Home for the holidays Family moves in thanks to Habitat for Humanity St. Louis.
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CAC Audited DEC. 26, 2013 – JAN. 1, 2014
Vol. 84 No. 38 COMPLIMENTARY
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Board moves to fire Art McCoy Ferg-Flor says it has issued undisclosed charges against superintendent The board voted 6-1 on Dec. 11 to issue the notice of charges to Superintendent Art McCoy Jr.
By Dale Singer The Ferguson-Florissant school board has issued a list of charges to Superintendent Art McCoy Jr., now on paid administrative leave, that could lead to his being fired for cause according to the terms of his contract. Details of the charges were not released. The next step is for the board to schedule a hearing on the charges, which may or may not be open to the public, depending on whether McCoy and board members can reach mutual
See McCOY, A6
Chief Dotson asks feds to review Ball shooting FBI investigating Cary Ball Jr. case By Chris King Of The St. Louis American St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson did not tell the media last month when he asked the FBI to review the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s internal investigation of the police shooting of Cary Ball Jr. on April 24. But he did n “I welcome tell Ball’s family. it. I hope the Police Officers Jason FBI makes a Chambers and Timothy very thorough Boyce fired 28 bullets investigation.” at Ball after he fled the scene of an accident – Toni Taylor, Cary following a high-speed Ball Jr.’s mother chase, hitting him 21 times. They claim that Ball, who was armed, aimed his gun at them. The internal police investigation agreed with them and ruled the shooting justified. No civilian witness has claimed that Ball aimed a gun at the officers. Ball’s mother, Toni Taylor, said Chief Dotson expressed concern with those witness statements when he told the family he had asked the FBI to review the police investigation. “I really appreciate that,” Taylor told The
Photo by Wiley Price
See FEDS, A7
Photo by Maurice Meredith
Elegant honorees The Mathews-Dickey Girls’ Program’s 2013 honorees entertained the crowd at Sheer Elegance No. 25, held recently at the Chase Park Plaza, with choreography by The Best Talent Center’s Judy Best-Person. Honorees included Daysha CarverHill, Joye Forrest, Michelle Gaona, Delaney Haynes, Ayran Hudson, Robyn James-Robinson, Lea Jarrett, Jade Joiner, Cydnei McNeal, Taylor Moore-Johnson, Kandis Myton, Jahniece Person, Jamila Scales, Ranisha Shelton, Ranita Shelton, Rayna Sullivan, LaShae Thompson, Khylie Turner, Carissa Ward and Najawah Williams.
Joshua Aiken leaves WUSTL to study refugees in England Joshua Aiken, a senior at Washington University, was one of 32 Americans chosen as a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford in England. He plans to earn master’s degrees in U.S. history and refugee studies.
Joshua Aiken, a senior at Washington University, grew up all over the country. His family moved from New Mexico to Tennessee, California, Texas, Iowa and Arizona. “It made me really conscious of what identity meant in different places,” Aiken said. He often found himself being the only black student in his class – and he noticed how only some of his teachers were sensitive to this. “For example, reading Huckleberry Finn,” he said, “Some teachers took into consideration how a person of color would take that experience.” (A main character in the novel is referred to throughout using the N-word.) Others did not. Since high school, Aiken has been on a journey to study more inclusive policies
See SCHOLAR, A6
Fathers’ Support Center hosts child support symposium By Bridjes O’Neil Of The St. Louis American
Rhodes Scholar, champion of the marginalized By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American
Fathers want answers
The Fathers’ Support Center of St. Louis recently held a child support symposium at the University of Missouri-St. Louis’ Millennium Student Center. The fathers in attendance wanted answers to their questions about paternity, child support payments, visitation custody. n “They know and“Paternity is very important that if you’re to us, gentleman,” said locked up, Raymond Bibb, a child support you can’t pay enforcement specialist with the Missouri Department of Social your child Services’ Family Support support.” Division. “Be sure that child is yours before you sign any – Nichole paperwork.” Foster Genetic testing is free in the state of Missouri and should be taken advantage of, Bibb said, referencing local rapper J-Kwon who was a victim of child support fraud. The men nodded their heads, murmuring agreement. Bibb was the lone male on a panel of four that included Kristen Bogan, legal advisor at Fathers’ Support Center, and two child support enforcement specialists with the state Family Support Division, Nichole Foster and Heather Kley. During an informal Q&A session, men (and one woman) made their way to the mic to address
See FATHERS, A7 Photo by Wiley Price