A heart to heart talk about Black Maternal Health
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St. Louis American See page A14
The
CAC Audited MAY 8 – 14, 2025
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Old Courthouse begins renewed path of history
Reopens after renovations May 3
Vol. 97 No. 5 COMPLIMENTARY
She did her best
Veteran journalist and editor Linda Lockhart dies at 72
By Namratha Prasad St. Louis American
By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American
It is a new day for an old and historic courthouse. After an extensive renovation, the Old Courthouse, site of the first of two landmark legal cases of Dred Scott, his wife Harriett and other enslaved people, reopened to the public on Saturday, May 3, 2025, to celebrate the grand reopening of the Old Courthouse located downtown. “In honoring this courthouse, we are not just preserving a building, we are honoring the memory of those who transformed it into a battleground for freedom and those who had the courage it took to get to this place,” said keynote speaker Twinette Johnson, St. Louis University School of Law dean.
The name Linda Lockhart may not be a familiar one beyond the journalism community. But she deserves to be remembered alongside others who maintained a standard and served the field to the point where Black journalism and Black excellence became synonymous in St. Louis. The nature of her work was in the often unsung, typically anonymous yet critical element of print (and later digital) journalism – copy editing. Her keen eye helped others in the field keep their best foot forward. Lockhart died on Sunday, May Linda 4. Lockhart Lockhart was so committed to her craft that she left copy editing instructions in an obituary that was released upon her death. “A stickler for straight-forward writing and AP style, she did not pass away or transition,” the obit read. “She died on May 4, 2025, of complications associated with cancer.” Lockhart was 72. In her 45-year career journey that included work as a reporter, editor, editorial writer and other positions, Lockhart was as devoted to training up future generations of Black journalists as she was to the AP style guidelines. This was evident through her service as a founding
See COURTHOUSE, A6
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Lynne M. Jackson (second from left), the great-great granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott, guided Randy Burkett, Marcy Hart, and Vickie Hayden through the newly-renovated Old Courthouse on Saturday, May 3, 2025.
A Berry good time Sumner High School student Jordan Stewart performs as rock and roll hall of fame rocker Chuck Berry, a 1944 graduate, who would be inducted into it’s hall of fame during induction ceremonies Friday, May 2, 2025.
See LOCKHART, A8
Local activist files civil lawsuit against SLMPD By Ashley Winters The St. Louis American
Clark had announced he was going to invest and convince other wealthy developers to contribute to her campaign. Reportedly, it was because SLDC had rejected his proposal to build a concrete plant in North St. Louis. “Oh well, I guess it’s all part of the job,” Richardson lamented at the time,
Del-Rio Swink, a disabled activist and cancer survivor, is suing several St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officers, a Berkeley police officer and Walgreens Co., for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The St. Louis Police officers named in the lawsuit are Alfred Allmon, Trevor Krepps and Kristine Stark. They, along with Berkeley Police Department officer Thomas Love, are accused of using excessive force. “I never thought people who are supposed to serve and protect would treat me this way,” Swink said. Swink is represented by ArchCity Defenders, a legal advocacy organization well known for representing clients who live in communities of color. She was about to give up when the local law firm took her case. “When no one would listen to me,
See RICHARDSON, A8
See LAWSUIT, A6
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Richardson departs SLDC
‘A disappointing day’
By Sylvester Brown, Jr. St. Louis American
When the St. Louis American interviewed Neal Richardson, chair, president & CEO of the St. Louis
Development Corporation (SLDC) in April, his frustration was palpable. The SLDC had been dragged into the mayoral race. At the time, mayoral candidate Cara Spencer claimed the SLDC was dysfunctional, lacked transparency and inept at doling out public funds and tax incentives. Shortly before she resigned from SLDC’s board, Clayco founder Bob
BUSINESS
A Red Circle’s new Creative Spot
A Red Circle’s Creative Spot is dedicated to supporting youth-led healing, mental health, arts and education for all ages, a home for community resilience through creativity.
Page B1
SPORTS
NBA future in good hands with young players
There’s a wealth of talent in the 23-and-under age group. The league is in very good hands for the future. The ringleader is 23-year old Anthony Edwards of Minnesota.
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