St. Louis on the Air

Washington University sophomore Julian Trejo was 15 years old when his mother helped him change his surname. He was ashamed to be the son of a felon, but now feels free. In this personal and sound-rich essay, Julian reflects on his upbringing and his quest to "not become a statistic — not just another brown kid with an absent dad who went down the wrong path.” Julian is a fellow with the River City Journalism Fund and a soccer journalist in St. Louis.

Hispanic Heritage Month has been celebrated in the U.S. since 1988, but unlike Black History Month, the culturally commemorative month has never had a flag to fly. That is, until St. Louis-based artist Jose Garza was approached by the Regional Arts Commission to come up with a flag design.

A dramatic case of bounty hunters, bail, and body cameras concluded last week in a federal courtroom in St. Louis. After deliberating for less than two hours, a jury found Wayne Lozier, owner of Bayou Boyz Fugitive Recovery, guilty of kidnapping and conspiracy. Katie Kull, courts reporter for the St. Louis Post Dispatch, covered the trial from the courtroom. She discusses the bounty hunter industry, Lozier’s defense, and the trial’s dramatic verdict.

St. Louis officials attempted to clear a homeless encampment just outside St. Louis City Hall on Monday night. The city called off those plans after being met with resistance from residents, advocates and some city aldermen, but a spokesperson for Mayor Tishaura Jones said they would try again today. STLPR interim digital editor Brian Munoz explains what happened, why the city wants to remove the encampment, and what he heard from residents.

2534 North Grand has a reputation, and it’s not a good one. That’s the address of what was once the Grand Motel, a place notorious as a hotspot for crime, illicit drugs, and prostitution. And for decades, residents of surrounding neighborhoods have voiced their desire to see the nuisance property taken care of. Realtor Monique Buchanan shares her plans to transform the location into a center for survivors of domestic violence.

The gut microbiome you develop early in life can have a lasting effect on your health. Poor gut health leaves people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, severe asthma or other lung illnesses. Washington University researcher Liz Mallott digs into what we know about gut health and what we can do to shape its development.

Eviction hearings are often tipped in favor of the landlord. A mediation program aims to balance the power dynamic by offering a free, non-legal route for problem solving. Cat Straubinger and Sheila Webster of the Conflict Resolution Center- St. Louis discuss how mediation works, and Isaiah Di Lorenzo, a landlord who has used the mediation service, talks about why it’s a compelling option for landlords.

St. Louis native Norbert Leo Butz’s latest album is a conversation with his eldest daughter. He celebrates the release of “King of Hearts” with a homecoming concert Friday night at the Sheldon. Butz has won two Tony Awards for Best Actor in a Musical for his roles in “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” and “Catch Me If You Can.” He’s also appeared in TV shows and films.

Every year, Saint Louis Story Stitchers Artists Collective goes on an immersive trip to a Missouri’s prairie land. For many of the teens, this is their first chance to engage with the outdoors. Young participants and mentors share why the trip is meaningful and how it inspires their artistry.

In the mid-1800s, an enslaved man named Dred Scott sued for his freedom in St. Louis. Scott’s yearslong legal battle culminated in an infamous U.S. Supreme Court ruling that helped push the country closer to civil war. Today, Dred Scott and his wife, Harriett Scott, are celebrated, and there’s a new monument that befits that legacy in Calvary Cemetery in north St. Louis. STLPR’s Marissanne Lewis-Thompson talked with the Scotts’ great-great-granddaughter Lynne Jackson about that legacy in front of the newly erected monument.

Concern over a rise in traffic violence has led St. Louis officials to consider an option the city first tried in 2007: Installing automated cameras to catch traffic violators and deter others. Missouri's Supreme Court ruled the ordinance unconstitutional in 2015, but the city is looking to try again. The Legal Roundtable’s Brenda Talent, Bill Freivogel and Eric Banks tackle that issue, as well as a $745 million verdict against the company that manufactures Whip-Its and a squabble between KMOV and KSDK on who owns the right to say “First Alert Weather.”

The unfolding controversy at KDHX on September 22 when the station fired 10 volunteer DJs. To understand what led to mass firings, how the beloved station got to this point, and the response from its fans and supporters, STLPR reporter Jeremy Goodwin shares insights from his recent coverage of the issue. Former KDHX DJ Ital K, who resigned from his show in solidarity on September 23, reveals what it’s like for longtime volunteers and supporters now watching the controversy unfold.

NPR Legal Affairs Correspondent Nina Totenberg has covered the U.S. Supreme Court for about 50 years. As she gears up for a new court session that begins Monday, Totenberg discusses the cases she’s watching. She also talks about the headline-grabbing ethics concerns swirling around the high court, breaking the Anita Hill story in 1991, and her recent memoir, “Dinners with Ruth.”

Dennis Bentley, St. Louis Public Radio systems specialist, has a notable hobby: He finds graves. As a volunteer for FindAGrave.com, he has submitted more than 5,000 pictures of gravestones: the small bejeweled ones, the wealthy towering ones and the just plain ol' regular ones. In this encore episode initially aired this January, Bentley discusses finding meaning as he visits cemeteries in Jefferson County.

UK-born, St. Louis resident Jon-Paul Wheatley turned his fascination with crafting soccer balls into more than a half million followers on TikTok. In this encore presentation that initially aired in July, Wheatley discusses how he turned a pandemic hobby into trips to Qatar, the World Cup, and crafting soccer balls for the likes of superstar Lionel Messi and FIFA.

A new exhibition at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation showcases the city’s architectural salvage that was left in the wake of urban renewal. Pulitzer Arts Foundation curator Stephanie Weissberg and Michael Allen, director of the National Building Arts Center, discuss their collaboration on “Urban Archaeology: Lost Buildings of St. Louis.”

A video of two Missouri elected officials blasting flamethrowers got a lot of attention online last week. While the display was symbolic, Missouri’s record on book bans is very real: A new report from PEN America shows Missouri had the 3rd highest number of book ban cases in the country last year. Lisa Gilbert, an instructor at Washington University (and who teaches future teachers) discusses the ongoing impact of book bans, and reflects on the importance of giving students access to knowledge, even when the content is difficult.

Refugee and immigrant communities in the U.S. are losing loved ones to opioids — and often, people in these communities have a hard time talking about it openly. St. Louis-based coalition ECORN is working to build in-language, culturally appropriate resources and data to help.

Ballroom culture, now a mainstay in popular culture. Not to be confused with waltzing, swinging or doing the two-step — ballroom scene has become a global phenomena. It’s championed by Black and brown LGBTQ artists in dance, music and fashion. Filmmaker Bobby Best captured St. Louis’ ballroom scene in his latest documentary film, “Tens Across the Board,” which was produced by the founder of Tens Ballroom, Maven Lee.

Early childhood educators are bracing for September 30. That’s when the Child Care Stabilization Program — funding allocated as part of the American Rescue Plan Act — will end, leaving hundreds of St. Louis and Metro East facilities in a lurch. Providers Aimee Washington-Hart, Paula-Breonne Vickers and Shona Lamond share what it will take to get early childhood education and the support and funding necessary to keep facilities open.

Jamie Corley founded the Missouri Women and Family Research Fund in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court Dobbs decision, which led to Missouri’s ban on most abortions. Corley, a Republican who has worked for several high-profile GOP lawmakers, has put forth six ballot initiative petitions that would chip away at the state’s ban. She shares the details of her proposals and makes the case that the current abortion law is too extreme for most Missouri conservatives.

Danny Jacobs thought he knew his father Richard Jacobs. But after his father’s death, Danny began to discover that the man he knew as a manipulator, liar and fabricator had even more layers. Danny and his childhood best friend Darren Grodsky returned to St. Louis to search for the truth behind Richard Jacobs’ life, which is the subject of the new podcast “How to Destroy Everything.”

St. Louis is among the few cities that don't regulate short-term rentals. That’s left the city’s Assessor Michael Dauphin to investigate units to see if they’re being operated as a business, or if they’re being controlled by absentee landlords or LLCs. City legislators are working on a bill that could change how people use platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo. Ward 4 Alderman Bret Narayan adds his insight on the challenge of regulating short-term rentals, and shares updates on the bill’s status.

Since it opened in April 2022, St. Louis ramen shop Menya Rui has received plenty of local acclaim, and the long lines of diners waiting to experience the delicious house-made noodles are about to get longer. Food & Wine has named chef-owner Steven Pursley one of this year's 11 “Best New Chefs.” In this encore episode, Pursley discusses his experience connecting with his roots in Japan and what he learned about the different types of ramen during his time there.

It’s no question that St. Louis is heating up. The region is part of a “heat belt” that is forming across the Midwest and parts of the South, which will face heat indexes of 125 degrees or higher in about 30 years. As we unpack our sweaters in anticipation of cooler, autumnal temps, you may want to consider whether your home can take the heat. Holly Edgell, managing editor of the Midwest Newsroom at NPR shares her recent reporting on the personal and environmental dangers of “hot houses.”

GM workers in Wentzville were among the first United Auto Workers in the nation to strike for higher pay. Sonya Wagner, who has worked at General Motors Co.'s Wentzville Assembly plant for 10 years, shares why she is on the picket line and what she and her colleagues demand. Also, Washington University sociologist Jason Rosenfeld provides insight on how this strike fits into the larger labor movement in the U.S.

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra begins its 144th season this week with one big change — the orchestra is not performing in Powell Hall. SLSO Music Director Stéphane Denève and President and CEO Marie-Hélène Bernard discuss the ongoing renovation and expansion of Powell Hall and the highlights of the upcoming 2023-24 season.

Columnist and commentator Michael Harriot’s debut book, “Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America,” offers a compelling retelling of American history. Harriot discusses how his upbringing in the “middle room” of his grandfather’s home in South Carolina informed his self-education. He also talks about his experience covering protests in Ferguson in 2014 and St. Louis in 2017.

Charles the great horned owl lost both his mate and their eggs in December. It was tough news for Mark H. X. Glenshaw, the naturalist who has documented Charles’ life for 17 years. However, things are now looking up for Charles. Glenshaw shares the details in this encore “owl prowl” edition of the show.

Each September, hundreds of professional artists participate in Paint Louis. The annual music and graffiti festival brings people to the riverfront to pick and paint a two-mile section of the downtown St. Louis floodwall — also known as the Mural Mile. Part of the Paint Louis festival is “Paint Littles,” an area expressly for kids where they get to spray their masterpieces on the walls of an abandoned weigh station building. STLPR audio engineer Aaron Doerr brings us the scene.

Food pantries at local St. Louis Colleges are reporting an increase in student visits. Shannon Quinn, case manager at UMSL's Advocacy and Care Center, and Jo Britt-Rankin discuss changes to federal food assistance programs and how University Missouri campuses are helping students secure their basic needs.

The fate of two buildings along the Mill Creek Valley footprint — the historic, predominantly Black neighborhood that was raised in 1959 to make way for “urban renewal” in downtown St. Louis — has sparked calls for protest this week after t St. Louis University submitted a proposal for demolition to the city of St. Louis. Vivian Gibson, author of “The Last Children of Mill Creek, shares her thoughts and experiences with attempts to preserve and honor her childhood neighborhood.

In his new book, "Changing Models for Journalism: Reinventing the Newsroom," Global Investigative Journalism Network co-founder Brant Houston explores the deep transformation that journalism has undergone in the last decade, including the decimation of traditional newsrooms, changing revenue streams, corporate ownership and investors, and the surge in nonprofit newsrooms and collaborations.

Visit any grocery store and you can expect that the produce, meat and other products that line the shelves are not contaminated. But sometimes that’s not the case. STLPR economic development reporter Eric Schmid discusses how locally-based researchers are part of a team developing ways to more quickly identify salmonella in the chicken supply chain. Salmonella is one of the top pathogens that cause foodborne illness.

Washington University has unveiled a new policy that removes federal student loans from their undergraduate financial aid packages. The policy takes effect fall 2024, but it has already garnered attention across the nation as a way to make a path to higher education less burdensome. Ronné Turner, Wash U’s vice provost for admissions and financial aid, shares the benefits for students and how the no-loan policy can impact generational wealth.

12,000 people gathered in Grand Center this past weekend for the 3rd annual Music at the Intersection festival. The lineup included big names like Herbie Hancock, Smino, Taj Mahal, and Thundercat, as well as local talents like Sir Eddie C, Renee Smith, and the Marquise Knox Band featuring the Funky Butt Horns. 
 Producers Miya Norfleet and Emily Woodbury spoke with festival-goers about why they came out — and what they think of St. Louis’ music scene.

A world-premiere is hitting St. Louis theater for the the 10th anniversary of the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival’s “Shakespeare in the Streets.” Rather than Shakespeare, the bard of this particular play, “The Game’s Afoot,” is St. Louis Post-Dispatch sports columnist Benjamin Hochman. Hochman spent months interviewing dozens of people in St. Louis’ soccer community, and he discusses what it means to combine St. Louis, soccer and Shakespeare.

Where do you get your news, and how does it get to you? We dive into the current state, value and future of print media in the St. Louis area, including how the Webster-Kirkwood Times survived near-closure the year the coronavirus pandemic hit — because its journalists got together to purchase the paper themselves.

A new Missouri law prohibits friends and families from buying books for loved ones serving time in prison. Michelle Smith, the founder of the Missouri Justice Coalition, discusses what the ban means for people in prison, and how access to books is just the latest battleground in Missouri prisons that pits security concerns against the wellbeing and rehabilitation of offenders.

Oscar Mayer’s iconic Weinermobile has a new name and Kirkwood native Mary Clare Kammer is spreading word like mustard on a bun. Before Kammer drives the Frankmobile to a few stops in St. Louis and Warren County she shares her Oscar Mayer origin story from childhood to college student at Mizzou, and special moments on her travels so far.

Tennessee Williams wrote about St. Louis with unconcealed disdain, but it’s undeniable the city played a major role in his life. For the 8th year running, the Tennessee Williams Festival is staging performances and events honoring the legacy of the legendary playwright. Williams scholar Tom Mitchell discusses the festival’s focus this year, his own discovery of seven Williams short stories, and how mental health factored into Williams’ most famous plays like “Suddenly, Last Summer.” (Editor's Note: The on-air version of this conversation incorrectly identified the dates of the Tennessee Williams Festival St. Louis. The festival runs September 7-17.)

Podcast Description: The Children’s Division of Missouri’s Department of Social Services is severely understaffed. In St. Louis and St. Louis County, there should be 60 investigators total. Instead, there are 16. That shortage has led to a backlog of over 6,000 cases involving child abuse or neglect. And, those backlogged cases have remained open beyond 45 days --- far longer than in other regions in Missouri. STLPR Politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum has been following this story, and shared his reporting done in partnership with NPR’s Midwest Newsroom.

The Ville neighborhood in St. Louis’ northside has birthed heroes from librarian Julia Davis to queen of rock ‘n’ roll Tina Turner. But even the Ville couldn’t avoid higher vacancy, empty land and crime — due in large part to disinvestment in the once bustling community. The Northside Trap Run seeks to bring the neighborhood back to its heyday and remind the community how much it has to be proud of. In this episode, race ambassador and St. Louis Run Crew founder Ricky Hughes talks about this Saturday’s race.

Greenway Quest is an outdoor scavenger hunt created to get folks of all ages to seek hand-painted bee rocks hidden along the greenways of St. Louis, St. Louis County and St. Charles County. Dallas Adams, communications manager at Great Rivers Greenway, shares fun facts about the event and how their recent projects center community engagement.

Labor Day weekend marks the end of the summer vacation season. On this holiday, we bring you a special from KCUR Studios that highlights the Lake of the Ozarks, a popular tourist destination in Missouri that’s just a three-hour drive west of St. Louis. Senior producer Suzanne Hogan looks at the story of how this man-made body of water came to be – a story that includes corruption, jail time, communities torn apart and displaced families.

Alonzo Townsend is not just a champion for St. Louis music — he was born into it. The St. Louis native founded the Townsendx3 Agency to support local artists by managing them and putting power behind their brands — something he learned to do as a child from his parents, blues legend Henry ‘Mule’ Townsend and gospel and blues singer Vernell Townsend.

StoryCorps is visiting St. Louis for the first time in nearly a decade. From Sept. 14 - Oct. 20, the nonprofit’s signature Airstream will be in the Public Media Commons just outside STLPR’s studios. In this episode, we talk with Lea Zikmund, director of StoryCorps’ Mobile Tour, and we listen to past, memorable stories with St. Louis ties.

The membership of boards and commissions in Missouri does not reflect the racial, ethnic and gender composition of the state. These boards are important not only for the immediate impact they have on communities; they often serve as a launching pad for individuals seeking public office. UMSL political scientist Anita Manion shares the details of her latest report.

For St. Louis-born artist Aaron Fowler, hip-hop is woven into his art. The influence is evident in his nine-foot long, five-foot tall sculpture “Live Culture Force 1’s” which is now displayed at the St. Louis Art Museum’s “The Culture: Hip-Hop and Contemporary Art the 21st Century” through the end of the year.

Next week, the NFL kicks off its season in Kansas City. Meanwhile, college football started this week. It's a big deal for sports -- and sports gambling. People in Missouri really really want to gamble, but if they want to bet on their favorite teams, they'll have to cross state lines. Missouri lawmakers are getting ready to try, for the third consecutive year, to legalize sports betting. St. Louis Public Radio's Statehouse and Politics Reporter Sarah Kellogg, breaks down the supporters and opponents, where gambling revenue goes, and what might change with the involvement of the state's biggest sports teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals.