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2016 Gold Cup Newspaper Missouri Press Association
See page A8
St. LouiS AmericAn The
CAC Audited JANUARY 5 – 11, 2017
Vol. 88 No. 39 COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
Stenger faces a whole new world on County Council St. Louis Councilwoman Hazel Erby – seen in this file photo endorsing Steve Stenger’s opponent for county executive in 2014 – is the new vice chair of the council.
Hazel Erby is new vice chair By Jason Rosenbaum Of St. Louis Public Radio
Photo by Wiley Price
St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger is facing his most potentially adversarial County Council since he took office two years ago. Unlike, say, Congress or the Missouri General Assembly, the divides on the St. Louis County Council have relatively little to do with political party. Rather, factions of the council tend to fall into two categories: council members who are considered allies of the county executive and those who aren’t. After council members Rochelle Walton Gray (D-Black Jack) and Ernie Trakas (R-St. Louis County) were sworn into office this week, at least five council members aren’t considered
n “I have a lot of faith. I knew that citizens deserved better. And I knew that would change. Just be patient, it would change.” – County Councilwoman Hazel Erby
Stenger allies. This bipartisan coalition consists of Walton Gray, Trakas, Councilman Mark Harder (R-Ballwin), Councilwoman Hazel Erby (D-University City) and Councilwoman Colleen
See STENGER, A7
Suit claims juvenile parole proceedings violate due process MacArthur Justice Center files against Missouri Dept. of Corrections in Eric Gray case By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price
Candle for Andre Lenna Gilmore (center) lost her son Andre Walker at age 43 last March. Gilmore shared the lighting of a candle with her niece Tier Blair-Morton on Saturday, December 31, when Families Advocating Safe Streets held its 25th annual New Year’s Eve Candlelight Service. More than 230 people were killed by gunfire in St. Louis city and county in 2016. In 2017, a new state law is in effect allowing anyone to carry a concealed firearm in Missouri without training. The Legislature also passed a “Stand Your Ground” provision, becoming the first state to do so since George Zimmerman defended his killing of Trayvon Martin with a “Stand Your Ground” defense.
At 16, Eric Gray did not have any stable adults in his life. Instead, he was exposed daily to trauma and violence on the streets of St. Louis – including active recruitment by the Bloods. In March 2009, he got involved with an older woman, was in the wrong place at the wrong time and ended up in a gang shootout. He lived but another man died, and Gray received a sentence of seven years for manslaughter and 25 years for Mae Quinn armed criminal action. He is currently serving that time at the Crossroads Correction Center in Cameron, Missouri. On July 13, Gray was supposed to be considered for release by a panel of the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole. But after being interviewed by the panel for a short See SUIT, A6
Black startups find growth, support in St. Louis Blessing Egbon, founder of Exit 7C, speaking at Arch Grants’ gala on November 4. He moved to St. Louis from Milwaukee for the Arch Grants program.
Arch Grants recruits diverse firms with an eye towards civic leadership By Tavia Gilchrist For The St. Louis American Two black-owned tech firms are among the latest group of startups to each receive a $50,000 grant from Arch Grants, a nonprofit that is working to lure new businesses, jobs and the next generation of inclusive leaders to St. Louis. Ilerasoft, based in Texas, is hoping to gain access to St. Louis’ hub of healthcare providers. The firm is developing software to help hospitals track and share medical equipment across large healthcare systems. When fully implemented, the platform will also alert clinicians of safety recalls issued on medical devices and equipment. Co-founder Kwaku Owusu developed the idea after working as a See STARTUPS, A7
Photo by RedCarpet-USA.com