Affinia, Gateway to Hope partner to provide screenings
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Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928
CAC Audited MARCH 14 – 20, 2024
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Reproductive rights are major election issue GOP could pay in November
By Sylvester Brown Jr. President Joe Biden wasn’t as poetic as the late 17th Century author William Congreve who wrote “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,” but his words during his State of the n “These attacks Union speech will stir women who were equally perare the most resilient ceptive. beings on this planSpeaking et. They will make directly to U.S. Supreme Court themselves heard in Justices seated November.” before him, the president issued – Rev. Dr. Love Holt, an ominous warncommunity engagement ing: specialist with Abortion “With all due Action Missouri respect, justices, women are not without electoral or political power and you’re about to realize just how much.” Biden voiced the outrage of many women after Supreme Court justices, in 2022, overturned
See ELECTION, A6
Vol. 95 No. 49 COMPLIMENTARY
Black women file landmark lawsuit in Kansas City Could end state control of police force By Peggy Love KCUR / NPR
Photo by Brian Munoz / St. Louis Public Radio
The Rev. Love Holt kicked off a rally to gather signatures for a Missouri constitutional amendment that would legalize abortion up until fetal viability on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024, at The Pageant in St. Louis’ West End neighborhood. Holt says Republicans will face voter outrage in November for their assault on reproductive rights.
Three Black women filed a federal lawsuit this week against the state of Missouri, alleging that the state’s control of the Kansas City Police Department singles out people by race and creates an unequal system. The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in the Western District of Missouri, says the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners’ governance of the department is simply “an effort to keep slavery legal and Black people in chains.” Kansas City is the only U.S. city that doesn’t have jurisdiction of its police force, a vestige of the Civil War when the Confederacy wanted to control St. Louis and Kansas City and their weapons stockpiles. Of the seats on the fivemember board, four are appointed by the governor and the fifth slot is always held by the mayor. The Republican-dominated state legislature is again trying to wrestle local control of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Force from St. Louis residents
See LAWSUIT, A7
Photo by Taylor Marrie / St. Louis American
Event organizer Ohun Ashe photographs the crowd at a collaborative “314 Day” photo shoot that took place at The Arch in downtown St. Louis on Sunday, March 10, 2024.
314 Day celebrations spotlight STL’s unique charm
By Ashley Winters The St. Louis American
The St. Louis holiday 314 Day has held celebratory events since Saturday, March 9, and they continue – Ray Mobely through Thursday afternoon with a kickoff prep rally for Literacy for the Lou’s Passport Reading Challenge at Jefferson Elementary School. And will end Thursday evening with a stellar event at the Nine PBS Studios and Media Commons. Nine PBS will host a second annual 314 Day Celebration
BUSINESS
Dent goes from watching HGTV to interior designer
Jacquelene Dent loved to watch HGTV and she credits the popular home decor and remodeling interior design network with igniting her passion for design.
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in partnership with Greater St. Louis, Inc., STLMade, and the 314 Day Foundation. It will feature a live viewing of the Living St. Louis episode, music from DJ Darian Wigfall, and discussions with local leaders including 314 Day Founders, Tatum Polk and Terrell “Young Dip” Evans. While the Literacy for the Lou event is just for students, teachers and administrators, SLPS Superintendent Dr. Keisha Scarlett says its
n “It’s home, ain’t nothing like it, it’s our roots. No matter where I go I’m taking St. Louis with me.”
See 314, A7
Harris-Stowe accredited by state Board of Education ‘An incredible legacy’
By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American The Harris-Stowe State University College of Education remains accredited by the Missouri State Board of Education, based on a recommendation of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The College of Education is authorized to continue recommending candidates for educator certification. “We have an incredible legacy of preparing our scholars to be outstanding teachers in the St. Louis City and County school systems,” said Dr. LaTonia Collins Smith, HSSU president. “We take this responsibility seriously, knowing that our graduates are essential to addressing the current crisis and teacher shortage in education. There is no greater mission than educating the next
See ACCREDITED, A6
SPORTS
Six in the mix for Missouri state tournament titles
This weekend the top Class 4, 5 and 6 programs in the state will convene at the Mizzou Arena to compete for state titles; and familiar programs from St. Louis will be there.
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