St. Louis on the Air

From tools and materials to varieties of edible and decorative plants, this home gardening conversation offers growers tips for making the most of their yards – and porches and window sills – this spring planting season. Daria McKelvey, home gardening information and outreach supervisor at Missouri Botanical Garden; and Megan Moncure, engagement director for Seed St. Louis, join the show to share advice and respond to listener calls.

When organizers of the annual Annie Malone May Day parade in St. Louis announced its cancellation this year, many people — especially in the Black community — were disappointed. Funds for the parade were redirected to support clients who needed shelter and food. But, the outpouring of community support means the parade can forward as planned. The attention also reignited a passion and interest in the woman for whom the parade is named: Annie Malone. Linda Nance, who founded the Annie Malone Historical Society in 2013, discusses Malone’s legacy and why it’s more than “just a parade.”

Even after Christopher Dunn won his release from prison in July, Missouri's Attorney General is still trying to put him back. It's just one of the consequences of the unique way Missouri law treats claims of "actual innocence.” We discuss the state of Missouri's innocence laws with Saint Louis University criminologist Kenya Brumfield-Young, as well as attorney Charlie Weiss, who has represented five people who were released from prison after being found innocent. Weiss and Brumfield-Young also share their insights into a proposed bill that would expand the scope of who can make a claim of “actual innocence” under current Missouri law.

Less than a week after President Donald Trump promised to crack down on student protests at colleges and universities, he’s pulled funding to Columbia University in New York City — where students engaged in pro-Palestinian protests against the war in Gaza — and praised U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents for arresting a graduate student who is a permanent U.S. resident for his role in those protests. We hear from St. Louis college student activists who are focused on building community and protections for actions to come, and discuss the implications of the president’s proposal with St. Louis University history professor and chair of African American Studies Chris Tinson.

Aaron Malin and attorney Dave Roland have spent a decade in a legal battle to unseal the records of Missouri's drug task forces. These multijurisdictional law enforcement groups can seize vast quantities of drugs, money, and property, but they operate in secrecy. Ten years and many lawsuits later, Malin and Roland are upping the stakes with a motion for civil contempt against the Cole County Prosecuting Attorney’s office. Malin and Roland reflect on a decade of fighting government secrecy and the state of Missouri's Sunshine Law.

Republican Missouri Rep. Peggy McGaugh wants to allow someone to serve up to 16 years in either the House or the Senate. Currently, most legislators can serve up to eight years in the House and eight in the Senate. McGaugh discusses her proposal on the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air. Then, term limits expert Thad Kousser, a political science professor at the University of California-San Diego, discusses the history and trends behind term limits in the U.S.

Some GOP lawmakers have faced angry crowds at town hall meetings, particularly over federal job reductions. That led to one GOP member suggesting an end to in-person town halls. During an appearance on the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Springfield, agreed saying, “I think that the town halls create a dynamic where only political nutjobs show up.” Burlison also discusses why he thinks Medicaid needs major changes.

The 2017 slaughterhouse escape of six steers turned "The St. Louis Six" into animal rescue celebrities and inspired an expansion of the California-based nonprofit Gentle Barn to Missouri. Eight years later, the sanctuary’s abrupt closure this past October has left its former volunteers and staff feeling abandoned. An investigation by St. Louis on the Air producer Danny Wicentowski goes inside the final days of the sanctuary's existence and the aftermath of its closure. The investigation confirms the deaths of five former residents of Missouri's Gentle Barn in the just four months since its closure. Gentle Barn co-founder Ellie Laks defends the decision to close and addresses the recent animal deaths at the nonprofit’s Tennessee sanctuary.

The broader St. Louis economy would not necessarily be left in turmoil if the Trump administration cuts some of the nearly 26,000 federal employees in the region, but there could be negative trickle-down effects. STLPR Metro East reporter Will Bauer and interim managing editor Jonathan Ahl discuss their reporting on this topic.

When Ron Branstetter created the memecoin Unicorn Fart Dust, he knew he’d learn from the cryptocurrency experiment. He didn’t know that he was building a space for tens of thousands of people to support, connect and learn from one another across the globe. Branstetter discusses the highs and lows of memecoin creation, shares what he’s learned about crypto, and reflects on why the token has amassed a loyal following of “dusters.”

The 2025 race for St. Louis mayor is officially a rematch. Mayor Tishaura Jones and 8th Ward Alderwoman Cara Spencer were the top two vote-getters in Tuesday’s St. Louis primary and now will compete head-to-head in the April 8 general election. STLPR reporter Rachel Lippmann discusses the results of the Tuesday primary and sets the stage for the general election.

Ujima wants to change how St. Louis eats and grows. The nonprofit, which operates urban farms in north St. Louis’ Fairground and Hyde Park neighborhoods, offers apprenticeships to teens to grow produce and learn to work the land. But Ujima is facing significant change this season: Its community garden was abruptly closed down last summer after SLPS evicted several nonprofits, including Ujima, from the Clay Community Education Center. The nonprofit’s founder, Nick Speed, discusses Ujima’s plans for 2025, preparing for the next teen cohort of the group’s "Sunflower Institute," and how it’s adjusting from the loss of its community garden.

Operation Food Search invested $10 million to renovate its headquarters in Overland to better distribute fresh meat and produce, and frozen food, last year. Now that its facility updates are done, the organization can continue its mission to feed those who have fewer means to obtain fresh and nutritious food. President and CEO Kristen Wild shares how the upgrades and additions will directly impact the region’s food pantries and reach individuals in 25 counties in Missouri and Illinois.

The researchers say their device could keep farmers from having to cull their flocks when they detect the contagious virus, which has affected more than 5 million birds in Missouri since 2022. STLPR health reporter Sarah Fentem shares how the device works and the latest on how avian influenza is affecting the St. Louis region.

Season 37 of the CBS original reality show “The Amazing Race” premieres March 5 at 8:30 pm central. Jeff Bailey Sr. and Jeff Bailey Jr. are one of 14 teams competing for $1M — and they’re representing St. Louis at the same time. The pair, known as Pops and Jeff on the show, share how their careers as lumberjacks — and the sensibility that comes with being born and raised in St. Louis — prepared them to compete on one of the longest running reality shows in the U.S.

The fine dining restaurant Tony’s, in Clayton, closed in February as did Mom’s Deli in southwest St. Louis. STLPR’s Jessica Rogen and Abby Llorico discuss notable closures of St. Louis area restaurants — and openings. Restaurant openings in February included four new spots at Energizer Park, Good Strangers on Cherokee Street and Side Project Pizza in Maplewood.

Ahead of the April 8 general election, St. Louis voters will go to the polls Tuesday for the primary election. There are four candidates for St. Louis mayor: Tishaura Jones, Cara Spencer, Michael Butler and Andrew Jones. Comptroller and two aldermanic races are also on the ballot. The top two finishers under the city’s approval voting system will go on to the general election. STLPR reporter Rachel Lippmann discusses.

Alexia Simone is admittedly a bashful person, but she pushes that all to the side with 808 beats and low-end R&B sound in her new project, “Multiply.” She takes host Elaine Cha behind the scenes of the album’s production which includes collaborations with local music producers and her InBloom partner, Slikk Darko.

February’s new music roundup showcases Black artists with ties to St. Louis. The various genres highlight the artists’ creativity and talent. Producer Miya Norfleet and WSIE host “Tracey J” Shanklin discuss their top picks.

A St. Louis County Girl Scout troop was told to stop fundraising for child war victims in Gaza. Instead, they created their own organization. Less than a year later, Salam Scouts has more than 200 members in 24 troops nationwide. Co-founder Nawal Abuhamdeh says she hopes Salam Scouts will empower young girls and boys not only to be confident leaders, “but compassionate, kind leaders who will always stand up for what's right — despite what other people are telling them to think or say.”

Between 2023 and 2024, the number of homeless Missourians increased by almost 10%. Regional coordinator for the Missouri Balance of State Continuum of Care April Redman, Director for the Department of Human Services Adam Pearson and NPR Midwest Newsroom’s investigative reporter Kavahn Mansouri discuss the challenges in providing an accurate count of homeless people in order to provide appropriate services across the region.

The Animal Protective Association cut ties with the St. Louis County animal shelter on Friday. The partnership’s dissolution comes at a time of anxiety and suspicion among shelter volunteers, who were told they would need to reapply in order to continue volunteering at the facility. Animal advocates are also concerned after a Missouri Sunshine Law request revealed a proposal suggesting the use of mass euthanasia to lower the shelter’s population. We talk about the shelter’s operations with Post Dispatch reporter Kelsey Landis and County Health Director Kanika Cunningham.

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins is defending his decision to reject sports betting emergency rules, saying there isn’t an urgent need and also he doesn’t want to short circuit public input. STLPR politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum talks with Hoskins. Later, Rosenbaum joins the show for context and analysis about the future of sports gambling in Missouri.

A former St. Louis sheriff’s deputy who was fired is suing Sheriff Alfred Montgomery for defamation. Janae Edmondson, the visiting volleyball player who lost both of her legs in a terrible car crash in downtown St. Louis in 2023, has settled a lawsuit against the city. Producers of Nelly’s “Country Grammar” are suing the famous St. Louis rapper for alleged unpaid royalties. And, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey says Starbucks’ hiring practices are discriminatory. Those were among the topics discussed by Legal Roundtable panelists Nicole Gorovsky, Arindam Kar and Bevis Schock.

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.