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CAC Audited JULY 28 – AUG. 3, 2022
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Historic flooding leaves St. Louis in peril
Jones, Bush act swiftly
St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones walks with U.S. Rep. Cori Bush and local residents as they assess damages in the city’s Ellendale neighborhood.
By Alvin A. Reid The St. Louis American Mayor Tishaura O. Jones and Congresswoman Cori Bush immediately acted after torrential rain caused widespread flood damage in the city and north St. Louis County. Jones declared a state of emergency, which enables Missouri, if granted, to request federal support to bring relief to residents and small businesses. Bush called for Gov. Mike Parson to request federal assistance on Tuesday, after speaking directly with Lt.
See FLOODING, A7
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Vol. 94 No. 18 COMPLIMENTARY
Mayoral summit tackles gun violence prevention
Mayors Jones and Lucas take steps to stem the overflow of illegal guns in St. Louis and Kansas City By St. Louis American staff A groundbreaking mayoral summit on gun violence prevention and holding the gun industry accountable was hosted by Mayors Against Illegal Guns Co-Chair New York Mayor Eric Adams, in partnership with the African American Mayors Association last week. City of St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones and Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, co-chairs of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, released new data on the Mayor Tishaura Jones manufacturers of and Miramar, Florida guns used in crimes Mayor Wayne Messam in Kansas City and St. Louis and called on their fellow mayors across the country to do the same. “Gun violence is devastating St. Louis and cities across the country, and for too long, gun manufacturers have profited with zero accountability,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “We convened this summit to send a strong message to reckless actors in the gun industry: your days operating in the shad-
See SUMMIT, A7
Photo by Rebecca Rivas / The Missouri Independent
Congresswoman Cori Bush speaks to canvassers on July 9 at Fairground Park in North St. Louis, with St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, left, and former state Rep. Bruce Franks, right.
Bush, Roberts showdown more than moderate vs. liberal Allegations follow challenger
By Rebecca Rivas The Missouri Independent Sheets of rain wrapped around the playground shelter in North St. Louis’ Fairground Park on July 9, where canvassers for Congresswoman Cori Bush’s re-election campaign huddled together. The event’s organizer, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, took advantage of the captive audience. “Even in the rain, we have the faithful few who are out here because we know what’s at stake,” Jones said to about a dozen people.
SPORTS
McLaughlin sensational at Track World Championships In her signature race, the 400-meter hurdles, last week in Eugene, Oregon, McLaughlin ran away from the field in an incredible time of 50.68 seconds.
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But by the time she finished speaking, the number had doubled despite the rain still coming down. “I have never seen the kind of cooperation and collaboration between a federal office and a local office as I see between our offices,” Jones said of working with Bush. “Our staffs’ talk to each other more than we know, but we make sure that we are in sync.” In total, Bush’s campaign touts that she has brought $1 billion in federal relief funds to her district, including $200 million for St. Louis Public Schools and $200 million for the federal Child Tax Credit program. She was
also able to get a $600,000 earmark recently to help build St. Louis a new 911 dispatch call center. For Bush and her supporters, that fluidity between local and federal government is among the biggest things at stake in the Democratic primary, where state Sen. Steve Roberts is challenging her. The 1st Congressional District includes all of the City of St. Louis and North St. Louis County, along with pieces of the central corridor such as Clayton and Webster Groves.
See BUSH, A6 HEALTH
Page, Dueker square off in County Executive race
Incumbent taking on first timer St. Louis American staff St. Louis County Executive Sam Page is seeking his first full term in the position, while Democratic primary challenger Jane Dueker is seeking her first public office. As incumbent, Page was at the helm when the county was struck by the corona virus, and the pandemic is still not over. The county dealt with an economic slowdown, and the partisan divide involving masks and business shutdowns after the shock of seeing former County Executive Steve Stenger resign in disgrace and be sentenced to prison. “I think I have done a good job of leading the county through historically difficult times, Page told the KWMU podcast Politically Speaking. “Criticism has come daily or weekly since the last election. It hasn’t stopped. That’s where we are as a country right now.’ Page said he is the better choice for county executive, “because my values line up better with
See PAGE, A7
LIVING IT
Affinia helping families prepare for school year
A horror story divided
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Affinia will hold its Medical and Dental Community Day for Children from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, July 30 at its 1717 Biddle location near downtown.
Jordan Peele fans have been on the edge of their seats waiting to see if the follow up to his 2019 film Us will live up to the hype.