2019 St. LouiS AmericAn
@stlouisamerican
@stlouisamerican
YEAR IN REVIEW
The
91 years serving, empowering and advocating equity in St. Louis
CAC Audited DEC. 26, 2019 – JAN. 1, 2020
Vol. 91 No. 40 COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
Using black children’s literature to improve reading Tevin Wilson, a facilitator at Nine Network, and Angela Spittal, executive director of Ready Readers, talk with Confluence Academy-Old North first grade students Jermya Walker and Ziya Branom at the Believe Project reading room’s grand opening on Dec. 19.
Fourth Believe Room opened at Confluence Academy-Old North By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American Sixth grader Andre Turner leaned up against a wall-size mural of the new reading center at Confluence Academy-Old North. His head rested on the “B” about a foot taller than him that helped to form the word “Believe.” Turner was trying to stay out of the way as representatives from IKEA, Scholastic, Nine Network, Ready Readers, We Stories and leaders
See READING, A7
Photo by Lance Thurman
Kennedy at the Symphony Soloist Kennedy Holmes is “Pretty In Pink” during the start of the second half of the St. Louis Symphony’s annual A Gospel Christmas Thu. Dec. 19, 2019 at Powell Symphony Hall in Grand Center.
Krewson halts airport process after lawsuits are filed ‘Had we won, it could have unwound the whole thing,’ attorney claims By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American Various people are speculating that Mayor Lyda Krewson – despite her announced reason of lack of support in the community – decided to pull the plug on the airport privatization deal on December 20 because she knew the city was going to lose the pending lawsuit on the lack of transparency, said attorney n “Had we won on either, Mark Pedroli, founder of the Sunshine and Government it could have Accountability Project. unwound the All Pedroli knows, he said, is that they had a very whole thing.” strong case, alleging that St. Louis officials violated the – Mark Pedroli, law when they closed public Sunshine and records and public meetings Government regarding the privatization Accountability process of St. Louis Lambert Project International Airport. And the second lawsuit they were planning on filing this week was going to be equally strong. “Had we won on either, it could have unwound the whole thing,” Pedroli said, “and made them restart again in a way that was compliant with not only the Missouri Sunshine Law but also the St. Louis City Charter and the city ordinances.” Had they won the first lawsuit suit, filed on December 6, they would have asked the court to order that all actions taken by the Airport Working Group during improperly closed meetings or in
See AIRPORT, A6
Medicaid expansion ‘on track’ for 2020 ballot Photo by Wiley Price
Clay on impeachment, presidential primary ‘McConnell wants to sweep all of the evidence under the rug’
n “McConnell wants to sweep all of the evidence under the rug and have a brief show trial that acquits the president.” – U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay
By Chris King Of The St. Louis American When U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay (D-Missouri) was driving to work on Capitol Hill on December 18, he called his father at
home in Silver Springs, Maryland. “It was kind of surreal,” Clay told The American, “driving to the Capitol knowing I
was going to take this monumental vote that would indelibly be a part of American history.” The vote in question was whether or not to impeach President Donald Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Clay would vote yes on both articles of impeachment, which would pass the U.S. House 230 to 197 and 229 to 198, triggering a trial process to be conducted by the U.S. Senate. Clay called his father, retired Congressman
See CLAY, A6
More than 25 percent of needed signatures have been gathered By Sarah Fentem Of St. Louis Public Radio The petition to put a Medicaid expansion in Missouri to a statewide vote has garnered more than 25 percent of the needed signatures to place the measure on the November 2020 ballot, according to campaign officials. The effort to extend eligibility for the state-sponsored health insurance program to those making up to $18,000 a year also has received support from several high-profile state organizations, including Washington University and BJC HealthCare. Public health officials also are supporting the effort led by Healthcare for Missouri. St. Louis Health Director Dr. Fredrick Echols said earlier
See MEDICAID, A7