Cancer, COVID, cancelled concerts can’t stop him “I was watching my leg die.” In November of 2019, Orlando Watson, 44, concert promoter and co-owner of Prime 55 Restaurant in the U. City Loop had to make a tough decision. A sarcoma cancer had formed in his left leg, below the knee. It wasn’t the first […]
Posted inBusiness news
Gateway Neighborhood Fund joins mission to attract new Northside homeowners
Gateway Neighborhood Fund joins mission to attract new Northside homeowners The St Louis Association of Organizations’ (SLACO) campaign to attract 100 new homeowners to North St. Louis keeps building with launch of the Gateway Neighborhood Fund. The GNF will focus on returning a functional mortgage market to sections of North St. Louis that currently lack […]
Posted inLetters to the editor
988 Line needs to be funded in Missouri
May is Mental Health Month. By urging my public officials to prioritize suicide prevention, mental health, and crisis care, I am hoping to influence collective change to support #MentalHealth4All. Right now, individuals in crisis are able to call 1-800-273-8255 to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for […]
Posted inPeople on the move
Sylvester Brown, Jr. to continue as Deaconess COVID fellow
Veteran journalist Sylvester Brown, Jr.’s St. Louis American COVID fellowship has been extended by the Deaconess Foundation for an additional year. The funds are awarded from Deaconess Foundation’s Responsive Grant program to continue support for the St. Louis American’s COVID-19 Fellow narrative advocacy coverage. The COVID-19 Equitable Relief and Recovery Fund (ERRF) grants were designed […]
Posted inNational sports
St. Louis’ finest square off in NBA Play-In Tournament
The National Basketball Association postseason will begin on Tuesday night with a pair of St. Louis’ finest squaring off against each other. Former Chaminade College Prep All-Americans Jayson Tatum and Bradley Beal will do battle in one of the opening play-in games. Tatum’s Boston Celtics will host Beal’s Washington Wizards at 8 p.m. (St. Louis […]
Posted inLiving It
Watson works to keep a promise
When Annsara Watson graduates from St. Louis Community College this month with an associate degree in general transfer studies, she will be one step closer to keeping a promise. “It feels amazing to know that I am at the first completion step in my goals,” said the 52-year-old nontraditional student. “It only pushes me to work […]
Posted inLetters to the editor
Keep up the fight for Medicaid expansion
Thank you St. Louis American and all your health partners and Dr. Denise Hooks-Anderson for continuing to fight for Medicaid expansion. Several of our extended family members fall into the 275,000 folks who are being left behind until this is approved. Voters throughout Missouri overwhelmingly said ‘yes’ to expansion, but then Jeff City government comes […]
Posted inGuest columnists
Taking on abusive, deadly policing
Thanks to the voters who elected President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, we now have a Department of Justice that actually cares about justice. And I am not just talking about justice as an idea. I am talking about a Department of Justice that is willing to take on abusive policing and law […]
Posted inSocial justice
The Ferguson movement is on the cusp of revolutionizing political power in St. Louis
After a group of young Black activists saw police reform efforts fail, they came up with a new plan. This is part two of a collaboration between The Missouri Independent and Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting looking at how the fight for police reform in St. Louis has evolved. Subscribe to the Reveal […]
Posted inReligion columnists
Be humble, be forgiving, be what the Lord asks
They say no one can ever lead a perfect life. Flaws, faults and mistakes are unavoidable consequences of being human. God lets us know through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ that handling our imperfections is as important as acknowledging that we do indeed have them. Allow me to call upon spiritual insight for a moment […]