St. Louis on the Air

For 16 years, St. Louis band Fister has brought their own brand of heavy metal doom to fans across the world. Their latest album, “Graceless,” was released last month under bassist Kenny Snarzyk’s record label Possession Press. Snarzyk shares the keys to Fister’s success, how their music and the metal scene has evolved over the years as well as their affinity for storytelling.

October’s new music round up is for those experiencing end-of-summer woes. Experimental jazz hits from the mad genius world of Mad Keys and Kaelin Ellis on “Citrus Punch” and Russo & Co.’s country cruisin’ song “Key West of the Midwest” are two tracks that will give your Fall 2025 playlist a fresh summery vibe. Musician and artist development coach Muhammad “Mvstermind” Austin, producer and music show originator Miya Norfleet, and host Elaine Cha break down their top picks in this anniversary edition of new music by artists in or from St. Louis. Check out our “St. Louis on the Air” Spotify playlist here: <ahref="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1dVNoitASHAoD7UR9cfp5y?si=82177bae7a8c4c76&nd=1&dlsi=7fdf585987bc42fd" target="_blank">new music round up playlist</a>.</p>

In 1987, 9-year-old John O’Leary was playing with matches in his family’s garage. In the blink of an eye he was fighting for his life at St. Louis Children’s Hospital with severe burns on 90% of his body. After years of rehabilitation and healing, O’Leary has shared his story to motivate thousands of people around the world. He has also written two bestselling books, one of which has now been adapted for the silver screen. O’Leary’s biopic “Soul on Fire” premieres in theaters Friday, Oct. 10. In this episode, he discusses the importance of filming in his hometown, bringing big budget filmmaking back to St. Louis, and what it was like to see his story come to life in a brand new way.

An old favorite sandwich shop returned, many coffee shops opened and downtown St. Louis lost a pizza place of note. STLPR foodies Jessica Rogen and Abby Llorico share what’s good in St. Louis’ food scene. They also discuss the loss of food magazine, Feast, and how its closure may affect the food and events scene in the region.

Nicki Jacobsmeyer’s new book Spooky America: The Ghostly Tales of St. Charles could be just the thing to get the kids in your life into Halloween spirit. Jacobsmeyer takes us inside the new book and shares some of the ghostly experiences people have had on St. Charles’ historic Main Street.

Moon cakes are a traditional treat in many Asian countries that celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. St. Louisans Ray and Leah Yeh, owners and bakers at Foundry Bakery, have their own tradition of creating Taiwanese-style moon cakes: Instagram-worthy pastries whose fillings reflect personal heritage and a commitment to sourcing the best ingredients available from U.S. farmers and purveyors. The Yehs talk about their newest moon cake flavour — jujube, goji berry and walnut — and the role word-of-mouth and key partnerships have played in their products reaching a broad audience locally and nationally.

The relationship between U.S. Steel and the Granite City Works steel mill has been rocky for years. The company recently announced it would stop sending steel to the plant, then reversed that decision a few weeks later. Now, the plant is safe from closure until 2027, but the local United Steelworkers union is looking beyond that date and planning for an uncertain future. St. Louis Public Radio Metro East reporter Will Bauer explores the ongoing tension over the future of the steel mill, and President of the Granite City United Steelworkers chapter Craig McKey shares his union’s goals for the future.

Fall marks the harvest of pumpkins, squash and cabbage. It’s also the perfect time to plan for next spring by planting things like garlic, shallot and shrubs. Horticulturists Daria McKelvey of the Missouri Botanical Garden and Eliza Pessereau of University of Missouri Extension discuss autumn planting, how to prepare your garden for winter, and what we can anticipate with fall tree-color this year.

For just more than nine months, Alfred Montgomery has led the St. Louis Sheriff's office. He came in with ambitions to make changes — but his tenure has been marked by disputes over spending, controversies around transporting detainees for medical care and even an effort by Missouri’s attorney general to remove him from office. Montgomery sat down with STLPR’s Brian Munoz for a wide-ranging interview.

It’s been a week since President Donald Trump conducted a press conference where, among other things, he promoted a highly disputed link between Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism. But while most of the news coverage focused on Trump’s fixation on what causes the neurological disorder, St. Louis’ autistic community and its allies were struck by how the GOP president characterized autism “a horrible, horrible crisis.”

On the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, BiState’s Taulby Roach talks about the demise of the Green Line MetroLink plan – and why bus rapid transit could be a boon for St. Louis at a fraction of the cost. Roach also explained how BiState works, and also delved into whether it could expand to other parts of the region.

A “Big Year” is a birder’s race against the calendar to identify as many bird species as possible in one year. The new documentary “Listers,” created by two brothers from Collinsville, follows the highs, lows and quirks of that quest — and their newfound appreciation for birdwatching.

Over 40 years ago, Tom “Papa” Ray helped open Vintage Vinyl, one of America’s last independent record stores. In 2020, Ray started production on a docuseries made for television called “Papa Ray’s Vintage Vinyl Roadshow.” The show’s second season premieres on Nine PBS this Saturday, Oct. 4. Ray shares how he went from selling records at Soulard Market to traveling the world to interview record store owners, vinyl enthusiasts, and musicians.

St. Louis County Library and the St. Louis County Board of Elections are inviting students in grades 6-12 to participate in their second “I Voted” sticker contest with a new “Future Voter” category. SLCL Director Kristen Sorth and St. Louis County Board of Elections Public Information Officer Kate Springer discuss the focus on youth, contest rules and how to enter. The contest runs through 5 p.m., October 17.

The Missouri National Guard is now assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Gov. Mike Kehoe says 15 Guard members will help with administrative and logistical work at ICE processing facilities. STLPR politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum explains what this means — and how it differs from troop operations in Los Angeles and Chicago.

Years of complaints from tenants has led to multiple lawsuits against the developers behind Lux Living, Asprient Properties and STL CityWide. But federal fraud charges looming over Sid Chakraverty, his brother, Vic Alston, and their accountant, Shijing “Poppy” Cao were abruptly dropped this summer. On this episode of the Legal Roundtable, our panel of expert attorneys discuss the case, which raises questions about the definition of fraud, the unusual personal intervention of U.S. Attorney Thomas Albus, and the role of Brad Bondi, the brother of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. The panel also discusses whether a public referendum could throw a wrench in Missouri Republicans’ efforts to redraw state congressional districts, and more.

Almost half of skilled trade workers are nearing retirement. ConstructReach aims to fill that imminent gap by providing young people with training and skills for careers in construction. CEO and founder Paul Robinson discusses the challenges facing the construction industry, the job landscape for young professionals and the mission of his organization.

John Buckner was lynched in 1894; his body left to hang from a bridge over the Meramec River. More than 130 years later, Buckner’s killing is being memorialized through a new historical marker in Buder Park in St. Louis County. Washington University professors Geoff Ward and David Cunningham discuss the role of public memorials and America’s history of racial violence, why it has taken years to create a marker for Buckner, and what happened after activists faced pushback when they tried to place his marker in Valley Park in 2023.

After years of construction and planning, Friday marked the opening of the new National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency campus in St. Louis. STLPR economic development reporter Kavahn Mansouri was on the scene for the event, along with public officials including U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell and director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Mansouri shares his takeaways from the grand opening of the $1.7 billion facility, and what happens next as 3,100 federal employees, and the surrounding neighborhoods, adapt to the changes.

Powell Hall, the century-old home of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, has reopened after a two-year, $140 million expansion and renovation. STLPR arts and culture senior reporter Jeremy D. Goodwin talks about the hall’s transformation. Then, newly appointed composer-in-residence Kevin Puts, a St. Louis native and Pulitzer Prize- and Grammy Award-winning composer, discusses the world premiere of his song cycle "House of Tomorrow" and what he’s looking forward to with the orchestra’s opening concert of the 2025-26 season.

St. Louis artist Henry Moyerman transforms small Lego sculptures into monumental works of art. His new exhibit, “Built Over Time,” features large-scale photographs that make his tiny creations appear much larger. Moyerman discusses how a childhood fascination with Lego bricks and photography grew into an art practice — and why scale and perspective are central to his work. The exhibit is on display through October 18 at the St. Louis Artists’ Guild.

Geocaching is a decades-old treasure hunting game that combines outdoor fun and environmental awareness. With over 3 million physical “caches” worldwide — including 10,000 in the state of Missouri, there is no shortage of places to explore. John Layman, vice president of the St. Louis Area Geocaching Association, and Nan Dabler, the group’s treasurer, discuss the importance of respecting the environment as a geocacher and how the game got its start.

After 30 years of annual reports, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it will no longer provide its Household Food Security Report, citing cost savings on “redundant, costly, politicized, and extraneous studies.” Without data from the annual report, organizations that fight food insecurity will be “flying blind” in their effort to provide resources to children, seniors and others who are vulnerable to hunger. That’s according to Kristen Wild, president and CEO of Operation Food Search, who shares her concerns and hopes in the wake of the USDA’s announcement.

The St. Louis County Library's Tap In Center provides a safe space for people who need assistance with resolving warrants, meeting with an attorney, learning about their case status or applying for a public defender. The center also works to address the underlying challenges that keep people resolving their legal issues. In the five years since its launch, the center has helped more than 3,300 people achieve good standing with the courts. The center’s director and its co-founder share why the program works and how it has expanded its reach in recent years.

Months after a 2024 protest on Washington University’s campus, St. Louis resident Kaitlyn Killgo was arrested, without a warrant, in Eureka. She’s now suing the university and the officers who arrested her. The case involves a controversial system called “wanteds,” which allows Missouri officers to arrest suspects without a warrant — even when those arresting officers have no details about the alleged crime. We talk about the state of Missouri’s “wanteds” system, and how it continues to be used by Missouri police, with Kaitlyn Killgo and Arch City Defenders attorney Maureen Hanlon.

The Trump administration has directed some National Park Service sites to remove or alter materials about slavery and Native Americans, following an executive order urging history to “focus on the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people.” Gateway Arch National Park hasn’t seen visible changes so far. In this episode, we revisit a 2023 conversation on interpreting Black history with author Vivian Gibson and historians Cicely Hunter of the Missouri Historical Society and Pam Sanfilippo of Gateway Arch National Park. “St. Louis on the Air” executive producer Alex Heuer also shares what he discovered during a Monday visit to the Old Courthouse and museum under the Arch.

The historic Fairground Park was once a shining jewel that held fairs, an enormous pool, amphitheatre and art gallery. Throughout the decades, the park has been severely neglected and has become a ruin of its former self. The new nonprofit Fairground Park for All aims to revitalize the park and remind residents in the Fairground Park neighborhood of just how beautiful it can be.

St. Louis entertainer Chuck Flowers began his musical journey in an interfaith choir, singing alongside the influential gospel duo the O’Neal Twins and Monica R. Butler, who later founded the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. This month, Flowers is being honored as an inductee into the hall of fame. He and Butler reminisce about the 1980s gospel music scene in St. Louis and discuss how gospel music has influenced many other genres.

The St. Louis Shakespeare Festival is wrapping up its 25th season with its annual "Shakespeare in the Streets" production. This year, the play “Power” explores East St. Louis — a city that carries the legacy of legendary artists and athletes, as well as the stigma of political corruption and the 1917 Race Massacre. Loosely inspired by Shakespeare’s Richard III, “Power” follows "Richard" on his attempted rise to East St. Louis mayor. We talk with actor RobWood, an East St. Louis Native who plays Richard, and the play's director, Kathi Bentley.

Illinois joins more than a dozen states that, in response to federal changes regarding the distribution guidelines of vaccines, is directing their public health departments to establish their own guidelines. Capitol News Illinois reporter Peter Hancock discusses those changes and how the state of Illinois aims to create a safe and clear path for those looking to get themselves and their families vaccinated.

For St. Charles County Executive Ehlmann, regional cooperation isn’t some far off pipe dream. He says a law enforcement training facility that the leaders of Jefferson, St. Charles, Franklin and St. Louis counties agreed to earlier this summer is a good example of how the region can work together on shared goals. He discusses how the facility got off the ground and his hopes for its use in the future. He also talks about recent efforts to build a massive data center in St. Charles.

The future of a newly-drawn congressional map is in limbo a week after a contentious and consequential special session. In this episode of the “Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air,” we talk about the efforts to combat the new lines in court and at the ballot box.

<p>St. Louis artists are dishing out chill vibes for this month’s new music round up. Matthew Sawicki and Chris “Klevah” Shaw, co-hosts of Fresh Produce, STL’s monthly beat battle, join producer Miya Norfleet and host Elaine Cha to talk about their local favorites for the month. This month’s selections include alternative folk duo Brawsh as well as pop punk band and our first music show featured artist, Wes Hoffman. Check out our <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/22gG2s3Y4Uxsb5GKRyuBuK?si=0139445102f148f5" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">new music roundup playlist</a>.</p>

Dominique Eldraco Price is more than a working musician. Fresh off the release of his latest EP, he and his band FreeNation brought the house down at last weekend’s Music at the Intersection festival with a high-energy mix of soul, funk and glam. Price discusses his journey from incredibly shy preacher’s kid to boisterous on-stage powerhouse. He also breaks down how he made his way to being a working musician in the corporate music world with the event band the Luster Lights in order to fund his original creative work.

When the campus of St. Louis youth literacy nonprofit Urban Born was hit by a tornado on May 16, it also severely damaged the home of the organization’s founders La Tasha and Johnel Langerston, Sr. The married couple describe their up and down experiences with FEMA, and share how their College Hill neighborhood and faith communities have “covered” them as they rebuild.

In June 2022, a fight and carjacking started in a QuikTrip parking lot in Hazelwood. The incident ended with a red Mustang crashing into the city’s police department. But the carjacking victim, Phillip March, whom surveillance video shows being beaten and dragged by his own car, now faces trial for property damage. St. Louis on the Air producer Danny Wicentowski shares his investigation into the incident, the video footage, and Hazelwood’s pursuit of this case.

Ten years after the Ferguson Commission’s landmark Forward Through Ferguson report, which laid out 189 calls to action addressing racial equity in areas such as economic opportunity, education and law enforcement, Annissa McCaskill, executive director of Forward Through Ferguson, reflects on progress, ongoing challenges, and priorities amid funding and post-tornado recovery. STLPR reporter Chad Davis also shares insights on community-level change since the Ferguson Uprising.

The Kemper Art Museum at Washington University has unveiled its largest-ever exhibition, “Making Their Mark: Works from the Shah Garg Collection.” Open through January 5, 2026, the show features more than 80 works by nearly 70 women artists and artists of color, including a monumental piece by renowned artist Joan Mitchell. Collector and philanthropist Komal Shah and Kemper curator Sabine Eckmann discuss the collection, the artists featured and how the exhibition resonates in St. Louis.

Inspired by barbershop chats and a brotherly contest over hip-hop facts, the Black Lit Network is a digital resource designed to make African American literature more widely accessible. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville professor Howard Rambsy II co-leads the project. He discusses how a recent $1.6 million grant to SIUE for the project will boost its reach and impact. He also speaks to the significance of investing in efforts to amplify African American writers, works, and ideas – especially through a public higher education institution in the Midwest, and the larger St. Louis region.

For years, the St. Louis metropolitan area has shown troubling signs when it comes to its population numbers. Preliminary results from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey offer both encouragement and caution for the region’s future. Demographer and St. Louis University Professor Ness Sándoval breaks down the latest census data and shares why elected officials and residents should prioritize the development of single family homes to boost — or at least maintain — the region’s population.

Missouri lawmakers are closing in on the end of one of the state’s most contentious special sessions in recent memory. At stake: a Republican-backed redrawing of the state’s congressional districts that would transform Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s Kansas City-area district into one that’s GOP-leaning — and a push to make it harder for citizens to amend the state constitution through the initiative petition process. STLPR politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum discusses the latest developments in the Missouri Senate, how Democrats are responding and what these changes could mean for the state’s political future.

St. Louis native Keyon Harrold loves coming home, and Music at the Intersection is bringing him back this weekend. Harrold is the only artist to perform at every Music at the Intersection festival since its inauguration in 2021. The Grammy-nominated jazz trumpeter and composer discusses his love for St. Louis and how Music at the Intersection has evolved since its inception.

Opera Theatre of St. Louis' incoming artistic director is taking audiences on a journey into the music of legendary French singer Edith Piaf. Although Patricia Racette is known for her work on stage as an opera soprano, her one-woman show "Patricia Sings Piaf" focuses on interpretations of Piaf music and celebrating the career of a performer who attained stardom at the height of World War 2. Racette discusses the October 9 show, her favorite Piaf songs, and her vision as the new artistic director for Opera Theatre of St. Louis.

Protesters gathered at the Missouri Capitol on Wednesday as lawmakers aim to push through redrawing the state’s congressional districts during a special session called by Gov. Mike Kehoe. The move would eliminate the Democratic-leaning 5th District in the Kansas City area. STLPR politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum joins us from Jefferson City to break down what’s happening on the ground, why the redistricting fight is contentious and what comes next as the Senate prepares to vote on the proposed map later this week.

A proposal to build a 440-acre data center in St. Charles sparked intense backlash from residents worried about property values, water contamination, energy costs and a lack of transparency. After growing pressure, the developer withdrew its application — and the St. Charles City Council responded with a one-year ban on new data center proposals. STLPR reporters Kate Grumke and Kavahn Mansouri discuss what happened and how their reporting uncovered that the project may have ties to Google.

St. Louis–based nonprofit Meds & Food for Kids has treated more than one million malnourished children in Haiti and has gained recognition for its sustainable and locally driven solutions to hunger. Ahead of the organization’s September 18 event at the Courses at Forest Park, we speak with Ambassador Ertharin Cousin, former Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme, and Meds & Food for Kids CEO Chris Greene about the urgent fight against hunger, the global challenge of malnutrition, and how MFK’s innovative model is making an impact.

The August edition of our new restaurant round-up covers spots in St. Louis, the Metro East, and Rolla: places that serve curries of the Indian, Himalayan, and Thai varieties; Instagram-worthy sandwiches; street-style Peruvian kebabs; and Palestinian beef and lamb burgers. The discussion includes local recommendations for delicious dumplings, and a case is made for dropping “underrated” to describe St. Louis’ food scene.

St. Louis is the sixth most dangerous city in the U.S. for fall migratory birds. Many species of birds are drawn to the light of the region’s urban areas, where their chances of colliding with a building increase. Longtime birder Matt Schamberger and St. Louis Audubon Society conservationist Matt Barton discuss ways to support migratory birds along their journey. They also share tips for unique species to look out for this fall migration season and the best spots for bird watching in the region.

Rosemary Woodruff Leary, a St. Louis native, was best known during her life as the wife of Harvard psychologist and LSD evangelist Timothy Leary. But a new book highlights Rosemary’s unsung role in that movement. Author Susannah Cahalan’s “The Acid Queen: The Psychedelic Life and Counterculture Rebellion of Rosemary Woodruff Leary," uses diaries and Rosemary’s own writing to explore how she guided the public persona and mythmaking of Timothy Leary — including how Rosemary helped him escape prison to become international fugitives. Cahalan argues that Rosemary was so much more than a side character, but “a pioneer whose unacknowledged sacrifice helped safeguard an underground movement.”

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe isn’t just calling lawmakers back to Jefferson City to redraw the state’s congressional lines. He’s also urging lawmakers to make monumental changes to Missouri’s initiative petition system. Kehoe’s proposal would drastically raise the bar for some proposed constitutional amendments to be enacted. The idea has received strong support from Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, a Republican. Hoskins responds to points raised by the plan’s detractors and explains why he feels the proposal will fare well at the ballot box.