Year: <span>2013</span>

EDITOR’S DESK: Songwriter’s book lifted my spirits

July 22, 2013

A few weeks ago, The Scene received a book with a letter asking for a review. I knew absolutely nothing about it, but I took on the challenge of reading it, which excited me. The book, called “God Loves Ugly & Love Makes Beautiful,” was written by Christa Black, a songwriter and violinist who has toured with the Jonas Brothers, Michael W. Smith and Jennifer Knapp. I assumed it was a self-help book and that it wouldn’t keep my attention. But I was surprised at how well it was written and how much I could actually see myself in Black’s story. […]

SPEAKING OUT: Don’t be apathetic on privacy

July 22, 2013

What’s your privacy worth? On June 6, what might normally have been a national U.S. debate became a worldwide uproar when the British newspaper The Guardian published a story alleging gross privacy invasion by the United States government. Former government contractor Edward Snowden allegedly provided the paper with Federal Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) documents that showed national communications-service providers, such as Verizon, had been forced to hand over millions of phone records for U.S. customers. Snowden had obtained the documents, he told news sources, while working on national-security projects. […]

Jerome Clark

July 22, 2013

Jerome Clark

July 22, 2013

Protesters carry signs as they march on Delmar Boulevard.(Photo by Garrieth Crockett)

Protesters demand higher wages

July 1, 2013

Protestors marched on the Delmar Loop in University City this spring, carrying signs that read, “I am a Man” and “On Strike: Poverty Wages hold St. Louis Down.” They were part of a St. Louis campaign known as STL Can’t Survive on $7.35, which is pushing to raise Missouri’s minimum wage from $7.35 to $15 an hour. “I work over 40 hours a week, and I have to decide what bills I want to pay,” said Kenta Jackson, 21, a manager at Church’s Chicken, who skipped work the morning of the rally. […]

Randy Reed, who was hired this spring as the new Archers men’s basketball coach, took his McCluer North High School boys to state championships three times during his 16-year career there. (Provided Photo)

Coach Randy replaces Coach Randy

July 1, 2013

He’s brought home three state championships, sent players to NCAA teams and another of his boys is expected to be drafted this year into the NBA. Randy Reed left McCluer North High School this year to take over the St. Louis Community College Archers men’s basketball program. “It was a difficult decision, but I felt that I had accomplished everything in high school basketball I could,” Reed said. “It was just time for me to try something new.” […]

Ka’Chelle Morris, left to right, Tiffany Ransom, Konnell Wright, Joshua Stone and children listen to Ball’s mother, Toni Taylor, speak about her son’s shooting. (Photo by Chris Cunningham)

Student’s family files suit against police

July 1, 2013

The family of a Forest Park honor student shot and killed by police in April gave an update on his case at a meeting on campus recently. Toni Taylor, mother of the late Cary Ball Jr., said family members have participated in a protest in front of the Civil Courts Building and circulated petitions calling for the arrest of the two police officers involved in the shooting. […]

New course focuses on diversity

July 1, 2013

Corporations spend millions of dollars on multicultural training for employees. Candidates who have already received that training are more attractive to potential employers At least that’s the theory of Forest Park associate history professor Deborah Henry. This fall, the Forest Park and Meramec campuses of St. Louis Community College will offer a new humanities course called “Global Dimensions of Race, Gender and Religion.” […]

New workout equipment sits idle in the weight room. (Photo by Jamie Greene)

Weight room off-limits this summer

July 1, 2013

Budget cuts have closed the Forest Park weight room this summer, keeping students from using new workout equipment installed in 2011. “There has to be supervision to ensure no one injures themselves during workouts,” said Sue Martin, chair of education and human services. “Without the funds to pay for supervision, the weight room had to be closed.” Students, faculty, staff and alumni still can swim during open hours at the campus pool. […]

Customers take shelter from the rain under the awning at Crown Candy Kitchen, which sits at the intersection of St. Louis Avenue and 14th Street. (Photo by Jamie Greene)

Crown Candy marks 100 years

July 1, 2013

On the north side of downtown St. Louis, there’s a little family owned and operated restaurant that has been patronized by St. Louisans for 100 years. Walking in the door of Crown Candy Kitchen is like taking a step back in time with the malt machines, small jukeboxes at every booth and vintage Coca-Cola signs on the walls. […]