Royal Flame STL gospel rapper debuts at #3 on iTunes with seventh record
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CAC Audited OCTOBER 24 – 30, 2013
Vol. 84 No. 30 COMPLIMENTARY
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Training servants of the underserved
Last week Michael V. Drake, M.D., the chancellor of the University of California, Irvine, distinguished ophthalmologist and leader in workforce diversity, delivered the 2013 Homer G. Phillips Lecture at the Washington University School of Medicine.
Dr. Michael V. Drake delivers 2013 WUSM Homer G. Phillips Lecture By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American Training medical students to focus on underserved communities is a career quest of Michael V. Drake, M.D., the chancellor of the University of California, Irvine, distinguished ophthalmologist and leader in workforce diversity. Last week, Drake delivered the 2013 Homer G. Phillips
Lecture at the Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM). He spoke on the topic, “Improving Public Health through Academic Medicine-Community Partnerships.” Will Ross, M.D., associate dean for Diversity for WUSM, welcomed an audience that included health professionals, patients and friends of Homer G. Phillips Hospital, the pre-
See DRAKE, A6
Photo by Maurice Meredith
Water fight Aldermen oppose mayor’s view that Veolia contract was approved By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American Mayor Francis G. Slay’s administration has caused an uproar among city aldermen and environmental activists, by claiming that the board approved a $250,000 consulting contract for controversial Veolia Water North America when it passed the city budget in May. Several aldermen on the Ways and Means committee called this claim of Slay’s “insane” and “sneaky” at a public hearing on Tuesday. The contract has been criticized by aldermanic President Lewis Reed and the St. Louis Dump See VEOLIA, A7
Photo by Wiley Price
Song for Mother Gentry The life and legacy of gospel legend Mother Geneva Gentry were celebrated at a musical service in her honor held Friday at Southern Missionary Baptist Church, 5630 Page. The National Convention of Gospel Choirs honored her in song during the service. She passed recently at the age of 101.
Fire at Superfund site in Bridgeton is not the first, researcher discovers
COGIC returns to STL
By Bridjes O’Neil Of The St. Louis American
106th Holy Convocation to be held here Nov. 4-12 By Bridjes O’Neil Of The St. Louis American Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr. said he is overjoyed to return to St. Louis once again for the Church of God in Christ’s 106th Holy Convocation, to be held November 4-12 at the America’s Center. “St. Louis has been so hospitable,” Blake said. “The people have been so kind. The leaders of the city have been so accommodating and receptive to us.” He described Convocation – held in St. Louis since
2010 – as an “in-gathering of the saints.” More than 40,000 faithful are expected to attend this – Presiding Bishop year. Charles E. Blake Sr. “They come together for biblical instruction, for inspiration, for worship, to share with one another and to support the Church of God in Christ itself,” Blake said.
“St. Louis has been so hospitable.”
See COGIC, A6
Documents sought on radioactive landfill fire
Photo by Wiley Price
Presiding Bishop Charles E. Blake Sr.
The Missouri Coalition for the Environment held a community meeting last Thursday alerting residents to what organizers described as a “shocking discovery” at the West Lake Landfill Superfund Site in Bridgeton. Researching documents on the landfill, independent researcher Debi Disser discovered that the current fire smoldering underground near the landfill, which contains radioactive waste from the Manhattan Project, is not the first fire there. A See LANDFILL, A6