St. Louis on the Air

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.

The Legal Roundtable dives into local and regional lawsuits and litigation. This month that includes a lawsuit filed by Lt. Col. Michael Sack, a white officer with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Sack alleges that St. Louis discriminated against him when it hired another white candidate as the new chief of police. This edition of the Legal Roundtable features attorneys Javad Khazaeli, a former prosecutor and founding member with the St. Louis firm Khazaeli Wyrsch; Dave Roland, the director of litigation at the Freedom Center of Missouri; and Susan McGraugh, director of the criminal defense legal clinic at St. Louis University School of Law.

The number of U.S. college students pursuing education degrees has dropped dramatically in the past few decades. The Teach & Lead program at Ritenour High School aims to reverse that trend by providing education training and mentorship to high schoolers. In return, participants are expected to return to their local school district as teachers after college graduation. That’s what happened to Christina Andrade Melly, 2023’s Missouri Teacher of the Year. Andrade Melly grew up in the Ritenour School District, and she shares why she returned to teach English and Language Arts.

The transition to college is filled with complex personal and academic changes. A new Washington University course “Bearprints for Success” aims to guide students through their first few months of college. Tim Bono, a lecturer in psychology studies and assistant dean at the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, talks about how the course prepares students for the inevitable challenges of college life.

University City native and Disney special effects supervisor Marlon West watched protests across the country after the deaths of George Floyd and Brianna Taylor in 2020. West was compelled to “pay tribute” to slain Black Americans and civil rights icons. What started as a four illustration project ended in over forty images and a project titled “Ink Tributes,” many of which are on display at St. Louis University Museum of Art.

St. Louis is known for its philanthropic generosity. But for many Black-led and Black-serving nonprofits in the region, donors generally don’t fund them at the same level as they fund white-led organizations. Why is that? What can be done to close that gap? Tackling those questions are Gladiator Consulting’s Rachel D’Souza, Shelly Williams of Access Academies, and UrbArts founder MK Stallings discuss how funding gaps stymie growth, and how efforts like Giving Black Day can help.

For the fifth day in a row, the St. Louis region is experiencing dangerous heat that is near record-breaking levels. It’s also the first week of school for many students in the region. STLPR senior education reporter Kate Grumke discusses issues with bus transportation and athletics as well as what schools are doing to cope with the heat including early dismissals and virtual learning.

The combination of warmth and humidity in Missouri make it a fantastic place … for ticks. We learn what makes the state even more hospitable to these bloodsucking insects and how we can protect ourselves from tick-borne maladies like alpha-gal syndrome, which makes people allergic to red meat. We also get an update on the nearly 100 illegally transported Antilles pinktoe tarantulas that’ve been living at the Missouri Botanical Gardens Butterfly House since they were seized by federal agents in February.

The four-day school week first became an option for Missouri schools 14 years ago. Now, more than 30% of the state’s districts have implemented shorter school weeks. Missouri State University Associate Professor Jon Turner and Warren County School District Superintendent Gregg Klinginsmith discuss how the practice helps recruit and retain teachers, and its effect on student learning.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill this month intended to improve the process of returning native remains and cultural artifacts to their nations of origin. It’s part of a yearslong, statewide effort to improve the state’s poor track record with repatriation. Producer Danny Wicentowski talked with ProPublica reporter Logan Jaffe about her reporting on “The Repatriation Project.”

Despite the fact that nearly 83% of the population does not have perfect hearing, most of our spaces are designed to cater, auditorily, to a select few. That’s a problem, according to researchers in the growing field of aural diversity. In this encore edition of the show, former STLPR producer Avery Rogers takes us through the various ways we perceive sound and how understanding these differences can help us better approach hearing accessibility.

An estimated 6.7 million people in the U.S. have Alzheimer's disease, and more than 11 million provide them with unpaid care. On this encore episode, we explore what it means to live with Alzheimer's, to care for those who have it, and the need for early diagnosis.

There's a wave of state and city flag redesigns sweeping the country — and Illinois may be next. Ted Kaye, author of “‘Good’ Flag, ‘Bad’ Flag,” says that trend reflects a deeper understanding of the opportunity a great state or city flag presents. He shares the basic principles of flag design and the role flags play in cultivating civic pride.

Hair discrimination disproportionately targets Black women, and lawmakers have sought to ban the practice with the CROWN Act. CROWN stands for “Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair,” and the first act of its kind was passed in California in 2019. Since then, other states and municipalities have adopted their own measures, including the City of St. Louis in 2021. A statewide measure took effect in Illinois this past January. Missouri has yet to pass a similar law. PBS NewsHour correspondent and vice president of the St. Louis chapter of NABJ Gabrielle Hays and founder and CEO of Frizzy by Nature Leslie Hughes talk about local and statewide efforts to pass the CROWN Act and ways Black women are relearning how to embrace their curls.

MetroBus continues to operate at reduced capacity, hampering the needs of St. Louis bus riders eager to get to work, school and appointments. Bi-State Development CEO Taulby Roach says recent hiring events and a new worker contract give him hope that bus and MetroLink services can be restored.

Regional live theater venues are struggling to attract audiences back to the theater since COVID-19 restrictions shut down productions for nearly two years. STL Fringe Fest have weathered the storm and this year’s festival features 42 acts and organizers are seeing an uptick in sales. In this episode, Matthew Kerns, president and artistic director of St. Lou Fringe, joins Lindy Drew of Humans of St. Louis and burlesque performer Sara Howard aka Dizzy Tunt to talk about what audiences can expect in this years STL Fringe Fest.

International superstar Beyoncé will be in St. Louis on August 21 for the Renaissance tour at the Dome in Downtown. Local members of the “BeyHive” are buzzing about Queen Bey’s arrival as viral videos of her past performances are shared across the web. DJ Nico Marie will host a Beyoncé-themed party with fellow DJ Makeda Kravitz at Sophie’s Artist Lounge prior to Renaissance’s arrival.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is at the center of a landmark dispute over how the federal government can interact with social media platforms. In Missouri v. Biden, the state contends an appeals court should keep in place a lower court’s injunction that restricts federal employees from trying to get social media companies to take down content. STLPR political correspondent Jason Rosenbaum talks with Bailey.

The St. Louis Art Museum's new exhibition, “The Culture,” honors the 50th anniversary of hip-hop and how it influenced art, including how it shaped fashion styles. Exhibit curator Hannah Klemm and former curatorial research fellow Rikki Byrd discuss the exhibit with a focus on aesthetics and how fashion is central in hip-hop culture.

With his first brick-and-mortar restaurant, St. Louis chef Juwan Rice wants to invite diners into an intimate space — one that has the feel of a private dinner party. Rated Test Kitchen’s seven-course menu will change on a monthly basis, it will be experimental (crystal-clear bread, anyone?) and guests are invited to share their feedback on each course. Rice hopes to provide a space where both locals and tourists will flock to in downtown St. Louis.

The Vincentians will dedicate a new mission house on Lafayette near the intersection of I-44 and Grand Blvd. in St. Louis this Saturday. The Catholic community arrived in St. Louis in 1818 and is refocusing its efforts on the city. Named after St. Vincent de Paul, Vincentians are known for their work serving poor people and marginalized communities. The Rev. Patrick McDevitt discusses the new mission house and how he hopes its presence will help the community and recruit more Catholic clergy.

Delmar Main Street aims to counter the effects of the “Delmar Divide.” The organization focuses on the business corridor between Skinker Blvd. and Taylor Ave., and they are the host of the Black Business Expo being held August 26 at Delmar Blvd. and Hamilton Ave. West End resident and Delmar Main Street Vice President Lisa Potts shares what folks can expect at the expo and how “buying Black” helps communities across the region. Marcus Howard, founder and CEO of GreaterHealth Pharmacy and Wellness, also joins the discussion.

At the STL8 Amazon warehouse in St. Peters, workers say their bodies are being broken by a management system that monitors their actions down to the second. Amazon warehouse employee Wendy Taylor is one of 14 workers who submitted a federal complaint to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) earlier this month. She describes what it’s like to be injured on the job, and the pressure to package thousands of items while being monitored by Amazon.

Residents of Missouri nursing homes average just three hours, each day, of care. Nursing homes across the state are also facing serious shortages in staffing. Three guests, including a local CNA working to improve worker pay and professional advancement, discuss what needs to be done to change the situation.

Brooklyn, Illinois was the first Black town to be incorporated, but its rich history is at risk of being lost. Roberta Rogers, former president of the Historical Society of Brooklyn, and Quinn Adamowski of Landmarks Illinois talk about the town’s history and efforts to support its continued existence.

In 1959, the U.S. Army eradicated the entire elk population in a park in St. Louis County — or at least, they thought they did. A single elk’s remarkable survival changed the course of that park’s history, and gave it its name, Lone Elk Park. “Unseel St. Louis” writer Jackie Dana discusses the fascinating history of the park, and St. Louis County Park Ranger Sgt. Cheryl Fechter shares her insight into how the park’s people and animals have learned to co-exist.

More than 400 pickleball players are competing in a national tournament hosted in Forest Park this week. The tournament highlights the growth of the sport in the area that includes permanent courts in seven south St. Louis parks. A former Bed Bath & Beyond in Lake St. Louis is among the area’s newest pickleball venues and two more are expected to open this year. Mike Chapin, who runs St.LouisPickleball.com, discusses the St. Louis area’s pickleball explosion.

Keeping St. Louis' outdoor professional sports fields in tiptop shape is a big job when the weather is nice, and a more challenging task during sweltering St. Louis summers. STLPR senior correspondent and morning newscaster Wayne Pratt gets to the root of how these two fields stay fresh, even when the temperatures are soaring.

Mark Pagano is on a mission to keep the St. Louis kindie music scene on the map. The kids indie musician known as Marko Polo will release his second solo album, “Aqua Phonic,” this Sunday. This episode features Pagano talking about his passion for creating fun and informative music, and we feature songs from the new album.

A group of Midwestern shrimp farmers is on a mission to provide Americans with better-tasting, sustainable shrimp. The industry struggled during the COVID-19 pandemic, but reporter Lilley Halloran found that farmers are hopeful the industry will come back stronger than ever.

A new statewide rule has Missouri librarians concerned for their ability to curate their collections in a way that serves the entire community. Missouri Library Association President-Elect Kimberly Moeller talks about how the rule comes at a time of increased attention and scrutiny toward Missouri’s public libraries — and what concerned community members can do to support the public library system.

Many people dream of becoming a star, but most can barely perform without losing their breath after one song, let alone get through a proper soundcheck. For those folks, Muhammad Mvstermind Austin created Mvstercamp — a six-day bootcamp to teach up and coming artists the lessons he learned the hard way.

The Fuller Dome on the campus of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville represents the legacy of R. Buckminster Fuller. Designed as a miniature globe, the structure is experiencing its own kind of climate crisis, as its heating and air conditioning system are failing. Benjamin Lowder, director of the Fuller Dome Center for Spirituality and Sustainability, discusses the effort to raise funds to preserve the dome and the impact of Fuller's legacy on the St. Louis region.

In his recent piece for the Atlantic, Washington University Professor Ian Bogost argues that “all soda is lemon-lime soda.” He shares why he came to that conclusion and the little-known-facts that he learned about 7UP, including its St. Louis origins and one of its original ingredients (a prescription drug by today’s standards).

Former Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon dove back into the political fray last week when he announced his involvement with No Labels, a group of centrist politicians pushing back against what they see as the extremes of both the Republican and Democratic Parties. The group is rankling some Democrats who think its actions could create an avenue for Donald Trump to return to the White House. STLPR political correspondent Jason Rosenbaum talks with Jay Nixon on this episode that first aired on the station’s Politically Speaking podcast.

The St. Louis roots quartet Salt of the Earth prizes simplicity. The group has released six albums and on Saturday celebrates its 20th anniversary with a concert at the Focal Point in Maplewood. Band members Lynne Reif and Mike Schrand talk about the band and this episode samples Salt of the Earth’s music.

Local non-profit Unlimited Play designed and built dozens of accessible playgrounds in the St. Louis area and many more across the country. Founder Natalie Mackay talks about what makes playgrounds truly inclusive and fun for all kids.

Video games were once synonymous with cartridges. A St. Louis game developer, Graphite Lab, is turning back the clock with its release of “Mr. Run and Jump.” Out on modern consoles from Playstation, Xbox and Nintendo, a version of the game is also being released for the Atari 2600 — and, for the first time since 1990, Atari is releasing the new game on a cartridge. Graphite Lab developer John Mikula reveals how he created “Mr. Run and Jump” as a passion project and what happened after Atari took notice.

Debbie Njai, the St. Louis-based founder of Black People Who Hike, is being honored with a portrait that’s part of a national art exhibition focused on Americans who are improving their communities. In this episode, Njai and her portraitist discuss the healing aspects of nature and the ways art can be used as a vehicle for inspiration and education.

The St. Louis Shakespeare Festival is hitting the road, with its production of “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” Performers Christina Yancy and Joel Moses discuss performing in a different park every night, and how they put on a production (complete with laugh track) while playing multiple characters in a 90-minute, sitcom-inspired version of Shakespeare’s legendary comedy.