U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett urges deeper political engagement
St. Louis American See page A14
The
Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928
MAY 21 – 27, 2026
Vol. 98 No. 6 COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
Aldermen escalate police budget battle with subpoenas By Sylvester Brown Jr. St. Louis American A growing fight over police spending escalated this week after St. Louis aldermen issued subpoenas to members of the state-controlled Board of Police Commissioners who failed to appear before the Board of Aldermen’s Budget Committee to explain the department’s proposed budget. The dispute centers on a proposed fiscal year 2027 police budget estimated between $250 million and $270 million
Braxton Clemonts of Action St. Louis joins fellow residents in a past protest inside City Hall.
— potentially tens of millions more than what Mayor Cara Spencer’s administration says the city can afford. Spencer has argued state law limits the allocation to about $219 million. The Budget Committee approved the subpoenas Tuesday after no police commissioners attended a scheduled budget hearing. Aldermen said the subpoenas were intended to require commissioners to publicly answer questions about the department’s spending request.
See Police, A12
Photo by Lawrence Bryant / St. Louis American
‘This is our pillar’ Rebuilt libraries restore community lifeline while signaling recovery By Ashley Winters St. Louis American With tears in her eyes, 11th Ward Committee Woman Amber Cole stood inside the newly restored Julia Davis Library and reflected on what the building means to the neighborhood. “When you take knowledge out of the community you take health and wealth — this is our community, this is our pillar,” Cole said, describing the library as a vital “community hub.” Looking around the branch near O’Fallon Park, she added softly, “I’m glad to be home.” Nearly a year after a tornado tore through North St. Louis, damaging thousands of homes and buildings, two neighborhood library branches are reopening this week — a milestone residents say represents more than repaired buildings. Julia Davis Library reopened to the public Monday, May 18, and Cabanne Library will reopen May 21, nearly a year
Photo by Lawrence Bryant / St. Louis American
Sumner High School graduates celebrate during their commencement ceremony at Harris Stowe State University, marking a powerful moment of pride and resilience for the Class of 2026.
See Libraries, A12
Year of resilience
2026 Salute to Young Leaders Awards
Community commitment defines honorees
Sumner’s Class of 2026 graduates after months of adversity By Kenya Vaughn St. Louis American When the Class of 2026 arrived at historic Charles Sumner High School four years ago, they stepped into a building still recovering from virtual learning, pandemic disruptions and uncertainty. They finished their journey standing in the same place many were when a tornado tore through their school one year earlier — the Dr. Henry Givens Jr. Building at Harris-Stowe State University. On May 16, 2025, a violent tornado struck St. Louis whipped through Sumner’s historic building in The Ville — damaging the home of the oldest continuously operating Black public high school west of the Mississippi. “It really impacted me emotionally because that building was like my second home,” said salutatorian Romell Calhoun. “It was almost like losing your childhood house.” Calhoun and his classmates spent their final year away from
“It really impacted me emotionally because that building was like my second home. It was almost like losing your childhood house.”
By Ashley Winters St. Louis American A new generation of Black leaders helping shape St. Louis through business, advocacy, the arts and community service will be honored Thursday during the 2026 Salute to Young Leaders Awards Reception presented by The St. Louis American Foundation. The annual event recognizes African American professionals under 40 whose work is impacting communities across the region. Michael Holmes, chairman of the
– Salutatorian Romell Calhoun
See Salute, A13
See Sumner, A13 LIVING IT
BUSINESS
From one East St. Louis son to another
Jazz station WSIE 88.7 amplifies its regional reach
On Saturday night, fellow East St. Louis native Anthony Wiggins demonstrated the local influence of Miles Davis when he added his voice to Jazz St. Louis’ Miles in May Centennial Celebration.
The heritage jazz station WSIE 88.7, which first hit the airwaves in 1970, gathered donors, students, volunteers and longtime supporters for a ribbon cutting marking a new tower and HD transmitter.
Page B1
Page A5