BET Awards celebrates ‘Year of the Black Woman’
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St. Louis American See page B1
The
CAC Audited JULY 1 – 7, 2021
Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928
stlamerican.com
Vol. 93 No. 14 COMPLIMENTARY
American again named nation’s top Black newspaper
Wins 10 national awards including coveted Russwurm Award By St. Louis American Staff Each year, the National Newspaper Publishers Association presents the ‘Messenger Awards’ ceremony, which recognizes excellence in journalism and entrepreneurship among the Black Press of America. The St. Louis American recently won 10
national awards at the virtual 2021 Messenger Awards, including the first place John Russwurm Pinnacle Award, which is the top honor of the competition, and is awarded to the newspaper with the highest cumulative score. This marks the 14th time The St. Louis American has won the Russwurm award since 1995.
The American had six other first place awards which include: Video Campaign (Sylvester Brown, Ashley Jones, Dawn Suggs; #BlackLivesMatter resurgence in Missouri); Business Story (Rebecca Rivas’ piece on minority exclusion at the makeshift morgue in St. Louis County); Don Kings Sports Award (Alvin Reid’s piece on Cardinals’ pitcher Jack Flaherty
BUSINESS
Jamestown Mall to soon meet its end Leaders announced recently that they intend to demolish Jamestown Mall, which has sat empty since it closed in 2014, so that the site can be used for a more community-minded development.
Justice reform fight rolls on
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SPORTS
By Alvin A. Reid The St. Louis American
Go getters! It was an outstanding year for girls’ track and field in the St. Louis metropolitan area, with four teams bringing home state championships.
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Healthy Blue grant to help YWCA Pregnant Women’s Services YWCA Early Head Start’s pregnant women services will receive a resource boost through a $75,000 grant from Healthy Blue.
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See AMERICAN, A7
Bell, Gardner say Chauvin jury, judge ‘got it right’
INSIDE
HEALTH
finding his voice in fight against racism, police brutality); Faith & Religion (Sylvester Brown’s piece on Ella Owens, COVID-19 and how God got her attention); Facebook Campaign (Wiley Price, Dana Rieck, Rebecca Rivas, Dawn Suggs; The American’s digital team’s coverage of Cori
Striving for perfection
Photo by Bill Greenblatt / St. Louis American
Gymnast Simone Biles practices on the uneven bars during the first day of the Women’s U.S. Olympic Gymnastic Trials at the The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis on June 25.
Wesley Bell, St. Louis County prosecuting attorney, said Monday that Derek Chauvin’s trial and sentencing should not end the national questy for criminal justice reform. “The fact that a guilty verdict for a murder that literally took place before our very eyes was even n “The jury in question is yet another got it right indication of a criminal and everyone, justice system in disreregardless pair and long overdue for reform,” he said. of profession St. Louis Circuit or status, Attorney Kim Gardner should be held said, “Our world will accountable for never be the same after viewing the senseless their actions.” murder of Mr. George Floyd at the hands of for– Wesley Bell mer police officer Derek Chauvin.” “(It) sparked a movement of police accountability across the nation. The sentencing of Derek Chauvin was within the discretion of the Judge guided by Minnesota law on the applicable range of punishment.” Chauvin, the former police officer who killed George Floyd on a Minneapolis street last year, was sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison June 25. “The jury got it right and everyone, regardless of profession or status, should be held accountable for their actions,” Bell said.
See CHAUVIN, A7
Bracy served pro sports teams to non-profits Retiring from YWCA after 11 years By Sophie Hurwitz The St. Louis American The St. Louis Rams moved to town in 1995 and Adrian Bracy soon was part of that Super Bowl champion franchise. After departing in 2007 to become the Arizona Cardinals chief financial officer, Bracy returned in 2009 and then faced a new, different challenge. After serving as YWCA of Metro St. Louis CEO for 11 years, Bracy is retiring. What drew her back to St. Louis was her calling to “inspire and make a difference in the lives of women and girls,” she told The American.
See BRACY, A6
Photo by Wiley Price/St. Louis American
Adrian Bracy’s career has taken her from professional sports teams to one of the region’s most successful not-for-profit organizations. She is retiring after 11 years as YWCA of Metro St. Louis CEO and was honored during a June 22 reception. From left are her husband, Vito, Bracy, and Edward Jones executives Penny Pennington and Emily Pitts.