Donating a kidney during the pandemic
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Walker death probe finds no ‘suspicious’ activity City awaits final report from medical examiner
By Karen Robinson-Jacobs The St. Louis American A St. Louis Police Department inquiry into the sudden death of former State Representative Cora Faith Walker has uncovered no “suspicious” activity and is now paused, awaiting a final report from the medical examiner. St. Louis Public Safety Director Dr. Dan Isom Monday gave a detailed review of the facts uncovered thus far in the death of Walker, who passed Friday, March 11, after she collapsed outside her room at the Loews Hotel. The death of Walker, 37, who was a good friend of Mayor Tishaura Jones and had attended a party for Jones the day before her death, sparked what Isom called rumors and media reports not supported by facts. “Unfortunately, many have jumped to conclusions based on rumors, innuendo and allegations with no facts to support the reporting,” Isom said during his weekly report on crime in the downtown area. “It is
a sad commentary for individuals who manufacture controversy out of tragedy. Specifically, the reckless writing from the St. Louis Post Dispatch editorial over the weekend contains errors that the board has since refused to address and could have [been] answered through reaching out to the St. Louis Police Department.” It will be weeks before the medical examiner releases a final toxicology report and issues a statement on the cause of death for Walker, who stepped down from the state legislature in 2019 Dr. Dan to become policy chief for St. Louis County Isom Executive Sam Page. A final report from the St. Louis Office of the Medical Examiner, including a toxicology report and statement of the cause of death, could be more than two months off, according to Tara
See WALKER, A7
Vol. 93 No. 52 COMPLIMENTARY
Salute to Health
RodgersGarvin Mental Health Care awardee Has passion for helping others
By Alvin A. Reid The St. Louis American Yolanda Rodgers-Garvin has more than 25 years of experience serving children and families in the St. Louis area, and she instills a thought in the minds of students and parents. “Where you are today does not determine your tomorrow,” she said. Rodgers-Garvin, who holds a master’s degree in social work from St. Louis University, and a master’s degree in media communications from Webster University, has been the Homeless and Foster Care Coordinator for the FergusonFlorissant School District since 2014. She will be honored as the St. Louis County-Children’s Service Fund Dr. John Anderson Excellence in Mental Health Care Award recipient during the 22nd Annual Salute Yolanda to Excellence in Healthcare Rodgerson April 14 at the Frontenac Garvin Hilton. “I’m really overwhelmed and really flattered,” Rodgers-Garvin said of the recognition. “I looked up the past recipients and said ‘wow.’ It really is a true honor.” Before moving to her role with FergusonFlorissant, she worked at Lutheran Family and Children’s Services of Missouri as a social worker, where she provided client-center services, and then as a public relations marketing coordinator
See SALUTE, A7
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Victorious Vashon
Vashon head coach Tony Irons celebrates in the final seconds of the Class 4 State Basketball Championships Sat. March 19, 2022 at JQH Arena. The Wolverines of Vashon would repeat as the Mo. Boys Class 4 Basketball Champions beating Tolton 57-49 for their fifth state championship since 2016, when Irons took over. It’s the 13th state title for the Wolverines.
Ketanji Brown Jackson skillfully handles Hawley
Supreme Court nominee shines By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA and Alvin A. Reid The St. Louis American
Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson respectfully and forcefully warded off scurrilous partisan attacks by Missouri
Sen. Josh Hawley and several other Republicans during a grueling second day of Confirmation hearings on Tuesday. If confirmed, the U.S. Court of Appeals Judge for the Washington D.C. Circuit would become the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. Hawley’s 30-minute verbal assault, which included unfounded criticism that she was lenient in sentencing child porn offenders, was met with calm and professionalism by Jackson.
Annie Malone Parade makes way back to Market Street May 15
Nike donates $25K to the cause St. Louis American staff
“As a mother and a judge who has had to deal with these cases, I was thinking that nothing could be further from the truth,” Judge Jackson told Hawley and members of the Senate Judicial Committee. “These are some of the most difficult cases that a judge has to deal with because we’re talking about pictures of sex abuse of children. “We’re talking about graphic descriptions
The Annie Malone May Day Parade will again be live with lots of color when it returns to its downtown route on Market Street at 1 p.m. Sunday May 15, 2022. Nike has announced it is donating $25,000, making it the parade’s Platinum Title Sponsor. Midwest BankCentre is also a sponsor. This year’s theme is “The New Annie Malone: Making a Stronger and Larger Impact in the Community.” BJ the DJ of iHeartRadio and Mizzou recruit Luther Burden III will serve as the Honorary Marshals for the parade.
See JACKSON, A6
See PARADE, A6