A cowboy party in the Gateway
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St. Louis American See page C1
The
Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928
CAC Audited AUG. 28 – SEPT. 3, 2025
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Lifetime of leadership “Somehow, I set a model to put the right opportunities or tools in place for young people, the right programs, the right services, and the right people that they could connect with. It’s pretty gratifying to know that I contributed to someone’s well-being.”
Vol. 97 No. 21 COMPLIMENTARY
Gas leak suspected in north St. Louis County explosion By Sylvester Brown Jr. St. Louis American
Photo by Taylor Marrie / St. Louis American
This is the first in a series citing the seven Salute to Excellence in Education awardees.
Dr. Fowler honored for decades of work By Ashley Winters St. Louis American For generations of St. Louis youth, Dr. Flint Fowler has been more than a leader. He has been a mentor, a champion and a steady hand guiding them toward brighter futures. This year, his tireless dedication to education and youth empowerment will be celebrated with the Salute to Excellence in Education Lifetime Achiever Award, presented by the St. Louis American Foundation. It’s a recognition
Dr. James Minor, the Stellar Performer Awardee in 2023, is the chancellor of SIUE.
About Salute to Education
By Raven Whitener St. Louis American
This fall, the St. Louis American Foundation will host its 38th Annual Salute to Excellence in Education Gala, a night dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the educators, leaders and students who make a lasting impact across
Is your property tax fair?
Local sports legend
HEALTH
Closing the maternal health gap
How to appeal your St. Louis home assessment
Almost a decade ago, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths were preventable.
By Wendy Todd St. Louis American
economically challenged community of East St. Louis, Illinois — an Adidascommissioned mural offers a quintessential portrait of the icon known as JJK. Next to the portrait of the four-time
Kally Coleman paid well over market value when she bought her south city home in St. Louis in 2023. The housing market was competitive, and she needed to secure the property quickly because her former home had As of Tuesday, been flooded, she the Board of was ill and her partEqualization ner was terminally had completed ill and needed a 709 appeals. place to live comOf these, 35% fortably during his resulted in lower final days. Coleman taxes, while became one of the 65% had no 37,000 people who change. received a notice this summer saying their property tax bill went up by more than 15%. In 2024, Coleman’s home was valued at $169,222; this year, it could sell for $272,697. Still, she doesn’t believe the assessment of her home for tax purposes is as high as the city has declared, particularly since her home is identical to others on her block that have lower assessments. The city looked at what she paid for
See JJK, A8
See PROPERTY, A6
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SPORTS
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Jackie Joyner-Kersee proudly beamed as she noted that her center annually services 10,000 families and serves about 50,000 meals.
Top local teams seeking nation’s best East St. Louis is headed to the East Coast to take on Bergen Catholic and defending Class 6 state champion DeSmet will begin its season on the road in Nebraska against Creighton Prep.
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See EXPLOSION, A8
See SALUTE, A8
See FOWLER, A6
INSIDE
A massive explosion in north St. Louis County that leveled at least five homes, damaged more than 20 others and sent several residents to the hospital was most likely caused by a natural gas leak, authorities said Wednesday. Investigators have ruled out criminal behavior in the incident that occurred around 9:15 a.m. Monday Family lawnear Black Jack. yers told The St. Louis County American they Police Chief Col. fear the Spencer Kenneth Gregory administration said the “multiwill appeal the house explosion decision. was most likely a natural gas explosion,” adding, “There’s still more work to be done to determine that for sure.” Gregory quashed rumors that a neighborhood meth lab caused the explosion. He cited investigators with the regional bomb and arson squad, who had already ruled out both that possibility and fireworks. Several people were transported to the Mercy Hospital’s burn unit, but no fatalities had been reported as of Wednesday afternoon. Dontea Anthony Jr., 18, however, was taken to a hospital with critical
25 years
JJK Community Center celebrates major milestone By James T. Ingram For The St. Louis American As you drive into the circle of the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center — 25 years after its inception and 30 years after its conception as an institution in the