Min Jung Kim named St. Louis Art Museum director
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Juneteenth toasted throughout St. Louis
James Tucker addresses attendees Saturday morning at the inaugural Caribbean Heritage Juneteenth celebration in Forest Park as his wife, Beverly PeguesTucker, looks on. Tucker is president of Africans Rising Together 2063 and emphasized the work that the late Rev. Dr. Ronald Myers put in during his lifetime to make Juneteenth a national day of observance.
Vol. 93 No. 13 COMPLIMENTARY
SLU, STL region saddened by Jonathan Smith’s death Absence leaves ‘a gaping hole’
By Marissanne Lewis-Thompson St. Louis Public Radio
Photo by Wiley Price / The St. Louis American
Federal holiday ‘can unite all Americans’ By Dana Rieck The St. Louis American James Tucker made sure attendees of the inaugural Juneteenth Caribbean Heritage Walkathon last Saturday knew of the work and leadership that the late Rev. Dr. Ronald Myers put in during his lifetime to make Juneteenth a national day of observance. Juneteenth, which comn “Most importantly, memorates the day that over though, if Biden is 10,000 African American sincere, this holslaves heard news of their freedom, was made a federal iday can unite all holiday after the House voted Americans — peooverwhelmingly in favor of the ple will interact and move on Wednesday June 16 learn.” and President Joe Biden signed the bill into law Thursday – James Tucker, afternoon. president of Africans “Today it’s important that Rising Together 2063 we tell the story about Dr. Ronald Myers,” he told the attendees. “… [He] laid the foundation for Juneteenth, he actually created a plan for Juneteenth to become a national holiday. And before he got sick, 47 states recognized Juneteenth as a national holiday.” Tucker said the three states that did not recognize the day are Hawaii, South Dakota and North Dakota. But Tucker, who is the president of Africans Rising Together 2063, also noted that, in his opinion, President Joe See JUNETEENTH, A7
See SMITH, A6
Photo by Wiley Price / The St. Louis American
Visual Movement, from East St. Louis, Illinois, led a march to the riverfront from the Old Court House during the Second Annual Juneteenth Commemoration on Saturday, June 19.
Missouri judge deals blow to Medicaid expansion proponents
Case likely headed to Supreme Court By Dana Rieck The St. Louis American
In another blow for proponents of Medicaid expansion, Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem on Wednesday struck down an effort to expand Medicaid, arguing it was unconstitutional because the 2020 ballot initiative did not include a revenue source to pay for the expansion. The ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed on behalf of three plaintiffs and sought
Jonathan Smith was a “girl dad” and proud of it. He took his three daughters to school every day. He volunteered at their schools, was their debate coach, and made sure their hair was together. “It wasn’t a thrown-together dad ponytail, like ‘Oh, your dad did your hair today,’” said Lauren Smith, his eldest daughter. “He did our hair for real, for real. He did the edges, the twists, the braids.” Smith died on Juneteenth at the age of 61 following a stroke 11 days earlier. He had served as vice president for diversity and community engagement at St. Louis University since 2017. Smith earned his bachelor’s degree at Jonathan Princeton University and Smith went on to get his master’s and Ph.D. at Washington University in St. Louis. He got his start at St. Louis University in 2002 as an assistant professor of American Studies. He would go on to teach African American Studies and later become the university’s first chief diversity officer. In 2014, the killings of Michael Brown Jr. and VonDerrit Meyers led to student protests on campus. He stood in solidarity with the student activists and protesters. Smith served as a bridge of communication, which eventually led to the Clock Tower Accords — a list of 13 commitments the university made to diversity, equity and
n “This decision means that an estimated 275,000 Missourians who qualify under expansion will still have to wait to get the care they need.” – Dr. Dwayne Proctor
an order for the Department of Social Services to allow all who are newly eligible to enroll and receive the same coverage as current program clients beginning July 1, even though the state legislator and Missouri Gov. Mike Parson
Jones, Page sue to strike down state gun sanctuary law Law raises concerns among police
By Dana Rieck The St. Louis American
failed to include money in the state’s budget to pay for the expansion costs. The trial began Monday in an effort to issue a ruling before July 1, in anticipation that the ruling will be appealed by one of the parties. Beetem declined to order the state to implement Missouri Medicaid expansion, going against the voter’s will. “The state constitution provides that state revenues may not be expended without an appropriation,” Beetem opined. “Accordingly, this Court declines to order the implementation of Medicaid Expansion as requested in Count 1.” “Notwithstanding a majority vote of the
Two local leaders on Monday filed a lawsuit to block a new law which makes Missouri a sanctuary state for gun violence by preventing local law enforcement from following federal gun laws. St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones and St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page joined together to file the suit in Cole County Circuit Court, asking for a judgement that declares the new law unconstitutional under both federal and state constitutions. “2020 was the deadliest year of gun violence in our state’s history, and now the Missouri legislature is throwing up barriers to stop police from doing their most important job —preventing and solving violent crime,” Jones wrote in a media release. “This harmful and unconstitutional law takes away tools our communities need to prevent gun violence. I’m proud to partner with St. Louis
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See LAW, A6