Having a Ball STL’s own Montee Ball is a leading candidate for the 2011 Heisman Trophy awarded to the nation’s top player.
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Vol. 83 No. 33
CAC Audited NOVEMBER 17 – 23, 2011
COMPLIMENTARY
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NEWS ANALYSIS
AMERICA 2050:
A man carries his son and dog across the street in the 4200 block of Cook Avenue after a fire in his home on Monday.
ready or not! Equity and inclusion will trump greed and racism – or else By Damion Trasada For The St. Louis American As I walked among the over 2,000 people recently gathered at the Equity Summit 2011 Conference in Detroit, I kept thinking of Sam Cooke’s classic “A Change Is Gonna Come.” The conference was held Nov. 8-10 and organized
Leaders who employ and play along with the “divide and conquer” racial tactics of the past need to be consigned to the ash heap of history. – Damion Trasada
See TRASADA, A6
SLPS inks 3-year deal with teachers Union agrees to 2 percent pay increase, no furloughs St. Louis Public Schools Superintendent Kelvin Adams and AFT St. Louis, Local 420, AFL-CIO President Mary J. Armstrong celebrated the three-year agreement the district reached with the union on Tuesday.
Photo by Wiley Price
‘Thank everybody in St. Louis’ Homegrown star Amber Bullock goes from Sunday Best to the Fabulous Fox By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American “I mean, you drive down Grand all the time and you see ‘Oprah Winfrey presents’ and other big names,” Sunday Best winner and STL native Amber Bullock said. “Never in a million years did I think – you can’t even imagine – seeing your name in lights at the
Fabulous Fox Theatre as an opening artist.” After earning top honors on the top-rated gospel singing competition on BET in September, her wildest dreams have come true – including billing on the iconic concert venue. “Kirk Franklin’s Fearless Tour with special guest Sunday Best Winner Amber Bullock” is how it reads. Her rise to getting her name
up there is indeed a story that fairy tales are made of. “This whole experience has been absolutely amazing,” Bullock said. “I’m in awe and still taking it all in – since the beginning of Sunday Best to this very day.” Millions voted from around the world to crown her champion of See BULLOCK, A7
Photo courtesy St. Louis Public Schools
years. “This agreement is a reality thanks to the partnership between the district and Local 420,” said Superintendent St. Louis Public School District Kelvin Adams. employees are getting a raise for the In addition to the salary first time in three years. increase, the new policy On Tuesday, the dis “This agreeprovides the continuation trict’s Special ment is a reality of current health benefits Administrative Board thanks to the and does not include furvoted to approve a threelough days. District year agreement with the partnership employees have taken teachers’ union, AFT between the seven total unpaid furLocal 420, which provides district and lough days over the past a 2 percent pay increase Local 420.” two school years, which for district teachers and saved the district $3 milstaff for the 2011/12 – Superintendent lion last year. As part of school year. Kelvin Adams the agreement, employees The contract goes into will not be asked to take effect immediately and furloughs, or days off covers the period of July without pay. 1, 2011 – June 30, 2014. “In recent years, we’ve made This is the first pay raise for district progress towards reaching accreditaemployees since the 2008/09 school tion through improved academic year. The policy also allows for opportunities to negotiate additional salary increases for the following two school See SLPS, A7 By Rebecca S. Rivas Of The St. Louis American