Labor shortage could boost number of youth summer jobs
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St. Louis American See page B1
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Vol. 93 No. 11 COMPLIMENTARY
Beaten officer Luther Hall’s case again has all-white jury Lone Black final panelist dismissed
By Christine Byers/KSDK An all-white jury has been seated for a second time to decide the fate of white St. Louis police officers accused of assaulting Black colleague Luther Hall, who was working undercover as a protester in 2017. Defense attorney Scott Rosenblum successfully argued the lone Black man who made it to the final panel should be dismissed because he has a cousin
who is incarcerated and is still in touch with his cousin’s mother. He added the government routinely uses incarcerated loved ones as a reason to strike jurors from panels involving Black defendants. Rosenblum also argued he was striking a white woman from the alternate juror pool for the same reason. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Costantin invoked what is known as a Batson challenge — forcing the defense to provide a race-neutral reason
n Defense attorney Scott Rosenblum successfully argued the lone Black man who made it to the final panel should be dismissed because he has a cousin who is incarcerated and is still in touch with his cousin’s mother.
for striking the juror, saying this trial involves a racial component because the accused officers are white, and the victim is Black. She also argued the potential juror’s cousin was convicted in 1996, so enough time has passed for the juror to remain impartial. Judge E. Richard Webber denied the challenge. The accused officers, Christopher Myers and See HALL, A6
Bradford makes puzzling break from HSSU LaTonia Collins Smith named interim president
By Alvin A. Reid Of the St. Louis American
Shakespearean king of the Park
Photo by Lia Chang
The 2021 Shakespeare in the Park production of King Lear starring Andre De Shields and directed by Carl Cofield continues its run in Forest Park through June 27. For more on the play and Black Rep actress Christina Francis Yancy see Living It, C1.
New SLDC director seeks to bring economic justice to St. Louis
Neal Richardson assumes new role July 1 By Dana Rieck of The St. Louis American
Neal Richardson is working for economic justice. The newly appointed executive director of the St Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) will take over at the end of June and says one thing residents can expect to see is more community engagement to strengthen neighborhoods and move the entire city forward economically. The SLDC is an umbrella, not-for-profit corporation that fosters economic development and growth in St. Louis by stimulating the market for private investment in city real estate and business development. “Economic justice is really being able to address the historical barriers and economic inequities that have prevented everyone from being able to contribute, have ownership in our economic future,” Richardson said. “So today we have about 45 percent of our population in the city of St. Louis is Black, but Black employees make, on average, 48 percent See RICHARDSON, A6
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Neal Richardson has been named executive director of the St. Louis Development Corp. Otis Williams is retiring later this month.
Then-Harris-Stowe State University president Corey Bradford was beaming during the school’s 2021 commencement ceremony on May 8. Less than a month later, and just more than a year after leaving Prairie View A&M University to accept the position in St. Louis, Bradford has left for an undisclosed job at an undisclosed research university – and no one knows why or will not divulge what is going on. In a June 4 press release, the school said Bradford, the school’s 20th president, was “leaving Harris-Stowe State University to pursue an opportunity at a research university. The HSSU Board of Regents thanks Dr. Bradford for his leadership.” LaTonia The American Collins contacted HSSU for Smith details on Bradford’s sudden departure. Alandrea Stewart, executive director of communications and marketing, said via email, “The only thing we know at this time is that Dr. Bradford left to pursue an opportunity at a research university, and we n Bradford wish him the very best.” has left for an “We are undisclosed confident that job at an Harris-Stowe State undisclosed University will continue to build research upon its strong university – and reputation, ensuring no one knows its importance why or will not to the St. Louis region,” said divulge what is Stewart, who was going on. honored during the 2018 St. Louis American Foundation Salute to Young Leaders. Stewart referred further questions to Lents & Associates, who she described as the university’s communication consultants. Peggy Lents then provided the American with the same press release it received June 4 and included no additional information. See BRADFORD, A7