Social workers help keep St. Louis healthy
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Crockett keeps firing: labels Trump ‘buffoon’
See CROCKETT, A6
COMPLIMENTARY
State again targets innocent Dunne
By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American
Jasmine Crockett, a St. Louis area native, is reminding Donald Trump supporters and Republicans in Congress that she is indeed from the Show Me State. She wants detractors and conspiracy theorists to end their baseless allegation, while they stand with a president she labeled as a “buffoon” on X this week. “Y’all can keep wasting time on conspiracy theories…lies about me (or start paying attention to things that actually impact your life,” she wrote. Among the many unproven and fact less allegations she refutes are claims of “new mysterious wealth.” “Like those that may have engaged in (insider trading) as Trump manipulated the (stock) market and produced more wealth for his rich friends,” she wrote. “[There are] no random mansions, no shady donations (like Elon’s purchase of the Oval
Vol. 97 No. 2
By Alvin A. Reid and Sylvester Brown St. Louis American
Photo courtesy of the AP
Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, seen here speaking during the Democratic National Convention Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, in Chicago, labeled President Trump as a ‘buffoon’ this week on X.
Attorney General Andrew Bailey is again attempting to put Christopher Dunne in prison. The Missouri Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that Bailey, representing the State of Missouri, can appeal a 2024 judgment that exonerated Christopher Dunn of murder, which led to his release from prison. St. Louis Circuit Judge Jason Sengheiser ruled in July 2024 that the testimony leading to Dunn’s conviction for murder May 1990 murder of Ricco Rogers had been recanted. The judge also noted an expert witness who Christopher testified to the inefficiency of some “eyewitDunne ness identifications” and “troubling aspects of the case” in making his ruling. “The Circuit Attorney has made a clear and convincing showing of ‘actual innocence’ that undermines the basis of Dunn’s convictions because in the light of new evidence no juror ‘acting reasonably’ would have found Dunn guilty of the crimes beyond a reasonable doubt,” Sengheiser wrote in his ruling. On May 18, 1990, 15-year-old Rogers was shot and killed in the WellsGoodfellow neighborhood. Dunn, who was 18 years old at the time, was arrested for the murder. The case against Dunn relied solely
See DUNNE, A7
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Former St. Louis Alderwoman Cara Spencer takes the oath of office for mayor of the city of St. Louis from Missouri Supreme Court Judge Robin Ransom Tuesday, Apr. 15, 2025 in City Hall.
Mayor Spencer sworn in as contrasts abound
By Sylvester Brown, Jr. St. Louis American
There were many similarities as well as stark differences in the 2025 and 2021 inauguration ceremonies of Mayors Tishaura Jones and Cara Spencer. First was the size of the two events. There were about five times the number of people who filled City Hall’s rotunda at Spencer’s ceremony than there were at Jones’. That ratio also held true
regarding the number of whites who attended the new mayor’s event. As in 2021, the mayor and comptroller were sworn in on the same day. This year, Spencer and Donna Baringer were sworn in as two of the city’s top three leaders. They join Board of Aldermen President Megan Green. Audience attendance at Jones’ inauguration seemed paltry compared to Spencer’s where the entire floor and all tiers of the rotunda were packed to capacity.
BUSINESS
Per Scholas celebrates 30 years of tuition-free training
Per Scholas is a national organization funded by grants and family foundations that provides free training in IT and cyber security fields. The program lasts 13 to 15 weeks.
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Both events included the presence of aldermen, alderwomen, the president of the board of aldermen and other politicians. But unlike those who shared the stage with Jones, Spencer’s platform included three-term mayor Vincent C. Schoemehl Jr. and fourterm mayor Francis Slay, and oneterm mayor Clarence Harmon. St. Louis County Executive Sam Page, Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore and
See SPENCER, A6
A Red Circle brings ‘Good Food Friday’ to North County By Namratha Prasad St. Louis American A Red Circle, a non-profit organization based in north county, opened its doors to a third space in Pine Lawn on April 10, 2025. The space includes a community garden as well as a kitchen that hosts chefs who teach the community how to bake bread, store food, and other useful kitchen tips. “It’s not just a skill that people learn,” founder and executive director Erica Williams said. “They learn that they belong in the healthy food system. They learn that it doesn’t matter body size or race.” The organization will run its “Good Food Friday” event out of this space, allowing families and residents from all
See RED CIRCLE, A7
LIVING IT
American’s ‘Fab Five’ Boys Hoops Team announced
There were so many talented boys basketball players to choose from in selecting the team but we felt we came up with a tremendous group to represent the city.
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