St. Louis on the Air

Sunflowers are in full bloom in St. Louis. The hearty plants are an important part of the ecosystem. In addition to being edible for humans and other animals, sunflowers support pollinators — and serve as an attraction for doves during hunting season. The fields at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area also provide a colorful, sunny backdrop for photos.

Medicaid director Todd Richardson gives an in-depth breakdown of how the program works in Missouri. He explains who can access these benefits, what the process of gaining coverage involves, and which benefits are actually available. Richardson also speaks candidly about the challenges ahead given the changing political landscape.

Former Missouri Congressman Bill Clay Sr. received an outpouring of praise after he died last week. He was 94 years old. Clay was a force in regional and national politics, and he left behind a titanic legacy as a champion of civil rights and workers’ rights. STLPR politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum explores Clay’s career in politics, and why there may never be another Missouri politician like him again.

We’ll listen back to a conversation about emotional intelligence, manners, and their impact on how we handle ourselves among other people. The Modern School of Manners founder Asha Hornaday and WashU professor of organizational behavior Hillary Anger Elfenbein discuss why folks are ruder and how to manage poor manners and low emotional intelligence.

Before a city lawsuit accused her of running a massive illegal rooming house operation, the residents of Virginia Avenue in St. Louis’ Tower Grove East neighborhood knew all about Dara Daugherty. Brittany Marquardt says she watched how Daugherty operated as a slumlord while allegedly renting rooms in condemned houses to vulnerable tenants. Marquardt takes us inside the situation and shares how complaints from her and other neighbors ultimately led to a courtroom confrontation with Daugherty. St. Louis Magazine reporter Ryan Krull discusses the latest on the legal case and the impact of Daugherty’s surprise filing of bankruptcy earlier this month.

For the first time since 1948, St. Louis will soon have an official transportation plan. St. Louis city officials say the new plan will lead to safer streets in the future — but residents want action now. We dig into the city’s Transportation and Mobility Plan and discuss regional efforts to curb traffic violence.

In 1991, St. Louis native Toni Popham was 13 and pregnant when her family sent her to Virginia, to the Liberty Godparent Home. The treatment of pregnant girls at the facility is the subject of "Liberty Lost," a new podcast that features Popham and other former residents describing isolation, coercion and religious manipulation. Popham and the podcast's creator T.J. Raphael discuss the impact of the Godparent Home and the resurgence of maternity homes across the country.

Syrian refugee Nashat Aljerwan, his wife and their children were set to arrive in the U.S. in February as part of a U.S. State Department resettlement program. But days before their travel date, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that suspended refugee resettlement. Since then, St. Louisan Anne Ross has not stopped fighting for the Aljerwans to receive an exception to the order. Aljerwan and Ross share their respective journeys, their work together on his family’s case and their hopes for meeting, in-person, if or when resettlement in St. Louis finally becomes a reality.

Late last week, the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives voted to pass a bill that includes the cancellation of nearly $1.1 billion dollars in federal funds for public media – funds that Congress had previously approved for this year and next. The bill now goes to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign the measure into law. STLPR’s interim general manager Jess Luther and Vicki Boutwell, Vice President and Chief Planning Officer at Nine PBS share what the St. Louis region stands to lose.

<p>There’s no excuse to be out of the know when it comes to the music scene in St. Louis. <em>St. Louis Magazine</em> contributing writer and Free 4 All showcase co-founder Joe Hess joins “St. Louis on the Air” producer Miya Norfleet and host Elaine Cha as they discuss their favorite new releases from St. Louis-area artists. Check out our “St. Louis on the Air” <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5XniZa0L9Q1pGqy6c6m9G1" target="_blank">new music round up playlist</a>.</p>

In St. Louis, the lines between music genres are blurry. Collaboration shapes every scene — and few embody that spirit like EDM producer Umami, born Pajmon Porshahidy. While many artists resist labels, Umami has no problem pointing out how their sound is directly tied to subgenres of electronic music, hip-hop and R&B. Their latest album “Pajmon” blends their Iranian-American heritage and wide-ranging musical tastes.

St. Louis native Noah Niznik has found his home on the baseball field with the Savannah Bananas, which has gone viral across the country for turning America’s pastime into "Banana Ball”. Nizknik talks about his lifelong love of baseball, being discovered by the Savannah Bananas, and how the team helped him realize his dream of being a professional baseball player. The Savannah Bananas will be bringing their baseball tour to Busch Stadium on July 18.

New research suggests that the Delmar Divide, a socioeconomic and racial dividing line in St. Louis, not only separates people, it segregates wildlife. Washington University postdoctoral fellow Elizabeth Carlen’s study of one of St. Louis’ most common residents, eastern gray squirrels, demonstrates the phenomenon. She shares what she’s discovered about the ways politics have shaped the genealogy — and even evolution — of St. Louis squirrels.

Red Lantern City Night Market began in St. Louis in 2021 as a response to community needs brought on by the pandemic. Red Lantern founder and chef Heidi Hamamura of Taberu STL, co-organizer Mike Ly of Cafe Saigon, and longtime co-organizer Dorrie Levy talk about the event’s origins, development and broad community appeal. Red Lantern City Night Market — described as “part carnival, part bazaar, part block party” — returns to St. Louis’ Central West End neighborhood on July 19.

On Wednesday a new study by Harvard researchers unveiled new evidence that people who lived near Coldwater Creek as children have a higher than normal risk of developing cancer later in life. Researchers used donated baby teeth from 4,209 participants of the St. Louis Baby Tooth Survey (1958-1970) to assess exposure — and scientists, using the results of self-reported cancer diagnoses, found that incidences of cancer increased in people who lived closer to the creek. The study’s lead author, Marc Weisskopf, from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, joins Elaine Cha and STLPR health reporter Sarah Fentem to discuss the new findings, and what they tell us about St. Louis’ nuclear past, present and future.

Cinema St. Louis’ Filmmakers Showcase returns this weekend to celebrate St. Louis directors and films set in the St. Louis area. Josalynn Smith, director of the Jamie Foxx-backed thriller “Ride or Die,” joined “St. Louis on the Air” to discuss her directorial debut and how her personal experiences with relationships, favorite films and St. Louis' architecture inspired the film.

As a host of NPR’s “All Things Considered,” Ari Shapiro moves easily between breaking news and delightfully quirky stories. When he’s off the air, he performs cabaret. This Saturday, he brings his solo show to St. Louis City Winery. Shapiro talks about the performance, how he balances his artistic and journalistic sides — and why he was once banned from playing the tambourine on stage.

South Broadway Athletic Club is a long standing home for boxing, wrestling and cheap beer. In 2024 they celebrated their 125 year legacy with a deep dive into the archives. Those archives were collected into a book released this summer.

The expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act is a watershed moment for activists and an unusual example of political collaboration. Just Moms STL co-founders Dawn Chapman and Karen Nickel discuss what the expansion of RECA means for those sickened by Manhattan Project-era radioactive waste dumped in the St. Louis region, and STLPR politics reporter Jason Rosenbaum explains how Missouri arrived at this moment.

As President Donald Trump suggests cuts and restructuring of the Federal Emergency Management Agency — including bringing it “to the state level" — Missouri Rep. Colin Wellenkamp is focused on how the state can prepare for such a possibility. He chairs the Missouri House Future Caucus, a bipartisan group focused on how the state can prepare for long-term challenges. The St. Charles Republican and his fellow caucus member, Democratic Rep. Marty Joe Murray of St. Louis, discuss the group’s goal to make the state more resilient to emerging challenges like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, grid integrity and natural disasters.

President Donald Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” introduces some of the most significant changes to Medicaid in years. But advocates warn that new documentation requirements and restrictions on a key tax that helps fund the program could jeopardize health care access for Missourians. This episode unpacks how the sweeping budget package is fueling uncertainty for Missouri’s budget and rural hospitals. STLPR health reporter Sarah Fentem joins the conversation.

Tre’von Griffith and his husband founded WerQfest in 2020 as a passion project. Their dream was to create a festival that centers Black queer art, entertainment and community — a grand display of representation in a way they had not seen before. July 12 will be WerQfest’s sixth year, and the production team now fully realize how important their work has been to the St. Louis region. Griffith and WerQfest producer and performer Deion Golliday share their reflections of the festival’s legacy so far, their experiences creating music as Black queer men and what’s in store for this year.

People report that they’re seeing more lightning bugs now than in years past, but the long-term health of the species is at risk from light pollution, pesticides and habitat loss. We talk about the preservation of fireflies and other insects with entomologists Tad Yankoski of the Missouri Botanical Garden Butterfly House and Emily Althoff of MU Extension.

After months of tumult at the St. Louis County Pet Adoption Center, the shelter received its state-issued license to operate last week. County Public Health Director Dr. Kanika Cunningham talks about her vision for the shelter moving forward, and volunteers share why they are hopeful that there are brighter days ahead for the center and its inhabitants.

After World War I, artists in France treated cars as a new kind of canvas — transforming machines into works of high art and fashion. An original exhibition at the St. Louis Art Museum, “Roaring,” explores that influence through more than 160 items and 12 vintage cars. The museum says the exhibit is its most popular since 2018. It recently expanded its hours in the leadup to its closing July 27. “Roaring” curator Genevieve Cortinovis shares her insight into the exhibit’s creation and the convergence of high fashion and beautiful cars.

Back in 1972, Lee Hendrix started a job as a deckhand on a towboat on the Mississippi River. It was the start of a more than 50-year career traversing America’s waterways. Hendrix, a St. Louis native, would later pilot towboats and passenger ships — and work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Hendrix discusses his 2024 memoir as well as new writing on the effects of tariffs on the barge industry and the history of the Chain of Rocks.

Missouri's parole system governs the lives of some 52,000 people, more than twice the number locked up in the state’s prisons. But its rules haven’t been updated since 2017, and those who work inside the system say the process is often confusing, complicated and broken. Under an executive order signed by Governor Mike Kehoe early this year, a special working group has been meeting to address its problems. We meet three of the group's members to learn about the parole system, the people inside it, and the most pressing problems in need of solutions.

Fried chicken is among the top five most popular foods in the U.S., according to recent YouGov data. With National Fried Chicken Day on the horizon, we discuss some regional favorite restaurants, preparations and flavors.

The Missouri Department of Corrections recently asked people to stop donating quilting supplies. The rush of donations followed the hit Netflix documentary, "The Quilters," which follows a special program in a Missouri maximum security prison, two hours southwest of St. Louis, where the inmates create quilts for foster children waiting for adoption. We'll talk with the filmmaker Jenifer McShane about the film, quilts, prisons and second chances

Why doesn't St. Louis have its own hot dog, like the iconic Chicago dog? That question was on restauranter Steve Ewing's mind when he created a March-madness style bracket and asked St. Louisans to choose the hot dog that best represented their city. Then, in 2022, the Board of Aldermen declared the competition's winner the Official Hot Dog of St. Louis. In this encore presentation, Ewing shares how to make a St. Louis hot dog and the inspiration behind its ingredients.

Ten years ago, multidisciplinary artist Brock Seals was inspired to produce an event that gives emerging artists an opportunity to showcase their work, and to connect with fellow artists as well as potential fans and patrons. The annual showcase has become a space for up-and-coming artists to cut their teeth in a professional creative environment. Seals is joined by “Art, Mimosas and Pancakes” music director Julian Keaton to discuss what’s in store for this year’s event and ways they’ve grown as professionals over the years.

Fried chicken ranks among the top five most popular foods in the U.S., beating out apple pie and even outranking hot dogs. This coming Sunday is National Fried Chicken Day, dedicated to all things chicken, crispy and crunchy. Adrian Miller, aka the Soul Food Scholar and author of the James Beard Award-winning book “Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time,” shares his insights into the history of fried chicken, where it got its start, the stigma associated with it and the ways the dish is celebrated today.

After an EF3 tornado tore the roof of Gloria Nolan’s home in north St. Louis near Fairground Park, she and her family remain displaced. They’re living in a temporary home and expect to wait at least a year for their home to be repaired. More than six weeks after the tornado, Nolan discusses how she’s navigating insurance, inspections, and uncertainty — and what the long road to recovery might look like in her neighborhood.

Since March 19, more than 200 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees have been held at the Phelps County Jail in Rolla, Missouri. Some are there for only one day, while others have been detained for more than two months. With no possessions and limited contact with family or legal help, many face an uncertain future. A group of about 50 local activists is stepping up, helping detainees reach their loved ones and offering small but meaningful acts of comfort and kindness. We talk about the work of Abide in Love with STLPR editors Jonathan Ahl and Brian Munoz.

June was packed with restaurant news across the region. Two food trucks — Bougie Bites and Fufu n’ Sauce — opened brick-and-mortar locations in Overland and Vinita Park, respectively. Lefty’s Bagels debuted in Creve Coeur, and Grace Meat + Three launched Grace Chicken + Fish in Crestwood. In Waterloo, country artist Alexandra Kay opened the Coffee Girl Cafe. STLPR digital editor Jessica Rogen and host Elaine Cha break down the latest openings and closings in the St. Louis food scene.

The Missouri Supreme Court’s use of a 2002 dictionary definition of “sex” in a transgender student’s discrimination case is drawing criticism. Legal Roundtable attorneys Mary Anne Sedey, Bevis Schock and Erica Slater discuss that case — plus a teen volleyball player’s settlement with the City of St. Louis, a hazing lawsuit and efforts to oust the St. Louis sheriff.

Makini Morrision is a musical polymath. His mastering of jazz, hip-hop and soul music as K Kudda Muzic makes him in high demand to produce music in the St. Louis area. He joined “St. Louis on the Air” to share his music journey, starting with his parents album collection, and his approach to creating his original works as well as collaborating with others.

For Ryan “Big Esco” Brown, a St. Louis DJ and artist with the hip-hop duo Souls of Liberty, hip hop is having a moment — a particularly vulnerable and authentic one. He shares a few of his favorite recent music releases from St. Louis artists alongside producer Miya Norfleet in the June edition of our new music roundup. In addition to hip hop tracks, their selections include Irish bluegrass, EDM, R&B and meditative/ambient music.

The recovery from St. Louis' tornado is affecting both the physical and mental health of residents. Dr. LJ Punch, founder of the Bullet Related Injury Clinic in St. Louis, shares how his group and others are continuing to help the community heal in the Fountain Park neighborhood. The nonprofit is one of dozens of organizations that lost half of their federal funding just before the storm. Dr. Punch says that loss isn’t stopping them from getting resources to residents who need them.

At La Pâtisserie Chouquette in south St. Louis, Juneteenth is a time for celebration and stories. Simone Faure, pastry designer and co-owner of the James Beard-nominated bakery, shares the inspiration behind the bakery’s Juneteenth menu this year, which includes items with Gullah Geechee influences and backstories that involve genealogical research and an international recipe exchange.

Thousands of St. Louisans impacted by the May 16 tornado are beginning to apply for aid programs provided by the city and the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency. STLPR reporter Hiba Ahmad discusses where relief efforts stand so far, what impacted communities need to move forward, and what’s still to come.

Thousands took to the streets in downtown St. Louis on Saturday for the "No Kings" protest against the actions of President Trump. People came from throughout the region to call attention to Trump’s immigration policies, cuts to the federal workforce and federal grants, and his expanded domestic military use. STLPR reporter Hiba Ahmad takes us on the scene.

InvestSTL’s Dara Eskridge and 4TheVille’s Aaron Williams helped lead the 4TheVille Emergency Hub, which provided aid to thousands of north St. Louis residents after the May 16 tornado. Now they’re raising money for cash assistance. In this episode, STLPR correspondent Jason Rosenbaum speaks with them about next steps and how they plan to advise the city on how to rebuild.

Experienced tradesman Erion “Prop-Man” Johnson has spent 30 days teaching St. Louis youth key skills with his 100 Tiny Homes project: an effort prompted by the desire to assist residents of north St. Louis was devastated by the May 16 EF3 tornado. Johnson speaks to the project's alignment with his larger vision for teaching Black youth and supporting the community; we also hear teen participants in the project share why they value what they're learning from -- and with -- Johnson.

President Donald Trump’s high-profile immigration raids have sparked protests across the country and even prompted some Republicans to question whether the strategy is misguided. But Missouri U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt says Trump is carrying out a campaign promise to deport people who are in the country without legal status. He also said that critics of the president are being inconsistent, pointing to how Democratic presidents like Barack Obama deported millions of people when he was in office. Schmitt also downplayed Trump’s rift with Elon Musk.

During the just-concluded special session, a bipartisan contingent of Missouri lawmakers were able to get the stadium package across the finish line while also aiding victims of the May 16 tornado. State Sen. Steven Roberts, D-St. Louis, and House Speaker Jon Patterson, R-Lee’s Summit, discuss the legislative action. STLPR statehouse and politics reporter Sarah Kellogg also joins the discussion.

Five Missourians are recipients of the Missouri Foundation for Health’s inaugural Spark Prize — a $200,000 grant to individuals for their vision, commitment and promise to improve health and well-being in the state. One recipient is Ciearra “CJ” Walker, the St. Louis-based founder and CEO of the Community Health Worker Coalition. Walker talks about how her organization aims to have trained community health workers that help others navigate systems and reinforce that health outcomes aren’t just about hospital visits or clinic outcomes.

St. Louis’ Bosnian community is observing the 30th anniversary of the genocide in Srebrenica. A local coalition is leading efforts to commemorate the massacre and its 8,000-plus victims with a series of events and a July 12 walk in downtown St. Louis. The genocide changed the lives of many Bonsians, including Elvir Ahmetovic, who lived through the Srebrenica massacre as a child and is now a St. Louis teacher. Ahmetovic, attorney Adna Nedim Ramic, and Center for Bosnian Studies Director Adna Karamehic-Oates share their stories and insight into the terrible events of the genocide, alongside accounts from other survivors.

In Misty Copeland’s 10 years as the American Ballet Theater’s first Black woman principal dancer, she has inspired others to see themselves in ballet shoes and on stages across the world — and St. Louis is no exception. Erica Hill, founder of the Florissant-based dance company Pointe of Surrender, speaks to Copeland's influence — on herself and the Black dancers who come to her studio. Hill also describes Healing Humanity Through Arts, her dance company’s nonprofit arm, and its work to make dance accessible to youth through school-based programming and scholarships.

On May 6, Missouri's Endangered Wolf Center sent six tiny wolf pups to New Mexico on a rare journey. From that point on, the 10-day-old wolves will grow up wild. The center has raised 289 Mexican wolves since it was founded about 50 years ago by former St. Louis Zoo director — and host of “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom” — Marlin Perkins. Sarah Holaday, the center's director of animal care and conservation, and Susan Schmoker, the center’s curator, share their insights into the crucial role Missouri plays in restoring these apex predators in their natural environments.