Cardinal Ritter wins state The Lions defeated Kansas City Barstow 57-48 to win the school’s seventh state title.
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St. LouiS AmericAn The
CAC Audited MARCH 20 – 26, 2014
Vol. 84 No. 50 COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
Celebrating St. Louis
SALute to HeALtH cAre
Advocate for families in need Gloria Taylor is Lifetime Achiever in Caring for the Community By Rebecca Rivas Of the St. Louis American
Photo by Lawrence Bryant
Radio One St. Louis (a.k.a. Hot 104.1 FM and Old School 95.5) invited the entire city out to Art Hill to be involved in a self-portrait of St. Louis on Friday, March 14, known as 314 Day. March 14 is designated by younger people, particularly the hip-hop generation, as a day to celebrate all things St. Louis.
SLPS plan could bring in nonprofit operators Kelvin Adams proposes four-tier school system By Tim Lloyd Of St. Louis Public Radio St. Louis Public Schools Superintendent Kelvin Adams outlined his blueprint for building up academic achievement and meeting new standards established under the Missouri School Improvement Plan (MSIP5) on
March 13. The “St. Louis Public Schools Transformation Plan” would construct a four-tiered system to hone in on schools that struggle the most academically. It would also give greater flexibility to those schools with the greatest academic success, according to a draft proposal he presented to the district’s
Incumbent Mavis Thompson faces Ald. Boyd By Rebecca Rivas Of the St. Louis American In the August 5 primary election for the Democratic nomination, St. Louis City License Collector Mavis T. Thompson will face challenger Alderman Jeffrey L. Boyd to retain the seat that she’s held for just over 100 days. Gov. Jay Nixon appointed Thompson, a lawyer, as license collector on Oct. 11, after Michael McMillian stepped down to head the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.
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Special Administrative Board (SAB). In what might be a controversial provision in the plan, the district could seek nonprofit operators to take over the schools in the lowest tier if improvements aren’t made during the coming school year. Adams said a
n “I’m trying to focus resources on the greatest need students, that’s it.” – Kelvin Adams
Juggling several bags in her arms, Cheronna M. Towns walked down the steps of the Community Women Against Hardship’s Family Support Center on March 17. She and her family loaded up their minivan with clothes, appliances and other items they needed to start their lives over. It has been over a month since her family’s home in Berkeley caught fire, destroying everything they owned and taking the lives of Gloria her sons Stephen Jr., 4, Taylor and Isaiah, 3. Her husband, Stephen, and her 4-month-old daughter Deja survived. As the family began to leave, the center’s founder and CEO Gloria Taylor engulfed Towns in a warm hug and told her that the center is always here for her. “We didn’t know this day would come that we would lose everything,” Towns said. “It’s hard but with people like Gloria and her ministry – it’s truly a blessing. I truly thank God for everything they are doing for my family, my husband and my daughter who survived.” For 25 years, Taylor and her team have been helping families such as Towns’ to get back on their feet during hard times. Located in the Central West End, the center
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Final push for Obamacare enrollment Health coverage: March 31 deadline approaches for insurance purchases By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American
Theresa Whitley undergoes the health insurance enrollment process with navigator Randen Click at the James H. Buford Outreach Center of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.
Enrollment activity is increasing for local community organizations that are working to get as many persons signed up as possible before the March 31 deadline for health coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. On Tuesday, the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services said five million have already signed up nationwide for private health coverage in the federal and state marketplaces. In Missouri, it is reported that 85 percent
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n “We are currently at 75,000 Missourians who have signed up for coverage through the marketplace.” – Ryan Barker