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2015 Newspaper of the Year!
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St. LouiS AmericAn The
CAC Audited DECEMBER 22 – 28, 2016
Vol. 88 No. 37 COMPLIMENTARY
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Tishaura responds to Post smear Daily paper issues ‘dog whistle’ in coverage of treasurer’s bond deals Tishaura O. Jones, St. Louis treasurer, was among the seven candidates who filed to run for St. Louis mayor when filing opened on Monday, November 28. The primary election is March 7.
By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American A St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter attempted to shred mayoral candidate Tishaura O. Jones’ credibility last week for doing city-treasurer business with a convicted felon who supported her father’s campaign for comptroller in the 1990s. But community members fired back that the newspaper essentially attacked the “Ban the Box” movement – a fight, joined by Jones, to ensure that those who have paid for their crimes through jail time can re-enter the workforce. “I guess they believe in life sentences,” retired St. Louis firefighter Winfield Scott wrote about the Post-Dispatch in a Facebook post. On Friday, December 16, the Post-Dispatch chose to lead the entire width of its front page with a story by reporter Joe Holleman – who writes
n “My father is not running for mayor, I am. And my father doesn’t run the treasurer’s office, I do.” – Tishaura O. Jones
mainly chatty columns and soft human-interest articles – with a bold headline, “Back in business.” The story demonized Tishaura O. Jones for doing business with IFS Securities Inc., a black-owned Atlanta investment banking and brokerage firm where Craig Walker is vice president of public finance.
See TISHAURA, A6
Photo by Wiley Price
St. Louis Family Court settles with DOJ 2015 report showed discrimination against black youth defendants By Mariah Stewart Of The St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price
Snacking for Kwanzaa Manyara Shimbay, Zakiya Penny and Willie Mae Penny learned about healthy snacks while talking to Coco Ali of Coco’s Desserts during the Kwanzaa Festival held Saturday, December 17 at Better Family Life. This year Kwanzaa – which its founder Maulana Kaurenga calls “an ancient and living cultural tradition which reflects the best of African thought and practice” – starts December 26 and concludes on January 1.
A comprehensive agreement reached last week by the U.S. Justice Department and St. Louis County Family Court will force reforms in the county’s faulty juvenile court system. The consent decree mandates that the court double the defense counsel it has available, provide better training in working with juveniles to court personnel, incorporate probable cause determinations into detention hearings, adopt a standardized format for court hearings to ensure that children’s guilty pleas are entered knowingly and voluntarily, hold public meetings and properly collect court data. A 61-page report by Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division released in July 2015 showed that children in St. Louis County were being denied their constitutional rights by not being given access to lawyers and that black minors were discriminated upon by judges and prosecutors. The report stated that black children were 2.5 times more likely than whites to be detained before trial. Black See DOJ, A7
Chums, Inc. strives to enrich the lives of others The St. Louis Chapter of Chums, Inc. donated some Christmas cheer to a family in need in North St. Louis.
Women’s charitable group celebrating 70th anniversary By Pat Matreci For The St. Louis American
n “To support our Chums mission, we provide funding, leadership and special activities.”
What three Virginia State University women began as a means to enhance friendships and have fun in 1946 is observing its 70th anniversary having grown into a national organization that promotes civic, cultural, – Armentha Russell, educational and social St. Louis Chapter president improvements. Chums, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that provides opportunities for women to meet in friendship and fun, to encourage a spirit of helpfulness and to use their talents in service to the community. It now includes 38 chapters across the United States. There are also 20 associate members in areas where there is not a chapter. See CHUMS, A7 Photo by Wiley Price