September 4th, 2025 edition

St. LouiS AmericAn

World-class restoration

Powell Hall’s $140M rehab will elevate Grand Center Arts District

By Kenya Vaughn St. Louis American

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra — the second oldest symphony in the nation — will welcome audiences to experience the newly restored Powell Hall with the opening of its 146th season late this month.

After a nomadic period that included concerts and events at Stifel Theatre, The Fabulous Fox, the Touhill, Sheldon Concert Hall and more, SLSO will return

to a new and improved home.

That return comes with significant changes to Powell Hall, at the Jack C. Taylor Music Center, the result of a $140 million restoration and expansion project.

Powell Hall will include new and upgraded amenities for audiences and artists, while preserving and enhancing the internationally recognized acoustics and aesthetics of the concert hall. A new Education and Learning Center

See POWELL HALL, A7

‘A fight between democracy, tyranny’

Missouri Democrats decry Trump-driven redistricting effort

Alvin A. Reid

JEFFERSON CITY — U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell on Wednesday ripped Gov. Mike Kehoe’s decision to hold a legislative special session with the sole purpose of eliminating the boundaries of the Kansas City-area congressional seat held by fellow Black Democrat U.S. Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver. If a proposed new Missouri congressional district map becomes law, it will likely face legal challenges. The new map is designed to put seven Republicans in the U.S. House from Missouri instead of

By Ashley Winters

Mary Elizabeth Grimes is a visionary leader with a distinguished record, from revitalizing nonprofit organizations to shaping the future of young people in St. Louis.

This year, her dedication to empowering young girls is being honored with the Salute to Excellence in Education Stellar Award, which recognizes educators and community leaders who have made a lasting impact on students and is presented by the St. Louis American Foundation.

Former STL resident reflects on Katrina

By Kenya Vaughn St. Louis American

As the nation marks the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the devastation inflicted by the category five storm that tore through New Orleans, the May family could be considered one of the lucky ones. They survived the storm without casualties or bodily harm and had stable living conditions for the entire year they were displaced. But their lives changed forever

A rendering of the Jack C. Taylor Music Center, the expanded home for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra that encompasses Powell Hall. After hosting concerts and events at a roster of venues that included Stifel Theatre and Sheldon Concert Hall, the orchestra will return to Powell Hall late this month.

Image courtesy of St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

By

St. Louis American

The St. Louis American

Mary Elizabeth Grimes speaks with students at Marian Middle School.

Photos by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Mary Elizabeth Grimes is the 2025 Salute to Excellence in Education Stellar Performer.

Court hearing for Pras postponed due to emergency cancer surgery

The court hearing of Fugees rapper Pras Michel related to his conviction on illegal foreign lobbying and conspiracy charges was postponed for health reasons.

Michel was due in court on Friday for the hearing to establish how much money he must forfeit due to the 2023 convictions. But in a filing last week, his lawyers said he had “experienced a significant medical concern” that would prevent his appearance.

In a statement to Billboard, Michel’s spokeswoman revealed that doctors had discovered colon cancer during a routine check-up.

“Pras missed Friday’s sen tencing hearing while undergoing emergency surgery for colon cancer remov al,” the spokesper son said, according to Billboard. “We stand with him and his family and wish him a full recovery as

he addresses this serious health matter.”

Kanye West suffers a defeat in ‘Donda’ copyright dispute

A federal judge in Los Angeles has ordered Kanye West and his companies to pay $52,015 in attorney fees tied to a copyright dispute over his album, “Donda.”

Allhiphop.com reported that the ruling upheld an earlier decision requiring West to pay legal costs after his team refused to cooperate during the discovery phase of a lawsuit filed by Artist Revenue Advocates, LLC.

Kanye West credited them as songwriters and producers on two tracks from the album, but he never received their clearance to use the music.

They say the songs generated at least $15 million in revenue. West’s and his legal team objected to all 65 of their attempts to obtain key documents and produced no records at all. That led them to ask the court to intervene.

After reviewing billing records, the magistrate set the amount at just over $52,000.

The fee order is part of a broader lawsuit that remains active in federal

court. The case, filed in 2023, could determine whether West and his companies are liable for copyright infringement related to two tracks from the album.

Arrest made in death of Reggie Carroll, Katt Williams not involved

On August 20, veteran comedian Reggie Carroll was killed by multiple shots from a 12-gauge shotgun in a Southaven, Mississippi house he shared with suspect Tranell Williams

According to the DeSoto County District Attorney, 38-year-old Tranell Marquise Williams was arrested and has been charged in connection with the murder.

During a press conference, DeSoto County District Attorney Matthew Barton said evidence indicates that Williams and Carroll were roommates – and that the former allegedly used a shotgun in the incident. According to Barton, Carroll had multiple gunshot wounds.

Both Carroll and Williams (who worked as a security professional) were said to be connected professionally with comedian Katt Williams. Barton said there was no indication Katt Williams was there or had any knowledge or involvement in the murder.

Lil Nas X pleads not guilty following arrest

Grammy-winning musician Lil Nas X pleaded not guilty last Monday to four felony charges after authorities said he assaulted police officers who found him walking naked down a street in Los Angeles.

According to Reuters, A judge set bail at $75,000 and said the “Old Town Road” rapper must attend an outpatient drug rehabilitation program. The news outlet reported that police said they believed Lil Nas X, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, was using drugs at the time of the incident.

His attorney, Christy O’Connor, however, said there was no evidence of drug use by the 26-year-old singer.

“This is just an aberrant episode in an otherwise productive life,” she said, according to Reuters.

Lil Nas X was charged with three counts of battery of a police officer and one count of resisting an officer stemming from the incident that took place on August 21. He faces up to five years in prison if convicted, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office.

Sources: Reuters.com, Allhiphop.com, Hiphopdx.com, Billboard.com

Pras Michael

“Members of Congress should serve the public, not pad their stock portfolios.”

- Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill on the push to ban members of Congress from owning and trading individual stocks amid concerns over potential conflicts of interest.

Mayor Spencer blames FEMA pullback for sluggish tornado recovery

By Kate Grumke

St. Louis Public Radio

St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer says changes at the federal level hobbled the city’s tornado response in the first 100 days after the spring storm.

“Right off the bat when the tornado hit, you know, our office was really gobsmacked, if you will, by the lack of engagement, the direct engagement on the federal front,” Spencer said Friday. There is still significant work ahead as St. Louis continues to recover from the May 16 tornado, including massive amounts of debris removal that Spencer said would be best handled by the Army Corps of Engineers.

response to the St. Louis tornado to the Joplin tornado in 2011. She said after that EF5 tornado hit, FEMA was almost immediately on the ground leading the response, setting up temporary housing and coordinating debris removal, but in St. Louis, that was all left to the city.

“I think if we can get the Army Corps here, we’ll see that accelerated tremendously, and that’s why we’re pushing so hard to get that work done.”

Mayor Cara Spencer

“It would take years for the city to be able to administer that level of contracts and really do that enormous amount of work,” Spencer said. “I think if we can get the Army Corps here, we’ll see that accelerated tremendously, and that’s why we’re pushing so hard to get that work done.” Spencer compared the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s

“In this enormous time of turmoil at the national level, you know, we were really left to do the vast majority of response here alone,” Spencer said on St. Louis On The Air. “And what that looks like is trying to figure out exactly how to do all these pieces.”

President Donald Trump has said he wants local governments to shoulder more of the work that FEMA currently does.

“We want to wean off of FEMA, and we want to bring it back to the state level,” the president said in June, NPR reported. This week, more than 190 FEMA employees from across the country sent a letter to Congress saying the administration’s actions are already preventing the agency from carrying out its mission to respond to disasters.

The employees wrote that leadership is unqualified and their decisions “hinder the swift execution of our mission, and dismiss experienced staff whose institutional knowledge and relationships are vital to ensure effective emergency management.”

The former acting head of FEMA from January to

early May also spoke out this week, saying changes at the agency are delaying disaster aid.

“FEMA is saving money which is good due to the astronomical U.S. Debt from Congress,” said Cameron Hamilton, who was appointed by Trump.

“Despite this, FEMA staff are responding to entirely new forms of bureaucracy now that is lengthening wait times for claim recipients, and delaying the deployment of time sensitive resources.”

Spencer said the federal government has pulled back and now, in the midst of disaster, St. Louis is grappling with the consequences.

“It’s something our nation needs to be asking ourselves,” Spencer said. “If we’re going to … really put that burden on the local government entities, we’ve got to have time to prepare, and we’ve got to have the resources locally to be able to do that work.”

Photo by Lylee Gibbs / St. Louis Public Radio

St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer points at floor plans for the upstairs of Peter and Paul Community Service shelter building that was under construction earlier this year.

Gerrymandering, blocking petitions are

not ‘Missouri values,’ Gov.

Let’s talk about the arrogance of “Missouri values.” That’s the phrase Gov. Mike Kehoe used August 29, 2025 — right before Labor Day weekend, a classic “news dump” seemingly to avoid public scrutiny — when he announced that he is calling the General Assembly into a special session to do two things: Follow President Donald Trump’s direction to gerrymander the state’s congressional map to steal a Democratic seat in the U.S. House and give it to Republicans, and to weaken Missouri’s century-old initiative petition process to reduce the right of the people to change their state’s laws and constitution when they see fit.

“Today, I am calling on the General Assembly to take action on congressional redistricting and initiative petition reform to ensure our districts and Constitution truly put Missouri values first,” Kehoe said in a statement Friday afternoon. What values are those, exactly? We note the governor has used those words with increasing frequency lately — on Friday he called them “conservative, commonsense values” — which seems to really mean “Republican values.”

Maybe he has reason. Missouri used to be a bellwether state, but it is now unwaveringly red. There are no Democrats in statewide office anymore, and few truly moderate Republican lawmakers of any influence in Jefferson City. If the values of Missouri are represented in the votes of its residents, then the Show-Me State is largely (though far from completely — more than 40% of the vote went for Kamala Harris last year) a state of GOP values. However, those votes don’t only represent “Missouri values” for the people — the Republican men and women — the people of Missouri put in office. Those votes also express Missouri values in the issues they have directly voted for, and the ideas that undergird them.

That means “Missouri values”

Kehoe

include caring for the poorest among us, in the form of the Medicaid expansion voters approved in 2020. That means “Missouri values” include liberty, including the liberty to use marijuana without the threat of arrest — so long as you’re not harming others — as voters approved in 2022. That means “Missouri values” include the right of a woman to make health care decisions for herself, with her family and medical professionals, which is why voters reversed the draconian GOP-imposed ban on abortion last year. And that means “Missouri values” include the right to be free from worry that getting sick will end up depriving you and your family of income, which is why voters approved paid sick leave during that same 2024 election. Republicans just repealed that last effort, of course. Math and common sense tell you that many of the Missourians who voted last year to make Mike Kehoe governor also voted for some of those measures. Yet he implicitly claims that “Missouri values” belong to him and his party alone. Sad to say, we are all getting used to this. Just a week after the people overwhelmingly passed the sweeping ethics and elections reforms of the 2018 Clean Missouri initiative, disgruntled lawmakers set about undoing them. They came up with outrageously misleading ballot language, and only two years later dirty-tricked voters into firing the nonpartisan demographer they’d just hired by a 2-to-1 margin to draw the state’s congressional districts fairly. That Amendment 3 laid the groundwork for this new go at partisan gerrymandering, as we and many other defenders of democracy warned at the time. We hope Gov. Kehoe’s effort to weaken Missouri’s direct democracy fails, utterly. And we reject a notion of “Missouri values” that silences the voices of actual Missourians.

This editorial originally appeared in The Kansas City Star.

A ‘Trump flunkie?’

By Rep. LaKeySha Bosley

I’m writing this message directly to Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe as an elected representative of the people of Missouri — Democrat, Republican and anything in between — bearing the responsibility to protect and amplify the voices of my constituents, especially those who have historically been marginalized. I am gravely concerned by recent efforts to pursue mid-term redistricting that would dilute Black representation and disenfranchise Black voters across our state.

As governor, you have affirmed your role as a leader for all Missourians. That commitment must not waver, particularly at a time when the integrity of our democratic system and civil rights hang in the balance. These proposed redistricting efforts risk eroding your own promise to lead with fairness and equality.

Missouri is not immune to the historical consequences of voter suppression. We have seen, time and again, that when the voices of Black communities are silenced, there is not only moral outrage but economic response, civic unrest and legal challenge.

History is clear: When injustice is legislated, African Americans have responded not just with protest, but with powerful economic action. From the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955, where sustained economic withdrawal forced desegregation of public transportation, to the boycott of Mississippi businesses during the Civil Rights movement, to more recent nationwide economic protests in response to systemic injustice, Black communities have demonstrated the strength, strategy and success of unified economic resistance.

tion — is the very cause for which the American Revolution was fought. “No taxation without representation” was not just a slogan, it was a demand for human dignity and political fairness. To ignore that lesson now would be to betray the soul of our state and the spirit of this nation. The same principle that founded this nation is now at risk of being undermined in our own state. “Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”

Proverbs 14:31

These words call us to govern with humility, truth and justice. They challenge us to consider how we treat our neighbors, particularly in times of political tension. As leaders, we are judged not only by what we accomplish, but by how we respond when it is inconvenient to stand for what is right.

Any attempt to redraw our state’s political boundaries outside of the regular census cycle, and in a manner that disproportionately impacts Black Missourians, will face both constitutional scrutiny and moral opposition. I believe that every action carries weight, and history has shown us that efforts to marginalize voters have never stood unchallenged.

President Trump’s extreme partisan gerrymandering plan undermines the very foundation of our democracy. By manipulating Missouri’s congressional lines to favor one political party, you are not only betraying the principle of fair representation but also actively working to silence the voices of Black Missourians and those of millions of voters who deserve to be heard.

Missouri is not exempt from this historical pattern and should not underestimate the resolve or economic influence of its Black citizens and their allies.

Furthermore, this attempt to redraw district lines for political gain, outside of the normal decennial process, can be likened to the reckless defiance of democratic norms once displayed by Confederate generals during the Civil War — those who betrayed national unity for racial and political dominance.

Even more pointedly, the principle at the heart of this issue, — representa-

Governor, you now face a critical decision — not just as Missouri’s chief executive, but as a man who has vowed to lead with integrity. We urge you to reject any effort that seeks to suppress representation or compromise the democratic process. Instead, stand on the side of history that affirms our state’s dignity and defends the voice of all its people.

I pray that your faith guides your actions and that you’ll enshrine your legacy as a defender of the people, the state of Missouri and its constitutional principles. Rep. LaKeySha Bosley represents Missouri’s 79th District.

As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues

No Black woman’s achievement is safe

By Frances Toni Draper

Lisa Cook and Carla Hayden are names that ought to inspire pride. Cook, a world-class economist, became the first Black woman to sit on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Hayden, brilliant and beloved, rose from leading Baltimore’s public library system to becoming the first woman and the first African American to serve as Librarian of Congress. Both women reached the pinnacle of their professions. Both are now out of their jobs.

These were not symbolic appointments or token gestures. Lisa Cook’s research helped shape global economic policy and trained a generation of economists. Carla Hayden transformed Baltimore’s libraries into vibrant community hubs long before she modernized the Library of Congress, digitizing its collections and broadening access for everyday Americans. They earned their places. Their dismissals are not about competence. They are about something else entirely.

Moore, Maryland’s first Black governor, has faced baseless attacks on his character and record. Yes, the city has had a complicated history with its leadership. But to weaponize those chapters as a way to dismiss Baltimore altogether, or to suggest that Black leadership is inherently flawed, is dishonest, cynical and dangerous. The strategy is clear: discredit the city, discredit its leaders and by extension discredit the millions of Black Americans who call places like Baltimore home.

When one highly qualified Black woman is fired, you might chalk it up to politics. When two are removed in quick succession, the story changes. Add to that the steady drumbeat against diversity and inclusion programs, the dismantling of affirmative action, the targeting of Black men in leadership and the caricaturing of entire cities with Black mayors as “dangerous” or “ungovernable,” and the pattern is impossible to ignore.

Excellence is not enough. Dedication is not enough. Even brilliance is not enough. That is the message being sent.

And Baltimore knows this message all too well. For years, the city has been used as a political punching bag — described in crude and demeaning terms, reduced to a caricature of crime and decay. That rhetoric did not stop with the city itself; it has extended to its leaders. Gov. Wes

The implications reach far beyond Cook and Hayden, beyond Baltimore, beyond any single institution. If women and men of such stature can be dismissed or denigrated so casually, what does that say to the young people coming behind them? What does it say to every Black child who dares to dream of leadership? The message is not only discouraging — it is destructive. And make no mistake: this is not random. It is deliberate. A broad assault on representation, on equity, on truth itself. The removal of qualified leaders from their posts and the vilification of Black-led cities are part of the same campaign. They are designed to narrow who gets to lead, whose stories get told and whose voices count.

That should trouble every American. Because this moment is about more than politics. It is about whether excellence will be rewarded or punished.

If this can happen to Lisa Cook and Carla Hayden, if it can happen to leaders like Wes Moore, then no one who dares to disagree with those in power is safe.

Competence should be celebrated, not punished. Truth should be defended, not erased. And if we remain silent now, history will remember that silence as complicity.

Guest Columnist Rep. LaKeySha Bosley

Residents, civic leaders to advise Mayor Spencer on tornado recovery

Residents and business owners in the impact zone of the May 16 tornado, as well as community members who serve those in that area, can apply to serve on a recovery advisory committee recently announced by St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer.

The application for the Resident and Community Recovery Advisory Committee online and will be open until 5 p.m. Wednesday Sept. 10. Spencer also announced a second committee of local civic leaders. Both will advise her and the newly established Recovery Office on the city’s recovery vision and priorities.

“One thing that’s clear to me from being in our hardest-hit neighborhoods, talking with residents, listening to frontline organizations, and learning from national recovery experts is that St. Louis’ recovery depends on collaboration,” Spencer said.

“The people whose lives were abruptly changed on May 16, and the people who have stepped up to serve ever since, will play vital roles in helping us put St. Louisans’ needs and wishes into action.”

The other committee, the Civic Leaders Recovery Advisory Committee, includes more than 30 community leaders.

They include Michael P. McMillan, president and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis; Michelle D. Tucker, president and CEO of the United Way of Greater St. Louis; Dr. Dwayne Proctor, president and CEO of the Missouri Foundation for Health; and Jason Q. Purnell, president of the James S. McDonnell Foundation.

The Recovery Office will form additional working groups and host neighborhood ward meetings to ensure broad engagement with the community at the center of the recovery.

How to deal with Trump’s threats to young Black people

By E. Faye Williams

It’s amazing that we have to hear lectures on law and order from someone with 34 criminal convictions — a person who plays games with the lives of innocent people, including President Obama and New York Attorney General Letitia James — and who is now trying to take over Washington, D.C., with all kinds of threats. But we have to at least advise our children to save their lives through this madness of President Trump. Let’s take the responsibility for at least offering some guidance to our young people. Not only in the nation’s capital, but throughout America

• Be patient with everybody.

• Raise your hands immediately if an adult threatens you with a gun.

• Be sure to stay within speed limits if you are driving.

• Be careful when riding a bicycle. Ride slowly and observe traffic lights. Do not crisscross the street against the light. When walking, obey all traffic lights.

• Ask your children to leave the streets and be home before dark.

• Tell them to be extremely cautious and most respectful to everybody while outside the home and especially to police officers (most are on our side because they’ve been disrespected with this takeover of our city, too), National Guard, FBI, CIA, ICE, Homeland Security, Park Police, Metro Police, Coast Guard, Military Police (all branches), Amtrak and anyone with a gun or authority to police our nation. Be obedient.

• Don’t congregate on any streets — not even in your neighborhood.

• Go straight home, or to the library, Boys and Girls Clubs or any place your parents have authorized you to go.

• Refrain from responding to rudeness from any adult.

• If you see someone being brutalized, do not intervene, but go to the nearest place you can to inform an adult you trust.

• When walking in groups, keep your voices down and do not get into fights.

• Don’t give anybody an excuse to threaten you or try to arrest you.

• Parents, add your own rules for your children during this difficult process, and don’t forget to pray the devil back to hell every day! Also, remind your neighbors to talk with their children about these recommendations so their children can stay safe.

I took the time to make these suggestions because I care about our children’s safety — and about you! Let’s be kind to one another so we can all get through this invasion safely. Just remember who was standing all around Trump during his press conference while claiming he was invading our city to liberate us!

Did you notice how some of them were giggling at Trump’s every word! They believe in sending people of color back to slavery.

E. Faye Williams is president of The Dick Gregory Society (www.thedickgregorysociety. org).

Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis volunteers have served the community on Saturdays at its headquarters since the May 16 tornado. Residents and business owners from the impact area are invited to serve on a tornado recovery committee formed by Mayor Cara Spencer.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

E. Faye Williams

Grimes

Continued from A1

As president of Marian Middle School, Grimes leads more than 200 students from fifth grade through post-secondary education, ensuring they have the support and guidance to finish high school, succeed in college and prepare for sustainable careers.

She focuses not only on academics but also on empowering faculty and staff to reach their full potential. Under her leadership, the faith-based school has seen significant growth and increased recognition within the community.

“It’s an honor to carry the mantle — it’s God’s work,” Grimes said.

Over the years, she has witnessed the many challenges her students face — struggles they may have navigated the night before or the very morning they arrive at school. For her, success begins with having the right people in place from the start.

“At Marian specifically, we are here to pour into them those things that are purposeful and to help them understand and embrace who God created them to be,” she said.

The recognition is also personal. She points to her late mother, a teacher, as the person who set her on this path.

“At this moment, I’m holding back tears,” Grimes said. “She was an educator who believed all children should have the opportunity to learn.”

Grimes has led Marian Middle School since 2014 and previously worked with a range of nonprofits. At Marian, she has focused on helping girls from underserved communities

Trump

Continued from A1

six, and reduce the two Democratic seats to one.

The legislation comes at the direct command of

navigate the transition from middle school to high school, a time when many students fall behind.

The Stellar Award acknowledges that effort, but Grimes views the honor as part of a larger mission inspired by her mom. “My mother remains my truest example of what it means to be stellar,” she said. “Her passion for education continues to inspire me.”

Sheila Williams, Grimes’ older sister by a dozen years, said growing up, she would sometimes help their mother take care of her younger sister. But years later, there came a time when Grimes came to the aid of her sister.

Williams, a longtime educator, said she felt betrayed by a colleague, which left her hurt and resentful and prompted her to withdraw from all district activities and responsibilities. One morn-

President Donald Trump, who wants to better position Republicans to maintain control of the House during next year’s midterm elections.

“This is the new Republican playbook: bend the knee to a failed

ing, Grimes confronted her gently but firmly, asking whether, by stepping back, she had put her own hurt feelings ahead of her commitment to serving children.

Williams said the question struck a chord. She began to pray, and soon the anger and resentment gave way to a deep sense of peace. It was typical Mary Elizabeth Grimes.

“Mary’s greatest legacy is the example she sets for the Marian Girls,” Williams said. “Her life is a testament to walking in faith and living according to one’s beliefs. The Marian Girls have a powerful role model — someone who truly walks in her faith and demonstrates what it means to be a woman of God.”

Olympic legend Jackie Joyner-Kersee calls Grimes a mentor, crediting her with helping shape the vision for the Jackie

president, tear down anything that gets in their way, and cling to power by silencing voices they can’t beat at the ballot box,” Bell said in a statement to the St. Louis American as the special session began at noon on Wednesday.

Joyner-Kersee Youth Center 25 years ago. At the time, the proposed center faced numerous hurdles and little outside support.

Grimes’ guidance and persistence helped JoynerKersee push through the obstacles and become the force she is in the St. Louis region today.

“She was relentless,” Joyner-Kersee said, describing Grimes as a natural teacher and a mother figure to those who need it most. “Her legacy lives in the people — the girls who are doing amazing things.”

Khalia Collier, owner and general manager of the St. Louis Surge women’s professional basketball team and a vice president for the Dallas Mavericks, also speaks highly of Grimes. From the moment they met, Collier says, Grimes was a source of inspiration — someone whose kindness, patience,

“It’s not politics as usual anymore. It’s a raw fight between democracy and tyranny,”

Bell said the special session is about power.

“Trump has the lowest approval rating in modern history, and Republicans

Grimes’ dedication has earned wide recognition, with honors including prestigious awards. She also is a motivational speaker and writer. But her legacy is helping young women recognize their worth and purpose. Middle school is a pivotal time, she says, when students begin to question who they are and how their experiences fit into their sense of self.

She emphasizes the importance of connecting students to the history and legacy of leaders like Maya Angelou, reminding them of the shoulders they stand on and the strength they carry forward. Through her leadership, Marian Middle School has become a place where students see themselves fully — worthy, capable and ready to thrive.

and generosity she admires and aspires to emulate.

“She took me under her wings to be my very best,” Collier said. She said Grimes understands the importance of investing in women’s sports.

As a proud Power Surge supporter, Grimes believed in Collier’s vision for the team and in the power of Black women supporting Black women.

Before leading Marian, Grimes built a career marked by transformation. She revitalized the Greater Missouri chapter of the March of Dimes, led Forward Vision, Inc., and held key roles at BJC Healthcare, Fair St. Louis, the St. Louis Sports Commission and KMOVTV, earning a reputation for strengthening organizations and inspiring teams.

She has held senior marketing and sales positions at MTV, HBO, CBS and local stations.

know they can’t win fairly so they’re cheating. They’re trying to erase Congressman Cleaver’s seat, erase voters and erase accountability.”

Speaking at a Labor Day event in his current 5th District, Cleaver said he will file a federal lawsuit to protect his seat from the mid-decade intrusion by Republicans.

“I’m committed to going to federal court,” Cleaver said. “I’m not committing to lay down and talk about running unless I’m running to the lawyer’s office. We’re going to file a lawsuit.”

Cleaver contends that neither Kehoe nor anyone in his administration drew the map under consideration during the special session, which he says would make it unconstitutional.

“The White House designed the map. This map was not drawn in Missouri,” Cleaver said

The new map would split the Kansas City School District in two, which Cleaver called “absolutely crazy.”

Texas is the first state to cater to Trump’s wishes by approving a map that will likely create five new Republican-held districts.

California and Illinois are poised to use redistricting to offset some or all Republican seats gained under the scheme.

In 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal courts have no authority to rule on state redistricting plans. However, it said state courts can still decide such cases under their own laws.

With Missouri being thrust into the national spotlight because of Kehoe’s call for redistricting, Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin said Wednesday that “Missouri Republicans are showing the nation that they will answer to Donald Trump’s beck and call — even if it directly undermines the will of Missourians.”

Grimes believes no one is defined by their circumstances but by their purpose — the reason they were born.

“Like compost, what once seemed broken or discarded becomes the rich soil that grows something strong, radiant and beautiful in you,” Grimes said. “Your scars become a testimony, a roadmap, a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there is a way forward. It is that perspective — rooted in faith, resilience, and love — that has guided her work and left an indelible mark on the lives she has touched. Collier and many others describe Grimes as a woman whose values and lessons will stay with them for a lifetime.

“She feels like community — she embodies it and encourages it,” Collier said. “Mary Elizabeth is love.”

“Republicans know they’re going to be kicked to the curb [and] are orchestrating a cheating scandal the likes of which we’ve never seen, all because voters don’t like them anymore. But Democrats refuse to be the only party that plays by the rules. We will not stand idle while Republicans rig the game.”

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said the proposed redistricting changes “would return Kansas City to segregation.”

“President Trump’s map will undermine Kansas City police, Kansas City schools, Kansas City infrastructure and Kansas City jobs,” Lucas said.

He said if redistricting is passed, it will be met with challenges “at the legislature; in the courtroom; and at the ballot box.”

State Sen. Brian Williams, who announced in July he is running for St. Louis County Executive, said on Wednesday that Trump is trying to look out for himself, not citizens.

“We are seeing Missouri Republicans follow suit with partisan maps and attacks on citizen petitions. That’s wrong,” Williams said. “Democracy belongs to the people, not party insiders.”

Bell called Cleaver “my friend and my ally.”

“I’ll stand with him — and with every Missourian whose voice they’re trying to silence — because this isn’t just about one district. It’s about whether we’re still a country where the people choose their leaders, or a country where politicians choose their voters.

“Republicans are willing to sell out their integrity to keep a weak man happy. That’s the choice they’ve made. And history will remember them for siding with tyranny.”

Mary Elizabeth Grimes ensures that the girls at Marian Middle School have the support and guidance to finish high school, succeed in college and prepare for sustainable careers.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

because of Katrina. Richon May Wallace was living in St. Louis when the levee in New Orleans gave way, putting the home of her parents and siblings in the Ninth Ward under 20 feet of water.

“To have your family home basically washed away, you just feel lost,” Wallace said. “I mean, it’s like, ‘Where do I go? What is home now?’”

At the time, she had spent just a few years in St. Louis, arriving after graduating from Dillard University in New Orleans. She came to pursue acting as part of the St. Louis Black Repertory Company’s professional acting internship program. She stayed because she was able to make a pretty good life for herself as a performing artist and educator. Because of the shared French influences of the two cities, and the overall warm demeanor of St. Louis people, The Lou quickly felt like her second home.

As the storm approached, Wallace was updated on the status through constant commu-

Powell Hall

Continued from A1

provides additional space for the SLSO’s two resident choruses, its Youth Orchestra and a robust portfolio of education and community programs.

The opening of Powell Hall on Sept. 26-28 will mark the culmination of a successful fundraising campaign and the subsequent two-year transformational expansion and renovation project for the place SLSO has called home for more than 55 years. The famed venue turns 100 in November.

“The [original] building opened in 1925. It was no longer supporting the needs of audiences in the 21st century,” said SLSO President and CEO Marie-Hélène Bernard.

“We made Powell Hall our venue in 1968. So, over the span of 50-plus years, the orchestra has evolved as an arts institution.”

That evolution includes exponential growth in education and community programming.

“We needed a space that was evolving to support these programming needs and audience expectations,” Bernard said.

The extreme makeover is the first major restoration venture at Powell since the 1960s. The project, designed by the internationally acclaimed architecture firm Snøhetta, with local firm Christner Architects as the architect of record, centers the SLSO’s priorities on artistic excellence, community engagement and education leadership.

“It’s rather humbling to be an architect for a project like this,” Craig Dykers, Snøhetta’s lead architect for the Powell Hall expansion, said during a tour of

nication with her immediate family — until her phone was stolen.

The communication lapse was temporary. Through her replacement phone, Wallace learned that her family was able to successfully evacuate, but they would be starting over.

“My Paw-Paw was a proud homeowner,” Wallace said of her late grandfather, Timothy Robinson Sr. “For him, home was the building. For my dad, home was the city. And for me, home is the people.”

Her father, Rickie K. May Sr., died last year.

The generations of family legacy that rooted the Mays within the city was gone in a flash. That’s why Aug. 30 is the date that sticks in her head in addition to Monday, Aug. 29, 2005 — the day Katrina touched down.

“There was the storm and the pandemonium,” Wallace said. “But then there was the aftermath of knowing there was nothing to go back to. That’s when the reality of what had happened set in.”

Wallace’s mother, Berssetta May, had been paying close attention to news and weather reports about Katrina. Friday morning, they said the storm was coming. As far

the space last April. His firm’s portfolio includes the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Shanghai Grand Opera House.

The 2025-26 season programming showcases the virtuosity and nimbleness of the orchestra musicians and guest artists and includes a wide variety of music, responding to the community’s diverse tastes and interests.

Led by Stéphane Denève in his seventh season as The Joseph and Emily Rauh Pulitzer Music Director, the SLSO’s opening weekend will highlight the virtuosity of SLSO musicians. The public opening includes celebrations held inside the transformed venue and also marks the start of award-winning composer Kevin Puts’ tenure as SLSO Composer in Residence.

Puts will participate in key initiatives, engage with audiences and join in education and learning opportunities with students and musicians in the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra. He will visit the orchestra twice, this month and in March.

Opening weekend

Opening weekend concerts are 10:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 26; 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 27; and 3 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 28.

Denève and the SLSO reunite with Powell Hall in a celebration of the past, present and future. They will pay homage to the building’s historic place in St. Louis’ civic life while looking toward increased artistic, community and educational opportunities. Opening weekend concerts kick off with a

as she knew, the storm was way out in the gulf and wouldn’t make it to New Orleans. By Saturday night, they were being told the storm was headed directly toward the city, and residents should be thinking about evacuation.

May was torn about whether to leave.

“I was like, ‘I don’t want to go,’” May said. “Because every time we do leave, the hurricane would shift and we wouldn’t have any problems. You know the hurricane is a possibility, but you still don’t want to spend money — that you don’t have — only for everything to turn out fine.”

Her instinct told her to leave. Thankfully, she listened.

May and her four children packed their vehicles and drove in a caravan to Georgia to stay with her sister, who lives in the

trio of fanfares by Aaron Copland, Joan Tower — who served as an SLSO Composer in Residence in the 1980s — and the world premiere of James Lee III’s Fanfare for Universal Hope

The SLSO’s commission of Lee reflects the close artistic collaboration between the composer and orchestra during Denève’s tenure. Four of his pieces have been performed, including the world premiere of Visions of Cahokia in 2023, which was inspired by the local indigenous civilization.

Multi-Grammy-Award-

Atlanta area. Her husband thought it would be best to try to ride out the storm.

“I told him, ‘You can stay here if you want to, but we’re leaving,’” May said.

And so they did. A drive that normally takes her just under seven hours took more than 14.

Wallace convinced her dad to join them. He left a few days later, just in time to beat the storm, but he was caught up in the trauma of gridlocked interstates and gas stations without fuel. Wallace wanted her family to come to St. Louis and be with her.

“I had just made it to Georgia, and it was such a stressful trip that I didn’t feel like going for another ride,” May said. “I was exhausted.”

More than a month passed before she was able to see what was left of her

winning mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato and members of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus join the orchestra for the world premiere of a song cycle by Puts, House of Tomorrow. The work draws text and musical inspiration from the poetry of Khalil Gibran.

The concerts conclude with Richard Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben telling a triumphant tale of adventure and accomplishment.

Reopening events

In addition to opening weekend concerts, special

city. “It was like a blackand-white photo,” May said. “Everything was gray. There was no color.”

There was one exception — the big red X that appeared on houses.

“They would indicate whether or not they found any bodies in the house and put the date that the home was inspected,” May said. “They had to go through each house to see if there were any bodies in the house because there were people who couldn’t get out.”

More than 1,300 people lost their lives as a result of Katrina. May is convinced had she not trusted the inner voice that told her to evacuate, she would have been one of them.

“You could see the marks where the water was on the homes — and I’m 5 feet even — and I thought, ‘I don’t think I could have survived this,’” May said. “There is no way possible I could see me swimming in that kind of water. And even if I could have made it out of the water, if I had been caught up in everything like so many others, I think I would have just died.”

May feels that the government failed New Orleans with inadequate storm preparedness and a slow response to the

events and a vast range of concerts celebrate the opening of the Jack C. Taylor Music Center and honor the centennial of Powell Hall. Among them are a ribbon cutting on Sept. 19, concerts from Sept. 26-28 and a community open house on Nov. 8. These events will showcase the transformation of the venue and invite guests to experience the grand and welcoming architecture of the new foyer and Education and Learning Center, as well as rediscover the magic that

immediate aftermath.

“They were not prepared — I guess nobody was,” May said. “But by the grace of God, we were able to come back and rebuild. We are still not at 100%, but our city is back.”

It’s also a testament to the resilience of New Orleanians.

“When people come to New Orleans, even when it’s just to visit, we wrap our arms around them, and everybody’s welcome. A disaster happened, but we still came back in the streets dancing — because that’s just us.”

After a year in Georgia, the Mays returned to New Orleans. A few years after that — and a stint living in Chicago — Wallace returned to New Orleans as well. She’s been back for more than a decade. She says the city is still going strong and is as charismatic as it has always been. Wallace believes it’s because her hometown has a “a charm and that withstood the water and all of the devastation.”

“New Orleans people, we are different,” Wallace said. “We talk like we’re singing. We walk like we’re dancing. And we have a spirit that can’t be kept down.”

has made Powell Hall an internationally renowned concert hall.

“The orchestra is so well renowned that we feel our primary goal is to ensure that its life progresses into the future,” Dykers said. “The building is so iconic that we wanted to work with that kind of character and build something that supported its identity while also looking forward into the future.” For additional details about the 146th season and programming related to the reopening of Powell Symphony Hall, visit www. slso.org

Opening weekend events

● Wednesday, Sept. 17, 7 p.m., SLSO’s ceremonial free community concert in Forest Park.

● Friday, Sept. 26-Sunday, Sept. 28, various times, Opening Weekend Concert, Powell Symphony Hall.

● Friday, Sept. 26 and Sunday, Sept. 28, noon, Post concert lunch, Jack C. Taylor Music Center, Powell Symphony Hall

● Saturday, Sept. 27, 5 p.m., Opening Night Celebration hosted by Janet and Jimmy Williams and Mary and Jim Forsyth, Presented by Drury Hotels, Powell Symphony Hall

Opening weekend concerts

● Friday, Sept. 26, 10:30 a.m.

● Saturday, Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m.

● Sunday, Sept. 28. 3 p.m.

New Orleans native Richon May Wallace, left, with her mother, Berssetta May.

Courtesy photo

HealthMattersHealthMattersHealthMatters

Care of You’

‘I just feel normal again.’

– Serena Williams

Slimming down

Serena Williams highlights weight loss shift transforming millions of Americans

By Stacy M. Brown Black Press USA

hen Serena Williams told NBC’s “TODAY” show, “I just couldn’t get my weight to where I needed to be at a healthy place and believe me, I don’t take shortcuts. I do everything but shortcuts,” she added her voice to the growing list of public figures discussing the use of medications that control blood sugar and reduce appetite, such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro.

Small steps with big rewards

By Dr. Graham A. Colditz

Surveys show that most of us place a high priority on our health and wellness. That’s probably not surprising. But as common a goal as improving health is, it can sometimes feel like a mystery how we can actually work toward it, with busy days filled with work, family and other important activities

Luckily, small changes can have meaningful health benefits, and those benefits grow over time.

Try these 15 simple tips that focus on behaviors most of us could start today.

• Stock up on frozen vegetables. They’re easy, ready when you need them and healthy as fresh options when they have no added salt or sugar.

• Place fruit where you can see it — on the counter, top shelf of the refrigerator or your desk. Make it as easy as possible to choose these snacks over less-healthy ones.

• Keep a reusable water bottle filled and close by. Plain water is the healthiest and easiest way to stay hydrated.

Put your phone in another room or in a drawer.

Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro control blood sugar while reducing appetite.

Williams said she has lost 31 pounds since beginning the medication in 2023 and launched a campaign with telehealth company Ro to reduce stigma around the drugs. Across the United States, the demand for these drugs has surged.

See WILLIAMS, page A9

Question & Answer

• Add a mini walk — a micro break — to your day. Park at the far end of the lot, get off the bus a stop or two early, or walk to the end of the block and back. Any extra steps we take count toward better health and provide a little “me” time.

• Take a short phone break. Staying connected is important — so is time away from the phone, even for just a little while. Put your phone in another room or in a drawer and give yourself the chance to explore other ways to enjoy the day.

• Stand up for 10 minutes. Cutting back on sitting and other sedentary activities has a lot of benefits. If you spend much of the day sitting, try to take regular standing breaks.

See COLDITZ, A9

Connecting people with similar identities

Vilissa Thompson founded Ramp Your Voice, a disability rights consultation and advocacy organization

By Megan Sayles The AFRO

Before dedicating her life to disability justice, Vilissa Thompson had dreams of becoming a therapist with her own private practice. But, when she finished graduate school with a master’s degree in social work, she realized the job market was not accessible to her.

Thompson, a licensed master social worker, was born with osteogenesis imperfecta — a rare genetic condition, also known as brittle bone disease, that causes bones to break easily.

There was definitely a gap in Black, disabled women and femmes trying to find other people who could understand their experiences.

– Vilissa Thompson

She often uses a wheelchair to get around. With home visits being a central part of social work, she quickly realized that navigating clients’ homes — many of which aren’t wheelchair accessible— would be nearly impossible. Thompson knew she would need to get creative with See THOMPSON, A9

and empowerment for

and

Photo by Edwin Martinez

Your Health Matters is provided in partnership with

Photo courtesy of Vilissa Thompson

Vilissa Thompson is the founder of Ramp Your Voice, an organization promoting self-advocacy

Black women

femmes with disabilities.

Serena Williams at the 2013 U.S. Open. She is among the growing list of public figures who discuss the use of medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro to lose weight.

Dr. Graham A. Colditz

Williams

Continued from A8

A 2024 Gallup survey found that 6% of U.S. adults — about 15.5 million people — report having used injectable diabetes medicines for weight loss, including 3% currently using them.

FAIR Health estimates that more than 2% of U.S. adults specifically used these types of drugs, called GLP-1s, for weight loss in 2024.

The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) reported that one in eight U.S. adults (12%) has ever taken a GLP-1 drug, with 6% currently using one. Use is higher among those with health issues: 43% of adults with diabetes, 26% with heart disease, and 22% who were told they were overweight or obese in the past five years. Black adults (18%) are more likely than white adults (10%) to have used these medications. Effectiveness is widely reported. Nearly two-

HealthMattersHealthMattersHealthMatters

thirds (64%) of Americans who have taken weight loss injections told Gallup they were “effective” or “extremely effective.” Current users were more positive than past users, with 73% of current users reporting effectiveness compared to 53% of past users. Still, cost remains a major barrier.

According to KFF, more than half (54%) of adults who have taken GLP-1s said affording them was difficult, including 22% who said it was “very difficult.” List prices

range from $936 to $1,349 per month before insurance.

The Obesity Medicine Association notes that weight loss medications are typically prescribed for adults with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater, or 27 with weight-related conditions. Weight loss from anti-obesity medications averages between 5% and 21%, though results vary, and most people regain weight if they stop treatment. Long-term therapy is generally recommended.

Pew Research Center found that obesity now affects 42% of U.S. adults, up sharply over the past three decades. About twothirds of Americans (65%) told Pew that willpower alone usually isn’t enough for people trying to lose weight and keep it off. The rising demand is seen in sales.

Semaglutide-based medications such as Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy generated $21.1 billion for Novo Nordisk in 2023, with 71% of revenues coming from the U.S.

Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide drug, Mounjaro, brought in nearly $5.2 billion in its first full year on the market. Meanwhile, Williams said her decision to use GLP-1s came after years of struggling. “I had a lot of issues with my knees, especially after I had my kid. That, quite frankly, definitely had an effect on maybe some wins that I could have had in my career,” she said. “I just feel normal again,” Williams said. “It feels really good.”

Sleep is a matter of survival for Blacks

By Stacy M. Brown

With President Donald Trump’s attack on diversity, equity and inclusion, attempts to erase African American history and targeting cities with large Black populations such as Washington, D.C., and Chicago, rest itself has become a form of resistance. For Black Americans and other marginalized groups bearing the brunt of Trump’s harmful policies, activists, politicians and health experts alike emphasize the importance of sleep. As federal protection is stripped away and economic inequality deepens, the lack of restorative rest threatens not just health, but survival.

“Rest is NOT a trend. Liberation from the toxic systems that view our bodies as a machine for profit is also not a trend. This is ANCIENT work,” the Nap Ministry — founded by “Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto” author Tricia Hersey — wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter during the first Trump administration in December 2020. “Our Rest is Resistance framework is deeply rooted in

Thompson

Continued from A8

her career trajectory.

Today, she is the founder of Ramp Your Voice, a disability rights consultation and advocacy organization that has a special focus on empowering Black women and femmes with disabilities. The AFRO spoke with Thompson about the inspiration behind Ramp Your Voice, the gaps it seeks to fill and how she envisions political and social inclusion.

AFRO: When you founded Ramp Your Voice, what needs were you looking to address in the Black disability community?

Vilissa Thompson: There was definitely a gap in Black, disabled women

Colditz

Continued from A8

• Make that doctor’s appointment you may have been putting off. Whether it’s for a health screening, to keep track of a condition, or to get you or your kids caught up on vaccines, these types of visits can have really important benefits.

• Read some ingredients lists. It’s best to cut back on ultra-processed

ancestral, spiritual and radical political thought.”

Democratic U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson has warned that Trump’s actions — removing Black Lives Matter Plaza, rolling back diversity initiatives, cutting funding to HBCUs and attempting to erase Black figures from national websites — amount to an assault on Black voices and history.

At the same time, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) has documented how Trump’s economic agenda delivers what it calls a “triple threat” to Black households: slashing food assistance, cutting Medicaid coverage and imposing tariffs that undermine Blackowned businesses. These economic attacks leave families under constant stress, compounding the daily exhaustion of living under targeted policies. That stress translates directly into sleep. A growing body of research shows how insufficient rest harms physical and mental health.

A review in Nature Reviews Endocrinology found that inadequate sleep and circadian misalignment are not just

and femmes trying to find other people who could understand their experiences. It’s one thing to be disabled and connect that way. But, when you’re Black, a woman or queer, there’s nuances in those identities that are very important to cover. You want to be able to connect with people on those nuances—people who you don’t have to explain them to.

It’s like, if you know, you know. It’s similar to when Black people see something funny going on, and we kind of give each other “the look.” It’s a communal connection in a way, and that’s what I wanted to provide with my work. I wanted to create a space as a Black disabled woman for other Black disabled women and femmes who are either starting their disability journey or may have been disabled their whole lives

food. And one way to do that is to avoid foods with long ingredients lists that are filled with words we don’t recognize.

• Go to a park. Spending time in green spaces has proven benefits for physical and mental health.

• Say “no, thank you” to whipped cream. Many coffee drinks can come with whipped cream and other extras. It’s best to enjoy coffee without these — at least most of the time. They can add a lot of

inconveniences but powerful drivers of obesity and metabolic disease, disrupting appetite hormones and increasing the likelihood of poor food choices.

A separate systematic review in Sleep Medicine Reviews demonstrated that sleep quality is directly linked to self-control, with

and want a space for themselves.

AFRO: What programs, initiatives or events have you organized to further the mission of Ramp Your Voice?

VT: Last year in June, we held the inaugural Ramp Your Voice Conference, a virtual event that centers the identities and experiences of disabled Black people who are not cisgender, heterosexual men. It was a beautiful gathering. As of July 2025, I am actually getting the conference team back together so we can hold it again in 2026. I want to have the conference every other year because it’s a lot of planning, and I want to make sure it’s sustainable for my team and me. I am also working on launching a pilot program

sugar, unhealthy fats and calories.

• Give plain yogurt a try. It can take a little getting used to, but plain yogurt is usually better for us than the higher-sugar, highly flavored yogurts. A great way to start is by mixing half plain yogurt with half flavored yogurt or adding fresh or frozen berries for natural sweetness and flavor.

• Pick something new from the produce aisle. Break the regular routine and try a fruit or vegetable

insufficient sleep reducing the ability to manage impulses and make healthy decisions.

The dangers go further. Research published in Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental revealed that sleep restriction increases hunger and insulin resistance, heightening the

for disabled college students of color, particularly for those who are about to graduate in the fall. As someone who graduated from college and had to find out on their own that my employment experience would be looking different from others, I think it’d be nice to hold space for disabled college students to talk about what life will be like post-undergrad—whether it’s going to graduate school, going to work or another path.

A lot of my work going forward is going to center young adults because it’s a tricky age. You’re an adult, but you’re still trying to figure out what to do with your life. If you’re disabled on top of that, there’s a lot of things that come with navigating systems or figuring out accessibility.

AFRO: What are some

you’ve never had before. You may just find a new favorite.

• Set out your workout clothes the night before. Make it as easy as possible to get dressed and out the door for your morning walk or gym class.

• Say “yes” to sleep. Good sleep helps with many parts of health and wellness. So, when it’s time for bed, make it a priority so you can get the seven to nine hours most adults need.

• Visit smokefree.gov.

risk of type 2 diabetes. Another perspective confirmed that chronic sleep loss is linked to obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, noting that while short-term studies show increased hunger and weight gain, the long-term risks are even more profound.

of the misconceptions that able-bodied people have about the disability community?

VT: One is this whole idea of disabilities being an unfortunate experience. It’s interesting how that mentality spreads. For example, I know a lot of people across racial lines have experienced hurt by the church due to ableism. I never had that experience, but I learned about them when I got into this work.

Neuroimaging studies in the Journal of Neuroscience found that even a single night of sleep deprivation upregulates the brain’s reward circuitry, making people more likely to overvalue high-calorie foods. And according to the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, insufficient sleep is now considered a key driver of the global epidemics of obesity and diabetes, with sleep deprivation inducing weight gain and glucose dysfunction. For Black Americans, the overlap between political oppression and health vulnerability is especially stark. Trump’s policy agenda forces millions to choose between paying for food, rent or healthcare. The CBPP notes that more than 11 million Black people lived in households receiving food assistance in 2023, and 13 million relied on Medicaid or CHIP for health coverage — lifelines now under direct attack. The loss of such programs not only drives economic instability but also fuels the stress and insomnia that worsen chronic health outcomes.

It’s this warped thought process that makes them feel like they need to save people who are different from them in order to make them “good.” I don’t need to be saved. What I need as a disabled person is wheelchair ramps, appropriate curb cuts and affordable, reliable transportation options. Seeing me as a disabled person, particularly as somebody who has a very visible disability, your first reaction shouldn’t be pity. I don’t need you to feel sorry for me because I’m disabled. People need to think about the unconscious biases they carry when they see people who have an experience that’s different from them. They don’t interrogate that enough or really at all, and we’re living in this time where we’re seeing how fearful people are of difference. It feels like there’s a social and political regression of accepting people. We need to do more than tolerate people—we need to accept people for who they are, and we need to interrogate our own prejudices that may come out in ways we don’t intend. A lot of people are unaware as to how deep ableism runs in our culture—from our religion, to our media to the words we use every day.

If you smoke and want to quit — or are just curious about quitting — this is a great place to start. There are also resources for supporting family and friends who may want to quit.

A great thing about these small changes is that they can often be relatively easy to make as well as to keep up over time. While it’s good to have bigger, longer-term health goals — like walking 30 minutes every day or cutting out sugary drinks — these types of smaller changes

help build toward those and can be a powerful start. It’s your health. Take control.

Dr. Graham A. Colditz, associate director of prevention and control at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and WashU Medicine in St. Louis, is an internationally recognized leader in cancer prevention and the creator of the 8ightWays to Prevent Cancer series.

Photo courtesy of The Nap Ministry/Charlie Watts Studio via Instagram.

‘Raisin’

returns to The Black Rep

Tony-winning musical based on iconic Lorraine Hansberry play opens season 49

By Kenya Vaughn

The St. Louis American

Last year, Black Rep Founder and Producing Director Ron Himes directed “A Raisin in the Sun” for the University of South Carolina.

A staple of the American theater canon, working on Lorraine Hansberry’s groundbreaking 1959 play reminded him of its brilliance.

“Lorraine was so ahead of her time,” Himes said.

The experience also reconnected him with the Judd Woldin, Robert Nemiroff and Charlotte Zaltzberg 1973 musical that the play inspired.

No one in the company of actors he directed knew the Tony Award-winning musical adaptation existed. He took full advantage of the teachable moment.

“There would be days when I was rehearsing and I would remember where a song went,” Himes said. “I have the songs in my playlist and I started playing the songs when we were rehearsing. I got back here and started thinking about the season, and it just stayed with me.”

“Raisin” opens The Black Rep’s 49th season this week at Washington University’s Edison Theatre – twenty years since they last staged the production. The show, directed by Himes, stars St. Louis stage favorites

Anita Jackson and Duane Foster and a robust team of talented supporting players and ensemble performers. The musical will run through September 21.

“I thought, what a wonderful two for one – you get a raisin in the sun, and you get the musical,” said Himes. “So many of the issues are still prevalent. Different era, same problems.”

The story centers around a South Side Chicago family in the 1950s. Despite being place bound due to segregation and racism, the matriarch of the Younger family has been diligently saving to move her family to the suburbs. Staging the production this season has additional significance in the wake of the Tornado that devastated portions of the region, historically Black neighborhoods in particular.

“It’s a lot like what we are looking at now in North St. Louis [in the aftermath of the tornado],” Himes said. “We can’t get contractors. We can’t get developers to rebuild property for the people who have lived there for generations.”

The musical – and the play – follows a Black family who is individually and collectively striving to get their piece of the American Dream.

“For Walter, it is economic freedom – to

be able to build wealth for his son and the next generation following him,” Himes said. “For Beneatha, it’s to go to medical school and become a doctor. For Mama it’s to move into a nice home with a yard for her family.”

“Raisin” also comes with a cautionary tale.

“The lesson that Walter learns – and hopefully our audience learns – is that there are no shortcuts in the pursuit of success,” Himes said. “So much of it is timeless. The issues are the same. The urges are the same and the dreams are the same.”

He can’t wait for Black Rep audiences to see the 2025 staging.

“I think it is an outstanding cast, with Anita Jackson as Lena Younger and Duane Foster as Walter Lee are just doing phenomenal work,” said Himes. “Jermaine Manor is doing an amazing job as musical director. We have ten pieces in the pit.”

“Lush and delicious” is how he described the newest iteration as he sang the praises of choreographer Kirven Douthit-Boyd, scenic designer Tim Jones and costume designer Gregory Horton.

“Greg actually choreo-

graphed the production 20 years ago and is back revisiting by designing the costumes for the show,” Himes said. “People are going to have a wonderful, entertaining evening.”

On the cusp of five decades

As season 49 kicks off, so does the reality that The Black Rep will reach the milestone of 50 years next season. With the distinction, the St. Louis cultural gem will be come one of the longest continuously producing Black theatre companies in the nation.

“It is a testament to the commitment and hard work of a lot of people,” Himes said. “We started to fill a void. And unfortunately, in so many ways, the void persists.”

For Himes, the past 49 years of presenting worldclass theatrical productions and related programming was achieved one day at a time.

“The focus was always about getting through the week, getting through the month, getting through the next production – one at a time,” Himes said. “Then all of a sudden you look up and you are celebrating the ten-year anniversary. Then it’s like ‘Oh, wow, we are celebrating 25.’” He credits the tremendous support he has received – both from the artists who have helped The Black Rep maintain its reputation by sharing their gifts – and the audiences.

The approaching anniversary means new goals for the organization.

“As we turn fifty, I have been thinking about how far we have come and how far we still have to go,” Himes said.

Reflecting on the journey makes him think of the famous Andre DeShields quote, “The top of one mountain is the bottom of the next one.”

“Fifty is a major milestone, but its only half a century,” Himes said. “There is still another half to go.”

The Black Rep’s 49th season opening production ‘Raisin’ will run through September 21 at Washington University’s Edison Theatre, 6465 Forsyth Blvd. For more information, visit www. theblackrep.org or call 314.534.3807.

Photo by Keshon Campbell/Courtesy of The Black Rep

Adrianna Jones and Jaron Bentley in The Black Rep’s latest staging of the Tony Award-

winning musical ‘Raisin.’ The production opens their 49th season and will play Wash U.’s Edison Theatre through September 21.

AI

could be your next boss

Entry-level workers beware

According to a recent report from Goldman Sachs, the use of AI among U.S. firms rose from 7.4% to 9.2% in just one quarter in 2025.

By ReShonda Tate Houston Defender

rtificial intelligence has quickly moved from a futuristic concept to a transformative force in the workplace. Despite widespread corporate enthusiasm and growing fears about mass unemployment, AI has yet to result in the massive job losses that some experts predicted. However, as the workforce adapts, one thing is clear: AI is reshaping the job market, and entry-level workers are among those most vulnerble.

According to a recent report from Goldman Sachs, the use of AI among U.S. firms rose from 7.4% to 9.2% in just one quarter in 2025. However, despite the increase in AI adoption, there has been no significant impact on most labor market outcomes, including job growth, wage trends or layoff rates, particularly in industries exposed to

market data indicate that employment and unemployment rates in sectors embracing AI remain consistent with those in less-exposed sectors.

States, cities that refuse to

Student credit scores plunge

By Charlene Crowell For

At least 2.2 million delinquent student loan borrowers have seen their credit scores drop by 100 points or more since loan servicers resumed reporting to credit bureaus in the first quarter of this year. The end of pandemic relief measures will further reduce affordable credit options for federal student loan borrowers already struggling with rising prices and stagnant wages, making new credit more expensive, if attainable at all. Affected borrowers also will become more susceptible to predatory lenders who exploit their financial difficulties with debt trap business models that worsen — not improve — their financial lives.

Among newly delinquent borrowers, 2.4 million previously had scores above 620.

According to the New York Federal Reserve’s student loan update, delinquency rates surged to a five-year high in early 2025. Further, during the second quarter of this year, one in 10 borrowers were 90 days or more delinquent on their loans. These numbers are likely to rise as more delinquencies are recorded on a rolling basis. Among newly delinquent borrowers, 2.4 million previously had scores above 620, strong enough for many to qualify for new autos, mortgages and credit cards. But now, missed federal student loan payments between 2020Q2 and 2024Q4 are now appearing in credit reports. Of the estimated 2.2 million borrowers who experienced credit score drops of at least 100 points, 1 million saw their credit score drop by 150 points or more. More interesting — the highest percentages of delin-

See CREDIT SCORES, B2

enforce cash bail could lose federal funding

By Stacy M. Brown Washington Informer

President Donald Trump, convicted on 34 felony counts, has remained free with the very product of America’s cash bail system that, for decades, has spared wealthy defendants from jail, while trapping the poor behind bars.

Now, he is working to end cashless bail reforms across the country.

Last week, Trump signed an executive order threatening to strip federal funding from states and cities that refuse to enforce cash bail. A separate directive will allow Washington, D.C., defendants to be charged under federal statutes to avoid the city’s long-standing bail reforms.

“As president, I will require commonsense policies that protect Americans’ safety and well-being by incarcerating individuals who are known threats,” the president wrote in an executive order. “It is therefore the policy of my administration that Federal policies and resources should not be used to support jurisdictions with cashless bail policies, to the maximum extent permitted by

President Donald Trump holds a press conference with Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in the press briefing room on June 27.

Photo by freepik

The Washington Informer

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the job market, and entry-level workers are among those most vulnerable.

Credit scores

quency by age was among older borrowers: 18% by borrowers aged 50 and over and 14% by borrowers between 40-49.

Consumer advocates and economists warned of the negative impact of rising delinquencies on consumer finances and national economic activity.

“Being delinquent on student loan debt is difficult for people who are approaching their retirement years,” said Lori Trawinski, director of finance and employment at AARP. “People end up having to make extremely difficult choices.”

The Treasury Department recently restarted collection efforts for defaulted loans — including garnishment of wages and tax returns. Legally, officials can garner up to 15% of the Social Security benefits

AI

Continued from B1

Brookings Institution’s July report concurs with this trend, noting that AI adoption is linked to firm growth and increased employment. Researchers found that a one-standard-deviation increase in AI investment resulted in a 2% annual increase in both sales and headcount after two to three years. However, the shift is already evident in certain sectors, where AI is starting to impact entry-level roles.

A changing landscape

One industry notably affected is the call center sector, where employ-

of older and defaulted student loan borrowers. A recent CNBC news article reported the Department of Education said it has “paused” that option for now.

“Discussions around wage garnishment could further reduce disposable income, creating additional headwinds for consumer spending,” noted Eugenio J. Alemán, chief economist for Raymond James Financial, a leading investment firm. “Although the direct economic impact of student loan defaults may be limited in the short term, the long-term effects, such as weakened credit profiles and reduced consumer activity, could modestly slow overall economic growth.”

These efforts likely will have a disproportionate impact on Black and Latino borrowers, who already suffer from racial disparities in wealth and income. Fewer family financial resources lead to a need for more student

ment is slowing due to AI automation. Meanwhile, AI-related job postings now represent 24% of all IT job openings, although they still account for only 1.5% of total job ads.

“We’re looking at a complex reshaping, rather than a straightforward elimination,” said Gaurab Bansal, founder of Responsible Innovation Labs. Goldman Sachs’ research has highlighted AI’s impact on productivity, with firms that fully integrate generative AI seeing labor productivity gains between 23% and 29%. In fact, tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft have already reaped significant savings. Amazon, for example, saved $250 million by deploying AI agents to

loans to finance their education, and then decades of repayment and financial stress.

According to updated data from the Education Data Initiative report, “Student Loan Debt by Race:”

• Among bachelor’s degree holders, 82.9% of Black students are the most likely to borrow federal loans.

• Four years after grad-

upgrade 30,000 internal

apps, while Microsoft uses AI for up to 30% of its code development.

While AI is clearly driving efficiency gains, concerns about its longterm impact on jobs persist, particularly for entry-level workers. A 2025 survey by Howdy. com revealed that 79% of U.S. tech workers are using AI more than they were six months ago, with AI assisting in tasks such as code generation, data analysis, cybersecurity and documentation. Yet, 38% of respondents believe their jobs could be replaced by AI within five years.

The threat to entry-level roles

The concern is particu-

Many student borrowers face mental and emotional stress related to the obligations of education loans well into their 50s.

Courtesy photo

uation with a bachelor’s degree, Black student borrowers owe $25,000 more than white borrowers.

• Four years after graduation, Black borrowers owe an average of 188% more than whites.

• Black borrowers are most likely to struggle financially due to student loan debt, with average monthly payments of $258 for undergraduate studies. The Aug. 1 resumption

larly acute for entry-level workers, who are at risk as AI begins to automate tasks traditionally performed by humans.

The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 warned that 40% of employers plan to reduce jobs where AI can automate tasks. Roles such as market research analysts and sales representatives could see up to 67% of their tasks replaced by AI. Further findings from Brookings reveal that AI-adopting firms are increasingly favoring workers with higher educational credentials. The share of college-educated employees at these firms grew by 3.7%, with those holding STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) degrees in particularly high demand. Conversely, the number of non-college-educated workers fell by 7.2%. The trend

Bail

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law.”

Critics note the contradiction between the president’s order and past is unmistakable.

In 2024, Trump stood trial for falsifying business records as part of a scheme to bury damaging information before the 2016 election. Jurors convicted him on 34 felonies after hearing from 22 witnesses and reviewing nearly 300 exhibits. Judge Juan Merchan issued an unconditional discharge — no prison time, no fines, no probation — 10 days before Trump was sworn in again as president.

For ordinary Americans, the outcome would have been

of interest accrual for the 7.9 million borrowers enrolled in the SAVE repayment program begun under President Joe Biden added to financial stress. This program proposed to shorten the number of years borrower repayments to only 10 years, instead of the 20 or 25 years required under other and earlier plans.

Despite SAVE’s borrower benefits, it was challenged in two lawsuits still pending that together opposed its implementation. These lawsuits were led by Missouri and Kansas officials, and 18 other states joined the legal challenges — many of which have significant Black populations including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Ohio, South Carolina and Texas.

According to the Department of Education, when forbearance ends and monthly payments resume, the additional interest from Aug. 1 forward will

is also evident in how companies are restructuring their teams, reducing middle management roles in favor of independent, highly skilled workers.

“The most tasks for most jobs can’t be automated,” said Yann LeCun, Meta’s Chief AI Scientist. However, LeCun’s sentiment does not undermine the reality that AI is causing major shifts in workforce dynamics. The workforce of the future will likely be more reliant on highly-skilled workers, making it difficult for those in entry-level positions to keep pace.

Inequality and workforce restructuring

As AI continues to reshape the workforce, it could exacerbate existing inequalities. Larger firms with the resources to build and deploy custom AI tools will likely benefit the most, while smaller firms

very different. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights found that more than 60% of pretrial detainees are jailed only because they cannot afford bail, and the burden falls disproportionately on Black and Latino communities.

“Those with assets accused of the same or similar crimes have the keys to the jailhouse door. They have their wallets,” Commissioner David Kladney said.

Yet Trump has turned the issue into a rallying cry. At a press conference, he claimed, “Somebody murders somebody and they’re out on no cash bail before the day is out.”

FactCheck.org determined the statement was false, pointing out that states with cashless bail exclude violent felonies

be added to the resumed payments. Jennifer Zhang, a research associate at the Student Borrower Protection Center, aptly summarized the growing dilemma:

“Borrowers are in a uniquely impossible situation — they must repay their loans with money they do not have, but because of actions by this administration, they are unable to switch to a more affordable repayment plan. Meanwhile, borrowers’ access to credit, rental housing and key necessities of life will become increasingly expensive to nonexistent the further they fall behind — leaving them more desperate and vulnerable to predatory lenders and, ultimately, creating ripple effects across the economy.”

Charlene Crowell is a senior fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at Charlene.crowell@responsiblelending. org.

and lower-skilled workers may be left behind. This transition has led to growing skepticism, with some insiders questioning whether AI’s touted efficiency is merely a cover for cost-cutting measures aimed at reducing the human workforce. For entry-level workers, mid-tier managers and policymakers, this is a wake-up call. AI may not be replacing jobs at the scale once predicted, but it is clear that its impact will be profound. While many tasks cannot yet be automated, the shift toward AI integration in the workforce will be significant and likely uneven.

“We’re entering a decade-ish, maybe more, period of uncertainty,” Bansal said. “The job market is in transition and entry-level workers need to prepare for the reshaping that AI will continue to drive.”

like murder and that such releases are exceedingly rare. In Illinois, where the Pretrial Fairness Act eliminated cash bail in 2023, murders and robberies have declined, with Chicago reporting a 37 percent drop in homicides and a 36% drop in robberies compared to 2023.

Trump’s own survival through the criminal courts reveals the very inequity bail reform was designed to fix: The wealthy buy their way to freedom, while the poor wait in jail.

“Yet another racist and classiest attack on Black and poor communities,” social media user Daniel Redeffer wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.”When will Americans wake… up to the fact that we are at war with our own government?”

“I didn’t think I would be traded. But that’s the harsh reality.”

– Micah Parsons on being traded to Green Bay

InSIdE SportS

With Earl Austin Jr.

Lift for Life ready to prove last season was no fluke

Lift for Life Academy’s football program had a major breakthrough last season when it advanced to the semifinals of the Class 3 state playoffs.

It was a good building block for head coach Tony Woolfolk in his first year at the helm. Woolfolk is hoping that last year’s postseason run was only a stepping stone for his program. In his second season, he has added more talent to the roster while playing a more ambitious schedule.

The Hawks made a big statement in their opening game last weekend when they scored a 22-17 road victory at MICDS. Like Lift for Life, MICDS was also a state semifinalist a year ago, but in Class 5.

Ron Holtman Field at MICDS is one of the toughest places in the St. Louis area to get a win, but the Hawks were able to get it done with a strong effort from both its offensive and defensive units. It was also a historic night as it was the Friday night game ever played at MICDS.

Junior quarterback Phoenix Isaiah threw a pair of touchdown passes to junior receiver Ekeilan Henderson, who made several other big plays on offense. The Hawks also got big performances from returning seniors Jay’Veon Scott, Kam Hurst and Tony Woolfolk. Scott and Hurst and Division I prospects while Woolfolk is a speedy receiver who makes big plays.

The MICDS game was just the start of the rugged schedule that Woolfolk has put together for his talented team. The Hawks will play Cahokia on Saturday at the Gateway Scholars Classic in East St. Louis. Also on the schedule are Jefferson City Helias, a Class 5 state finalist last year, Class 6 SLUH and a trip to Baylor, Tennessee.

“We feel like David and Goliath,” said Woolfolk of his schedule. “We’re small, but we’re mighty. We have talent and we have some great coaches, so we feel like we’re ready to go.”

Some Top Performers From Opening Week of Football

Senior quarterback Nick McClellan of CBC passed

for 239 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown in the Cadets 63-20 victory against Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin.

Senior running back Terrance Little of Hazelwood East rushed for 252 yards and five touchdowns in the Spartans’ 45-0 victory over Hazelwood West.

Senior wide receiver Jacob Eberhart of Kirkwood had 11 receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown in the Pioneers 10-3 victory over Fort Zumwalt West.

Junior running back Tristan Moss of Timberland rushed for 183 yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns in the

T-Wolves 29-13 victory over Holt

Senior quarterback Brett Ottensmeyer of Parkway West completed 24 of 26 passes for 341 yards and four touchdowns in the Longhorns’ 28-27 victory over Seckman

Junior quarterback Jayden Ellington of Althoff rushed for 109 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 136 yards and a touchdown in the Crusaders’ 34-14 victory over Alton.

Junior quarterback Tay’ven Williams of North Point rushed for 153 yards and one touchdown and passed for 123 yards and three touchdowns in a 29-0 vic-

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

tory over Francis Howell North.

Senior running back Vic Williams of CBC rushed for 116 yards and scored three touchdowns in the Cadets’ 63-20 victory over Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin.

Jordan Boyd commits to Northern Iowa

Standout basketball player Jordan Boyd of DeSmet has given a commitment to Northern Iowa. A 6’4” guard, Boyd is one of the top returning players in the St. Louis area. As a junior, he averaged 13.3 points and 6.2 rebounds in helping the Spartans to a 25-4 record. As a sophomore, he averaged 10 points a game to help the Spartans to the

Class 5 state championship. He also had a strong summer grassroots season with Mid Pro South. He was the Most Valuable Player in the RecruitLooks Circuit in the 17U division.

Gateway Scholars Classic Lineup

The Gateway Scholars Classic will be held on Saturday at Clyde C. Jordan Stadium in East St. Louis. The four-game event features teams from several different states. The opening game will feature the debut of girls’ flag football at the event with Belleville East taking on host East St. Louis at 11 a.m. In the second game, it will be Wheaton St. Francis from Suburban Chicago against Mt. Zion Prep from Lanham, Maryland. Kickoff is at 1:30 p.m. The third game of the event will feature Lift for Life vs. Cahokia at 4:30 p.m. In the finale, host East St. Louis will face Gadsden County from Havana, Florida. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.

Top Games of the Week

Cardinal Ritter at CBC, Friday, 6 p.m.

MICDS at DeSmet, Friday, 6 p.m.

Fort Zumwalt North at Francis Howell, Friday, 6:30 p.m.

Lutheran North at Blair Oaks, Friday, 7 p.m.

SLUH at Hillsboro, Friday, 7 p.m.

Hazelwood Central at Lafayette, Friday, 7 p.m.

Wallace motors into STL a playoff contender

Following a gritty fifthplace finish at the Southern 500 in Darlington, North Carolina, on Aug. 31, the first race of the NASCAR playoffs, Bubba Wallace finds himself making history — again.

Wallace said on Instagram this year that he takes pride in being NASCAR’s lone Black driver but wishes the media would not focus on it. His 2025 performance almost makes that impossible.

so excited for the opportunity ahead of us,” Wallace said following the race.

“This team can go really far.”

He arrived in St. Louis this week for Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway with a chance to increase the odds of his being crowned champion. Of the 16 playoff contenders that raced at Darlington, Wallace was one of four to finish in the Top 10. His performance left him fifth in playoff standings and brimming with confidence.

“Appreciate all the hard work. Got to keep it going. First race. Check that off the list. Nine more to go,

Wallace became the first Black driver to win a major race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27, when he won the coveted Brickyard 400. No Black driver has won the Indianapolis 500 or a Formula 1 race on the road course. He held off defending NASCAR champion Kyle Larson on a pair of re-starts and survived an 18-minute rain delay. Wallace was close to a playoff berth after that win, and he knew it.

“This one’s really cool,” Wallace said. “Coming off Turn 4, I knew I was going to get there — unless we ran out of gas. I was surprised I wasn’t crying like a little baby.”

Michael Jordan is a co-owner of the 23XI Team, and he had watched 100 races roar past without a Wallace win before the Indianapolis victory. It

was the third of Wallace’s career following triumphs at Talladega in 2021 and Kansas Speedway in 2021. David Steward, founder and chair of World Wide Technology, is a friend and booster of Wallace’s. Since partnering with WWT Raceway owner Curtis Francois by securing the track’s naming rights, Steward has seen the track’s popularity grow. Wallace’s ascension has followed that of the raceway, which helped take the Illinois 300 from a June race to the playoffs.

He was a NASCAR playoff contender in 2023 but says he is a different driver two years later.

“I don’t feel like 2023 Playoff Bubba, where like, ‘Oh man, it’s cool to be talking to you guys for Playoff Media Day,’” he said last Sunday.

“I feel like I belong here and want to continue this trend. I have the utmost confidence in our team and our ability and potential to carry this into making a deep run into the playoffs.”

Wallace, who was eliminated from playoff

contention after eight races in 2023, has a 25-point cushion from elimination headed into the Enjoy Illinois 300.

A win would propel Wallace into the role of favorite to win the NASCAR title. It would be a chapter in Black sports history that the media should not ignore. Rest assured, I will not.

The Reid Roundup

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’ decision to trade All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons to the

Green Bay Packers for two first-round draft picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark was not based on football. Jones’ ego took a hit when Parsons refused to back down in contract negotiations…Parsons, who signed a four-year, $188 million contract extension, said, “I’m here to win games and prove this organization was right about me.”…Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who said he did not think Parsons would be traded, told ESPN’s Todd Archer, “I’m not going to say we’re better. We’ve got to go out there and prove it.” … Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, who is among the former Cowboys who contends Jones is not racist, guaranteed on ESPN that Parsons would not be traded — about five minutes before the trade.

“In order for us to be right here, something had to go down that hurt Jerry personally to make this crazy, dumb move.”… Sunday night, Sept. 28, Green Bay at Dallas. Parsons will sack Prescott at least twice.

Earl Austin Jr.

Alvin A. Reid

Lift for Life Academy opened their season making a strong statement last weekend when they defeated MICDS on the road 22-17.

Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American

Bubba Wallace wants the checkered flag at World Wide Technology Raceway

Photo courtesy of 23XI/IMAGO

Lincoln celebrates re-opening of Dawson Hall

Lincoln University of Missouri in Jefferson City recently celebrated the grand reopening of Dawson Hall, marking the completion of a $23 million renovation of the 10-story student residence building.

Upgrades include glass-walled study nooks, a first-floor lounge, a convenience store with grab-and-go dining options, an esports arena, enhanced sound insulation and heating and cooling systems with individual thermostats.

Lincoln, Missouri’s oldest HBCU, has also completed the renovation of the Scruggs University Center cafeteria.

Originally opened in 1970 as Tower Hall and later renamed for former LU President Earl E. Dawson, the residence hall is the tallest building on campus.

Lincoln closed the dormitory in 2023 for a complete makeover under the management of St. Louis contractors Grace Design Studios and SM Wilson construction company.

Dawson Hall will house 360 students in double-occupancy rooms; most will be in their first year at Lincoln.

“Students will find the comfort and support they need to succeed at Lincoln, while immersing themselves in our proud

HBCU traditions, rich legacy and vibrant student life,” said Student Government Association President Jesse Canamore, a senior at Lincoln.

Lincoln Board of Curators Chair

Vernon Pasley reflected on the project’s significance and recalled his dormitory days at Lincoln as a member of the class of 1968.

“When I was a student here, my expectations for housing were simple — I was just glad to have my own bed. Today’s students deserve and expect more, and Dawson Hall delivers on that promise,” Pasley said. “This project sets the standard for all future residence hall upgrades. Our goal was to create a world-class space where students can have fun, build community and create lifelong memories, and I believe we have achieved exactly that.”

Pasley added that the features “are part of a bigger picture.”

“We know that students who live on campus tend to achieve higher academic success, get more involved in campus activities, take on leadership roles and build stronger bonds with their peers and faculty.”

CommunityAmerica Credit Union opens UMSL branch

CommunityAmerica

Credit Union has opened a branch in the University of Missouri-St. Louis Millennium Student Center, its eighth in the region.

“Opening the branch and collaborating with the University of MissouriSt. Louis, is really just an extension and further evolution of our commitment in the St. Louis market,”

said Kathy O’Neill who serves as the St. Louis market president at CommunityAmerica.

“Our goal, as we’ve said, is to improve the financial lives and to meet people where they are.”

UMSL and CommunityAmerica are also developing the Triton Financial Wellness Program. The UMSL Center for Excellence in

Financial Counseling, led by Director Mark Fetters, has been working with team members from the credit union to design a comprehensive curriculum, which will include financial education activities, hands-on workshops and personalized coaching sessions.

“That will help strengthen the financial acumen and money

management habits for Triton students,” said Whitney Bartelli, CommunityAmerica’s chief marketing and strategy officer. “Students learn so many other things throughout college, but they often leave unprepared. They may not know about a credit score, may not know about just day-to-day money management. So,

I’m super excited about that element of the partnership.”

CommunityAmerica is also partnering with UMSL’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center and Executive Director Scott Morris, to provide support for the Anchor Accelerator Program, which assists early-stage, scalable businesses in the region as

they grow through capital, mentorship and experiential learning.

The program will now be known as the Anchor Accelerator Program Powered by CommunityAmerica, and the credit union will provide mentorship, financial services and learning opportunities to support the founders as they grow their businesses.

Photo courtesy of Lincoln University

From left, Lincoln University Curator President Victor Pasley and Curators Richard Calahan, Belinda Farrington, Lincoln University President John Moseley, SGA

President Jesse Canamore (cutting ribbon), Vernon “Vitto” Bracy, Terry Rackers and Tina Shannon participated in the re-opening ceremony for Dawson Hall and the Scruggs University Center cafeteria renovations on Aug. 12.

Living It

““My impulsivity, the character trait I’ve benefited from and paid dearly for, is both a gift and a curse.” - Issa Rae on her impulsiveness in the past almost costing her financially

An icon and an emerging legend

Jon Batiste and Diana Ross delighted fans for sold-out Muny concert

By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American

Diana Ross is 81 years old and can still captivate an audience. If the aforementioned sentence could stand alone as an entire review, this article would already be over – or at least her portion of it.

A negative note about a performer with a legacy that spans more than six decades, who is still engaging enough to have thousands on their feet demanding an encore, is just plain rude.

But the story about the show must go on. Fortunately for this reporter, unfavorable criticism for the Muny’s sold-out concert Thursday night featuring Ross and multiple Grammy Award-winning future legend Jon Batiste was barely necessary. Both artists are currently on tour. Batiste’s “The Big Money” Tour kicked off in Kansas City the night before he made it to the Muny. Ross’ “Celebrating Timeless Classics” tour got underway last month in Los Angeles. Batiste bounced on the Muny stage in a pair of gold sequined bell bottom pants and a tuxedo jacket with tails and gold embellishments on each shoulder. His set began with “TELL THE TRUTH.”

DianaRoss

He set the tone from the begin-

See MUNY, C3

40 years of helping shape St. Louis culture

Regional Arts Commission President and CEO Vanessa

and the RAC team mark 40 years of arts advocacy and grantmaking in St. Louis with a joyful, community-centered celebration.

By Zaria Mac

St. Louis American

reputation as a city that provides top-tier cultural attractions and experiences.

To celebrate, they invited the entire region to come party with them – and that’s exactly what happened Thursday evening. The Midway showroom at Union Station was temporarily transformed into an arts and culture festival that represented the people and organizations that have been impacted by RAC’s tireless efforts. A range of multicultural performances were highlighted on various stages positioned around the room for the sold-out crowd. Upon entry, audiences

were serenaded by a live band. Guests were encouraged to create and decorate their own party hats. Tables of tasty food items – including a slider bar and flatbread pizzas baked fresh on the spot – were stationed around the perimeter of the space. Guests mingled and networked while they danced to sounds by DJ she BeatZ,

By Zaria Mac St. Louis American

The 5th Annual Music at the Intersection

Photo by Taylor Marrie/St. Louis American

Cooksey

Music stars Diana Ross and Jon Batiste delivered amazing performances as headliners for the 2025 Season-Finale Concert at The Muny.

Photos by Phillip Hamer Courtesy of The Muny

CONCERTS

Sat., Sep. 6, 8 p.m. Sexxy Red & Friends: Back 2 School Bash, Enterprise Center, 1401 Clark Ave, St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit www.enterprisecenter.com

Sat., Sep. 6, 6:30 p.m.

Confluence Music Festival with Lil Jon, World Wide Technology Raceway, 700 Raceway Blvd., Madison, IL 62060. For more information visit www.confluencefestival.com.

Fri., Sep. 5, 7 p.m., Breezy Bowl XX World Tour starring Chris Brown, Dome at America’s Center. For more information, visit livenation.com.

Sat., Sep. 6, 8 p.m. Sexxy Red & Friends: Back 2 School Bash, Enterprise Center, 1401 Clark Ave, St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit www.enterprisecenter.com.

Sun., Sep. 7, 6:15 p.m., Uncle Charlie’s R&B Cookout starring Charlie Wilson and featuring Babyface, El DeBarge and K-Ci Haley, Hollywood Casino Amphitheater. For more information, visit www.livenation.com.

Sun., Sep. 7, 8 p.m., When We Evolve Tour starring St. Louis’ own AJ McQueen, Delmar Hall. For more information, visit www.thepageant.com.

Fri., Sep. 12-14, 10 a.m.

STL Sites & Sounds

Music at the Intersection (MATI), Grand Center Arts District, 634 Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit https:// matistl.org.

Sat., Sep. 20, 7:30 p.m. NBA Youngboy MASA Tour, Enterprise Center. For more information, visit www.livenation.com

SPECIAL EVENTS

Fri., Sep. 5, 6 p.m.

Raceway to Runway, Neiman Marcus St. Louis, 100 Plaza Frontenac St, St. Louis, MO 63131. Limited capacity. RSVP required to rsvpstlouis@ nemanmarcus.com.

Sun., Sep. 21, 6:30 p.m.

Candle Light Concert: Best of Hip Hop featuring the sounds of Drake, Outkast, and 2 Pac Desmond and Mary Ann Lee Theatre, 1 Touhill Cir, St. Louis, MO 63121. For more information, visit https://feverup.com.

Sat., Sep. 20, 12 p.m.

FrizzFest: Natural Beauty Festival, Tower Grove Park, 4257 Northeast Drive, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information, visit https:// frizzybynature.com.

Saturday, Sep. 20 10 a.m. and Saturday, Sep. 27 10 a.m., 23rd Annual Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing Celebration, Missouri Botanical Garden (Sep. 20) and the Mississippi Greenway (Sep. 27). For more information, visit marymea-

chum.org.

COMEDY

Fri., Sep. 5-7, 7 p.m.

Helium Presents: Don DC Curry, Helium Comedy Club, 1151 St Louis Galleria Street, St. Louis MO 63117. Multiple shows at varying times, find more information at https://st-louis.heliumcomedy.com.

Fri., Sep. 12, 7 p.m.

DeRay Davis: Live On Stage, The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63112. For more information, visit www. thepageant.com.

Thur., Sep. 21, 3 p.m.

Starlight Concert Series featuring Adrianne Felton- King, Heman Park Miracle Playground, 7200, Olive Blvd, University City, MO 63130. For more information, visit www.ucitymo.org.

Wed., Sep. 24, 7 p.m., World Chess Hall of Fame Music Series presents Chuck Flowers Sings the Music of Bill Withers, 4652 Maryland Ave. St. Louis, MO 63108. For more information, visit worldchesshof.regfox.com.

THEATRE

Wed., Sep. 3-21, 7 p.m.

The Black Rep opens Season 49 with Raisin (The Musical), Edison Theatre, 6465 Forsyth Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63105. For more information, visit www.theblackrep.org.

Sat., Sep. 13, 7 p.m. Ali

Siddiq: In the Shadows Tour, Stifel Theatre, 1400 Market St, St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit www.stifeltheatre.com.

ST. LOUIS MUSIC SPOTLIGHT

Thur., Sep. 4, 6 p.m.

To STL With Love: A Celebration of St. Louis Hip-Hop Culture, Sophie’s Artist Lounge, 3333 Washington Ave, St. Louis, O 63103. For more information, visit https://kranzbergartsfoundation.org.

Wed., Sep 3-28, 7 p.m.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis presents The Cottage, Loretto-Hilton Center, 130 Edgar Rd, Webster Groves, MO 63119. Matinee showtime available. For more information, visit https://www. repstl.org.

Fri., Sep. 19 – Sun., Oct. 19, Stages St. Louis presents Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Ross Family Theatre at Kirkwood Performing Arts Center, 210 E. Monroe Ave. Kirkwood, MO 63122. For more information, visit Fri, Sep. 19-20, 7 p.m.

Festival of New Works: Spotlight on HOPE, The Kranzberg Black Box Theatre, 501 N Grand Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information visit, https://kranzbergartsfoundation.org.

ART

Thur., Sep. 4, 6 p.m.

opening reception for To STL With Love: A Celebration of St. Louis Hip-Hop Culture, Sophie’s Artist Lounge, 3333 Washington Ave, St. Louis, O 63103. For more information, visit https:// kranzbergartsfoundation. org.

Through Sept. 27, Nyuso: A Celebration of African Artistry & Afrofuturism, Kranzberg Arts Foundation, 501 N Grand Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63103. For more information, visit https://kranzbergartsfoundation.org/.

Fri., Sep. 5 - Feb. 1, 2026, The Pulitzer Arts Foundation presents Jennie C. Jones: A line When Broken Begins Again, Pulitzer Arts Foundation and Museum, 3716 Washington Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108. For more information, visit https://pulitzerarts.org.

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

Photo by Lawrence Bryant/St. Louis American

R&B mainstay Charlie Wilson will bring fellow R&B vets Babyface, El DeBarge and K-Ci Haley to Hollywood Casino Amphitheater for the STL leg of his Uncle Charlie’s R&B Cookout Tour. See CONCERTS for more information.

Foundation.

The inaugural “Poetry in Motion: St. Louis Poets Take the Mic LIVE” will be among many things intended as an homage to Shirley LeFlore’s contributions to the St. Louis creative community.

“I wanted to demonstrate how poetry is at the intersection of art, music, and dance,” LeFlore said. “So many knew how she could bring not only poets and writers together, but bring musicians together. Through her work, she demonstrated the courage of finding your voice, speaking your truth and being unapologetic.”

The inaugural poetry sets for “Poetry in Motion: St. Louis Poets Take the Mic LIVE”’ will span all three days of MATI. It will take over the High Low Listening Room starting Friday September 12th with a poetry panel titled “S.B.L.F. Presents Write On: The Power of the Pen.” The kickoff event will offer years of professional insight to new and seasoned writers.

“We are bringing this dynamic panel together to explore the creative process from developing ideas, crafting narrative, and to branding to publishing,” LeFlore said. “Being a great writer is also being in the company of others who write to share experience and get insight.”

She encourages guests to bring any poems, chapters, or short stories that they may be working on for a chance to recite works, get feedback from other artists in attendance and workshop with the panel of working professionals on the spot.

“There’s so many writers who just may need the ear of other writers and professionals,” Lyah said. “And this panel is just that

MUNY

Continued from C1

ning that the show was equal parts musical experience and party.

“You can get up and dance right at your seat,” Batiste told the crowd of just about 11,000 as he performed ‘FREEDOM.” “Right in the aisles, right here, that’s your dance floor. When we play this type of music in my hometown of New Orleans, people let their whole soul out and let it shine.”

He encouraged the Muny crowd to do the same.

“Let it out and let it shine so bright, that they gonna see us all the way from New York,” Batiste said.

opportunity.” MATI’s poetry component is a live action take on the documentary of the same name that featured local poets, dancers, and musicians who embodied the spirit of Shirley LeFlore as they performed their art. The film was produced by Lyah LeFlore, a writer and film and television producer. She co-produced the doc with acclaimed St. Louis filmmaker Dana Christian.

About halfway through his set, Batiste gave the crowd one of the two moments that featured surprise guests with a tribute to rock ‘n’ roll pioneer Chuck Berry. He brought out the St. Louis native’s grandsons – Charles Berry III and Jahi Eskridge –to join him for a crowd pleasing rendition of the Berry classic “Johnny B. Goode.” Eskridge and Batiste were on vocals as the younger Berry mimicked the guitar riffs and signature “duck walk” that made his grandfather an international music sensation and culture shifter.

After he showed the crowd he knows how to have a good time – and compelled them to do the same – Batiste demonstrated his musical ingenuity.

Friday’s event will also include LeFlore and her older sister Hope Price Lindsey, who is featured in the film, as well as Aaron Quick, Executive Director of The St. Louis Poetry Center. Media and literary professors from SLU and Wash U will be on hand– including the award winning poet and culture critic Eileen Giselle, who is scheduled to perform some of her poetry. The poetry stage will

He sat down at the piano and impressed the audience with a few bars of Beethoven’s “Für Elise.” He then shifted the chords to give the world-renowned piano piece a jazzy feel before it was transitioned again to resemble classic gospel. He seamlessly moved into “When The Saints Go Marching In” before diving into “The Star Spangled Banner.” He performed the National Anthem in the style of Bach, Mozart and former St. Louis resident Scott Joplin.

Another stunning moment from the show was his nod to Ray Charles with an excerpt of “The Right Time” that showcased the breathtaking vocal chops of his background singer Desz.

continue on Saturday with “Unapologetic Voices” at 1:15 p.m. kicking off with sounds from DJ Killionaire.

“Think in the vein of ‘Def Poetry Jam’ and ‘Versus and Flow,’” LeFlore said. “And we are doing it right here in the Lou.” The all-star poetry lineup for this set will include other performers such as Maurice Minor and St. Louis Youth Poet Laureate emerita Dya

For his finale, Batiste and his band started a second line that carried on as he made his way through the entire space. Led by him on the melodica, the crowd sang along for “You Are My Sunshine,” “Killing Me Softly” and “Amazing Grace. The audience was given a new perspective with respect to an additional perspective of the size of the Muny as the second line carried on so long that some in the audience lost interest.

Batiste labored through his finale. But Ross gave the audience a never ending introduction treatment. A masterfully edited video featuring hilarious banter from her family demonstrated her playful side. But the clips kept going and going – and going. When she emerged with

Abbas. The poetry continues later that afternoon with an inspiring set called “Word Warriors” at 4 p.m. Among the artists on the schedule are the current St. Louis Poet Laureate Pacia Anderson and her predecessor Jane Ellen Ibur. Sunday will begin with “Drum Voices,” which will feature mic drop ins from locals like Felice McClendon. She is known to many as Executive Director of Delmar Main

a performance of “I’m Coming Out,” the overwhelming sentiment was “finally.”

But Ross hit the stage with intention as she powered through “More Today Than Yesterday” and a Supremes tribute that featured “Baby Love,” “Can’t Hurry Love” and “Stop in the Name of Love.”

The video element accompanied Ross throughout her set. A montage of music videos, behind the scenes footage and family photos were in constant rotation as she performed. Some moments – like her performance of “Why Do Fools Fall In Love” were in sync with the setlist.

While Ross was essentially stationary, which is uncharacteristic of her shows – even as recently

Street, but she also is a poet and writer. This set will also include members of the Eugene B. Redmond Writers Club paying tribute to its founder and namesake and members who have shared their gifts through the organization – including a few who have passed on. Charlois Lumpkin and Jaye Willies are among those coming to shower the founder with word flowers.

“This is a tribute to Dr. Eugene B. Redmond.” said LeFlore, “I felt it was very necessary to add this set because we are losing so many unsung word warriors. I try to do things in the tradition of my mother, and recognize my elders that are still here.”

The final set of the evening is called “Tongue and Fire” that will feature Dr. Redmond’s daughter, Dr. Treasure Shields Redmond, starting at 2:30 p.m. The set will also feature T Spirit, Poet Lighting, Aja La’Starr, and Elijah Juan Ali.

“I know there are more voices out there,” LeFlore said. “So, this will kick off what will ultimately become a monthly soiree salon at High Low with the Shirley Bradley LeFlore Foundation.”

LeFlore believes MATI’s ‘Poetry in Motion’ segment is an opportunity for folk to see what SBLF is doing – and “become a part of the movement, and keep it going.”

“My mother was big on making sure there was a center piece that poets and other artists felt like they had, a place to come and gather,” LeFlore said. “So, this is just the tip of the iceberg.”

Music at the Intersection (MATI) takes place from September 12-14 in Grand Center. For more information, including a full schedule, visit matistl.org.

as last year’s tour stop at The Fox – she kept the audience’s attention for the entire show. Despite the sedentary nature of her performance, she looked phenomenal and gave good vocals.

“Touch Me in the Morning,” Her rendition of “Don’t Explain” from “Lady Sings the Blues” and the “Love Hangover” and “Higher” mashup were among her best. After her second wardrobe change she brought daughter Rhonda Ross for a duet of “Count On Me.” Rhonda wrote the song for her mother’s Grammynominated 2021 album “Thank You.”

As per usual, Ross thought she was closing the show with her version of Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.”

Photo by Clayvon Ambrose Wesley / Courtesy of The Shirley Bradley LeFlore Foundation

n K’La Dee, Charlois Lumpkin, Julius B. Anthony, Lyah LeFlore, Dr. Jason Vasser-Elong, David AN Jackson and St. Louis Poet Laureate Pacia Elaine will be among the artists to share their talents next weekend for Music at the Intersection’s inaugural poetry segment ‘Poetry in Motion: St. Louis Poets Take the Mic LIVE.’ Programming will take place from September 12-14 at High Low.

who wowed the crowd when she mixed ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” into Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.”

The entertainment for the night reflected RAC’s vast and diverse footprint.

There was an acrobatic performance from Circus Harmony, a jazzy vocal performance from Lady J Huston – who also played the trumpet and a rousing poetry recitation from St. Louis City’s 2025 Poet Laureate Pacia Anderson. There was even an elaborate fashion showcase brought by “Black Creatives in the Lou.” Their contribution included two garments from local designers, one on a mannequin and the other on a model that did a lap around the room under the glimmering lights, appearing as a figure of walking

art. The showcase featured designs from Rustic Rich, J. Stockings, and Project Runway season 8 finalist Michael Drummond. Each design brought a separate personality, all curated by Yoro of Yoro Styles. The pieces were accentuated by geometric updos and ponytails fashioned by Tendai Morris, founder and CEO of the internationally recognized Whisper Whip product line, and the Whisper Whip style team.

The birthday celebration was also attended by Jill McGuire, founding executive director of the Regional Arts Commission.

“It’s so wonderful that this amazing work continues,” McGuire told The American.

She held the position for 30 years and shared with the audience how she oversaw a vital bill as it was written into Missouri state law. A 3.75% tax added to all hotel and motel rooms within St.

Louis city boundaries creating a fund for art and artist development.

These funds go directly to supporting dance companies like Afriky Lolo, St. Louis’s premier West African dance company for 30 years who performed at the celebration with a hypnotic drum performance that demanded guests to dance along. The audience got their chance to participate at the end of their performance when founder and director Diadie Bathily came out and taught the crowd a few traditional dance moves.

Funds also go to supporting the half-century old St. Louis Irish Art school of music and dance. They performed several Irish dances at the celebration. They skipped and leapt in the air to music from the band of strings that accompanied them.

During her remarks, current RAC President and CEO Vanessa Cooksey shared the process of how Regional

Arts Commissioners are appointed.

The Mayor is responsible for appointing seven. The St. Louis County Executive appoints eight.

“This work doesn’t happen without good government,” Cooksey said as she reiterated the influence of local government on the organization.

“At a time when it is sometimes difficult to find common ground, the arts bring us together,” said County Executive Sam Page. “[It] helps us get past our differences, unites us and resets our perspective.”

RAC’s party – and all who helped them celebrate – reinforced the notion that this region is a better, more informed and connected place thanks to the arts and culture community. It is work fostered through and supported by RAC that allows for the type of connections which make a thriving arts scene possible.

OBITUARY

Charles Edward Kirksey, longtime St. Louis judge and defense attorney, dies at 78

By Wendy Todd St. Louis American

Charles Edward Kirksey, who dedicated his life to serving the St. Louis community as a defense attorney and circuit court judge during a 50-year legal career, has died. He was 78.

Kirksey, who grew up near The Ville and in Richmond Heights, died Aug, 20. He is remembered by many as a scholar and a gentleman. He graduated from Saint Louis University High School, where he played football until he sustained an injury that would not allow him to continue the sport. That injury set him on a different path.

He went on to Saint Louis University and graduated from its law school, where he joined Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He graduated in 1973. He worked for Legal Aid Society for one year before opening his own law practice, Bell, Kirksey and Associates.

Attorney Booker T. Shaw, a partner at Thomas and Colburn who was also one of Kirksey’s golf buddies, described him as one of the best attorneys in St. Louis.

— whenever I needed any kind of legal assistance or anything or advice,” said radio personality Hank Thompson, one of Kirksey’s closest friends, whom he called his “road dog.” One of Thompson’s dearest memories during his longtime friendship with Kirksey was going to the Million Man March in Washington, D.C. The two got a van and drove to the historic event with their partners. That was one of numerous road trips the two would take, often to sporting events. His daughter, Lauren Kirksey, recalled that her father spent a lot of time on golf courses. Ruth Park in University City was one of his favorite places to play. She also remembers her father as a disciplinarian who balanced strict expectations with understanding and care.

Charles Edward Kirksey

“Charles Kirksey was a brilliant attorney and a gentleman,” said Madeline Franklin, the founding executive director of STL Village. “He, along with his partners, James Bell, Helton Reed, Stan Richardson and Henry Thomas, had the premiere criminal defense firm in the city. I was impressed with his command of the English language. He was a dapper dresser and always polished. He will be missed.”

Concerned about creating an accessible legal process, Kirksey not only worked diligently for his clients and aimed to apply equitable rulings while on the bench, he also took on pro bono cases. He lent his time to Mound City Bar, a professional organization for Black lawyers in St. Louis. And he and some colleagues formed a political group to participate in local government. Aztec Associates was a group of lawyers and other professionals that supported local campaigns.

Kirksey also is remembered as a good friend.

“He was always there for me — always

“He would always sit me down in his office or my room, close the door and have a talk with me,” she said. “And he would speak to me in a very calm manner, run through the situation and let me know why I was wrong.”

Educational performance was a priority for Kirksey, who would even expect his children to not only write a book report for school, but a separate one for him as well. Kirksey also had his children read passages from the Bible at Sunday dinners. He wanted his children to get as much out of their education as possible to succeed.

But times with her father weren’t always so serious as Lauren recalls being able to bring out his silly side that not many others saw.

“I do think he would like to be remembered as well as a committed father,” she said. “I will say that he was always there for us.”

Kirksey’s ex-wife, Kathy HesterKirksey, died last year. He is survived by his four children, Lauren, Charles III, Christian and Caitlyn Kirksey and grandchildren, Amaree and Nova Kirksey.

Shameem Clark Hubbard, Jacqueline Dace and Bethany Johnson-Javois

Kim Franks (@liberatedrootco), Stefani Weeden-Smith, and Dr. RW Smith Tyler Small and Mvstermind

A fashion show brought models into the crowd at Union Station during the Regional Arts Commission’s Birthday Bash

Attendees pack Midway West at St. Louis Union Station on August 28, 2025, for the Regional Arts Commission’s 40th Birthday Bash — a sold-out celebration marking four decades of supporting arts and culture in St. Louis through community, creativity, and collaboration.

All photos by Taylor Marrie/ St. Louis American

GUARDIAN AD LITEM –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 September 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.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BID

Sealed bids for the Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center Waste Water Treatment Improvements (8709-37), St. Louis County, Missouri, will be received online at Virtubid with QuestCDN, UNTIL 2:00 PM, September 24, 2025, then publicly opened. A NonMandatory Pre-Bid meeting will be held for this project at 11:00 AM on September 9, 2025, at the Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center Conference Room, 11715 Cragwold Road, Kirkwood, MO 63122 (located between I-270 and Geyer Road, just north of I-44). Project bid documents must be downloaded at https:// mdc.mo.gov/bidding, Quest number 9766655, for a non-refundable cost of $42.00, which will add your company to the Planholder List and allow access to VirtuBid for online submittal of your bid. For project questions contact Matt Boessen, (573) 644-2302 , bidding questions contact Veronica Mecko, (573) 522-4115 ext. 3744. QuestCDN Customer Support is available at 952-233-1632 or info@questcdn.com

St. Louis Univ. PhD Biology or related. Postdoc exp. Pub. record. Full descr. & apply slu.wd5. myworkdayjobs.com/

SEALED BIDS

Bids for REBID Renovate Interior & Exterior at St. Clair Readiness Center, Project No. T2326-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, October 2, 2025. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

HIRING TWO PART TIME STAFF

Old North St. Louis Restoration Group is hiring two part time staff for community asset development and building stabilization management. For detailed job description and application information go to onslrg.org/jobs. Funded in part through SLFRF from the Dept of the Treas. and the City of St Louis’ CDA. Equal Opportunity Employer

VITESSE

GROUP INC HAS MULTI OPNGS IN CHESTERFIELD, MO

Vitesse Group Inc has Multi Opngs in Chesterfield, MO. Software Developer ($112,174.00 /Yr.): Analyze, Review, Plan, Assist & Work w/users to resolve production incidents in a timely manner. Software Engineer (Wage: $ 93,725.00/ Yr.): Responsible, Involve, Perform, Prep, Develop & maintain web services test scripts. Data Engineer (Wage: $ 75,962.00/Yr): Design, Create, Perform & develop resources to turn data into meaningful info analytics. Sr. Software Developer ($133,973.00/Yr.): Develop, Resolves, Conduct & Serve as task leader. Sr. Business Analyst ($111,509/Yr.): Analyze, Plan, Assess, Test & ensure that the targets & deadlines are met in due time. Business Analyst (Wage: $ 93,725/Yr): Work, Review, Perform, Assist, Provide & Perform data analysis at various stages of project. All position req trvl/reloc to various unanticipated client locations throughout the U.S w/expenses paid by employer. Standard Company Benefits offered. Mail resume & position to, President, Vitesse Group Inc, 400 Chesterfield Center, Suite 459, Chesterfield, MO, 63017 or e-mail to immigration@vitesse-group.com EOE.

PEST CONTROL SERVICES RFP 2025

The Saint Louis Zoo seeks bids from qualified firms to submit proposals. Bid documents are available as of 9/3/25 on the Saint Louis Zoo website: stlzoo.org/vendor

SEALED BIDS

SEALED BIDS

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.

which the budgets for each fund show to be required from the property tax for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. For the Community Mental Health Fund, a rate of $0.09 on each $100 assessed property value was authorized by the vote of the people on November 3, 1992. For the Community Children’s Services Fund a rate of $0.19 on each $100 assessed property value was authorized by the vote of the people on November 2, 2004. For the Community Children’s Services Fund an increase to a rate of $0.2443 on each $100 assessed property value was authorized by the vote of the people on November 3, 2020. The maximum tax rate permitted by Article X, Section 22 of the Missouri Constitution and Section 137.073 R.S.Mo for the Community Mental Health Fund is $0.0878, and for the Community Children’s Services Fund

development projects must complete (as a condition of funding, not required for application): 1) Spire High Efficiency Program Rebate application, or, 2) Ameren Missouri Energy Efficiency Rebate and Incentive application. AHC recommends all construction projects track and benchmark energy use.

All new construction projects must adhere to the Commission’s Universal Design requirements. These requirements may be downloaded from www.affordablehousingcommissionstl.org

Applications may be obtained on the internet at the Affordable Housing Commission’s website, www.affordablehousingcom missionstl.org, Monday, September 8, 2025. It is anticipated that allocations relating to applications submitted in this funding round will be made by mid-January 2026. Frequently Asked Questions and the How to Apply for Affordable Housing Trust Fund Guide will be posted on the Affordable Housing Commission website beginning, Monday, September 8, 2025. The deadline for submission is 4:00 p.m., Friday, October 17, 2025. For additional information, please call the Affordable Housing Commission at 314-657-3880. # # #

Bids for Tusconia Reclamation Project, Barton County, Project No. Y2303-01, will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, September 30, 2025. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

SEALED BIDS

Bids for New Pavilion, Missouri Veterans Home, Mt. Vernon, Missouri Project No. U2417-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, October 7, 2025. Project information available at: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities

Bids for Improvements for Infection Control, Mount Vernon Veterans Home, Project No. U2301-04 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 9/25/25. Project information available at: http:// oa.mo.gov/ facilities

SEALED BIDS

A public hearing for purchase of real estate at 74 Kearney St, St Louis, will be held by FMDC, State of MO, at the South St. Louis County Service Center, 7545 South Lindbergh Blvd., Mehlville MO at 10:00 AM, September 5, 2025. Further information available at: https://oa.mo. gov/facilities/

Advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, imitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial\status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.“We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons

Religion From mega church pastor to prison and back

Kirbyjon Caldwell reflects on his journey

By Von Jiles Houston Defender

Kirbyjon Caldwell shares the seven-year journey from head of a mega church, Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston, to an indictment for defrauding investors of $3.5 million, to a return as a lay pastor.

The saga began when, in a historical move, Caldwell paid over $1 million in restitution plus $600,000 in investor fees before being indicted. He was later sentenced to six years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud on March 11, 2020. On June 22, 2021, he reported to the Federal Correctional Institution, a low-security facility in Beaumont, Texas.

While Caldwell was released from prison in September 2024, that release was to home confinement. He recently completed his full prison term on July 31, 2025. The uniqueness of Caldwell’s conversation with the Houston Defender reveals his innermost thoughts and feelings about the past, with him reflecting on his journey from indictment to serving time in prison.

Reflecting on his journey

Defender: Please walk us through the events that led to

your conviction.

Kirbyjon Caldwell: I made some mistakes. The primary mistake I made was not doing a sufficient job of vetting the product, the process, the people and all of that. During the press conference I held, I had in my right hand about 14 or 15 documents, and I said, I am not guilty because I have 16 contracts in my hand signed by individuals or institutions who have promised to buy the bonds. Little did I know that if a contract does not have a performance date in it, it is not an enforceable agreement. I had 16 agreements, none of which had enforceable contracts. I did not know that. So here we are today. Defender: When you think of those harmed, emotionally or financially, what did you do to settle up, and what did you say to them?

KC: I accept full responsibility for my actions. It was never my intent to hurt or harm anyone; that was expressed specifically in the fact that I paid everybody back. Before my indictment, I refunded slightly over $1 million to those who requested their money back. And prior to sentencing, I paid full restitution to the investors/victims — my half of the restitution and my co-defendant’s portion of the restitution. I then paid investors slightly over $600,000. That represents the fees that some investors incurred when

they pulled money out of their accounts to invest in this deal. It took every penny that I had to do it, but I did it.

The man today

Defender: What’s been the most surprising challenge or joy you’ve encountered since re-entering public life?

KC: One of our local television affiliates reported on the $3.6 million fraud case. They did not report that I paid everybody back. But what I could not wrap my mind around was

why they wanted to say, I stole money from elderly members of the church. Now I understand they’ve since printed a retraction. My Achilles heel, my soft spot is for elderly and members. What kind of preacher would steal from his members? Elderly? Man, that’s not me. And it just hurt my heart.

Defender: What impact has this chapter in your life had on your family, especially your children?

KC: The most painful days in Beaumont were missing the birthdays of my family mem-

Re-entering public life, Kirbyjon Caldwell confronts lingering stigma while leaning on faith, family and community support.

I’ve been reflecting on the challenges that emerge when leaders operate from insecurity — when the performance of confidence replaces the practice of humility, and when politics eclipse purpose.

One pattern I’ve observed: the tendency to speak authoritatively about things one doesn’t fully understand. When we pretend to be more fluent than we are, it reveals fragility, not strength. It reveals a discomfort with saying, I don’t know, but I’m willing to learn. True leadership begins in the courage to be curious, to be open, and to grow publicly.

“Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.” — Proverbs 1:5 (NIV) The Quiet Cost of Exclusion

Another tendency I’ve seen is pouring into people who share a similar background or professional path — while unintentionally sidelining others who don’t. This creates insiders and outsiders. A belief that some teams are the “real deal,” while others are secondtier.

Leadership isn’t about exclusivity. It’s about elevation. Our job isn’t to be the star; it’s to make stars of others. The greatest leaders unify. Because none of us succeeds alone — we rise with a supporting cast.

Control Disguised as Planning

Some leaders also struggle with ambiguity. They seek immediate clarity and control the moment an idea enters their domain — even in the earliest, most exploratory stages. I’ve seen brainstorming sessions shift this way: early ideas were interpreted as threats to authority rather than invitations to collaborate. What began as dialogue became a silent power grab.

Real leadership doesn’t require being at the center of every decision. It requires building trust, welcoming possibility, and holding outcomes with open hands — not closed fists.

bersYou don’t get that back. Thanksgivings, those are painful too. But the Lord blessed me to see another Thanksgiving. Graduations, you don’t get those back. My daughter made a statement once while I was in Beaumont that seared my soul. She said, “Daddy, one of the things that I regret most about you being in Beaumont is that you are missing the opportunity to watch me become a young lady.” So, as you can see, those were the tough parts.

The road ahead

Defender: What’s next for Kirbyjon Caldwell?

KC: First of all, I’m working on a book — books actually. In terms of my involvement here in the city, I will be doing a lot of preaching and a lot of teaching. I’m going to be very involved in the community. So, at the end of the day, we are going to do all we can to impact, in a positive way, and uplift the community going forward as we have in the past.

You Don’t Have to Tear

Others Down to Rise

Every organization goes through realignment. But I’ve seen leaders use those moments to compete, not collaborate. “Give me more responsibility — I’ll do better than they will.” The intent is framed as ambition, but the strategy is often subtraction — shrinking others to make room for self.

If you want to grow your influence, do it by lifting others. Because tearing others down to rise isn’t strategy — it’s survivalism dressed in ambition.

When Influence

Becomes Manipulation

Then there’s politicking — the quiet campaigning behind closed doors to steer outcomes for personal gain. This doesn’t look like collaboration — it looks like consensus-manufacturing. It’s not about aligning people around the mission, but around a personality.

The danger? It erodes trust. Even good ideas lose credibility when motives are murky. People start asking: Is this really about the business? Or about someone’s platform?

What’s Missing?

Here’s what’s missing in these leadership behaviors:

Authenticity over authority. Posturing creates distance, not credibility.

Servanthood over self-promotion.

Leadership is a stewardship — it’s about what you give, not what you get. Vision for the collective, not personal gain. The best ideas are team ideas. Emotional maturity. Real leaders can sit in tension without trying to control every variable.

• A kingdom mindset. Kingdom-minded leaders plant seeds they may never harvest. They lead from love, not fear.

Final Word

A company isn’t a battlefield. It’s not about capturing territory. It’s about contributing value.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” — Philippians 2:3 (NIV) That’s the leadership standard I strive for. Not perfection — purpose. Not control — contribution. When that becomes our collective posture, we don’t just build better organizations — we build better people.

Photo courtesy of the Houston Defender

HealtH & Wellness HealtH & Wellness

Back to school the healthy way

Offered cancer screenings, school supplies and resources

Asthma hits Blacks hardest

By StatePoint

Four ways you can support young men’s mental health

There is an epidemic of loneliness affecting boys and young men in America. The fascination with recent shows like Netflix’s “Adolescence,” Jonathan Haidt’s “The Anxious Generation,” and the return of the online “Ice Bucket Challenge” spotlight this youth mental health crisis in important ways that have reached millions.

It is no secret how the mental health crisis has impacted boys and young men, making the conversation more important than ever.

Meanwhile, statistics show that large numbers of boys and young men are feeling driftless and alienated; and so-called

AI “aggro-rithms” are filling the void by increasingly driving them toward misogynistic and anti-democratic content online.

Traditional gender roles have resulted in boys and young men often being left out of the mental health conversation and care, despite being at particularly high risk for poor mental health outcomes. They are the least likely to seek mental health support and are four times more likely to die by suicide than women in the United States.

“Supporting boys in addressing mental health challenges begins with ensuring that they have the role models to learn how to build healthy relationships,

See MENTAL, D7

Don’t be afraid to ask simple questions that show concern. If there are specific changes you’ve noticed, mention them.

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A back to school fair that was good for the community’s health

Dillon Foundation offered cancer screenings along with supplies and resources

By Kenya Vaughn St. Louis American

Fifteen years ago, No Limit Haircare owners Buffy and Dwann Dillon launched a school supply giveaway out of their Spanish Lake salon as a way of paying their success forward.

After only three years of presenting their Back to School Bash, Dwann Dillon died of colon cancer at age 39.

Toward the end of Dwann’s battle with his disease, Buffy made him two promises. She assured him that the good work they were doing through the backto-school bash would continue — and that she would never let the world forget her husband’s name.

The event has grown exponentially. It outgrew the salon and moved to the North County Rec Plex.

As the Dwann Dillon Colon Cancer Foundation’s 15th Annual Back to School Bash came to a close on the afternoon of Sunday, Aug. 10, Buffy didn’t appear the least bit exhausted or emotionally taxed after completing an event with so many moving parts.

“The foundation began by me basically telling him I wasn’t going to let the world forget his name,” Buffy said. “And, I mean, if you’re here, what are you doing on Earth if you are not helping somebody?”

Her intention for the fair was beyond offering help. Buffy wanted to provide life-changing — and possibly life-saving — services.

“I didn’t want it to be an event where kids play in a bounce house, get a bag and walk out,” Buffy said. “It was my hope

that at least one of the vendors — either on the inside or the outside — made a difference in their lives.”

In addition to the nearly 500 backpacks they gifted, the event had teeth-cleaning, hearing and vision screenings.

But the services that were closest to Buffy’s heart were the colon and prostate cancer screenings offered by

PECaD (Program for the Elimination of Cancer Disparities) — an initiative of Siteman Cancer Center and Washington University.

“It was another way we wanted to make sure we touched lives,” Buffy said. DaVonte Hughes, a rapper and 22-year-old cancer survivor, was also among the roster of groups and individu-

als who entertained those who attended.

“When I heard his story, I said, ‘I’ve got to get you here to perform,’” Buffy said. “I wanted to show people that this is a young man who battled cancer and overcame.”

In addition to the supplies, screenings and services. Youngsters received fresh haircuts and styles thanks to her partnership with Craig Blac’s Community Cuts for Kids.

Andrea Montgomery has worked closely with Blac since the beloved former St. Louis radio personality started the initiative 25 years ago.

“It’s so often that we don’t have a lot of what we need — when we need it — around back to school time,” Montgomery said. “Craig has been adamant about continuing to come back to St. Louis. He doesn’t even live here anymore. Him being so committed to our city and our region drives me.”

The W founder and owner Wydonna Sumpter has had a presence at the backto-school bash by way of Community Cuts for Kids for the past six years.

“I’m from Pruitt-Igoe, so I know what it feels like to go back to school without new clothes or shoes and without my hair done,” Sumpter said. “To see these kids, smile and go back to school with what everybody else has makes me feel so good. All I am is a ‘big mama.’ We are the village that is helping shape the child — and through events like this, they know they can depend on us.”

If Buffy’s late husband could speak to her, she knows without a doubt what he would say.

“He’d tell me, ‘Buffy, we did it again,’” Buffy said. “I want to keep making him proud and letting him know, ‘We didn’t forget about you Wann.’ A lot of people leave this earth and people forget about them. I promised him, ‘We won’t ever forget you.’”

Buffy feels her husband is beyond worthy of the recognition she continually gives him through the foundation.

“One way or another, we wanted to make sure that we touched lives,” Buffy said.

Photo by Kenya Vaughn / St. Louis American

Joseph of Precise Haircuts shapes up Nikolai Adams, 7, at the Dwann Dillon Colon Cancer Foundation’s 15th Annual Back to School Bash on Sunday, Aug. 10, at North County Rec Plex.

Why pregnant women should receive this very important test

By StatePoint

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection that can spread to a fetus during pregnancy or a newborn during labor. When this happens, it is known as congenital syphilis and can result in miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death or medical issues for the baby, including deafness, blindness, bone deformities and meningitis.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, congenital syphilis has tripled in recent years, with more than 3,800 cases reported nationwide in 2023 alone. This is the highest number reported in one year since 1994.

“While serious, congenital syphilis

is preventable through timely screenings before and during pregnancy,” says Margaret Ikeda, MD, MS, FAAP, board-certified pediatrician, Yale University School of Medicine, and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Section on Infectious Diseases.

To help pregnant women protect their babies, the AAP is sharing some vital information:

Steps to take during pregnancy: Testing and treatment can help protect your baby. The AAP recommends all pregnant women be tested for syphilis during early pregnancy and that high-risk

See PREGNANT, D7

The AAP recommends all pregnant women be tested for syphilis during early pregnancy and that high-risk pregnant women be tested again during the third trimester and at delivery.

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Asthma hits Blacks hardest; Black women at greatest risk

By Wendy Todd St. Louis American

Asthma disproportionately affects Black Americans and other minority groups, with the disparities driven by a complex web of environmental factors, social conditions and systemic racism, including socioeconomic barriers

Black women are three times as likely to die from asthma, making them the demographic with the highest mortality rate from the disease.

Asthma Peak Week, observed Sept. 15-21, highlights the urgent need to address these inequities and raises awareness about managing the chronic disease. It’s always the third week in September, when asthma attacks tend to spike due to a confluence of conditions.

Environmental factors, such as poor housing, higher exposure to pollutants and allergens can contribute to poor asthma outcomes. Predominantly Black neighborhoods that were historically redlined continue to experience the greatest exposure to air pollution from industrial facilities, traffic and other sources. Pollution contributes to airway inflammation and worsens asthma symptoms.

Poverty and lack of access to quality education and healthcare are some social factors that make asthma more difficult to manage. People with low incomes are more likely to experience poor health. A lack of health education and therefore a diminished ability to self-advocate with medical providers also hinders health outcomes.

For example, some medical providers use a technique called racial norming, where race is used as a biological factor to assess health, which can lead to inaccurate readings that prevent additional medical care. Patients should know whether assessments accurately reflect their health.

Socioeconomic challenges, including being uninsured or underinsured, create another barrier to effective asthma care. In 2022, nearly 11% of Black Americans lacked health insurance.

The Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America (AAFA) was founded to sup-

port people with asthma and help them effectively manage the disease. The organization also acknowledges that the Black community is disproportionately affected by asthma and provides resources to help address it.

The organization helps those with asthma access treatment and offers a pri-

vate Facebook support group for Black women, called AAFA’s Black Women’s Asthma Alliance, where members can ask questions, learn more about asthma care and meet others in a supportive space.

Asthma is a grave, chronic condition that can often be dismissed or played down. According to the federal Centers

for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2021 not only did nearly 25 million people in the U.S. have the disease, but an estimated 3,517 died from it. And contrary to a widespread cultural belief, people do not “outgrow” the disease. While symptoms may lessen over time for some, it does not simply disappear or become “outgrown.”

In addition to accessing quality healthcare and treatment, it is important to work in tandem with a medical provider to ensure effective management of the disease. The AAFA advises patients to see a specialist to pinpoint triggers and decide the best way to manage them, stressing that self-advocacy is critical to getting the right treatment plan.

Kenny Mendez, president and CEO of AAFA wants patients to feel informed and confident when speaking with medical providers about their care.

“We want to make sure that people are educated and know how to advocate for themselves when they go see their doctor and ask the right questions,” he said. Mendez advises patients to be clear about their health status and ask specific questions. For example, “I don’t feel my asthma is well controlled because I’m having asthma attacks. I’m having to use my rescue inhaler all the time because I can’t breathe. So, what are my other options?”

Along with the care from a medical provider, the responsibility of managing asthma is also personal. For example, being aware of your home environment is important in mitigating asthma triggers. Removing dust, not having rugs and investing in an air purifier are some suggestions to create an asthma-friendly atmosphere.

Nearly 25 million people in the U.S. had asthma in 2021, but with more awareness and effective treatment, more symptoms can be managed, more attacks can be prevented and more lives can be saved.

Wendy Todd is a member of Report for America, which supports local journalists who cover under-reported issues and communities.

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Socioeconomic challenges, including being uninsured or underinsured, create a barrier to effective asthma care. In 2022, nearly 11% of Black Americans lacked health insurance.

The mortgage math every homebuyer should know

Buying a home is one of the most exciting and financially significant steps you can take. Before you fall in love with a front porch or backyard, it’s important to understand the numbers behind the purchase. Let’s break down the math of buying a $250,000 home, so you may make informed decisions with confidence.

Down Payment

Your down payment sets the tone for your mortgage. While some programs allow as little as 3% down, putting down more can reduce your monthly payment and reduce or eliminate mortgage insurance.

• 3% down = $7,500

• 10% down = $25,000

• 20% down = $50,000

Some homebuyers, including first-time buyers, may qualify for assistance programs to help with this upfront cost.

Loan Amount and Interest

Let’s say you put down 10%, leaving you with a $225,000 mortgage. With a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 6.5% annual percentage rate (APR) for this example, your monthly principal and interest payment would be around $1,422

Calculating Mortgage Payments – each monthly mortgage payments include several items.

Principal and Interest – goes towards paying the lender and reducing the amount you owe on the mortgage. An amortization table will demonstrate the percentage of your payment over time that goes towards the principal, building equity, and the amount going towards interest. Over time the principal portion of the payment grows while the interest portion decreases.

Taxes

and Insurance – monthly mortgage payments In St. Louis include property taxes averaging about 1.25% of the home’s value annually. For a $250,000 home, that’s roughly $260/month. Homeowners insurance may add another $100/month, depending on your coverage. The amount you pay for taxes and insurance will vary over time and the cost may be adjusted annually, based on your escrow balance.

PMI and Other Costs – for homebuyers with a down payment under 20%, expect to

pay mortgage insurance — typically $50 to $150/month. You’ll also need to budget for closing costs (2–5% of the home price), maintenance, and utilities. In addition to monthly mortgage insurance, FHA mortgages incur up-front mortgage insurance, which is included in closing costs and not part of a monthly payment.

Total Monthly Cost

Here’s a sample monthly breakdown for a buyer with 10% down:

• Mortgage: $1,422

• Taxes: $260

• Insurance: $100

• PMI: $100

Estimated monthly cost: $1,882

Stifel Bank & Trust: Your Mortgage Partner

When it comes to financing your home, Stifel Bank & Trust offers personalized mortgage solutions designed to fit your financial goals. Whether you›re a firsttime buyer or looking to refinance, Stifel’s experienced mortgage professionals can guide you through every step of the process. With competitive rates, flexible loan options, and a commitment to customer service, Stifel Bank & Trust partners with homebuyers to make homeownership more accessible and less stressful. Our team understands the local market and is ready to help you navigate the numbers with confidence.

To learn more about the homebuying process, visit https://stifelbank.banzai.org/wellness for educational resources or contact Stefanie Mitchell at mitchellst@stifelbank. com or (314) 317-1235

Get started here: www.StifelMortgage. com or call (314) 317-6900 for additional information.

Stifel Bank & Trust, NLMS #375103

Please contact your Stifel Bank & Trust Lender for loan program details. This information is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to extend consumer credit as defined by section 1026.2 of Regulation “Z.” Interest rate, program terms, and conditions are subject to change without notice.

Stifel Bank & Trust offers mortgage services to clients of Stifel and current and prospective homeowners in the St. Louis Metro Area of Missouri and Illinois.

Mental

Continued from D2

ultimately leading them to take healthier actions, and create safer communities for all,” says Brian O’Connor, vice president at Futures Without Violence, a national nonprofit.

For nearly 40 years, Futures Without Violence has pioneered programs and resources for advocates, policymakers and other professionals to foster safe, healthy communities.

Through its Engaging Men programming, the organization is working to mitigate online dangers for boys and men, addressing the mental health crisis among them by connecting them with trusted mentors, and is supporting them to engage in healthier relationships.

One of their efforts is a program called Team: Changing Minds (T:CM), which launched three years ago after a $5 million grant through Harry’s Open Mind Initiative. Training already-embedded adults in the lives of kids, like sports coaches, teachers, mentors and community leaders, to recognize early signs of mental health challenges, the program leverages existing relationships and trust to connect boys and young men to necessary support.

With the support of founding investor Harry’s, and partners FUTURES, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, T:CM has trained over 80,000 adults to-date and is on track to reach over 1 million youth within the next year.

Anyone can be a mental health support

Pregnant

Continued from D4

pregnant women be tested again during the third trimester and at delivery. If you are diagnosed with syphilis, it is important to receive treatment right away. This should be followed by repeat blood tests to make sure the treatment worked. Since you can be infected at any time during pregnancy, your doctor may do the test more than once.

Steps to take after birth: Newborn babies can also be tested and treated for congenital syphilis. As soon as infection is detected, babies should be treated with antibiotics. After the first treatment, babies will have repeated blood tests over several months to

for the boys and men in their life. Here are four simple, everyday actions family members, friends and coaches can take right away:

• Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask simple questions that show concern. If there are specific changes you’ve noticed, mention them. This can be as simple as, “You’ve been less talkative lately, is there anything you’d like to talk about?”

• Listen to understand (not to respond) with empathy. If you’ve shown the young people in your life that you’re someone who really hears them, they may be more likely to talk to you when they are having a rough time.

• Ask for help. You’re not a therapist, and you aren’t expected to have all the answers. Lean on experts (such as school counselors or your child’s pediatrician) and brainstorm others you can call in to be part of the support team. You’re an important piece of this puzzle, but you never have to do this alone.

• If you or someone you know needs help, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by just dialing 988.

To become a Team Changing Minds responder, visit teamchangingminds.org. To learn more about the mental health crisis affecting men and boys, visit futureswithoutviolence.org.

“Focusing on everyday actions to empower boys and young men to step into the simple things they can do as leaders, allies and change-makers is the goal, ” says O’Connor.

make sure the infection is gone, and occasionally, will need to be treated again.

Signs and symptoms to be aware of: The first stage of acquired syphilis can appear as a painless sore on the genitals a few weeks after exposure, however it often goes unnoticed. Unless treated, the infection can spread throughout the body.

Symptoms at this stage can include skin rash, swollen glands, fever, headache, joint aches and fatigue, and can last for months or even come back later if not treated. However, it’s important to understand that you can be infected with syphilis but not feel sick or have any symptoms at all, which is still dangerous for the baby. That’s one reason why testing is so important.

Visit https://www.aap.org/congenitalsyphillis to learn more.

By StatePoint

Your pharmacist is an essential health ally

When you think about your health care team, you likely think first about your doctors. Others, however, play a critical role in helping you be healthy, including your pharmacist.

This is especially true for older adults, according to Dr. Grant Tarbox, national medical executive with Cigna Healthcare Medicare, because they tend to have more chronic conditions than younger people and often rely upon multiple medications to keep them well. In fact, more than half of adults 65 and older report taking four or more prescriptions, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), an independent source for health policy research, polling and news.

Pharmacies and pharmacists have been expanding their roles over the years. Tarbox says the following are among the services you can expect from your pharmacist.

Improving adherence. Not taking your medication as prescribed can result in negative health consequences. Only about 50% of people take their medications as directed due to such reasons as fear and forgetfulness. A pharmacist can help you understand the purpose of each prescription and discuss strategies for taking it correctly. For example, they may simplify your regimen to once- or twice-daily dosages to pair at the same time as a daily activity or recommend digital reminders.

Ensuring safety. More than 1.5 million people visit emergency rooms annually because of adverse drug events, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Older adults are especially susceptible. They may take medications prescribed by several different doctors. This can cause confusion, especially during transitions in care, such as returning home from the hospital. Pharmacists can help reconcile medications during these times, while reducing the risk of errors. Remember to discuss any over-the-counter (OTC) drugs you’re taking, which can have negative side effects, interact poorly with other medi-

cations and food, or even become addictive. Always read and follow instructions for OTC drugs. And ask your pharmacist to run an interactions check of all of your medications.

Providing access to care. Older adults in rural areas or lacking transportation may have difficulty accessing their prescriptions. By utilizing a mail-order pharmacy, you may be able to have a three-month supply of medication delivered, while saving money, too. Ask your insurer for details.

Addressing affordability. According to the KFF, 21% of older adults did not take their medicines as prescribed in the

past year because of cost. Pharmacists can help. Working in concert with your physician, they may be able to suggest a lower cost or generic alternative that is just as effective. Additionally, they can point you toward patient assistance programs, such as those run by pharmaceutical manufacturers, which help eligible patients access medications at little or no cost. Finally, they may be aware of government agencies or other programs that can help with costs. Unfortunately, many people who qualify for these programs don’t even know they exist.

Offering immunizations. Several vaccinations are important for older adults,

Pharmacies and pharmacists have been expanding their roles over the years. As the population ages and the prevalence of chronic diseases grow, you can expect pharmacists to deliver more services.

such as COVID-19, flu, RSV, pneumonia and shingles. But older adults may not get them because of distrust, needle phobia or cost. Your pharmacist can address your concerns and may even be able to offer them on-site. The cost may be covered by a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D plan.

As the population ages and the prevalence of chronic diseases grow, you can expect pharmacists to deliver more services as key members of your health care team, Tarbox said.

For more information about Medicare and pharmaceutical coverage, visit cigna.com/medicare.

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