St. Louis on the Air

Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and her daughter, poet and writer Ruby Aiyo Gerber, talk about co-writing the opera, “This House.” Taking place in a majestic Harlem brownstone, the opera explores themes of gentrification and losing Black histories. It also delves into what connects – and binds – people to history and to one another. “This House” will have its world premiere at Opera Theatre of St. Louis this May.

About 2,680 people with developmental disabilities died under the care of the state of Missouri — on average, one person every day between 2017 through 2023. Reporter Will Skipworth’s new investigation from the River City Journalism Fund dives into that system and its flaws. Skipworth shares his findings from his investigation into why disabled people keep dying, why reports of abuse and neglect continue to be ignored, and what can be done to prevent further harm to the state's most vulnerable people.

More than three months after the voter-approved Amendment 3 went into effect, Planned Parenthood affiliates are once again offering abortions to Missourians. That’s because Jackson County Judge Jerri Zhang froze licensing requirements for clinics, which Planned Parenthood cited as a major obstacle for offering abortions for the first time in years. Nick Dunne, vice president of marketing and communications for Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, discusses last week’s ruling and abortion access moving forward.

When Ken Martin announced his first national tour since taking on the high profile post of DNC chairman, it may have come as a surprise to some that he included Missouri as one of the stops. On the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, Martin talks about his goals for the party and why deep red states like Missouri are important.

Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday compared President Donald Trump’s “authoritarian playbook” to the Nazi movement as he unveiled a $55.2 billion spending plan that also saves the state more than $400 million by nixing a health care program for adults who lack legal status. STLPR Metro East reporter Will Bauer joins the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air to discuss Pritzker’s address and budget proposal.

Music producers are behind-the-scenes creators who make the drumbeat, and heartbeat, of many experiences we enjoy. But this corner of the industry is male-dominated, leaving little recognition and appreciation for the women in the field — despite their major contributions. St. Louis music producers Lexxiii Beatz and Volume Speaks share their experiences as women in music production, the sisterhood they’ve found among other musicians and the obstacles they’ve overcome.

Due to past racial events, there is often a mistrust in communities with people of color when it comes to the healthcare system. Owner of GreaterHealth Pharmacy and Wellness, Marcus Howards recollects how Black people were experimented on during the Tuskegee experiment. He also discusses how GreaterHealth develops trusts and provides care for patients as a Black-owned pharmacy. The St. Louis native also reflects on the growth and obstacles since opening the pharmacy.

Weeding out invasive species can feel like a never ending chore because of the rapid growth and spread rate. Missouri Botanical Garden associate scientist Wendy Applequist encourages traditional uses of these plants to help the ecosystem — and ourselves.

Social media has put art and entertainment from all corners of the world in the literal palm of your hand. Manga and anime (Japanese comic books and cartoons) hit mainstream American bookshelves and screens starting in the 1990s, and cross-cultural exchange has resulted in the development of distinct subcultures — including “blerds” or Black nerds. In this encore episode, St. Louis born and raised content creator Shawn “Rab” Fentress discusses the popularization of Blerd culture. Shawn has accumulated hundreds of thousands of followers for his distinct voice-overs of anime shows, which he calls “hood dubs,” and found success in creating online content with Nappy Boy Network, founded by rapper and singer T-Pain.

In the U.S. alone coffee has an economic value upwards of $340 billion dollars annually. But in the countries where coffee is grown, farmers and producers often face exploitation. St. Louis University student Firaol Ahmed started Moii Coffee, an online platform that aims to cut down on exploitation by connecting Ethiopian coffee farmers directly to U.S. roasters. STLPR reporter Marissanne Lewis-Thompson has that story, and then we check-in with Jason Wilson, owner of Northwest Coffee Roasting Company in St. Louis, about his work with Ahmed and how he’s grappling with a volatile industry.

This past Saturday, an abortion took place in a Missouri Planned Parenthood clinic. It’s something that hasn’t happened in the state since 2022. The development follows a judge’s ruling on Friday that’s again changed the legal landscape for abortion. St. Louis Public Radio health reporter Sarah Fentem discusses the impact of that ruling, and what’s changed since Missouri voters approved Amendment 3, which added abortion as a protected right in the Missouri Constitution.

The bizarre life of Richard Jacobs inspired the name of the podcast now trying to make sense of it. Since debuting in August, “How to Destroy Everything” has told the story of a "narcissist who destroyed a childhood, a marriage, a family, and a community." The podcast is produced by Jacobs’ son, Danny Jacobs, and Danny’s childhood best friend Darren Grodsky. The two have been peeling back the layers of who Richard Jacobs was, uncovering new mysteries, and exploring what remains of his former home in St. Louis, known as “The Royal Manor.” The podcast’s creators share insights from their ongoing podcast and the terrible man at its center —and what it means to return to St. Louis amid the popularity of the show.

For his first Valentine’s Day without his best friend and wife Aida Audia, recent widower Jeff Topal talks about his relationship with “the love of my life”: how they met, what they built and shared in health and through Aida’s illness, and what made their 45-year marriage so special. This conversation grew out of an exchange that first took place at a 2025 St. Louis Public Radio listening session in Collinsville, Illinois.

In January, the Environmental Protection Agency reported that radioactive contamination at the West Lake Landfill Superfund Site is more widespread than previously known. To clean the site, the agency will now have to dig up and dispose of an additional 20,000 cubic yards of contaminated soil and debris — more than three football fields piled one yard high with material. Nearby resident Dawn Chapman has pushed for accountability and cleanup of the site for 12 years. She’s frustrated that it’s taken decades for the agency to announce what community members — many of whom have died or suffered illness from the exposure — have known for years. She shares her hopes and fears for the future alongside Missouri Independent reporter Allison Kite.

William Stanford Davis, who plays the quick-witted custodian Mr. Johnson on the ABC sitcom “Abbott Elementary,” draws inspiration for the character from his conspiracy theorist grandmother and the observant school custodians of his youth. The St. Louis native shares how his upbringing shapes his approach to Mr. Johnson’s character, how St. Louis prepared him to never stop pursuing his Hollywood dreams, and his goal to give back to the city’s school system.

New Roots Urban Farm owner and co-director Antajuan Adams Sr. shares how the farm gives back to the St. Louis community by providing fresh produce to low-income families. It also gives aspiring farmers tools and resources needed to make their own farms thrive. Adams also shares why it’s important to give back to the neighborhood which he grew up in and how he started a gardening program at a youth detention center.

Orly Peters immigrated from Israel to St. Louis in 2011. It was a struggle to adjust to life in the midwest, but cooking recipes from her culture gave her family a sense of comfort. Peters talks about the inspiration behind her food app ‘Habayta’ and shares why it is targeted towards immigrants. Faiza Muhambi, owner of Faiza’s Kitchen, speaks about her life as an immigrant and how Habuyta has supported her while launching her own food business.

Two artifacts from the period of slavery in the U.S.and the Civil War are going on display for the first time at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Illinois. Among them are an 1819 "slave badge" that enslaved people were required to wear in Charleston, South Carolina, and a Civil War recruitment poster from 1863. The museum's executive director, Christina Schutt discusses the meaning behind both artifacts. And Reggie Guyton, writer and actor of the one-act play, “Small Beginnings,” shares his insights from Robert Small’s dramatic story of escape and bravery.

Immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in St. Louis are facing new challenges under the administration of President Donald Trump. Reports of federal immigration agents sightings have sent panic through the region, while local immigration groups are working with people to address those fears — and to try to separate rumors from reality. St. Louis Public Radio’s race, identity and culture reporter Andrea Henderson discusses her recent reporting on the new “ICE activity hotline.” She also shares insights from her reporting into how the Trump administration’s plans to freeze federal funding for organizations that serve immigrants and refugees will impact St. Louis.

If you’re reading this before 10:59 p.m., Central Standard Time, on February 10, 2025, you still have time to enter NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest. “St. Louis on the Air” producer Miya Norfleet shares what she’s noticed in submissions so far, runs through Tiny Desk Contest requirements and encourages St. Louis-area musicians to upload their video before the deadline hits.

Missouri Republicans have a new party leader: Former Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder. The Cape Girardeau native took the helm as chairman of the Missouri Republican Party earlier this month, and is trying to steer the state’s dominant political party away from factionalism and electoral backsliding. On this episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, Kinder shares his vision for the state party – and how he plans to approach next year’s midterm election cycle.

“Morning Edition” and “Up First” co-host Steve Inskeep will be at St. Louis County Library’s Clark Family Branch this Wednesday to discuss his book, “Differ We Must: How Lincoln Succeeded in a Divided America.” In this episode, Inskeep discusses Lincoln’s legacy in light of Trump’s second inauguration. We also discuss current journalism practices and how people are consuming news.

Members of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen this week chose to end discussions on allocating $294 million in Rams settlement money without any agreement. They likely will not resume consideration of any spending proposals until after board elections this spring. STLPR economic development reporter Eric Schmid discusses the twists and turns of the Rams saga including now-retracted assertions that aldermen were drinking on the job.

The Missouri Department of Social Services last month launched Steady statewide. The online platform aims to help people verify income for Medicaid, food assistance programs and temporary assistance for needy families. NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal is part owner of Steady. He and others talked with STLPR politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum about the platform.

British rock legend David Bowie called on saxophonist Donny McCaslin and his band to record Bowie’s album, “Blackstar,” after checking out the jazz group’s performance at the 55 Bar in Greenwich Village. Bowie never had a chance to to perform its songs live because he died two days after the album’s release in 2016. With the backing of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, “Blackstar Symphony” will have its Midwest premiere this Friday at Stifel Theater.

An investigation by Illinois Answers into the use, misuse, and abuse of restraint chairs in Illinois county jails found that staff at the jail in Madison County, Illinois, restrained someone in a chair for more than 10 hours in at least 28 incidents from 2019 to 2023. Eight of those incidents exceeded 20 hours, despite the instructions from the chair's manufacturer recommending that detainees not be not be left in a chair for more than two hours. We meet the two reporters behind the investigation, Grace Hauck and Janelle O'Dea, and they discuss what they discovered about the jail's operations, what the people who suffered in restraints said about the experience, and why some extreme incidents were never reported to the state.

Welcoming new voices to opera is the core mission of Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ New Works Collective. The initiative provides opportunities for creators and performers like librettist Alicia Reve Like, whose 20-minute opera “Black Coffee” gets its world premiere Feb. 6-8 at COCA. Like and the theatre’s managing director Nicole Freber, discuss the role community engagement has played in bringing new perspectives to the opera stage.

Urban development projects are typically marked by groundbreaking ceremonies, months of building and handshakes for a job well done. But it’s often the case that community members are left out of critical discussions of what could make new developments in their neighborhood work for them. Christopher Peoples, equity and economic impact director for Great Rivers Greenway discusses the organization’s commitment to keeping residents in the center of development plans and how gentrification, when done right, does not mean displacing people or erasing a community’s identity.

Due to a delay in federal funding for many of its services and programs, the International Institute of St. Louis announced a pause on preparations for this year’s Festival of Nations. The next day, it <a href=”https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2025-02-05/st-louis-immigrant-agencies-federal-funding-pause”>furloughed more than half of its staff.</a> Despite uncertainties in federal funding, and anti-immigrant actions and rhetoric on a national level, both former and current staff at the institute believe that St. Louis remains a welcoming place for immigrants — and that the St. Louis community can come together to bolster the work of the institute, including its beloved, annual celebration.

St. Louis’ best theater performances of the year are being honored again. The St. Louis Theater Circle announced its <a href="https://www.stlpr.org/show/st-louis-on-the-air/2025-02-04/2024-best-local-theater-unveiled-st-louis-theater-circle">nominations for 2024</a>. The Muny is the top contender, with 30 nominations across its seven productions. Approximately 112 productions were considered. St. Louis Theater Circle members Chuck Lavazzi and CB Adams discuss some of this year’s nominations and the state of local theater.

A number of St. Louis-area restaurants closed their doors in January but a fair number opened too. Among the closures were Peacock Loop Diner in University City and Schlafly Bankside in St. Charles. New restaurants include dart-themed restaurant Flight Club in Clayton and SweetArt Too in City Foundry. STLPR digital editor Jessica Rogen and morning anchor and host of the Gateway podcast Abby Llorico discuss the latest <a href="https://www.stlpr.org/economy-business/2025-02-02/st-louis-restaurants-openings-closings-january-2025">openings and closings</a>.

Late Friday afternoon, KDHX 88.1 FM announced that it was stopping live broadcasts and letting go of all of its volunteer DJs. The community radio station has experienced turmoil for several years. On this episode, STLPR arts and culture senior reporter Jeremy D. Goodwin and two former KDHX DJs, Caron House and River Reinsch, discuss this news. House hosted “Wax Lyrical” for nearly 11 years until she was let go in September 2023, and Reinsch hosted “Alternative Angle” from March 2024 up until his position was terminated on Friday.

<a href=”https://www.npr.org/people/302983377/bobby-carter”>Bobby Carter</a> was part of a major shift for NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Concerts. The St. Louis native (and Riverview Gardens High School alum) emphasized diversity in music genre and representation of race and gender for the viral video series which has gained nearly 11 million subscribers on <a href=”https://www.youtube.com/@nprmusic/featured”>NPR Music’s YouTube</a> channel alone. On this episode of St. Louis on the Air, Carter, who serves as Tiny Desk’s host, producer and judge for their annual contest shared his music career journey and upbringing in St. Louis with host Elaine Cha.

Kre8 Place's Quintrel Brown and Dwayne Ferguson join producer Miya Norfleet and host Elaine Cha for a roundup of new music releases from St. Louis musicians. Brown and Ferguson also explain how Kre8 Place provides a space for artists to grow and gain the resources in the St. Louis area. They also share details about the Hiphop Takeover event occurring at the end of February at the Dark Room.

New and experienced beekeepers aiming to hone their honey-making skills will meet Feb. 8 in St. Louis for an annual workshop from the Eastern Missouri Beekeepers Association. We get to know Tom and Melissa Sostman, founders of VIA Honeybees, who went from newbie hobbyists to maintaining 150+ hives throughout Franklin and Jefferson County. They discuss their journey and the skills they picked up along the way. We also get a preview of the upcoming workshop, where attendees will learn new techniques in the world of beekeeping, honey-making and honey-judging.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe is pushing for a state board to oversee the St. Louis police department because he says it will make the city safer in the long run. The GOP chief executive is brushing aside criticism that the idea is another example of Republican-controlled state government micromanaging the heavily Democratic St. Louis region. In a wide-ranging interview with STLPR the day after his first State of the State address, Kehoe discussed public safety and a host of other issues including taxes, education funding and diversity programs.

Missouri's yearslong failure to connect criminal defendants with mental health treatment is only getting worse. More than 400 Missourians are languishing in jail as they wait to be placed into court-ordered psychiatric treatment. That's up from around 300 at this time last year. Missouri Independent reporter Clara Bates has been investigating the issue — her latest piece reveals that some defendants have been forced to wait longer than even their maximum possible sentence for their crimes. Many are placed in solitary confinement. We also hear from attorney and social worker Annie Legomsky, who represents clients waiting for treatment in Missouri jails.

Before Reesha L. Archibald became a Hollywood television producer and started collaborating with Cedric the Entertainer and Eric Rhone, she was in St. Louis thinking about ways to use her artistic talents. Now that she’s made it big as an executive producer on shows including Bounce TV’s “Finding Happy” and “Johnson,” she’s focused on lifting up St. Louis’ talent and providing opportunities for creatives in her hometown. In this episode, she talks about her journey from St. Louis to Hollywood and her vision for storytelling that reflects the breadth of Black lived experiences.

Adrienne Siddens lost her husband Randall after he was struck by a distracted driver. In conversation with STLPR’s Abby Llorico, she shares how she’s worked through grief and become an advocate for a distracted driving law in Missouri — which went into effect on Jan. 1.

Vivial Lopez, a St. Louis native, shares what it means to help her community become comfortable with talking about death. She specializes in helping the Black community fill out advance directives and navigate death. An advance directive is important for an individual to ensure what their end-of-life care and values are.

A panel of attorneys discuss local and regional legal issues. Discussion will include the latest attempt to change the , allegations by a chess star against the U.S. Chess Federation, why a Wendy’s restaurant in Bridgeton is paying $5 million to a former worker who was a victim of sexual assault on the job, why Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey must sit for deposition, and more.

St. Louis County Executive Sam Page has officially entered politically treacherous territory. He’s leading Missouri’s largest county at a time of downward population growth, an uncertain budgetary future, and for the first time since he took office in 2019, Page is facing a county council with enough antagonists to override his veto. Politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum sits down with Page in his office in Clayton to discuss criticisms, partnerships with leadership in the City of St. Louis and answer questions from listeners.

Republicans in the Missouri General Assembly want to place a board with gubernatorial appointees in charge of overseeing the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. It’s an idea with high-level support among police unions and Missouri’s new governor, but fierce opposition from St. Louis’ top elected officials. We talk about the proposal with one of its most vocal backers, Republican state Senator Nick Schroer from St. Louis County.

St. Louis County Library is spending more than half its collections budget on digital “eMedia” through subscriptions to services like Libby and Hoopla. The library told its patrons this month the cost would become “unsustainable” without changes. We hear from the library's director, Kristen Sorth, about the changing landscape for accessing books and other digital media, and the decisions facing libraries to maintain the public’s access.

Between now and Feb. 14, Illinois residents can vote on whether to change their state flag — and if so, which resident-submitted design they'd like to see flying in the wind. We hear from two Illinois Flag Commission members who helped whittle down the selection from nearly 5,000 designs to the top ten. Flag design expert Ted Kaye also shares his suggestions for how those designs could be improved.

A growing and significant body of research suggests that students benefit from having a teacher of the same race or ethnicity. Yet most teachers in the U.S. are white women. St. Louis entrepreneur Angelica Harris founded <a href=”https://www.toptutorsforus.com”>Top Tutors for Us</a> to pair Black high school students with tutors who look like them. She shares how their services have led to improved test scores and higher college acceptance rates of their students.

About 15 years ago, Jason Cerrano was working for the Pattonville Fire Protection District when he conceptualized a way to make it more efficient for firefighters to put out fires. He wanted to automate how a fire truck selects its water source and pumps water, and allow pump operators to pay attention to other critical firefighting tasks. Cerrano, a graduate of Missouri S&T, discusses how he invented the SAM Control System that more than 120 fire departments employ. We also hear from Chief Hans Mueller of the Freeburg Fire Protection District in Illinois about his department’s use of the technology.

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/people/Some-Black-People/61558559185558/”>Some Black People</a> is an all-Black St. Louis improv team dedicated to refining craft, building community, and diversifying an artform that’s historically been predominantly white. Founding members Jessica Nicole, Charles Harris, and Aaron Moore discuss the personal and community impact of Some Black People, and their definition of “success.”

A NASA mission that aims to launch a small satellite into Earth’s orbit in 2029 is named after Arlo Landolt, a renowned astronomer with roots in the Metro East. The goal of the Landolt Space Mission is to help scientists calibrate telescopes to more accurately measure the brightness of stars. We talk with Jennifer Boutte, the daughter of the late Arlo Landolt, about the honor. Peter Plavchan, the principal investigator of the mission, also discusses the mission’s goals.

The young ladies of Incarnate Word Academy’s varsity basketball team have managed to defeat every last one of their opponents for 141 games running. That makes them the national record holder for girls basketball consecutive wins. Guards Nevaeh Caffey and Addi Owen join their coach Dan Rolfes to discuss their schools 5-year winning streak and what the record means to them.