St. Louis on the Air

Municipal elections often don’t get as much round-the-clock attention as hotly contested congressional elections. But some decisions voters could make this Tuesday could have a profound impact on how St. Louis area cities are governed and financed. We talk with STLPR education reporter Hiba Ahmad on "The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air" about the closely-watched election in St. Charles County to fill out the Francis Howell School Board.

Roughly three weeks ago, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page caused a stir throughout the region when he broached the subject of bringing St. Louis and St. Louis County back together. To gain a deeper understanding, we talk with Jefferson County attorney Joseph Blanner, who was Gov. Mike Parson’s appointee to the Board of Freeholders in 2019, about the renewed attention around St. Louis city reentering the St. Louis County as a municipality.

Jhumpa Lahiri, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning short story collection “Interpreter of Maladies,” grew up in a Bengali immigrant family in New England and fell in love with literature at a young age. That early passion led her to writing. In this episode, Lahiri talks about the trajectory of her career, including her decision to move to Rome in 2012. She also discusses how translation continues to shape her work in the classroom and on the page. Lahiri will accept the 2026 St. Louis Literary Award, presented annually by St. Louis University, at a ceremony at the Sheldon Concert Hall on April 8.

With springtime comes insects emerging from their winter dormancy. That includes the often-feared wasp, which plays an important role in the predation of garden pests and pollination of plants. Entomologist Tad Yankoski of the Missouri Botanical Garden makes the case for appreciating wasps and shares advice on how to humanely evict them from our homes. He also shares insight on other insects we’re seeing a lot of lately, including ticks, ladybugs, bees and stink bugs.

St. Louis native Bobby Carter is at the helm of two Tiny Desk entities: the Tiny Desk contest and Tiny Desk concerts. He shares tips and an insider’s view of what makes for a great contest entry, how Tiny Desk concerts have been shaped by audience feedback, and what he’s looking forward to when he visits his hometown May 1 to celebrate St. Louis Public Radio at the “Hear the Future” annual celebration.

This weekend, for the first time in two years, the Granite City Works activated a blast furnace. STLPR Metro East Reporter Will Bauer shares what this means for the mill's employees and why he called this “the latest chapter in a story of uncertainty.” We also hear from Craig McKey, president of United Steelworkers Local 1899, who believes the mill’s activation will help its hundreds of employees stay working if, in 2027, the mill loses its federal protections.

The STLPR food crew convenes to discuss what’s new in the dining scene, including the return of Uncle Bill’s Pancake House, Vincent Van Doughnut and Truck Norris Twisted Eats. They also discuss their favorite patios for outdoor dining and the St. Louis chefs and restaurants named as James Beard Award nominees.

Missouri’s new congressional map, drawn in 2025 and aimed at giving Republicans an additional seat, is now in effect after a Cole County judge’s ruling. The decision comes amid ongoing legal challenges, questions about precedent and a looming referendum that would let voters weigh in this November. STLPR politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum breaks down what this ruling means for Democrats and Republicans, including the potential impact on key races including the Kansas City-based 5th District, which is currently held by Democratic Representative Emanuel Cleaver.

A century ago, Missouri's black bear population was believed to be nearly wiped out. Today, the state’s population of bears is around 1,000. The revival of Missouri's bears is the result of years of dedicated work. These animals have been carefully monitored and tracked — and sometimes, that’s meant going into the den of a new mama bear to scoop out her cubs for a quick checkup. In this episode, we get to know Nate Bowersock of the Missouri Department of Conservation. He talks about the work he and his colleagues undertake each year to document Missouri's bear population, and why the state’s management plan includes limited hunting.

In 2025, the Deaconess Foundation partnered with St. Louis nonprofit Vision for Children at Risk to launch the NextGen Grantmaking Initiative. The approach reimagines philanthropy by placing decision-making power in the hands of young people. Led by VCR’s Youth Advisory Council, the initiative awarded a total of $100,000 to five local programs dedicated to community-building, housing, mental health services, and substance use intervention for young people. Alicia Selmon, a Harris Stowe State University junior, describes how she and fellow VCR Youth Advisory Council peers approached the grantmaking process. Rob Donnelly, founder and executive director of Opportunity House — one of the initiative’s awardees — speaks to how NextGen Grantmakers has impacted his organization's work providing long-term housing and mental health support to queer young people ages 17-24.

A single word can make or break a legal argument. That happened recently in the Missouri Supreme Court, where debate over the meaning of the word “when” led to a major ruling on Missouri’s congressional map. On this March edition of the Legal Roundtable, our panel of expert attorneys unpacks the ruling — and what the word “when” really means in the eyes of the law. They also discuss the unusual case of a journalist arrested for recording portions of a trial, a crime bill that could make it easier for courts to charge juveniles as adults, a new lawsuit filed by the former superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools, and more.

The father-and-son team behind Dogtown Pizza, a family-owned frozen pizza business in St. Louis, sit down for a candid conversation. On STLPR's podcast "Meet Me," they discuss the early challenges of building the company and how, years later, they worked together to dramatically expand it. They also share a heart-to-heart about the son’s plans to step away from the business and pursue his own dreams.

St. Louis educator and rapper Zeus Rebel Waters is uniting his three passions under one roof: music, community and sweets. Sweets by Sweet Waters opened its doors in St. Ann in January. With it, Waters aims to provide a third space for people of all ages to come together and create. In this episode, he talks about his dreams for his shop, his new album and tour, and his work to build literacy and creativity in the community through his “Reading with Rappers” program, mobile library and his nonprofit summer camp.

With disparities in menopause care — particularly among African American women and those in rural areas — menopause research remains understudied. Dr. Makeba Williams, an obstetrician-gynecologist and certified menopause practitioner, discusses why perimenopause is still overlooked and what research is underway now.

The songs in Ricky Montgomery’s debut album “Montgomery Ricky” are more vulnerable than most — they sound as if they were ripped directly from his personal journal. Now, 10 years after its release, the album’s biggest hits “Mr. Loverman” and “Line Without a Hook” are gaining newfound notoriety. In this episode, he shares the stories behind his music and the inspiration behind his 10th anniversary tour, which begins March 26 in St. Louis.

If life’s hustle has you looking for a reset, St. Louis has a hidden solution. Labyrinths throughout the region can provide a unique, meditative escape. Robert Fishbone, labyrinth designer, artist and owner of “On the Wall Productions,” shares how these spaces offer a unique way to unwind.

Spring has officially sprung — so what’s up with the frost wilting gardens and frustrating gardeners? Missouri Botanical Garden’s Daria McKelvey and University of Missouri Extension’s Eliza Pessereau share their do’s and don’ts for spring gardening and offer words of encouragement for those working to revive their cold and wilted plants.

Before her release in 2024, Patty Prewitt had spent more years in Missouri prisons than any other female inmate. She’s now a college graduate, published author and advocate for better treatment for parents and children impacted by incarceration. During a recent visit to St. Louis, Prewitt discussed her many years in prison, the letters she wrote to her children and friends, and why she turned them into a memoir. Prewitt was joined by her daughter, Jane Prewitt Watkins, who was just 16 when her mother was convicted of murder and sentenced to 50 years in prison.

Democratic Sen. Tracy McCreery and Republican state Rep. George Hruza join “The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air” to preview the second half of the 2026 legislative session. The St. Louis County legislators will discuss efforts to end the state’s income tax – and how some under the radar issues may loom large throughout the spring.

Illinois Democrats picked Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton as their nominee to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin. The Chicago-based politician defeated two sitting Democratic congress members to move on to the November election. STLPR Metro East reporter Will Bauer discusses Stratton’s victory and other notable results from the Illinois primary election on “The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air.”

The classic film “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” portrays the fictional Jefferson Smith going to the nation’s capital to speak out and block legislation from passing in the U.S. Senate. The scene showcases how one voice could stand in the way of corruption and graft. But while the “talking filibuster” was used quite often throughout the history of the U.S. Senate, it’s not in place today. U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison discusses why he supports bringing back the talking filibuster in the U.S. Senate, particularly as it relates to attempts to pass legislation backed by President Trump.

A vision for a cultural corridor in north St. Louis is taking shape in The Ville neighborhood. The MLK Cultural Blvd Project is being showcased at a block party March 21 to celebrate the effort’s progress. The event will also unveil a new report that explains the history and hope behind the corridor plan on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Aaron Williams, president of the nonprofit 4TheVille, and artist and community liaison Dail Chambers, are among the project’s leaders. Williams and Chambers discuss the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in St. Louis and why they see it as the perfect site of a future cultural corridor and tourist attraction.

For Ian Sullivan, a childhood in the Franklin County countryside made Forest Park a sacred destination for adventure and wonder. Now, the St. Louisan asks kids to explore how one of the city’s iconic and beloved spaces came to be. He takes us into his new children’s book, “How Forest Park Was Made,” and the landmark’s history ahead of an author event in St. Charles County.

Miles Davis’ reputation as a jazz giant remains to this day. On March 28, the Sheldon Concert Hall & Galleries will celebrate the world-renowned trumpeter with “Unlimited Miles: Miles Davis at 100,” which will feature contemporary jazz performers who have been inspired by Davis’ musicianship. The Sheldon’s executive director Peter Palermo and Gerald Early, a Washington University professor of African and African American Studies and editor of “Miles Davis and American Culture, Vol. 1” reflect on Davis’ influence on jazz, his relationship with the St. Louis region and what’s to be expected at “Unlimited Miles.”

The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act was expanded in July to include 21 ZIP codes impacted by atomic waste leftover from the Manhattan Project dumped in different parts of the St. Louis region. The move followed years of advocacy and alarm from residents like Dawn Chapman, co-founder of Just Moms STL, who acted after seeing her neighbors and relatives become sickened with cancers. Since RECA's expansion, the Department of Justice has received more than 11,000 claims and paid out more than $63 million. More people are still applying, but their cases and medical conditions can be complex. Many have found aid from Brent Trout, manager of the St. Louis County Library’s history and genealogy department. Trout and Chapman discuss the challenges of applying to RECA, why records like yearbooks can be critical evidence, and why advocates are encouraging people to apply before the program’s deadline in 2027.

As the United States’ first federal highway system, Route 66 connected people and places across the country. It was also a symbol of independence and adventure. In recognition of the 100th anniversary of the highway, we recall notable Route 66 stops, share stories from the former highway’s heyday, and examine its legacy today.