Kelly Jordan has hair-raising career in theater
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The
CAC Audited MARCH 9 – 15, 2023
Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928
Primary races set stage for April 4 election
stlamerican.com
St. Louis voters got a chance to head to the polls on Tuesday for 2023 Board of Aldermen races and set the stage for April 4 showdowns. The election was the first step in reducing the number of aldermen from 28 to 14 and leaves a month-long campaign in which several races will pit current aldermen against each other. The top two vote getters in each race move on to the April election. Of the races involving Black majority
wards, history was made in the 14th Ward where Brandon Bosley did not finish in the top two. For now, this ends decades of a member of the Bosley family holding a city office. Bosley’s father, Freeman Bosley Sr., was a longtime alderman, and his brother, Freeman Bosley Jr. served as city clerk before being elected as the city’s first Black mayor in 1993. Ebony M. Washington garnered 627 votes to win the primary, followed by
See ELECTION, A7
COMPLIMENTARY
A ‘Living’ legend
Bosley bounced; 9th Ward undetermined
St. Louis American staff
Vol. 94 No. 49
Ruth Ezell celebrates nearly 19 years with Nine PBS
By Danielle Brown St. Louis American Photo by Ashley Winters / St. Louis American
7th Ward top vote-getter Alisha Sonnier hugs a supporter at her March 7 watch party.
STL SC soaring ST. LOUIS SC forward Nicholas Gioacchini (11) and Charlotte FC’s Bill Tuiloma headed skyward during SC’s first home game at CITYPARK stadium on Saturday, Mar. 4, 2023. SC defeated Charlotte FC 3-1 to move to 2-0 in the team’s inaugural season. SC plays at Portland on March 11 before returning to its home pitch against San Jose on March 18.
“My parents always said when God closes a door he opens a window,” said Ruth Ezell, senior producer of Nine PBS’ Living St. Louis show. “My career has been when I see a door cracked I slide it open.” Her career has had many twists and turns, but she says it always has aligned. She began her media career in 1976 with WJR-AM, a Detroit radio station where she worked as an assistant in the sales department. “I did a closed circuit broadcast to all the smaller stations in Ruth Ezell Michigan that carried [Detroit] Tigers baseball,” she said. “My job was to go and do the broadcast a day or two before game day. I told them where they could run their spots and about the spots we had to run according to our schedule.” “One day as luck would have it” as Ezell recalls, she was sitting in the booth reading an ad script when the news director heard her voice, and offered her a production assistant position.
See EZELL, A7
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Howard University students Celeb Brantley and Faith Ekong talk in the library of Washington Elementary School in the Jennings School District Tuesday, Mar. 7.
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Federal judge sides with STL, strikes down gun law By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American Missouri’s Second Amendment Preservation Act (SAPA) was ruled on Tuesday as unconstitutional by U.S. District Court Judge Brian Wimes. He rendered the 2021 law, which could have penalized law enforcement agencies for enforcing federal gun laws or assisting federal agents in their duties, “invalid, null, void, and of no effect,” in his written opinion.
HEALTH
Dr. Teree Quinn talks breast cancer prevention
St. Louis, St. Louis County, and Jackson County filed a lawsuit against the legislation in 2021, and the Justice Department filed a similar lawsuit. [SAPA] makes it harder for police to do their jobs and strips away critical tools we need to protect our neighborhoods. We are encouraged by the federal court ruling today declaring it unconstitutional,” St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones, St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page, and Jackson County Executive Frank White said in a statement.
Howard University students assist at area schools By Sylvester Brown Jr. St. Louis American
“A bipartisan majority of Missourians want the state legislature to enact common-sense gun safety measures, like red flag laws and background checks, to help keep families across our state safe. But year after year, Jefferson City politicians have continued to pass dangerous bills that make it more difficult to prevent gun violence in our communities.” Wimes said in his opinion that state and local law enforcement officials “may lawfully
As Lynn Squires, an English/Arts teacher at Washington EleMiddle School, walked into the room she shouted: “HU.” The 15 or so college students, each standing next to personalized poster boards, responded in unison: “U know!” The chant was a shared moment between Squires, a Howard University alumnus and HU students visiting Washington EleMiddle School of the Normandy Schools Collaborative. Their visit is connected to “Alternative Spring Break” (ASB) where college students engage in volunteer service, typically for a week. The program originated in the early 1980s as a counter to “traditional” spring break trips. Howard University has been a part of the ASB
See GUN LAW, A6
See HOWARD, A6
BUSINESS
Vince Bennett of McCormack Baron Salazar
Spring in their step
During a recent discussion with The American, Dr. Quinn shared information about breast care, cancer prevention, and her contributions to the medical field.
The St. Louis American spoke with Bennett about what is upcoming with McCormack Baron Salazar, including its ongoing investment of New Market Tax Credits in St. Louis.
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SPORTS
Saint Louis University woman shock A-10
The Saint Louis University women’s team closed a tremendous final month of the season by winning the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament championship.
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