St. Louis on the Air

Jupiter’s icy moon Europa could have the ingredients to sustain life, and NASA’s massive Europa Clipper spacecraft is on a mission to find out. Washington University Professor William McKinnon discusses the potential for life within Europa’s oceans and what researchers might find in 2030, when the spacecraft arrives at Jupiter.

The St. Louis Chamber Chorus may be most well known for its repertoire that features classical and religious songs from centuries ago. But the chorus has also featured new compositions and for its 69th season, the nearly 50 singers will add 21st century pop to its choral selections. St. Louis Chamber Chorus artistic director Philip Barnes talks about this Sunday’s “Classic Pop” performance at the Sun Theatre in Grand Center.

The documentary "Concrete Jungle Gym" chronicles the brilliant life and legacy of Bob Cassilly and the creation of the City Museum. Premiering Nov. 10 at the St. Louis International Film Festival, the film draws on decades of footage to create an unusually intimate portrait of an artist driven to create new art from the demolished pieces of the city around him, and who often found himself at odds with St. Louis authorities. We talk with the film's creators, Mike Gualdoni and Zach White.

The GOP once again dominated an election in Missouri. Every Republican won statewide office but they did suffer a stinging policy defeat with the passage of Amendment 3, which legalizes abortion up to fetal viability. On the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, we hear analysis from UMSL political science professor Anita Manion about the results and check-in with STLPR reporters. We also discuss key takeaways in Illinois’ election results.

While Americans are deeply divided on election-year politics, there’s one issue on which the vast majority agree: The practice of switching between daylight saving time and standard time needs to end. In this encore episode, we listen back to a March 2024 conversation about the effects of the current system on our health, the history of daylight saving time, and how the daylight saving time/standard time debate has the golf lobby and scientists at odds.

In the civil legal system, the so-called "justice gap" means most low-income people who face cases involving evictions, health care, and even domestic violence, do so without an attorney. Dan Glazier, Executive Director of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, and social worker Laura Halfmann-Morris talk about how they are working to close that gap, and how the lack of legal services is impacting survivors of domestic violence.

Voters go to the polls on Tuesday to decide on a slew of important statewide contests, including the combative race between GOP Sen. Josh Hawley and Democratic challenger Lucas Kunce. Passage of Amendment 3 would place abortion rights protections in the state Constitution, while approval of Amendment 2 would legalize sports wagering. STLPR statehouse and politics reporter Sarah Kellogg discusses the upcoming election on the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air.

A swarm of messages over the airwaves and on social media feeds have increasingly relied on inflammatory language, embellished details and sometimes a blatant disregard for truth. On the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR’s Abby Llorico spoke about this trend with professor Natasha Casey, a media literacy educator at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Illinois, and with the Media Education Lab.

Ovarian cancer is a disease diagnosed in 54 patients every day in the United States, according to the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance. St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Awareness collaborates with area medical schools in a program called Survivors Teaching Students to help future medical professionals see symptoms earlier. Drs. Andrea and Ian Hagemann discuss how these first person accounts help them in the classroom and the examination room.

Generations of St. Louisans and countless classes of St. Louis University graduates have heard tall tales about the exorcism performed by SLU Jesuit priests in 1949. The diary of the lead priest, Father Raymond Bishop, would go on to inspire the cult classic horror film “The Exorcist” and novels depicting people possessed by demons. St. Louis University archivist and assistant professor Caitlan Stamm separates fact from fiction and addresses the myths that continue to swirl around SLU’s involvement in the exorcism of “Robbie Mannheim” in 1949.

Halloween conjures images of ghouls, ghosts and other spooky creatures. But for Jade Moore, the owner of Sincerely, the Craft, mysticism is more than a trend — it’s a connection to heritage. In this encore episode, producers Miya Norfleet and Emily Woodbury speak with Moore about the beliefs, faiths and ritual practices that are generally categorized as “witchy.”

Published nearly 180 years ago, Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” endures. The poem tells the story of the narrator’s descent into madness as they deal with the grief of losing their beloved Lenore. In this encore episode, we listen to historical interpreter Anne Williams’ recording of “The Raven,” featuring original sound design by producer Avery Rogers.

St. Louis native Chaz Littlejohn is serving five years in federal prison for the theft and leak of Donald Trump's tax returns. St. Louis Magazine senior editor Nick Phillips explored the mystery of Littlejohn's crimes, chronicling how the former government contractor decided to break the law for what he believed were the right reasons. Phillips takes us into Littlejohn’s world — and what happened when Chaz turned his attention from Trump's taxes to other billionaires.

After more than two years of work, the Tiny House project in St. Louis’ Benton Park West neighborhood is complete. We hear from Dwayne Tiggs, the architect and craftsman behind the Tiny House, and his partner and project gardener Rikki Watts. They share their story of the home's completion and what it means to build a home while also building community.

At 100,000 verses, the ancient Indian epic ‘The Mahabharata’ is the longest epic poem ever written. Due to its focus on conflict amongst family — and its explorations of illusion, reality and truth — Nartana Premachandra felt it fitting inspiration for Dances of India St. Louis’ 2024 annual performance, which falls just after the Nov. 5 elections. She discusses her original play script “Dreams of the Dark Prince” and how it combines movement and storytelling to tell the story of Prince Duryodhana, one of the Mahabharata’s central characters.

While Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District is GOP-leaning thanks to Franklin and Warren Counties, the St. Louis County portion is shifting leftward. STLPR politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum reports from Chesterfield on how Democrats have gained ground and are bullish that a backlash over Trump and restrictive abortion policies could help the state party gain strength for future elections. But others are skeptical that either Democratic nominee Kamala Harris or a measure to legalize abortion will provide a boost down ballot.

While odds of becoming a victim of a school shooting are statistically low, the looming threat of violence in what’s supposed to be a safe space for students and educators negatively affects young people’s mental health. Bart Andrews, Chief Clinical Officer at Behavioral Health Response, shares how adults can support the youth in their lives at a time when school shootings regularly make headlines.

Craft beer has experienced explosive growth in the last 15 years, but more recently those good times may have ended, with craft breweries across the country now hurting, or even closing. In recent months, Urban Chestnut Brewing Company filed for bankruptcy protection, O’Fallon Brewery closed, and Earthbound Beer announced it will shutter later this year after 10 years in business. We talk with Earthbound Beer co-owner Stuart Keating and with Fausto Gonzalez, an assistant professor of marketing at WashU.

A lawsuit from Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey seeking to restrict the abortion pill is drawing attention to an unusual take on the decrease in teen pregnancy in Missouri. The Legal Roundtable discusses the significance of the lawsuit’s argument that access to the abortion pill “is depressing expected birth rates for teenaged mothers” — something the suit calls a “sovereign injury” to Missouri.

A proposed 3% fee on short-term rental rates on the November ballot would help fund affordable housing in St. Louis. St. Louis Public Radio reporter Rachel Lippmann talks about Proposition S, as well as several other propositions city voters will see on the ballot on Election Day.

Conductor Leonard Slatkin took the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra to new heights during his 18 years at the helm. He talks about a weekend of concerts and events celebrating his 80th birthday, and his favorite moments conducting works by Gershwin and Tchaikovsky. Along with Slatkin, we get to know composer Cindy McTee, whose work “Timepiece” will be part of the program at the Touhill.

Charlie Peete was a highly-touted prospect for the St. Louis Cardinals who played 23 games with the big league club in 1956. He was expected to compete heavily for the starting center field job the next season, but he didn’t get that chance because he, his wife and three young children died in a plane crash. Had Peete lived, he likely would have become the first Black position player in franchise history to earn a permanent starting job. Journalist and St. Louis native Danny Spewak details Peete’s life in the new book, “Cardinal Dreams: The Legacy of Charlie Peete and a Life Cut Short.”

The traumatic experience of being shot is often just the beginning of the challenges facing those with bullet-related injuries. Keisha Blanchard was shot in the back by an unidentified person in January 2024. Keisha tells the story of what happened next, and the painful, confusing experience of being told by a physician that, “We are not in the business of removing bullets.” Along with Keisha, we talk with Bullet Related Injury Clinic founder and trauma surgeon Dr. LJ Punch, and Tammy Kuykendoll, Freedom Community Center's director of Community Referral Pathway programs.

A survey from The Midwest Newsroom and Emerson College Polling Center asked registered voters in several Midwest states, including Missouri, about measures on the Nov. 5 ballot as well as a variety of political, social and economic subjects. Daniel Wheaton, data reporter for the Midwest Newsroom, discusses the poll’s findings on the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air.

After years of legislative inaction, popular sports betting apps FanDuel and DraftKings are funding a ballot initiative that would allow for Missourians to place bets on their phones, in casinos and at sporting venues. But they are facing well-funded opposition: Missourians Against the Deceptive Online Gambling Amendment. Brooke Foster, a spokeswoman for the group, says the measure known as Amendment 2 won’t actually provide much money to help education as proponents contend. A previous edition of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air featured supporters of Amendment 2.

Missouri was one the first states to ban most abortions after Roe v. Wade fell in 2022, but now abortion rights opponents are facing a serious challenge in November. Amendment 3 would enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. Stephanie Bell of Missouri Stands With Women explains why her group is opposed to the amendment. A previous edition of this show featured supporters of Amendment 3.

Black Americans are more likely to start menopause early and gain less treatment to manage symptoms — that’s according to a recent review of menopause literature. In this encore presentation, Dr. Makeba Williams, an associate professor and vice chair of professional development and wellness in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Washington University, encourages more doctors to recognize that the menopause experience is not universal and more care should be taken when treating patients of color, especially Black Americans.

Greenwood Cemetery has been through a major transformation in recent years — due in large part to a married couple who grew up in the area and felt called to restore the cemetery after it fell into disrepair. Raphael and Shelley Morris of the Greenwood Cemetery Preservation Association join to talk about the 150-year-old cemetery’s history, its restoration over the last nine years, and how they’ve partnered with area businesses and nonprofits to make the burial grounds a welcoming space for visitors and native wildlife.

Over the past three decades, Club Viva has become the go-to destination for Latin dance beginners and veterans alike. In this episode, owner Cesar Cardona shares his journey from Colombia to the U.S., how he came to own the nightclub, and its significance in the St. Louis community.

Tiffany Robertson started Touchy Topics Tuesday after the killings of Michael Brown, Jr. and VonDerrit Myers, Jr. in 2014. The diverse group meets weekly to have difficult conversations about race, politics, and culture. Ten years after those initial weekly meetups, Robertson’s current goals are to help people and organizations “intentionally integrate.” Robertson, along with Touchy Topics Tuesday participant Margaret Weck, reflect on the past 10 years of conversations and how they hope the meetups change hearts and minds.

Indian immigrants are the fastest-growing foreign-born population in the St. Louis region. That momentum is happening at a pivotal time as in American politics. Three Indian Americans with longtime Midwest roots – attorney Arindam Kar, journalist Meera Nagarajan, and higher ed professional Jacob Chacko – share perspectives on what compels Indian Americans to engage with U.S. politics, why there’s no single “Indian American vote,” and how the 2024 election’s candidates and prominent issues have opened broader discourse about the place of Indian Americans in electoral politics.

St. Louis rapper and educator Zeus Rebel Waters discusses the inspiration behind the creation of the Reading with Rappers program, and how he plans to promote literacy to children in the St. Louis area.

Wes Hoffman, lead singer of pop-punk band Wes Hoffman and Friends, talks about his music, St. Louis’ vibrant St. Louis punk scene and his efforts to promote it through his Instagram account 314 Punk.

Producer Miya Norfleet and DJ and rapper Ryan “Big Esco” Brown shed light on St. Louis’ robust and diverse music scene and discuss some of their favorite new songs.

Many of Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center’s 80,000 annual visitors may be surprised to know they are walking amongst Missouri’s most common venomous reptile on the trails: the copperhead snake. The results of a six year study on copperheads in Powder Valley’s oak hickory forest lends new insight on their population size, how they survive the extreme heat and cold, and their movement throughout the year.

Federal law requires school districts to enroll homeless students -- but in some states in the Midwest, including Missouri, school districts report they don’t enroll any homeless students, even though other measures of poverty indicate that’s likely not true. The data, experts, say, suggests a "hidden population" of homeless students who are not getting the support they need. NPR Midwest Newsroom Investigative Reporter Kavahn Mansouri dives into this topic, including the way federal grants put pressure on overwhelmed rural school districts.

Belleville East and Belleville West high schools are in the postseason for the inaugural season of girls flag football in Illinois. STLPR Metro East reporter Will Bauer discusses how the sport arrived in Belleville and where it goes from here. Bauer also discusses his reporting from the regular season finale last Wednesday, when East squeezed out a nail-biting 13-12 overtime win against their crosstown rivals.

Monarchs are migrating through the St. Louis region now, but residents are seeing fewer of them than ever before. Loss of natural habitat along their migration route and increased use of herbicides and pesticides, as well as unpredictable weather caused by climate change, have accounted for an estimated 90% decline in the migrating monarch’s population since the mid-1990s. In this episode, we learn what we can do now to help support monarchs, fireflies and other ecologically important insect species in the coming year.

For years, the city of St. Louis has fought to keep an internal police audit out of public view. The audit has now been unsealed by a court order: its pages accuse the city's police department of making numerous errors while investigating 50 police shootings. St. Louis Post Dispatch columnist Tony Messenger joins the show to discuss a recent piece he’s written about the legal fight over this audit, and why St. Louis fought so hard to keep it secret.

Black men face unique challenges in their everyday lives, and they often struggle to find mental health professionals who understand those challenges on a personal level. Psychotherapist Fred Williams and licensed behavioral analyst Bryant Antoine discuss how they use therapy and group sessions to support the mental health of their peers.

In 1994, the first LGBT History Month – then called Gay History Month – was celebrated with backing from prominent LGBT advocacy groups. Rodney Wilson founded the commemorative month while finishing grad school at University of Missouri-St. Louis. He also made another mark on history that year as the first openly gay K-12 teacher in Missouri. On the 30th anniversary of LGBT History Month, Wilson sat down with Danny Wicentowski to reflect on his impact as a history teacher in Missouri and abroad.

Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Lucas Kunce is facing the challenging task of upending Republican Sen. Josh Hawley in a state that’s become GOP-dominated. Kunce is making a strong bid. He’s been raising money at a feverish clip since entering the U.S. Senate race in 2023, and Hawley is taking Kunce’s effort to oust him seriously, as seen with a flurry of negative television ads and confrontations.

Liz Ziegler, former Missouri Ethics Commission executive director, lays out Missouri’s campaign finance system rules. Ziegler also answers listener questions about campaign contribution limits as well as some of its limitations of the commission.

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley’s about-face on right to work is seen by some as a welcome shift toward pro-labor policy — and by others as election year pandering. In this episode, St. Louis and Missouri based union representatives share their thoughts on the U.S. Senate race in Missouri ahead of the Nov. 5 election..

Chris Dunn became a free man after spending 34 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. In a wide-ranging interview, Chris recounts his long, frustrating journey through the justice system and how that system fought to hold him in prison — even after gaining the support of multiple judges and prosecutors. Chris was released July 30. He is joined by his wife, Kira Dunn, who stood by his side over decades, and who first met him while writing a magazine article about his case in 1999.

STLPR reporter Lacretia Wimbley shares what she learned from her conversation with St. Louis Public Schools acting Superintendent Millicent Borishade including addressing criticism on the district's hiring practices, transportation woes, enrollment and budget.

NPR’s Next Gen Radio Project was in St. Louis last week. The five-day digital journalism and audio training project’s goal is to find, coach, and train public media's next generation. STLPR Visuals Editor Brian Munoz and Senior Environmental Reporter Kate Grumke discuss the experience of working with the emerging journalists, and we feature some of the non-narrated stories that are centered on the idea of “home.”

Ken Page holds a special place among the pantheon of entertainers who have both hailed from St. Louis and who’ve chosen to call the city home. Page died Monday at the age of 70. We hear Page’s hit roles including in “Cats” and “The Wiz,” and as the voice of Oogie Boogie in “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” We also listen back to Page when he was a guest on this show in 2019, after receiving the Arts and Education Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The Muny’s Mike Isaacson also shares his memories. Page performed in more than 45 Muny productions.

In 1992, Lâm Flamenco opened a Vietnamese restaurant, Truc Lam. The restaurant’s long operation, as well as the dramatic journey its owner took to get to St. Louis, have made it “a fixture of the Tower Grove South neighborhood,” according to food writer Ileana Martinez, who profiled Lâm Flamenco in the latest issue of Sauce Magazine. Martinez shares her impressions from the restaurant's menu, and owner, about what it takes to run a restaurant for more than three decades.

Producer Miya Norfleet shares stories Black women recently shared about their experiences as professionals in various workplaces.