Affinia to host three family Back-to-School bashes
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St. Louis American See page A8
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CAC Audited JULY 24 – 30, 2025
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Bill Clay Sr. was forceful political trailblazer Civil rights leader and first Missouri Black Congressman
U.S. Rep. Bill Clay Sr., Missouri’s first Black congressman, served 16 terms in congress. He died last week at age 94.
By Sylvester Brown Jr. St. Louis American William L. Clay Sr., Missouri’s first Black congressman and a prominent civil rights leader who died last week, was one of the most consequential politicians in the state, rising to power during a period of entrenched racial discrimination that routinely relegated Black workers to low-paying, menial jobs. Clay skillfully navigated the political and social climate of the time, launching a distinguished public service career that began with notable success as a St. Louis City alderman and led to a three-decade career in the U.S. House of Representatives. “Bill, by any stretch of imagination, was really a radical politician who operated inside the system,” said Mike Jones, a former St. Louis alderman with decades of business and government experience. “His legacy
See CLAY, A6
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Vol. 97 No. 16 COMPLIMENTARY
SLPS may close 38 schools
Board reviews school closure plan By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American A year from now, as the 2026-27 academic year approaches, more than half of St. Louis Public Schools’ buildings could be shuttered. The SLPS Board of Education heard a plan on Tuesday by architectural firm Cordogan, Clark & Associates that, if adopted, would close 38 of the district’s 68 schools. Included would be 27 elementary schools, five middle schools and five high schools. If the proposed school closures move forward, private and charter schools would outnumber traditional public schools in the city. The report predicts St. Louis’ population decline will continue over the next decade, and that the number of students in the school district also will keep falling. The numbers are chilling: a 7% decline in St. Louis population and a 30% drop in student enrollment over the next decade. SLPS closed the 2024-25 year with just over 18,000 students yet has the classroom space — including in schools not being used — to serve 30,000. The May 16 tornado, which damaged
See SLPS, A6
With a stroke of a pen:
Gov. Kehoe signs bill repealing paid sick leave Photo courtesy of SIU SDM
Mentor coaching high school student at Dentistry Day, BESt Healthcare Institute 2025 Summer Program. A four-week summer intensive for area high school students interested in healthcare careers, hosted at Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) on Thursday, July 10.
A taste of the dental profession
SIU program gives teens hands-on introduction to oral health careers By Ashley Winters St. Louis American High school students from across the region explored what a future in healthcare might look like during Dentistry Day at Southern Illinois University’s School of Dental Medicine. The full-day event, part of the BESt Healthcare Institute’s 2025 summer program, combined interactive activities and expert-led sessions to introduce teens from multicultural backgrounds to the world of medicine and dentistry. Paul Brown, a rising senior at Parkway Central High School, wants to pursue dermatology and was pleasantly sur-
BUSINESS
Court of Appeals ends Homer G. Phillips Nurses Inc. lawsuit
The St. Louis County Court of Appeals has upheld the September 2024 ruling that ended the Homer G. Phillips Nurses Alumni Inc., trademark infringement lawsuit.
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prised by the hands-on experience. “I think I’m pretty good at filling cavities, so this might be an option.” Tracy Machuki, a senior at Pattonville High School, also left the event with ideas about her career. “My day so far has been really, really fun,” she said. “I’ve been on the fence about pediatrics and dentistry, so I might combine them both.” The four-week immersive program, held earlier this month, was designed to inspire the next generation of medical professionals. It was offered through a partnership between Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Express Scripts, Inc. and
See DENTISTRY, A7
By Sylvester Brown, Jr. St. Louis American Missouri state workers will lose their accrued sick leave at the end of August under a new law signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe, following intense pressure from business groups and state lawmakers. The measure unravels a key provision of a voter-passed proposition. Last year, nearly 58% of Missouri voters approved Proposition A, raising the minimum wage and requiring paid sick leave. The measure boosted the minimum wage to $13.75 an hour in January and will raise it to $15 by January 2026. It also allowed state workers to begin earning one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, starting May 1, 2025. The measure guaranteed sick leave for 728,000 workers who lacked it statewide, “or over 1 in 3 Missouri workers,” according to an analysis from the progressive nonprofit the Missouri Budget Project. In the late evening hours of May 14, 2025, the Missouri Senate passed a bill that basically repealed the mandatory paid sick leave requirements of Proposition A. Although the bill didn’t reverse the
See KEHOE, A7
SPORTS
STL shines throughout America on hoops weekend On Saturday night, Napheesa Collier’s record-setting performance earned her Most Valuable Player honors at the WNBA AllStar Game in Indianapolis.
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