The St. Louis American endorses Tishaura Jones for mayor
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St. Louis American See page A4
The
Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928
CAC Audited MAR. 27 – APR. 2, 2025
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One-on-One with Cara Spencer
Denies calling Mayor Jones corrupt By Sylvester Brown, Jr. St. Louis American Alderwoman Cara Spencer (8th Ward) has proven to be a formidable contender for mayor of the city of St. Louis. She’s raised more in donations than her opponent, incumbent Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, and received more votes than Jones in last month’s primary election. In an interview with the St. Louis American, Spencer was challenged on her statement that more Black people have left the city under Jones’ term than any other mayor, how she plans to pay for the improvements she’s promising, and why she thinks wealthy developers are donating so substantially to her campaign.
See SPENCER, A6
Vol. 96 No. 51 COMPLIMENTARY
Kehoe coming to STL after stripping police control
By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
8th Ward Alderwoman Cara Spencer being interviewed by St. Louis American reporter Sylvester Brown about her run for mayor Wednesday, Mar. 19, 2025.
St. Louis American Gov. Mike Kehoe will put himself in a form of protective custody at the St. Louis Police Officer’s Association headquarters on Hampton Thursday, March 27, 2025, after officially stripping residents of the city of St. Louis of the right to run their own police force. Kehoe will perform a ceremonious signing of House Bill (HB) 495 under the watchful eye of police at the union building. The bill gives the state of Missouri Rasheen control of the St. Louis Aldridge Metropolitan Police Department. On Wednesday, with representatives of the police union standing behind him in Jefferson City, Kehoe signed the legislation that he admits will not reduce crime. “You can’t legislate lower crime,” when asked by a reporter if the bill would reduce crime in St. Louis. “You can give law enforcement the tools that it takes.” Mayor Tishaura Jones said the bill has been a “sham…from the very beginning.”
See POLICE, A6
Photo courtesy of Lift For Life Facebook
Taking flight!
The Lift For Life Academy Hawks girls’ basketball team celebrated its second consecutive state title on Saturday March 22, 2025, at Mizzou Arena after downing St. Teresa’s Academy of Kansas City 63-42. After winning a Class 4 championship last year, the Hawks were reclassified to 5A yet still captured a third title in five seasons. Sophomore point guard Amaya Manuel led Lift For Life with 21 points and also scored the 1,000th point of her career during the game’s second quarter.
SLU slavery apology on hold Descendants disappointed
By Namratha Prasad St. Louis American A planned apology Wednesday afternoon from St. Louis University to the Descendants of the St. Louis University Enslaved (DSLUE) at St.
Xavier College Church was abruptly cancelled. According to (DSLUE) representatives, the organization did not participate after it received an agenda from SLU officials that it had not approved by midnight of the day of the event. Eric Proudie, a descendant of Henrietta Mills, said he flew in from Florida for the event. He said the apology included in the agenda that was sent to DSLUE had words meant to “pacify” them.
HEALTH
Long COVID continues its haunting impact
Five years have passed since the global pandemic and experts still don’t understand why some people develop life-changing chronic conditions after contracting COVID-19, while others do not.
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Voting opens for April 8 elections
“We decided we could not support a fake apology,” Eric Proudie said on the steps in front of St. Xavier College Church while surrounded by other descendants. Robin Proudie, another descendant of Mills and the founder and executive director of DSLUE, said the apology in the agenda included the name of an organization whose values “do not align with the DSLUE’s vision for
See APOLOGY, A7
By Sylvester Brown, Jr. St. Louis American
No-Excuse Absentee Voting is now available for voters who want to cast a ballot in the April 8 General Municipal Election. No-excuse absentee voting means a person can vote absentee without needing to provide an excuse. It will continue for two weeks leading up to Election Day. The date to submit an absentee ballot by mail, March 26, 2025, has expired, according to the St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners. The city of St. Louis will hold general elections for mayor, comptroller, board of aldermen, and community college board on April 8, 2025. Candidates will compete in Aldermanic Wards 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13. The St. Louis mayoral race is arguably the most contentious and highly watched competition this year. Incumbent Mayor Tishaura Jones is defending her seat against Ald. Cara Spencer (8th Ward). In
See VOTING, A7
LIVING IT
A cultural dip at The Contemporary Art Museum
The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis unveiled three new exhibitions, “Like Water,” “Make the River Present,” and “Confluence” as part of their spring/summer season.
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