SLU helping create urban health care workers
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St. Louis American See page A8
The
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See BOYD, A7
Mayor Jones, others rip Kehoe agenda By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American
By Sylvester Brown, Jr. St. Louis American Rodney Boyd, 53, founder and partner with the Nexus Group, a full-service government relations and lobbying firm, was afforded a valuable educational experience as a child. From the age of eight until he was sixteen, Boyd worked at the “House of Good Care,” a popular shoeshine parlor on the corner of Marcus and St. Louis Avenues. It was a hangout where the city’s Black who’s-who (politicians, preachers, lawyers, entrepreneurs and hustlers) hung out, swapped tall tales and conducted business all while having their shoes expertly shined. Customers of the parlor during the late 1970s and early ‘80s, Boyd remembers, included JB “Jet” Banks (the late former state senator), William (Bill) Clay Sr. (former congressman),
COMPLIMENTARY
State of delusion
2025 Salute to Business
Rodney Boyd, the 2025 ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’
Vol. 96 No. 43
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Rodney Boyd delivered the 2020 Lincoln University Founders’ Day keynote address in Jefferson City. Boyd, a 1993 LU graduate, is a co-founder of Nexus Group, a full-service government affairs firm headquartered in Jefferson City.
While Gov. Mike Kehoe said during his State of the State address that his agenda would help St. Louis as well as all regions of the n Kehoe constate, his plan tinued stumping was blasted by Louis Mayor for state control St. Tishaura O. of the St. Louis Jones, the state Metropolitan Democratic Party and a non-partiPolice san state budget Department, watchdog. regardless of Kehoe conthe wishes of tinued stumping for state control Jones, Police of the St. Louis Chief Robert Metropolitan Tracy and Police Missouri voters. Department, regardless of the wishes of Jones, Police Chief Robert Tracy and Missouri voters. Jones said, “the governor took aim at the city of St. Louis.” The mayor said Kehoe continued “emphasizing his passion for taking away local control, despite the continued decline in crime in the city, and
See KEHOE, A6
She’s in charge
Ashley T. Johnson leads FBI field office By Sylvester Brown, Jr.
Building STEM interest
disregard of the law—caused real harm and chaos for millions over the span of the last [72] hours which is still ongoing.” The White House Office of Management and Budget sparked a national frenzy of confusion as states (many that Trump won in the presi-
If not for the old Matlock television series, Ashley T. Johnson may not have become the first Black female and first-ever woman to oversee the local FBI office. In October, former FBI Director Christopher Wray appointed Johnson Special Agent in charge of the St. Louis Field Office. In an interview with the St. Louis American, Johnson chuckled as she admitted it was Matlock, which premiered in the late 1980s, starring the ever-affable Andy Griffith, that drew her interest in the law enforcement. Ashley T. “I’d literally come Johnson inside from playing at 3 o’clock just to watch Matlock and all my friends would tease me and, until this day, I watch it whenever it’s on.” Johnson, who described herself as an “inquisitive child,” explained what drew her to the TV show: “It was the investigative side of it. I was always intrigued how they put the pieces of the puzzle together, how they followed mysteries…” It was perhaps the only part of the interview where the FBI director laughed or displayed a sliver of self-deprecating humor. Otherwise, her answers were direct, by-the-book with no unnecessary
See FREEZE, A7
See JOHNSON, A6
Photo by Taylor Marrie / St. Louis American
Jackson Scottwagoner displayed some of the potential of his architectural/engineering skills during the the Community STEM Showcase at the Science Center on January 18.
Trump funding freeze tumbles St. Louis Public Radio Faced with widespread criticism and at least two dozen lawsuits, the Trump administration has backed off on the controversial pause on all federal funding. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said that “Americans fought back, and Donald
Trump backed off.” “This is an important victory for the American people whose voices were heard after massive pressure from every corner of this country—real people made a difference by speaking out,” said Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. “Still, the Trump administration— through a combination of sheer incompetence, cruel intentions, and a willful
BUSINESS
Cardinal Glennon opens book club for kids with sickle cell
Founded by co-owners Jeffrey and Pamela Blair, Eye See Me specializes in children’s books that promote positive images and stories about Black culture and history.
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SPORTS
Vashon Winter Classic features blazing prep teams The defending four-time state Class 4 champion Vashon Wolverines, ranked No. 1 in Class 4, will host undefeated Principia, ranked No. 1 in Class 3, in the feature game.
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