Statement from Our Publisher I lead not only a newsroom but also a business. So I have made the decision to halt the printing of our newspapers during this COVID-19…
Author: Antonio French
antonio@thenorthsider.com
Antonio French is the publisher of MetroSTL.com, The NorthSider and SouthSider community newspapers. Born and raised in north St. Louis, he is a social entrepreneur and former two-term St. Louis City alderman. He lives in the O'Fallon Park neighborhood with his wife, son, and four rescue dogs. Follow him on Twitter at @antoniofrench.
This Thanksgiving, say a prayer for the Leftovers
It’s been five years since the night of Nov. 24, 2014, when then-St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch, with little warning, after dark and late into the evening, made that…
Time's up, Bob
One year ago, on Oct. 4, 2018, I published a column in The NorthSider entitled “Bob Romanik is a Racist and It’s Time to Shut Him Down.” One year later,…
French: Police should 'step up,' clean own house before scolding the public
Last weekend, many people marked the five-year anniversary of the killing of teenager Michael Brown Jr. by Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson. That killing, of course, sparked months of protests…
MetroSTL with Antonio French - Episode #1
In this episode, host Antonio French and reporters from The NorthSider and The SouthSider newspapers take a look at Wesley Bell and Kimberly Gardner, the two reformer prosecutors elected after…
From our publisher: It's not just Ferguson
The dream of “One St. Louis” has been the aspiration of civic and business leaders for decades. Ever since the negative effects of the “Great Divorce” of 1876 began to…
PREMIERE: Lo-Fi Cherokee presents Nick Gusman and the Coyotes - "Shortcut the Mountain"
Nick Gusman and the Coyotes performing their song “Shortcut the Mountain” at Flowers and Weeds at 3201 Cherokee Street.
Summer is coming.
Game of Thrones has returned. The epic HBO show began its final season last week after a two-year hiatus. Eager fans, myself included, couldn’t wait to catch up with our…
French: To north side middle-class families, city gov’t says: ‘You’re on your own.’
North St. Louis is as misunderstood as it is under-served. It is home to some of the most beautifully built houses in the region. Its proximity to downtown, the Mississippi…
Reed won. Time to make up and work.
It’s been a week since Lewis Reed defeated both Jamilah Nasheed and Megan Green to win his fourth term as President of the Board of Aldermen on Tuesday, March 5.…
Progressives still divided by race, runoffs needed
The division between black progressives and white progressives was on full display during the divisive campaign for President of the Board of Aldermen which ended Tuesday night with the two…
Hayden, Edwards remain blind to corruption in their department
Within the last 60 days, four St. Louis police officers were indicted for beating another officer who was black, on-duty and undercover; another police officer was indicted after he and…
Undercover officer: Colleagues beat him 'like Rodney King'
ST. LOUIS (AP) — An undercover St. Louis police officer reported that his colleagues beat him “like Rodney King” when they mistook him for a protester following the acquittal of…
A Tough Week for Black Officials
It was a rough week for black elected officials in St. Louis. Just a few days into 2019 and local media was buzzing with controversies big and small. Bruce Franks,…
Congressman Clay Interview
EXCLUSIVE: Congressman Lacy Clay (D-MO), sat down for an exclusive interview this week with Antonio French, publisher of The NorthSider, live by remote from his office in Washington, D.C. In…
Who should pay for police brutality? Why not cops?
There is a concern in City Hall about the growing cost of police brutality. As the City of St. Louis faces nearly two dozen lawsuits stemming from the police mishandling…
St. Louis Police Remain Out of Control, Mayor Absent
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department remains out of control. It took federal investigators last week—not Police Chief John Hayden or Public Safety Director Jimmie Edwards, the men directly in…
With Friends Like These...
As candidates begin to file to run for election and re-election to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, African-Americans, who are the largest racial group in the city, have another…
Missouri is Red. Trump Red.
Now that the dust has started to settle after Tuesday’s election, what lessons will Missouri Democrats take away from the loss of the U.S. Senate seat? Well, let’s start with…
Rollout of medical marijuana will take several months
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Missouri has joined the long list of states allowing medical marijuana, but it’ll likely be late next year at the earliest before people with cancer, HIV…
McCaskill, Weed and Wages
Election Day is nearly here and many voters still have questions about the issues and candidates appearing on the ballot. Here’s my take: U.S. Senator The candidates in the order…
Opinion: McCaskill and the Trump Trap
Last week, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill and her Republican opponent, state Attorney General Josh Hawley, met in St. Louis for a one-hour televised debate. McCaskill found herself on the defense…
Opinion: Mandatory Minimums Are a Bad Idea, Not a Solution
It’s not news that crime in the city of St. Louis is high. Violent crime, especially. Most people look at the homicide rate as proof that St. Louis is a…
Opinion: A City Searching for Hope
St. Louis is a city searching for hope. After decades of decline and population loss, the St. Louis region, like a busted blackjack player eyeing the dealer while thumbing his…
Bob Romanik is a Racist and It's Time to Shut Him Down
The self-proclaimed “Grim Reaper of Radio” has for years spewed his hate on the airwaves of St. Louis from across the river at his Belleville AM radio station, KQQZ. But…
Democrats and McCaskill Owe Black Voters More
It’s that time again. Black radio is filled with political advertisements featuring African-American voices urging us to vote for Missouri Democrats. Stay clear of Republicans, they warn. Republicans like Josh…
Black and ‘progressive’ agendas don’t always align
It has never been an easy alliance. On the surface it would appear that black elected officials would find a natural ally in white elected officials who label themselves as…