St. Louis on the Air

When Carol Daniel announced her retirement from KMOX in April, it signaled the end of a 40-year, award-filled career in media. But Daniel is back behind the mic as senior producer and host at Nine PBS. Carol Daniel’s new podcast, "Listen, St. Louis" premiered this month, with a focus on the region's complex challenges and the people working to address them. Carol reflects on her new role and what audiences can expect from her post-KMOX.

In the St. Louis region, eviction filings are happening at a faster rate than before the coronavirus pandemic. An in-depth report by journalist Mike Fitzgerald explores the reasons why. Fitzgerald discusses the current eviction crisis alongside Kennard Williams, organizing manager with the group Action St. Louis.

St. Louis County is going through a period of relative government tranquility, especially compared to past years. But county officials are still dealing with steep challenges, including a budgetary gap and lingering questions about collaborating with the City of St. Louis. On the latest episode of the “Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air,” St. Louis County Councilwoman Lisa Clancy talks about the county’s big challenges.

It’s been about five years since a serious proposal to combine St. Louis and St. Louis County was on the table. But interest in ending the so-called “Great Divorce” remains high, even though there are a lot of details to work out. We open our mailbag with St. Louis Public Radio reporter Chad Davis to discuss some of the opportunities and challenges for a city-county reunion.

Former U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey will return to the St. Louis area this weekend to receive the Stan Musial Lifetime Achievement Award for Sportsmanship. On the “Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air,” the Crystal City, Missouri, native and two-time NBA champion discusses his Jefferson County upbringing, his long-standing push for racial equity and whether he thinks the NBA will ever return to St. Louis.

New restaurants in the St. Louis region are enticing customers with a bevy of savory cocktails and fresh flavor combinations. Sauce Magazine Executive Editor Meera Nagarajan runs down her favorite new spots to eat and drink and shares how she and her team tackled the daunting task of tasting and ranking all 40 sandwiches at the Gramophone.

Clinical psychologist Dr. Marva Robinson discusses how to navigate complex family dynamics and divisive topics that may come up during gatherings this holiday season.

The St. Louis General Strike of 1877 was a pivotal moment in labor history. It involved hundreds of railroad, factory and transit workers who were able to grind commerce to a halt. A new play, “1877,” shares that story and premieres this week at the Missouri History Museum. Playwright Colin McLaughlin and actors Josh Mayfield and Courtnei Morris join the show.

The International Institute of St. Louis recently launched an effort to attract Latin American immigrants to the region. Their plans have garnered criticism from St. Charles County officials this week. Karlos Ramirez, vice president of the institute's Latino Outreach Program, talks about how immigrants can boost the city’s population and contribute to its workforce. International Institute President and CEO Arrey Obenson discusses how the St. Charles proposal hurts their efforts at creating a welcoming region.

The marathon hat trick is a goal that some committed distance runners aim for but few have achieved. To accomplish this feat runners must complete 100 marathons, a marathon in all 50 U.S. states, and a marathon on all seven continents. Fewer than 60 runners have completed the marathon hat trick and only three of them are Black. Two of those three are from St. Louis: Tony Reed and Lisa Davis. A documentary, “We Are Distance Runners: The Marathon Hat Trick,” is about their story and it screens Wednesday evening as part of the St. Louis International Film Festival.

Missouri shows little progress in cutting rates of new cancer cases, according to the latest American Lung Association report. The ALA also found the state ranked fourth in the nation for lung cancer patients receiving no treatment after diagnosis. Kavahn Mansouri, investigative reporter with the NPR Midwest Newsroom, and Laura Turner, advocacy director for the American Lung Association in Missouri, dig into these statistics and other takeaways from the report.

In marathon running, the hat trick entails three accomplishments: doing at least 100 races… running in each of the U.S.’s 50 states… and completing a marathon on all 7 continents — which means marathoning in Antarctica. Among the fewer-than-60 runners worldwide who’ve achieved that feat, only 3 are Black. And two of those three are St. Louis natives. They’re also alumni of the same grade school – a decade apart, but the very same building! Lisa Davis and Tony Reed are the focus of the documentary, “We Are Distance Runners: The Marathon Hat Trick,” which screens at the Alamo Drafthouse as part of the St. Louis International Film Festival

In 1833, Gustave Koerner fled his homeland of Germany and came to the United States. He settled in Belleville, Illinois and became an attorney, served on the Illinois Supreme Court and was lieutenant governor. He was also a confidant of Abraham Lincoln. The 170 year old home where Koerner lived still stands and there are renewed efforts to restore and preserve it. In an interview recorded on location, producer Alex Heuer talks with two people behind the effort.

On July 12, 1973, a fire in the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis destroyed 80% of U.S. Army records between 1912 and 1960. It was one of the largest destructions of federal records in the history of the county. To explore the legacy of the fire, producer Danny Wicentowski goes searching for his grandfather’s records, which were burned in the fire. He also talks to firefighter Captain David Dubowski, archives specialist Eric Kilgore, and Jessie Kratz, historian of the National Archives.

St. Louis sound healer Aria Thome knows how devastating it is to experience rejection from a traditional faith community. She was raised Roman Catholic and worked as a choir director in the Catholic Church for many years. When she came out as transgender, she lost her job, her community and some family members. By offering a series of free, monthly sound healing and breathwork sessions for those who have experienced religious trauma, Thome hopes to help people heal and build a supportive, welcoming community for people of all backgrounds.

St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell last week dropped his bid for U.S. Senate to challenge U.S. Rep. Cori Bush in the upcoming Democratic primary for Missouri’s 1st Congressional District. He said he’s entering the race, in part, because of Bush’s comments that are critical of Israel. STLPR Political Correspondent Jason Rosenbaum talks with Bell, and later we get analysis from Jason and hear from Rep. Bush.

Nikki Giovanni has challenged and inspired people of all ages as an acclaimed poet, writer, and activist. Her life, lived with insistent fidelity to who she is as a Black American woman, reflects insights and wit that reach across the miles she’s traveled and the experiences she’s been through. She’s coming back to St. Louis on November 9 to deliver the keynote address for the 2023 St. Louis Racial Equity Summit.

More than 400 flower farmers converge in St. Louis this week for the first-ever Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers conference, which is focused on urban flower farming. Miranda Duschack and Mimo Davis of Urban Buds, a flower farm located in Dutchtown, discuss the booming (and blooming) world of urban flower farming.

Are you guilty of bringing home leftovers only to pitch them in the trash days later? If so, you're not alone. The amount of food waste overall in our region equals the weight on nearly 1,000 adult blue whales. — 667,000 tons each year. The Green Dining Alliance and Missouri Botanical Garden partnered to see how much food could avoid landfills with specific techniques and strategies in local restaurants. We talk with people involved with the effort and with the chef/owner of a local restaurant.

Jesuits relied on enslaved labor for their missions in Missouri, including for the founding and sustaining of Saint Louis University. A three year research project uncovered this history. Now, Robin Proudie, a direct descendant, is working to preserve her ancestors' heritage and advocate for their commemoration. Christopher Tinson, chair of SLU’s African American Studies Department, talks about what it’s like to teach this history to his students.

It's been almost a full year since Bobby Bostic walked out of prison on November 9, 2022, overcoming a 241-year sentence for a robbery he committed at 16 in 1995. Bostic has spent his first year free teaching writing classes in three juvenile offender facilities in St. Louis, a mission he wrote about in a Marshall Project essay titled, "Here’s How I Use My Story to Teach Incarcerated Kids That Writing Matters." Bostic was also recently named as one the Kranzberg Arts Foundation 2024 Artists in Residence.

For centuries history has primarily been told from the perspective of white men. What was traditionally considered a “reliable source” has not included the voices of Black people and other people of color. Over the last decade tables have started to turn, and more historians are recognizing there is a lot of work to be done in addressing the interpretation of Black history. Cicely Hunter of the African American History Initiative at the Missouri Historical Society, Pam Sanfilippio of Gateway Arch National Park’s museum services, and Vivian Gibson, author of “The Last Children of Mill Creek” discuss the difficulties faced when attempting to provide inclusive interpretation of American history that spotlights the unique experiences of Black Americans.

German immigrants helped shape Missouri’s culture in myriad ways, as detailed in the book “Explore Missouri's German Heritage” and the documentary it inspired. Author W. Arthur Mehrhoff details the people, places and ideas that influenced the Show-Me State’s cultural heritage.

Since the 2018-2019 school year Hazelwood School District’s investigations into student residency have jumped 8-fold over the last five years. These investigations disrupt students – especially those who face unstable housing – and affect their access to a range of educational and other services mandated by federal law. A joint investigation by the Midwest Newsroom and St. Louis Public Radio published today examines that trend, and its consequences.

Missouri gave Iron County more than $3 million to recover after the devastating December 14, 2005 flood triggered by the bursting of the Taum Sauk reservoir. Today, the money is nearly gone. Its funded projects included a coffee shop and bike park, but they made little impact to repair the damage. Tony Messenger, a columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, investigated the fund and found that most of the money has gone to insiders. Whistleblower Erich Jett, who worked for the board overseeing the fund, reveals what he saw as early as 2015 that led him to raise an alarm.

The fastest rising hip hop star from St. Louis is arguably Sexyy Red. The northside native is currently on the road performing the “Hood Hottest Princess Tour.” Arts reporter Chad Davis and “St. Louis on the Air” producer Miya Norfleet share their reflections on the rapper’s hometown stop at Chaifetz Arena on October 30.

Abraham Lincoln had political ambitions from a very early age. NPR Morning Edition co-host Steve Inskeep’s new book, “Differ We Must: How Lincoln Succeeded in a Divided America,” details sixteen interactions with people who differed from him — and who helped him become a savvy politician. The book contains several St. Louis-area connections, including Lincoln’s interactions with Owen Lovejoy of Alton, Joseph Gillespie of Edwardsville, and Jessie Benton Frémont who was in St. Louis at the start of the Civil War.

St. Louis drivers routinely blast through intersections. Is the problem the drivers or is it the infrastructure? We talk about speed humps and other measures being proposed to calm traffic with panelists: St. Louis Community Mobility Committee Co-Chair Liz Kramer; CBB Principal and Transportation Engineer Shawn Leight; and St. Louis Complete Streets Program Manager Scott Ogilvie.

An increased interest in all things spooky means Halloween is right around the corner. Horror films are a perfect way to get into scary mode, but there is room for the genre all times of the year. Alex Rafi, associate professor of media production at St. Louis University, shares what makes horror an important storytelling genre.

Palestinian graduate student Intimaa Abuhelou came to St. Louis University last year to pursue her master's degree. When she last heard from her family in Gaza, they were sheltering at a United Nations Relief and Works Agency school. Intimaa shares what she’s heard from her family in Gaza and what it’s like to be in St. Louis during the most recent Israel-Hamas war. (Editor’s note: No one story can capture all perspectives, experiences, or emotions connected to this conflict. If you have a personal connection to what's happening in Israel, the Gaza Strip, or the West Bank — and you want to share your experience — send an email to: [email protected].)

Missouri House Majority Leader Jon Patterson is slated to become speaker in 2025 — and he’s receiving more attention this week after current House Speaker Dean Plocher became embroiled in a controversy over his expense reimbursements. In the debut episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR Political Correspondent Jason Rosenbaum talks with Plocher. STLPR statehouse and politics reporter Sarah Kellogg for analysis, and we open up the mailbag to answer listener questions about local government and politics.

More than 35,000 people will be eligible to receive a portion of a $3.1 settlement in St. Ann, a result of litigation filed by civil rights law firm Arch City Defenders. Quentin Thomas describes what it was like to be trapped in a cycle of fines and jail in St. Ann. Maureen Hanlon, a civil litigation staff attorney with Arch City, discusses how St. Ann jailed people solely because they didn't have money to pay for their freedom, and what this settlement means for Arch City's years-long legal campaign against cities with similar practices.

Executives with St. Louis’s Major League Soccer expansion team are hoping the success of a record-setting regular season carries over into the playoffs. St. Louis City SC plays its inaugural postseason match Sunday night at home. STLPR’s Wayne Pratt talks with team President and General Manager Diego Gigliani and Chief Experience Officer Matt Sebek.

Every year, by law, sex offenders in Missouri must post a sign on Halloween that says “no candy or treats at this residence.” But can a law compel someone to erect a sign against their wishes? That question and others are taken up in this month’s edition of St. Louis on the Air’s Legal Roundtable, featuring attorneys Bevis Schock, Connie McFarland-Butler, and Sarah Swatosh. The attorneys also discuss a lawsuit filed against St. Louis-based Mission Taco Joint by the Mission brand of tortillas, a controversial $50,000 campaign donation to Attorney General Andrew Bailey, and the latest news coming from the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office.

The deadly shooting one year ago at Central Visual Performing Arts High School left many students and teachers to deal with immeasurable grief. STLPR’s Kate Grumke shares how Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience students are processing difficult emotions as they reflect on the upcoming anniversary of the deadly shooting in the school building they share with CVPA. Also, STLPR’s Chad Davis highlights how CVPA artists and alumni have spent the year using art to work through trauma.

In the year since the school shooting on the Central Visual Performing Arts High School and Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience campus, students are finding ways to process their grief, anger and guilt. CVPA alum Raniyah Taylor and Collegiate alumni Axel Cortes and Mikayla Sanders talk about their experience of that tragedy, how they worked to process their trauma as seniors finishing high school, and what they wish people would better understand about their experience.

Keisha Acres’ daughter Alexzandria Bell was killed in the Oct. 24 shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School. Abbey Kuczka’s mother, CVPA teacher Jean Kuczka, was also killed in the shooting. Keisha and Abbey share their reflections on grief, trauma and hopes for the future, including their wish for people to take the country’s growing mental health crisis more seriously.

Electrical lineman Jason Novak was one of 8 teams sent by Ameren Illinois to compete in the International Lineman's Rodeo earlier this month. Novak and his team didn’t just crush much of the competition, they also raised more than $107,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

St. Louis Public Radio’s new STL Welcome Kit is a digital guide to help you understand the history, culture and ins and outs of the St. Louis region. It answers questions like: What are those stone towers throughout the city? What’s the deal with paying property taxes on vehicles? How can you take advantage of the city’s vibrant music scene? STLPR engagement editor Lara Hamdan and interim news director Brian Heffernan share the details.

Washington University sociologist Adia Harvey Wingfield’s new book, "Gray Areas: How the Way We Work Perpetuates Racism & What We Can Do to Fix it," examines racial biases that impact the hiring, pay, advancement, and sociocultural experience of Black workers in the U.S. Wingfield shares what she learned from seven Black interviewees, who all work in different sectors, and offers practical suggestions for movement toward equitable practices and workplaces.

There are 17 proposed ballot items in Missouri that would legalize abortion. They’re a response to the fall of Roe v. Wade, which led to the ban of most abortions. Dr. Colleen McNicholas of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri contends that only one of the 17 initiatives would push abortion access “beyond Roe.” McNicholas discusses how she believes abortion-rights activists should approach the initiative petition process.

Azra Selimovic, owner of the new luxury tattoo parlor Azra Tattoos, describes how Bosnian culture is connected to tattoo art and her journey to opening one of Missouri's first Bosnian-owned tattoo parlors. She also shares the story of how a bee helped her family escape from war-torn Bosnia in 1993 — and inspired her new business.

Earlier this month, St. Louis city workers cleared a homeless encampment outside City Hall. The forced removal of the people who lived there highlighted a yearslong struggle to craft policies that assist homeless people. St. Louis Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier has proposed an “Unhoused Bill of Rights.” Sonnier discusses the legislation that would, among other things, change the process for approving shelters, require 30 days notice to break up encampments, and provide space for what’s known as intentional encampments

Alisha Blackwell-Calvert didn’t plan on becoming an expert in wine. Now she’s a sommelier at Cinder House in St. Louis. She discusses her picks for favorite Missouri wines, and explains how the state’s climate gives many local wines a distinctive “musky” flavor. She also pours from her deep knowledge of wine varietals, and reveals what makes a good non-alcoholic wine work.

“Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom” is back on NBC this month. The TV program has deep St. Louis ties. Longtime former co-host Marlin Perkins was director of the St. Louis Zoo for eight years, and he co-founded the Endangered Wolf Center in Eureka, Mo. Perkins’ daughter Marguerite Garrick talks about her father’s legacy. Peter Gros, who co-hosts today’s “Wild Kingdom,” talks about the show’s focus on conservation success stories.

Violinist and mezzo-soprano Tona Brown lives life on her own terms. That determination is the subject of a new memoir narrated by St. Louis-based writer Chris King, “Tonacity: The Tona Brown Story.” Brown has toured the country, taught and released music, and later became the first openly transgender person to perform in front of a sitting U.S. president, President Barack Obama, in 2011.

Not only have public restrooms never been truly public, they’ve disappeared from America’s major metro areas, says historian Bryant Simon. In this encore episode first shared in April, we explore the rise and fall of America’s public restroom campaign and meet the woman behind the “Bathrooms In St. Louis” Instagram page.

In 50 years, hip-hop has become one of the most popular music genres in the world. In its early days, the recipe for a hip-hop duo or group was simple: two turntables for the disc jockey and a microphone for the emcee. In this encore episode first shared in April, Darian Wigfall, who DJs under the moniker DJ Whiz, shares the fundamentals of DJing — and why he feels vinyl is the best way to get into the craft.

Vanessa Okwuraiwe was born in the United Kingdom, went to school in Nigeria, and moved to St. Louis several years ago for work in the financial services industry. She’s now the author of the new children’s book “Jollof Rice with Grandma,” which focuses on 6-year-old Ada, who learns to make a classic West African dish when her grandparents visit from Nigeria. Okwuraiwe talks about the book, its characters and the diversity among Nigerians in St. Louis.

People with disabilities in the St. Louis area say recent disruptions to Call-A-Ride service reflect ongoing issues with the transportation service. Etefia Umana, a member of the St. Louis Metropolitan Alliance for Reliable Transit, talks about the challenges he faces using Call-A-Ride. Jeanette Mott Oxford of Paraquad, a local nonprofit dedicated to disability advocacy, discusses the changes advocates want to see put in place.