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St. Louis American See page A7
The
Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928
OCTOBER 16 – 22, 2025
Vol. 97 No. 28 COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
Redistricting threatens abortion, health care By Sylvester Brown Jr. St. Louis American When Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a Trump-aligned congressional redistricting plan last month, critics warned it would do more than tilt elections toward Republicans — it could determine the fate of abortion rights,
Medicaid and other key issues affecting Missourians’ health and economic well-being. If the plan survives legal and ballot challenges, it would erase one of Missouri’s two Democratic strongholds — both currently represented by Black congressmen — and shift power toward Republican lawmakers who have led
efforts to roll back reproductive rights and shrink Medicaid. The map splits Kansas City’s 5th Congressional District, dividing Black neighborhoods and merging them into distant, Republican-leaning districts, a change that could weaken the influence of Black and urban voters. Dr. Kendra Holmes, president and
Salute to Excellence in Education
CEO of Affinia Healthcare, said the redistricting plan poses a direct threat to health-care access. “Gerrymandering that impacts urban and poor districts like St. Louis will dilute the political power of communities with greater health needs, making it harder
See REDISTRICTING, A6
Honoring a legacy Bill Clay Sr.’s life to be celebrated at UMSL memorial
By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American The historic life and legacy of the late Congressman William “Bill” Clay Sr. will be celebrated during a public memorial service at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center on the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus. Clay, who died July 17 following a lengthy illness, was the first Black member of Congress elected from Missouri and a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus. “Congressman Clay helped build the
See CLAY, A12
Photos by Maurice Meredith / St. Louis American
Dr. Michael L. Peoples, principal of University City High School, chats with algebra students.
Driven by purpose Dr. Michael Peoples left engineering to shape young lives
Photo by Brian Munoz / St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis Sheriff Alfred Montgomery
Judge jails St. Louis sheriff
D
By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American
Dr. Michael Peoples seemed to have his career path — and its many angles — covered as an accomplished engineer. He completed his pre-engineering studies then earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering management with a technology emphasis. After graduation, he held several engineering positions, including with Emerson Electric, IBM and General Motors. Today, that same drive to excel has carried him far beyond engineering — into the classroom and district leadership, now serving as principal of University City High School. For his nontraditional path and record of student achievement, Peoples will be honored as one of five Excellence in Education awardees at the Salute to Excellence in Education Gala, sponsored by the St. Louis American Foundation.
See PEOPLES, A13
Mayor urges resignation
By Sylvester Brown Jr. St. Louis American Dr. Michael Peoples will be honored as one of five Excellence in Education awardees at the Salute to Excellence in Education Gala.
After months of mounting controversy and clashes with city leaders, St. Louis Sheriff Alfred Montgomery was ordered to jail on Tuesday following a federal hearing that laid bare what a judge called a troubling pattern of deception and defiance. The ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge John M. Bodenhausen capped weeks of intensifying scrutiny of the sheriff, who has faced pressure to resign while fervently citing his innocence. Mayor Cara Spencer said the situation “has reached new heights and must now come to an
See SHERIFF, A13
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The Vault Luxury Resale offers style options for Salute gala Along with Gail Holmes and Gayle Jones, Janet Williams was one of the lovely women who agreed to show off the formal style options available at The Vault Luxury Resale.
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