Business Salute has hometown feel Awardees express love of STL, ESL and community
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CAC Audited NOVEMBER 21 – 27, 2013
Vol. 84 No. 33 COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
‘Earl! Earl! Earl!’ Lindenwood honors Earl Austin Jr. By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price
Lindenwood Head Coach Brad Soderberg applauded as Earl Austin Jr. held aloft his jersey that the university retired on Tuesday, the first jersey to be retired in the school’s history.
Fully outfitted in Lindenwood University spirit gear and painted faces, a large crowd of students shouted “Earl! Earl! Earl!” and stomped their feet on the bleachers as Earl Austin Jr. and his family made their way onto the basketball court. Before the men’s basketball team rivaled Maryville University on Tuesday night, Lindenwood University honored Austin – St. Louis American’s longtime sports editor – for his accomplishments as a Lindenwood Basketball Hall of Famer and successful sports commentator.
campus 30 years ago that something like this would be possible.” Lindenwood University President James D. Evans, who was also one of Austin’s psychology teachers, said Austin was a great athlete and student at a time when Lindenwood was just getting on its
“He represents the very best that Lindenwood produces.”
‘It’s about time he was in the spotlight’ See story video at www.stlamerican.com On Tuesday, the university retired Austin’s basketball jersey #41 – making it the first uniform retired in the basketball program’s history. Austin played ball at Lindenwood from 1982-86 and left the program as its all-time leading scorer with 1,972 points. His 56 percent field goal percentage is also best in program history. The St. Louis native is also second with 840 rebounds and 546 field goals. “It’s overwhelming,” Austin said. “I never thought when I stepped on this
– Lindenwood University President James D. Evans, on Earl Austin Jr.
“athletic feet.” “Earl’s great performance as a student and athlete helped put
See AUSTIN, A7
Federal poverty level The 2013 federal poverty guidelines are $11,490 for a single adult and $23,550 for a family of four for the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C. Family#
Threshold
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
$11,490 $15,510 $19,530 $23,550 $27,570 $31,590 $35,610 $39,630
See story video at www. stlamerican. com
For households with more than eight people, add $4,020 for each additional person.
Basics of ‘Obamacare’ How the ACA’s new health insurance marketplace works By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has been the subject of constant, unrelenting political attacks, but few efforts to explain this complex legislation, known more briefly as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or “Obamacare,” after the president who pushed it through in 2010. Here are some basic concepts of the ACA or Obamacare, simply explained. Open enrollment ACA open enrollment began Oct. 1 and continues until March 31, 2014. The new coverage begins January 1, 2014. Health insurance shopping Health Insurance Marketplaces and Health Insurance exchanges are one in the same. Marketplaces, created under the ACA, is where you select and purchase private health insurance coverage.
See ACA, A7 BUSINESS
Photo by Wiley Price
District parent Archilla Buford spoke in support of Dr. Art McCoy, Jr. at the FergusonFlorissant school board meeting at McCluer North High School on Nov. 13. Buford said the community chose not vote in the last school board election, but they will vote in April.
‘Witch hunt’ for McCoy Transfer issue used to drive superintendent out of district, sources say By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American The Ferguson-Florissant school board sent out a districtwide email on Monday evening stating that it have received new information on Superintendent Art McCoy Jr., who was placed on administrative leave on Nov. 6. The information is “serious enough to require us by law to notify the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary
HEALTH
Education (DESE),” stated Paul Morris, president of the board. Soon after, DESE sent out a public comment, stating the department will be looking into “potential irregularities in mandatory reporting, including district attendance.” On Tuesday, McCoy sent a letter to Missouri Commissioner of Education Chris Nicastro regarding the issue. “I welcome the opportunity to talk with you or your representative, and I am anxious to do so as soon as possible,” he wrote. “I
believe it is critical for the district’s students to get this matter resolved immediately.” McCoy did not respond to The St. Louis American’s calls or emails. Morris said he could not speak with The American. Sources from inside the district said this information came from Maureen Pfeifer, a retired district data analyst, shortly after last Wednesday’s board meeting, where board members listened to four hours of community testimonies in
See McCOY, A6 SPORTS
Contracts awarded for CityArchRiver 2015
Actor changes life to change roles
Homegrown NBA hoopsters
Great Rivers Greenway approved $23 million in construction contracts for seven local firms on the CityArchRiver 2015 project.
This week’s issue of Your Health Matters focuses on diabetes and offers other diabetes-related information.
Ishmael Sistrunk updates the progress of current pros from the St. Louis area in his weekly column ‘In The Clutch.’
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