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St. LouiS AmericAn The
CAC Audited MARCH 3 – 9, 2016
Vol. 86 No. 48 COMPLIMENTARY
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Senator Blunt: ‘It’s not something we want to lose’ Trades offer NGA West minority inclusion goals that double federal standards By Chris King Of The St. Louis American If the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency decides to build its new Western Headquarters in North St. Louis, nearly 40 percent of all labor hours on the $1.75 billion construction will go to minorities, according to documents provided by U.S. Senator Roy Blunt.
Blunt shared with The American a February 9 letter to him from Jeff Aboussie, executive secretary-treasurer of the Building and Construction Trades Council of St. Louis (AFL-CIO). The letter summarizes a Community Workforce Agreement that Aboussie had sent on behalf of the council to Robert Cardillo, director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), who is expected to announce the new site
for NGA West this month. In the agreement, the council proposed that at least 37.81 percent of all labor hours on the facility would go to minorities, which more than doubles the 17 percent inclusion goals set forth in federal guidelines. The council also proposed that at least
Photo by Wiley Price
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt speaking at the 2016 MLK kick-off on January 9 at Harris-Stowe State University.
See NGA, A7
Lively celebration of Young Leaders
The St. Louis American Foundation celebrated its 6th Annual Salute to Young Leaders Awards and Networking Reception on Thursday, February 25 at The Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis.
St. Louis American Foundation honors 20 under 40 with spirit By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American “For those of you who have been to this before, turn to the people who haven’t and say, ‘It’s about to get live up in here,’” said Rebeccah Bennett, mistress of ceremonies for The St. n “You are really Louis American Foundation’s examples of what we 6th Annual Salute to Young look for in our future.” Leaders Awards and Networking Reception. – Emily Pitts, principal of She stood before the packed Inclusion and Diversity ballroom in The Four Seasons for Edward Jones Hotel St. Louis on Thursday, February 25, gearing up to celebrate the 2016 class of honorees – or, in her words, getting the audience prepared to “turn up.” “These are not people who have checked off the box, ladies and gentlemen – these are people who have raised the bar,” Bennett said. “So we are going to raise the roof in honor of them raising the bar.” See LEADERS, A6
Photo by Lawrence Bryant
Impeachment process starts in Jennings
College-bound at Carver Elementary
Mayor’s attorney questions whether council members can be impartial
St. Louis Public Schools gets students preparing early
By Mariah Stewart Of The St. Louis American The Jennings City Council held an impeachment hearing for Mayor Yolonda Fountain Henderson on Monday, February 29 at Jennings Municipal Court. Special prosecutor Paul Martin highlighted 19 allegations of misconduct during his opening statement. “The city will prove that the mayor spent city resources on things not approved by the council and which did not benefit the city agendas,
including public repair on private property, the private use of city vehicles and the unauthorized contribution of city resources and public entities for other than the city,” Martin said. Martin said Henderson has placed the city at risk of litigation, liability and dysfunction by “acting outside the scope of her office and without regard to the authority of the council and to the law.” Henderson’s attorney, Donnell Smith, said See JENNINGS, A6
By Mariah Stewart Of The St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price
Jennings Mayor Yolonda Fountain Henderson at her impeachment hearing at Jennings Municipal Court on Monday, February 29.
At Carver Elementary School, students are surrounded with college-bound motivation. Each classroom is named after a different university, and on Fridays students show college pride by wearing their favorite university’s shirt – a tradition in the St. Louis Public School District Office too. “We try to have an academic and character outcome push so kids are ultimately bound for See CARVER, A7