Sports Year in Review
@stlouisamerican
@stlouisamerican
St. Louis American See page B1
The
CAC Audited JANUARY 9 – 15, 2025
Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928
stlamerican.com
In pursuit of equity and inclusion
Co-Presenters, Lead Sponsor announced
Incumbent ‘Toni’ Cousins on ballot
By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American
See SALUTE, A7
COMPLIMENTARY
Candidates file for SLPS board
2025 Salute to Business
While the national political climate has resulted in an increase in hostility towards efforts in supporting equity and inclusion in the business sector, the storm of misinformation and ignorance that has created this wave of bias must be challenged and strongly resisted. The St. Louis American Foundation will honor individuals and organizations dedicated to more inclusive and equitable growth during the 23rd annual Salute to Excellence in Business Networking and Awards Luncheon at 11 a.m. Thursday Feb. 20, 2025, at The Ritz-Carlton St. Louis. The 2025 Co-Presenters of the prestigious event
Vol. 96 No. 40
By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American
Photo courtesy of the Urban League
Michael P. McMillan is president and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis which is one of the Co-Presenters of the 2025 Salute to Excellence in Business.
The St. Louis Public Schools board will have at least two new members following the April 8, 2025, municipal election. Embroiled in controversy following the firing of former superintendent Keisha Scarlett, and facing a possible large budget deficit, 12 St. Louisans have filed to run for the three school board seats that will be open. Board President Antionette ‘Toni’ Cousins, who has faced calls to resign her position following a chaotic late summer leading into the school year including the Scarlett Antionette dismissal and bus ‘Toni’ transportation woes, is Cousins running for re-election. Vice President Matt Davis and board member Natalie Vowell have stated that they will not seek re-election. On her Facebook page, Cousins posted on Dec. 23, 2024, “A Funny thing happened today: I officially filed for re-elec-
See SLPS, A7
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Fire and ice
St. Louis fireman put out a car fire in the 4600 block of Page Blvd. near West Side Baptist Church Tues. Jan. 7, 2024 during the city’s first major snow fall of the year.
With a record 62 elected Black officials, including historic firsts of two women senators and two representatives from Alabama, the Congressional Black Caucus held a swearing-in ceremony Friday morning before members took the oath of office for the 119th U.S. Congress. Democrats Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland and Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware will represent the first time
two Black women will serve together in the U.S. Senate. In addition, freshman Congressman Wesley Bell was also sworn in on January 3. The caucus also marked the historic election of two Black U.S. House members from Alabama serving at the same time. Incumbent Rep. Terri Sewell has been joined by Shomari Figures, who was elected in November to represent the new 2nd Congressional District. Following a lawsuit, a federal court ordered the state in 2022 to draw
HEALTH
Ricky Hughes’ Run Crew a track to healthy lifestyle
Hughes is founder of St. Louis Run Crew, which he describes as the people’s crew – an initiative that aims to provide space for all runners of all stages a place to improve their health and build community.
Page A8
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire
a second “opportunity district” to provide a chance for Black voters to select their preferred candidate. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the lower court’s ruling in 2023. Sewell, a Democrat, recalled how the caucus was first established in 1971 with 13 members – 12 men and one woman. Today, a total of 67 Black lawmakers serve in Congress, the largest contingent ever on Capitol Hill.
On Wednesday, the Department of Justice challenged the temporary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on releasing a final report on Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigations into President-elect Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The DOJ argued that Cannon’s injunction lacks legal merit and unnecessarily delays the release of critical information to Congress and the public. Attorney General Merrick Garland intends to release volume one of the report, which focuses on Trump’s alleged election interference, to Congress “in the interest of transparency and accountability.” With Trump being sworn in on January 20, 2025, many federal judges, some appointed by Republican presidents, are expressing concern over the future of justice for January 6, 2021, defendants. Trump stated during the campaign he will
See BELL, A6
See PARDONS, A6
Wesley Bell joins defiant Congressional Black Caucus By William Ford For the Missouri Independent
Federal judges fret possible Jan. 6 pardons
BUSINESS
Many Missourians will avoid medical debt credit woes Medical debt will no longer be included in consumer credit reports, which could help millions of African Americans improve their aspects of wealth building.
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