St. Louis on the Air

St. Louis has gone without a curbside recycling program for eight months now. 28th Ward Alderwoman Heather Navarro discusses what it will take for the city to again separate recyclables from trash.

A federal judge in St. Louis has spent years dealing with the case of the Missouri Primate Foundation, a Festus-based breeding compound where chimps were allegedly held in squalid conditions. Now the legal battle has a new focus: Did celebrity chimp Tonka die, or was he spirited away in violation of court orders?

Occupational therapy students help St. Louis’ homeless residents learn life skills, from setting goals to shopping. Washington University Assistant Professor Quinn Tyminski discusses the program’s benefits to both students and those they serve.

Listen to our special coverage of Gov. Mike Parson’s annual State of the State Address and the Democratic response from state Sen. Lauren Arthur. STLPR host Sarah Fenske guides our coverage along with statehouse reporter Sarah Kellogg and political correspondent Jo Mannies.

Bernie Lee of Akar and Kurt Bellon of Izumi discuss the communal St. Louis food scene, how it’s changed in the past few years — and how it feels to be recognized as an international hot spot for food.

Wolves are often villainized in media and folklore. The Endangered Wolf Center in Eureka, Missouri is on a mission to break that stereotype. Among other programs, the center invites people on wolf howls to learn more about these shy animals.

Dr. Lauren Mitchell and Dr. Jennifer Allen explain why they’ve joined estimated 30-plus Missouri physicians by establishing clinics outside the insurance-based system. Direct primary care clinics charge monthly fees, but doctors say they are overall more affordable and more flexible for patients.

Five new restaurants ranging from late-night hot spots to coffee shops get Sauce Magazine's nod this January.

Community advocates had publicly opposed First Mid Bank & Trust’s plans to purchase St. Louis-based Jefferson Bank. Now they’ve dropped their opposition after reaching a community benefits agreement with First Mid that includes the opening of two new bank branches to serve low-to-moderate-income and minority communities.

Missouri’s current Sunshine Law says citizens cannot be charged for any records review done by government attorneys, but a bill being prioritized by Gov. Mike Parson could change that. Advocates explain how it would affect access to records in Missouri.

Justin King, 28, was killed by a neighbor in Bourbon, Missouri. The county prosecutor says the shooting was self-defense under Missouri law, but civil rights activists say that’s not the full story.

St. Louis Public Radio statehouse reporter Sarah Kellogg discusses what the Missouri legislature has been working on in its first two weeks this year, and what’s to come this session.

Ike and Tina Turner were transplants who met in St. Louis and became a powerhouse duo. NYU professor Maureen Mahon discusses how the clubs of 1950s East St. Louis brought them together and inspired their sound.

Investigative journalist Alison Flowers discusses her forensic analysis of lighting conditions during a 2019 police shooting, which she believes demonstrates that a St. Louis police officer could not have been telling the truth about acting in self-defense.

Known as the “Voice of Selma,” Bettie Mae Fikes describes what got her involved in the civil rights movement, the violence she witnessed and her thoughts on voting rights legislation now pending in Congress.

Jennings School Superintendent Paula Knight finds herself in a constant struggle to maintain what’s best for her students and staff. Despite the odds, her district has managed to stay in-person during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The St. Louis University professor discusses her provocative new book of essays “On Compromise: Art, Politics, and the Fate of an American Ideal,” how she handles strange bedfellows and how her free-wheeling childhood left her wanting more.

Midtown St. Louis is seeing big developments. But the Grand MetroLink Station functions as a car-centric “doughnut hole” in its center. Kim Cella of Citizens for Modern Transit and traffic engineer Chris Beard discuss the problems — and a new report urging improvements.

Afghan refugee Zamzama “ZZ” Safi loves her life in St. Peters, Missouri, but remains terrified for her family that remains in Afghanistan. The former linguist for U.S. forces gives an update on her life in Missouri, five months after fleeing the Taliban.

For those concerned about Superfund sites in Missouri and Illinois, the EPA’s newly announced cleanup plans for 49 sites across the U.S come as great news. But community members say it’s also a reminder of just how much work still needs to be done.

Washington University recently received millions of dollars in grant money that researchers hope will turn the tide on Alzheimer’s research. Dr. John Morris and professor Joyce Balls-Berry explain the work they’re doing.

For residents of Arrow Senior Living communities, writing a mystery novel together proved to be the perfect pandemic project. A resident co-author and the organization’s editor and archivist discuss the creation of “The Old and the Beautiful.”

Missouri state representative Mary Elizabeth Coleman discusses her controversial new abortion bill, modeled after the one introduced in Texas last year, and why she believes banning abortion empowers women.

Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis digs into the region’s recent huge wave of COVID-19 cases and her approach to combating the pandemic. She also opens up about what keeps her going in a job and a field that has been incredibly challenging of late.

Clayton attorney Al Watkins discusses his representation of Jacob Chansley, the Arizona man who became the face of the Jan. 6 insurrection — and how going viral helps his legal advocacy.

Political anger leads to polarization, and that has Washington University professor Betsy Sinclair worried. She explains what's driving the anger, and how it puts the nation's future at risk.

Qui Tran and Jason Sparks, two local restaurant owners, are mentally and physically exhausted from working to stay afloat during the pandemic.

Service along the passenger rail line that runs between St. Louis and Kansas City was reduced by 50% earlier this week due to a lack of funding from the state of Missouri. Amtrak’s Marc Magliari explains what’s going on.

Local providers and organizers are scrambling to keep a pop-up emergency shelter open during freezing temperatures, while they wait on the city to fund one.

After Carlos Restrepo became a U.S. citizen in 2015, he kickstarted his father’s journey to the U.S. Carlos and his father, Luis, discuss their journey to St. Louis and the local support they found along the way.

"The Opposite of Chance" was published 39 years after author Margaret Hermes wrote its first chapters. She explains what took so long, how she overcame the story's complications, and how intense research allowed her to bring characters far different from herself to life.

The need for blood is on the rise, but the Red Cross is seeing fewer first-time donors — and is down to about one day’s worth of reserves. Joe Zydlo digs into what’s causing the shortfall, and how it plays into the organization’s recent response to tornadoes in Missouri and Arkansas.

By utilizing state-of-the-art technology, Wash U researchers hope to develop a better understanding of how rivers may react to future flooding events. Geomorphologist Claire Masteller joins us to discuss her work studying bedrock river erosion.

In this encore of a one-hour special edition, Nina Gilden Seavey discusses her podcast "My Fugitive," which connects the story of anti-war activist Howard Mechanic with that of another fugitive who spent time in St. Louis: James Earl Ray, who was convicted of killing Martin Luther King Jr.

Lawyer and author Areva Martin discusses her book “Awakening: Ladies, Leadership, and the Lies We've Been Told” in this encore episode.

Hampton, a formerly four-lane thoroughfare, now limits traffic to one lane in each direction, with the addition of a center turning lane plus wider parking lanes on the sides. The city has plans for a somewhat similar transformation along Lindell Boulevard by Forest Park.

Michael Politte was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for allegedly murdering his mother as a 14-year-old. Attorneys and advocates explain the growing body of evidence that he’s actually innocent — and Politte tells his story.

Attorneys Mark Smith, Nicole Gorovsky and Connie McFarland-Butler talk about the big legal questions after a deadly tornado in Edwardsville, what Missouri law really says about who has the power to issue mask mandates, litigation against the Gateway Pundit and more.

Kirkwood native (and GQ sex columnist) Sophia Benoit discusses growing up in the St. Louis suburbs, the joys of Twitter and letting go of that bad first boyfriend.

Washington University has previously portrayed co-founder William Greenleaf Eliot as an abolitionist. In a contributed segment from STLPR’s Marissanne Lewis-Thompson, she talks with Wash U student Nkemjika Emenike and professor Iver Bernstein about how Eliot was not an abolitionist. A recent article in the university’s independent student newspaper, “Student Life,” uncovered the details.

Longtime baker and Tony’s pastry chef Helen Fletcher shares tips and tricks for baking cookies in this “St. Louis on the Air” interview.

Jason Struna, a professor who studies warehouse work and distribution centers, describes Amazon work culture and offers insight to the Edwardsville warehouse where 6 workers were killed this month.

As Pale Divine reunites for a show this New Year’s Eve, guitarist Richard Fortus discusses why the beloved St. Louis band broke up, his work as the longtime guitarist for Guns N’ Roses, and why The Psychedelic Furs recorded their most recent album in St. Louis.

Dr. Alex Garza discusses again leading the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force after his deployment in Kuwait and shares lessons he learned overseas.

A new law in St. Louis basically extends the possession rights enjoyed by medical marijuana card holders to everyone. Alderman Bret Narayan explains the bill’s genesis — and why it’s not yet legalization.

Shayn Prapaisilp is a lifelong St. Louisan. But as an Asian American, he’s still regularly asked where he’s “really” from. In this episode, he fires back with his answer.

All-girl punk band the Welders burst onto the St. Louis music scene in the 1970s. But their work never made it to vinyl — until now. Host Sarah Fenske sits down with three of the founding members of the band.

St. Louis University music professor Stephanie Tennill explains how she invented VocalEase, a mask now being used by top opera singers — and why it’s being manufactured right here in St. Louis.

Tom Wiley, who lost his late wife to breast cancer in 2016, started The December 5th Fund to provide sweet memories and home-related help to other families in the midst of hard journeys. Now, the St. Louis nonprofit is expanding its efforts into southern Illinois.

Clever Real Estate is growing fast by disrupting how real estate agents are found — and how much they get paid. Co-founder Luke Babich explains why St. Louis is a perfect place to grow the business.