sole purpose of the sermonic interludes is to explain why we are singing the songs,” King said about his latest work.

“And an opportunity to reflect on how the stories relate to your day to day – each birthed out of my circumstances – either me personally or people that I’ve had the opportunity to see flourish.”

His father Marvin King – a musical and religious man – is one of King’s major inspirations.

“A lot of what I do is a reflection of him,” King said. “Because he was not only an artist but an intellect as well.”

After his father passed away, King gained a new appreciation for his father.

“He got some of his flowers but not all,” he said. “So, I work even more now than I did back then so I can receive his roses on his behalf.”

“What inspires me as an actor is seeing people who look like me or people I can see myself in as a performer,” said Franklin. “If one person sees themselves in my performance and it makes them realize that they too can do anything like this…that’s a dream come true for me.”

Beyond representation, Franklin hopes the message that permeates throughout “Romeo and Zooliet” connects with audiences.

“One of the things I noticed when I first read the script – and was getting to know this character- was that she wants

King started out as a visual artist. He painted and he drew.

He graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a degree in studio art and design. He minored in music and theatre. His initial goal upon graduation was simply to make money – until he sat down for his first table read.

“I saw what the work was actually doing and how people were having this cathartic experience right before my eyes,” King said. “I realized that this work is more palpable than just getting some pocket change.”

He is most thankful for the late Lisa Colbert, a professor at SIUE who founded the school’s Black Theatre Workshop. King encountered her during his days as an undergrad.

“There was no hub where students of color could go and experience their art and grow their art outside of the class,” King said.

It was because of her ingenuity – and ability to establish a sense of community amongst the Black creatives on campus that he was able to develop into the producer he is today.

Two decades later, he is still going strong.

Just as with his other plays, “The Book of Joel,” is produced by King’s own company JPEK Creative Works. He serves as artistic director and

people to know she is more than what they see,” Franklin said. “People see her as a carnivore, but she’s like, ‘Meat is only 25 percent of my diet.’ I want this play to be a reminder that there is more to people than what you see and what you perceive of them – and that friendship can extend beyond our differences.”

The Saint Louis Zoo and St. Louis Shakespeare Festival’s presentation of “Romeo and Zooliet” will continue through August 17th at The Saint Louis Zoo. For more information, visit stlshakes.org or stlzoo.org.

producer. He also teaches a theatre camp with New Works Theatre in Atlanta. He starred in an independent film entitled “Pieces of a Dream,” but is perhaps best known for his “hip-hopera” entitled “Real Life.” The musical toured five seasons in St. Louis before it traveled to Sarasota, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia.

“A Great Gospel Musical: The Book of Joel,” didn’t begin as a project for the stage.

“The original goal was to make this an album release type of thing” King said. “But then I thought about it more intently. I wanted to curate this into an actual show. There are a lot of breathtaking moments that are going to happen.”

King says the production addresses heavy topics – like healing trauma and discovering one’s identity.

“Bring your tissues for your issues because something will resonate,” King said. “The way that the sermons are delivered, these messages are definitely going to hit in ways that are going to create a moving experience.”

JPEK Creative Works presentation of “A Great Gospel Musical Volume One: The Book of Joel” will take place at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 12 at The Grandel Theatre, 3610 Grandel Square. For more information, visit www. jpek.org.

and really beautiful,” Smith said. “It’s the part that you don’t see a lot in film. It was great to film here. And I am really grateful for the St. Louis community’s generosity as well.”

Next week Smith brings “Ride or Die” home as part of Cinema St. Louis’ St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase. Her film will screen at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 18th as an element of the showcase’s opening festivities for its 25th anniversary presentation.

“This showcase is all about lifting up local stories and the people who tell them,” said Cinema St. Louis Festival Curator Emmett Williams. “This year, we wanted to go beyond just finding great films – we wanted to reflect the community’s strength and creativity over the past 25 years, and show where we’re headed next.”

The 2025 festival theme is “SHOW ME,” and “Ride or Die” is one of 75 feature films written, directed, produced or edited by St. Louis natives or artists with strong local

ties that will play the showcase.

“I’m excited that all of my family and friends who were unable to come to New York have an opportunity to see the film,” Smith said. “And I’m curious what people will think.”

Smith co-wrote “Ride or Die” along with Alicia Louzoun-Heisler. She

- Josalynn Smith

directed the film, which stars Brianna Middleton and Stella Everett. Smith was also one of the film’s producers – a credit she shares with Foxx, Matthew Keene Smith and Datari Turner.

“Even though the film is a thriller, it does have a lot of personal elements to it,” Smith said. “I think it is a really good calling card for a first feature. It’s really just about two characters and how they fall in love.”

In “Ride or Die,” Paula (Briana Middleton) bumps into her high school crush Sloane (Stella Everett). They decide to take a road trip from St. Louis to California and things go left as quickly as the getaway begins.

Cue Bobby Caldwell’s R&B gem “What You Won’t Do For Love” as the pair endure unforeseen circumstances that peel back layers of trauma and hidden secrets.

“I hope going into that the audience understands that the film really serves the ethos of 90s queercore cinema at large,” Smith said. “That they get the grit, get the romance and get the shock of it all.”

Based on her desired audience feedback, the shock factor must be off the charts.

“Whoa, that was crazy,” Smith said. “That’s what I hope they will say.”

Josalynn Smith’s “Ride or Die” will open Cinema St. Louis’ 25th Anniversary presentation of the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 18 at The Hi Pointe (1005 McCausland). For tickets, additional information and a full schedule of related programming, visit www. cinemastlouis.org.

Washington University in St. Louis offers rewarding opportunities in various fields at all levels, with positions in engineering, nursing and health care, research, administration, technology, security and more

Cardiopulmonary/Pulmonary Function Technologist - Pediatric Allergy & Pulmonary Medicine

Don’t miss this opportunity to join our energetic and growing team at WashU Division of Pediatric Allergy & Pulmonary Medicine!

This group consists of 20 attending physicians, 9 fellow physicians, and 5 nurse practitioners. This position is in a pediatric outpatient setting and is full time patient facing.

The position performs pulmonary function testing on pediatric patients in the ambulatory clinical setting in accordance with ATS technical standards and guidelines. Testing primarily consists of outpatient pulmonary function testing and occasional inpatient testing. Pulmonary function test results are discussed with medical provider and are monitored by the supervisor and medical director of the pulmonary function lab. Additional responsibilities extend to patient scheduling, billing, annual fit testing, and cleaning, calibration, and quality control of all equipment.

This is a weekday, daytime position. No Weekends! 10 University Holidays!

WashU is committed to providing you with a comprehensive and competitive benefits package. You and your family have access to benefits and resources, such as health care coverage, employee wellness program, tuition assistance and help in establishing your financial future.

For the full job description and to apply, visit jobs. washu.edu, JR89376

We seek people from diverse backgrounds to join us in a supportive environment that encourages boldness, inclusion, and creativity. EEO/AA/VET/Disability Employer

NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT SOLICITATION RD25-22 INVITATION FOR BIDS

LOOKAWAY DEVELOPMENT UNIT REPAIRS/MAKE READY 10785-10850 LOOKAWAY DR., ST. LOUIS, MO 63137

The St. Louis Housing Authority (SLHA) seeks bids to perform the following project:

The Scope of Work for this project will consist of, but not limited to, furnishing all labor and materials for the replacement/ repair of all water damaged flooring, walls, ceilings, electrical, light fixtures, plumbing, HVAC, door and door hardware, windows, and attachment components as noted on the plans and specifications. The anticipated performance period is 90 days.

Bid information available at https://www. slha.org/partner-with-slha/ on July 7, 2025. Pre-Bid Meeting is July 15, 2025 at 10:30 AM (CDT) at the project site, 10784 Lookaway Dr., St. Louis, MO 63137.

Sealed bids are due August 7, 2025 at 1:00 PM (CDT) via QuestCDN or delivered to SLHA Office at 3520 Page Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63106.

Latasha Barnes

Contracting Officer

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

FAMILY COURT - JUVENILE DIVISION

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Graduation from an accredited law school, possession of a current license to practice law in the State of Missouri, up to three (3) years of trial experience preferred; preferably in juvenile or family law (additional years of trial experience and guardian ad litem experience are highly preferred), and completion of necessary guardian ad litem training as required by the Supreme Court of Missouri. Note: This position is subject to continued availability of funding.

To apply, please send a current resume, along with a cover letter, to SLCCourtJobs@courts.mo.gov or to the following address (application materials must be postmarked by July 30, 2025): Family Court of St. Louis County, Attn: Human Resources Department, 105 S. Central Ave., Clayton, MO 63105. EOE. Please contact the Human Resources Department at 615-4471 (voice) or RelayMo 711 or 800-735-2966 if you need any accommodations in the application process, or if you would like this posting in an alternative form.

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Interior Renovation, Project No. U1503-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 8/12/25. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

ELEPHANT RETAINING WALL STABILIZATION II

RFP 2025

The Saint Louis Zoo seeks bids from qualified firms to submit proposals. Bid documents are available as of 7/9/25 on the Saint Louis Zoo website: stlzoo.org/vendor

SEALED BIDS

Bids for Fire Sprinkler System Upgrade; Higginsville Habilitation Center; Higginsville, MO, Project No. M2405-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, August 7, 2025. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

SEALED BIDS

Bids for MO State Fairgrounds 600 Site Campground Project No. F2307-01 and Fire Station Expansion Project No. F2405-01 will be available for public bid through August 2025. When released, bid documents will be available at: http:// oa.mo.gov/ facilities

SOLICITING BIDS

Great Rivers Greenway is soliciting bids for: Hodiamont Greenway: Gwen Giles Park Trailhead. Go to www.greatriv ersgreenway.org/bids/ submit by August 07, 2025.

SOLICITING BIDS

Great Rivers Greenway is soliciting bids for Deer Creek Greenway: Deer Creek Center to Big Bend Blvd in City of Webster Groves, Missouri. Go to www. greatriversgreenway. org/bids/ submit by August 07, 2025.

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.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS RESIDENTIAL REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of the County of St. Louis (“LCRA”) requests proposals to purchase and complete a residential redevelopment of the property located at the 6300 block of Wagner Avenue in the City of Wellston, St. Louis County, Missouri 63133. The property contains approximately 2.8 acres on either side of Wagner Avenue, consisting of more than 20 residential lots. Further information, including the complete RFP and 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 Monday, August 4, 2025.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING POSTED JULY 10, 2025

MEETING DATE: THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2025 3:00 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is holding a public meeting on Thursday, July 24, 2025, relating to the Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) 6 Comprehensive Guide as required by Section 161.092 (14) RSMo. This meeting will be conducted at the Missouri Research and Education Network, (MOREnet), 221 North Stadium Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65203. The meeting is from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The meeting room will open for public seating at 2:30 p.m.

A tentative agenda is as follows:

1. Summary of changes to the Comprehensive Guide used for the 2025 MSIP 6 Annual Performance Report (APR) and classification of school districts

2. Receipt of public comment

Individuals who are unable to provide testimony at the public meeting may submit comment to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in writing to P.O. Box 480, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480 or by email at msip@dese.mo.gov by close of business on July 24, 2025.

Anyone attending the meeting who requires auxiliary aids or services should request such services by contacting the Executive Assistant to the Office of Quality Schools, telephone 573-751-4234, or Relay Missouri, 800-735-2966, no later than 48 hours before the meeting.

The news media may obtain copies of this notice by contacting DESE Communications P.O. Box 480 Jefferson City, MO 65102 573-751-3469 communications@dese.mo.gov

NORMANDY SCHOOLS COLLABORATIVE

NORMANDY

HIGH SCHOOL

VIKING HALL AND ATHLETIC FIELD IMPROVEMENTS REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Normandy Schools Collaborative (NSC) will be accepting sealed bids from qualified bidding General Contractors (GC) for the construction improvements for the Viking Hall and Athletic Field concession stands, restrooms and miscellaneous improvements including HVAC, Plumbing and Electrical work at the Normandy High School. The entire bid package is available electronically by contacting TR,i Architects via email at dave.yancik@triarchitects.com or karen. huntington@kai-db.com. Estimated Construction Value is $600,500.00. The project includes Business and Workforce Diversity Goals. An additional mandatory Pre-Bid Informational Meeting will be held Tuesday, July 8, 2025 @ 2:00 pm. (CST). At this meeting, subcontractors, suppliers and vendors will receive project information and meet the qualified bidding GC’s. Only qualified bidding GC’s are eligible to submit bids. All subcontractors, suppliers and vendors are eligible to submit proposals to qualified bidding GC’s. To download the entire Advertisement for Bid please visit the listed Plan Rooms or contact Dave Yancik with TR,i Architects at dave.yancik@triarchitects.com or Karen Huntington with KAI at karen.huntington@ kai-db.com

SINGLE FEASIBLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT

for procurement of zSpace Augmented Reality / Mixed Media Educational products

Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU) anticipates procuring the product listed above from zSpace, Inc. zSpace, Inc., is the sole entity responsible for development, sales, and support of the zSpace Augmented Reality / Mixed Media Educational products. The University is obtaining zSpace Augmented Reality / Mixed Media Educational products. The anticipated dollar amount of the product is $37, 273.50. The award is to take place on or about.

The contact for the University is Corey Freeman, Senior University Buyer, email address: freemanc@hssu.edu or telephone #:(314) 340-3325.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING POSTED: JULY 2, 2025

ST. LOUIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT REQUESTED

SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE 2019 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN

SUBSTANTIAL AMENDMENT TO THE 2023 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN

DRAFT 2025 ANNUAL ACTION PLAN

AGENCIES: St. Louis County is the “Lead Agency” for the St. Louis County HOME Consortium. The St. Louis County HOME Consortium is a group of contiguous units of local government that have joined together for the purpose of receiving HOME funds and administering a HOME Program as a single grantee. The members of the St. Louis County HOME Consortium include St. Louis County, the City of Florissant, Jefferson County, St. Charles County, and the City of O’Fallon.

ACTION: Notice is hereby given that the 2019 Annual Action Plan has been amended, the 2023 Annual Action Plan has been amended, and the 2025 Annual Action Plan has been drafted by the St. Louis County HOME Consortium. The draft 2025 Annual Action Plan may receive several updates prior to submission to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

SUMMARY: The 2019 Annual Action Plan has been amended to reduce CDBG-CV3 funding previously allocated and reallocate additional CV-1 funding to an active homeless services project intended to improve access to medical and mental wellness care for unhoused individuals within St. Louis County. And the 2023 Annual Action Plan has been amended to reduce CDBG funding previously allocated and reallocate those funds to other projects in the program such as youth homelessness and other construction projects within St. Louis County.

The draft 2025 Annual Action Plan summarizes the proposed actions of the St. Louis County HOME Consortium. The document includes the following programs funded by HUD: Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME), and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) programs. This document provides information on how funding received through the CDBG and ESG programs will be spent in St. Louis County as well as information on how HOME funds will be spent in St. Louis County and in the jurisdictions of the members of the St. Louis County HOME Consortium.

AVAILABILITY OF REVIEW MATERIALS: The amendments to the 2019 and 2023 Annual Action Plans and the draft 2025 Annual Action Plan can be found at the three St. Louis County government centers and are available on the County’s website. Those wishing to provide comments for consideration at the public hearing will need to register by emailing their full name, city of residence in St. Louis County, and their complete comment on the amendment or annual action plan to the Office of Community Development at OCD@stlouiscountymo.gov prior to 2:00PM on July 21, 2025. If you would like to review the amendments or draft plan before the hearing, please send a request to OCD@stlouiscountymo.gov Public comments on the plan will also be accepted in writing via mail

PUBLIC HEARING: A public hearing will be held to accept com ment on the amended 2019 and 2023 Annual Action Plans and the draft 2025 Annual Action Plan starting at 4:30PM on July 21, 2025. The hearing is open to the public and will take place at 500 Northwest Plaza Drive, St. Ann, MO 63074. Persons with disabilities or who otherwise need assistance, including those with limited English proficiency, should send a request to OCD@stlouiscountymo.gov at least 48 hours in advance of the hearing.

COMMENT PERIOD: Public comments on the amended 2019 and 2023 Annual Action Plans and the draft 2025 Annual Action Plan will also be accepted in writing via mail or email by 5:00PM on August 1, 2025. Written comments should be addressed to the attention of Ms. Amy Ellis, address below. Comments may also be submitted via email to OCD@stlouiscountymo.gov

St. Louis County Department of Human Services Office of Community Development 500 Northwest Plaza Drive, Suite 801 St. Ann, Missouri 63074 Phone: (314) 615- 4592 (voice) (314) 615-5889 (TTY) 1-800-735-2466 (Relay MO) Office Hours M – F 8am – 5pm EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS

Date of Publication: 7/10/2025

City of St. Louis: Community Development Administration (CDA) 1520 Market Street St. Louis, Missouri 63103 314-657-3700 / 314-589-6000 (TDD)

These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the City of St. Louis (“The City.”)

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS

On or after 7/28/2025, the City will submit a request to the U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) for the release of the City’s Federal CDBG Program funds under Title I of the Housing & Community Development Act of 1974, PL93-383, as amended, 42 U.S.C.-5301 et seq.; to undertake the following project:

Project Title: 2112 Chippewa

Purpose: New construction of one (1) single-family detached house on a vacant lot, containing approximately 1,784 square feet, three (3) bedrooms and two and a half (2.5) bathrooms.

Location: 2112 Chippewa Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63118

Estimated Cost: Total development cost of this project is approximately $406,700.00, with an estimated $229,450.00 of funding coming from St. Louis City’s Year 2022 Federal CDBG Program Funds, Grant #B-22-MC-29-0006, and awarded in the Spring 2022 NOFA.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

The City has determined that this project will have no significant impact on the human environment. Certain conditions will apply to this project. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required. Additional information for each project is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) on file at the City CDA, at the above address, where the ERR is available for review and may be examined or copied, weekdays 8 A.M. to 4 P.M., or visit https://cpd.hud.gov/cpd-public/ environmental-reviews to review the HUD ERR.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to Trey McCarter, Community Development Planner III, CDA, at the address listed above. All comments received by 7/27/2025 will be considered by the City prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which notice they are addressing.

RELEASE OF FUNDS

The City certifies to HUD that, Nahuel Fefer, in his capacity as Executive Director, consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the City to use the City’s above-referenced HUD program funds.

OBJECTION TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the City’s certification for a period of 15 days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases: a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City; b) the City has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58; c) the grant recipient has committed funds or incurred costs not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of the release of funds by HUD; or d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58.76) and shall be addressed to the HUD St. Louis Field Office, CPDRROFSTL@hud.gov. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

Nahuel Fefer Certifying Officer

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for the Woodson Road Resurfacing project, St. Louis County Project No. AR-1828, Federal Project No. STP-9901(660) will be received electronically thru the County’s Vendor Self Service portal at https://stlou iscountymovendors.munis selfservice.com/Vendors/ default.aspx, until 2:00 PM on August 6, 2025 .

Plans and specifications will be available on July 7, 2025 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouiscoun tymo.gov) or by contacting Cross Rhodes Print & Technologies, 2731 South Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118 (314) 678-0087.

ACTING DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

ST. LOUIS COUNTY

Rev. Barber: When people start dying, we will know why

By Rev. Dorothy Boulware

Word In Black

Moral Mondays is not a new form of protest, but the one in Washington, D.C. on June 30 was particularly poignant with its display of 51 caskets.

Each casket represented the estimated 1,000 people who will die in the coming year with the passing of this administration’s Big Beautiful Bill — which threatens the health coverage and health care of people on Medicare and Medicaid.

The multicultural group that shows up on Capitol Hill or in front of the Supreme Court continues to make the point that the rights and needs of poor people are inadequately represented by those elected to do so.

The largest ever cuts to America’s safety net were pushed through the House and the Senate without a single hearing for the people whose lives depend on these programs to testify. But Repairers of the Breach held a public hearing on the steps of the Supreme Court to hear the testimonies of those who will be most impacted, according to their website.

to be for them; an impact that’s not Republican or Democrat. It’s just on people. It’s just life,”

Barber said.

“More than 51,000 people, according to studies at Yale will die in the first year of this bill because it is a policy murder, a policy violence; this bill is morally indefensible and cuts more than 60 million people from healthcare unnecessarily just to give money to greedy and wealthy who don’t need it.”

Barber called the bill a “damnable, destructive, ugly deadly, violent bill that is constitutionally inconsistent because these people swore to provide for the general welfare of all people and to ensure justice. There’s no justice about this and this bill is economically insane.”

Barber reminded that passage of the bill would also ensure closure of hospitals, especially in rural areas, which would certainly be a detriment to people’s health.

to share what it will mean for him to lose Medicaid during the Moral Mondays in D.C. prayer-protest-rally on June 30, 2025.

at ‘all-time low’

In a commentary for Word In Black, Victoria Kirby York, director of Public Policy and Programs at the National Black Justice Collective, said most GOP members of Congress “conveniently check their ‘Christian card’ at the door when it comes to the actual teachings of Christ — especially the commandments to ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ and ‘care for the sick among you.’”

“It is clear that a significant number of those elected to represent us in Congress have never experienced poverty or needed life-saving health care they couldn’t afford without insurance,” she wrote.

The lead convenor and founder, Bishop William Barber II, also a senior lecturer and CEO of Repairers of the Breach, explained the rationale behind the protest to MSNBC’s Morning Joe show.

“People are coming out, braving heat in a lot of these cases just to get lawmakers to understand what the impact is going

“So, you might be 25 miles from a hospital. Now, this bill passes, you might be 200 miles from a hospital. That means that you’re outside of what’s called the one Golden Hour. You have a heart attack. You have an hour. You could die just because your hospital moved.”

He also stressed Congress’ unwillingness to hear from outside people, experts, and impact people.

“What my prayer is, because you know they arrested us for praying; they need to be arrested for preying on the most vulner-

able people in this country, but they’re turning on each other and my prayer is that will happen more and more because there’s no excuse. When people start dying, nobody will be able to say they did not know. They know exactly what they want for the love of money.”

One of the Moral Monday speakers, Chris Shumake traveled from Alexander County, North Carolina, with Pastor Joel Simpson to share what it would

mean for him to lose Medicaid.

“I just finished high school and I’m doing auto technician systems training in August. I’m relying on Medicaid and SNAP to help me continue my schooling,” he said. “If I don’t have it, I’d have to go to school and worry about not being able to eat that day… If you can’t eat, you can’t focus.”

Congress morality

The Courage to Disrupt — and the Faith to Rise

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” — Isaiah 43:19

I grew up in a world where the rules weren’t written, but everybody knew them. Stay in your place. Don’t rock the boat.

Keep your head down — and maybe you’ll make it.

If you wanted to lead, especially in communities that have been historically overlooked, the message was clear: Stay quiet. Don’t question the system that gave you a seat at the table.

But what if the table itself is broken?

What if the very structure that keeps us “in good standing” is also the one keeping our communities stuck?

The Sacred Disruption

Disruption is a loaded word. It brings to mind protests, tension, conflict. It can be messy, unsettling, offensive. But I’ve learned: more people are hurt when there isn’t disruption — when nothing changes.

Jesus disrupted. He turned over tables. He healed on the Sabbath. He called out systems that crushed people under the weight of tradition. We’re called to do the same.

The Questions That Shaped Me

Certain questions shaped how I see the world. They still do.

Why do some rise while others stay stuck?

Why do the systems that are supposed to help us… only help us survive — not thrive?

They’ve shown me a hard truth: We’ve built more nonprofits. More businesses. We’ve poured billions into charity. And yet? Poverty hasn’t moved. Not in any meaningful way. From 2000 to 2023, the poverty rate dropped by just 0.2%.

We are building organizations, but not always outcomes. We are expanding systems, but the people at the bottom — the ones who need transformation the most — are still waiting for change.

A New Kind of Leadership

This moment calls for a different kind of leader — the kind who asks: Who is rising because I lead? What am I preserving

“The cuts to health care programs that serve the poor, working-class, chronically ill, and disabled fly in the face of both Christian teachings and the will of the American people. Yet many members of Congress who identify as Christian are choosing to serve a different god — passing the “Big, Bogus Bill” in allegiance to Trump’s agenda rather than to the values of their faith.

“I pray that their crisis of faith ends soon. If not, our failure to care for one another as Christ commanded will lead us into moral bankruptcy and economic collapse. If this nation wants to remain a democracy of and for the people, we must demand that our elected officials fight for the people, not pander to the fragile ego of the man currently occupying the White House.”

that actually needs to be challenged? What systems am I quietly protecting that were never meant to last?

We don’t need more leaders guarding gates. We need leaders flinging doors wide open.

Let’s Make It Plain

If you’re wrestling with where to begin, start here:

Redefine Success

Shift from status-based leadership to outcome-based impact. What you build matters — but what you change matters more.

Restructure Power Power isn’t something you hoard. It’s something you hand over. Give others a shot. Let new voices in. Let fresh ideas breathe.

Reimagine Growth

It’s not about building more things. It’s about building more lives. Lives that are healed. Whole. Hopeful.

This kind of leadership costs you comfort and control. But it buys freedom for others. It buys possibility. And that’s a trade worth making.

The Race We’re In The race we’re running in is to the top Together. When more people rise, we all rise. That’s the blueprint of the Kingdom. God’s economy is built on multiplication, not scarcity. We just have to trust Him enough to loosen our grip.

Final Reflection If you’re a leader — and we’re all leaders in some capacity — ask yourself: What am I preserving that needs to be challenged?

• What power am I protecting that no longer serves the people?

• Who am I overlooking that most needs to rise?

Let God do a new thing through you.

Not just for the sake of change, but for the sake of transformation.

Let’s not just lead. Let’s liberate

Let’s not just build. Let’s break through

Let’s not just grow. Let’s rise — and bring others with us.

God, give us the courage to challenge what needs to be challenged, to protect the people — not the power — and to never stop believing in the possibility of resurrection, even in broken systems. Use us to make space. Use us to lift others. Let our leadership reflect Your heart. Amen.

Photo courtesy of Word in Black

North Carolina resident Chris Shumake stands next to Rev. William Barber II (right)

ORVIN T. KIMBROUGH Chairman and CEO, Midwest BankCentre

The Next MOVE