St. Louis on the Air

Rev. Derrick Perkins and Pastor Eric Stiller share the plans their St. Louis congregations and communities have for this weekend while reflecting on how Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy speaks to this current moment in American history.

Education reporter Ryan Delaney joins to discuss the move by St. Louis Public Schools to reduce the number of schools in the district — closing at least eight schools and giving three others a reprieve — in an effort to put more funding toward support services and academics, rather than facilities costs.

Leona Augustine wrote “I’m Dreaming of No One But You" in 1942 while missing her beau, who'd enlisted in the Army. It was published as sheet music. But it's only now being released as a single, all thanks to her grandson. He explains how the song became his pandemic project.

Ever since it opened in 1997, Cooper House has prided itself on offering a vibrant quality of life to people who are unable to live independently as a result of HIV/AIDS. The residential facility, located in St. Louis’ Central West End neighborhood, typically serves 36 individuals. But in 2020, that community dwindled to 27 people. We talk with Pat Plumley, chief program officer for Doorways, the nonprofit that oversees Cooper House, and medical director Dr. Jim Hinrichs, an infectious disease specialist.

Matthew Stock and Sid Sivakumar started out talking crossword puzzles and soon became fast friends. Now a puzzle they co-wrote has been published in the New York Times. They discuss the joy of puzzle making with host Sarah Fenske.

Carol Diaz-Granados and Jim Duncan have researched rock art — referred to as petroglyphs and pictographs — for more than 30 years in Missouri. They discuss how the petroglyphs and pictographs in Missouri came to be and what they tell us about the state's indigenous history.

NPR Illinois statehouse reporter Hannah Meisel gives a preview of this year's Illinois legislative session, where lawmakers are expected to address the state budget (which is $4 billion out of balance) and several proposals designed to narrow racial economic inequities.

Republicans (and former Republicans) formed the Lincoln Project to defeat Donald Trump. Now Sen. Josh Hawley is in their sights. Co-founder Reed Galen explains how they plan to get inside his head -- and what it will take to end their campaign against him.

Along with Alex and Carly Garcia, UMSL political scientist Adriano Udani and St. Louis-based attorney Javad Khazaeli, both sons of immigrants, discuss the changes they anticipate President Joe Biden's administration making when it comes to U.S. immigration policy and regulation — and what it all could mean for immigrants in the region.

Terri Krueger worked at KSDK for 41 years, and went from the lone female photographer in the TV market to one of many. She discusses her career and what changed in her four decades of journalism.

Singer Aloha Misho and rapper Rockwell Knuckles discuss their latest music projects as The Knuckles band. They describe their debut album’s vibe as joyous, aimed at combating the “spiritual lows” brought on in 2020. In addition to the “Good Timing” album, each artist has their own individual music projects planned for the year.

Author Tom Vanderbilt talks with host Sarah Fenske about his new book "Beginners: The Joy and Transformative Power of Lifelong Learning" which highlights his year-long experience tackling five new skills: chess, singing, surfing, drawing, and juggling.

St. Louis Public Radio reporter Jaclyn Driscoll joins Sarah Fenske to discuss the major issues likely to be debated this session at the Missouri Statehouse, including COVID-19 liability protection for businesses, Medicaid expansion and the state budget.

On Tuesday, the public safety committee of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen voted to endorse a controversial aerial surveillance program in hopes of solving violent crime. In this episode, we discuss the proposal with Missouri Independent reporter, Rebecca Rivas.

Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley was the first senator to announce his challenge to Congress’ certification of Joe Biden’s electoral college victory. Does he bear responsibility for the violent scene yesterday at the Capitol? Host Sarah Fenske explores that question with former Senator Claire McCaskill.

Thomas Park’s invention, the GenerIter, uses Python code to transform a series of sounds into a piece of music. Would-be composers can plug in short clips of their choosing and let the code do the rest. With it, he’s generated thousands of unique pieces in just a few minutes, and he hopes other musicians and music enthusiasts will join him in doing the same.

The mayor's race in the city of St. Louis is coming up fast, and with the recent passage of Proposition D plus Mayor Lyda Krewson's decision not to run for reelection, there are some big changes compared to the mayoral race four years ago. St. Louis Public Radio's Rachel Lippmann brings us up to speed.

Husband-and-wife co-founders Sara Baker and Anatolij Gelimson discuss their St. Louis-based startup Fast Democracy, which lets activists and professionals alike keep an eye on legislatures in all 50 states.

Missouri Botanical Garden President Peter Wyse Jackson and Senior Vice President of Science Jim Miller share examples of the center's new plant discoveries worldwide and talk about the overarching view and particularities of this work.

The year 2020 changed our world in a multitude of ways — and fueled escalating levels of need in our communities. That the United Way of Greater St. Louis experienced its highest number of 211 calls ever is just one indicator of how many people are struggling.

Major League Baseball announced in December that it would recognize Negro League players as Major Leaguers in the official records. Local baseball historian Ed Wheatley says the move reflects an important declaration from MLB that “Black players matter.”

Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley has been making headlines — but even some people who supported his ambitions are wildly unhappy with his recent actions. UMSL political science professor Anita Manion delves into why Missouri’s junior senator is objecting to the certification of a Biden victory. What does he hope to accomplish? Does he have any chance of succeeding?

In October, St. Louis Zoo chimpanzee Utamu gave birth to a baby girl. Two months later, the infant — named Raven — is starting to reach exciting milestones, like reaching for objects and trying to mimic chimpanzee vocalizations.

In August 1946, a group of World War II veterans took up arms against their own government — and mounted the only successful armed rebellion on U.S. soil since the American Revolution. Author Chris DeRose shares their story.

The year 2020 has been a bad year for so many people. On this last episode of the year we remember some of the lives we've lost -- from COVID-19 to gun violence, and more.

St. Louis on the Air's legal roundtable discusses a judge's removal of Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner from the prosecution of attorney Mark McCloskey, lawsuits against Missouri's medical marijuana regulations, and more.

Rev. Allison Wible, a hospital chaplain for Mercy Hospital St. Louis, reflects on the quiet, unseen moments she’s been witness to over the past year as she works with COVID-19 patients and their families.

For 15 years, the Grannie Annie Family Story Celebration has encouraged young people to discover, write and share stories about their family history. The St. Louis based non profit’s co-founder, Connie McIntyre, would like people of all ages to seek out their family history this holiday season, whether they do so in person or on a video call.

A joint production of the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and Kansas City-based StoneLion Puppet Theatre, “The Glowy Snowy Day” adapts Ezra Jack Keats' beloved children's book with giant illuminated puppets and a podcast soundtrack. The Rep's Adena Varner explains its inspiration.

If enjoying thoughtful, heartwarming films is on your holiday to-do list, there’s a brand-new St. Louis-made musical well worth your time. “A New Holiday” tells the story of 10-year-old Thelma as she grapples with the loss of her grandmother and looks toward a different kind of Christmas — themes that resonate especially in 2020. Soul singer Brian Owens directed the 33-minute film, which features an all-Black and almost entirely St. Louis-based cast.

In her four-plus decades working as a nurse, Lila Moersch has seen a lot — including the loss of mobility many older patients experience following hospitalization. Time and again, she’s observed adults who were active and independent prior to a hospital stay struggle to walk and take care of themselves afterward. The common problem is the focus of a dissertation Moersch recently completed as part of her program of study at the University of Missouri-St. Louis' College of Nursing.

Mich Hancock, CEO of the social media marketing firm 100th Monkey, has developed five steps to making the Internet a better place. She explains the mistake too many people are making, and why we have more control over our online experience than we realize.

Linda Mitchell talks about her new book that explores how to help children deal with their feelings, with photos captured by her husband Odell Mitchell Jr., a retired St. Louis Post-Dispatch photographer. “How Are You Today? A Celebration of Children’s Emotions" is a photography book geared toward a pre-kindergarten through elementary school audience.

The "63106 Project" chronicles life in the city's most vulnerable ZIP code during the pandemic. Founder Richard Weiss of Before Ferguson Beyond Ferguson discusses the nonprofit journalism project, along with writer Leyla Fern King and story subject Misha Marshall.

Activists and alumni have pushed back on the St. Louis Public Schools' plan to close 10 schools, claiming they were rushed and came with too little public notice. The district's superintendent has paused the plan for a month, but says on air that critics will have to step up to reverse course.

Have you watched The Prom on Netflix yet? If not, you should get cracking — it’s fizzy and funny and almost certain to make you smile. The two St. Louis theater impresarios share how they helped bring it to life on Broadway first.

St. Louis photographers Kelly Pratt and Ian Kreidich talk about their Dancers & Dogs photography project that showcases Saint Louis Ballet dancers with their pet dogs. Their ongoing "Muttcracker" initiative is a partnership with Stray Rescue to promote pet adoption this holiday season.

Over the past decade and a half, Seth Hamilton’s love for foreign languages and martial arts has taken him to destinations around the world: Nicaragua, Guatemala, France and north Africa. Now he’s sharing his love of travel with kids in East St. Louis. His nonprofit Go! International offers free language classes to East St. Louis youth, as well as martial arts training and entrepreneurship programs.

We explore the ins and outs of local coronavirus vaccine distribution — and why some healthcare workers are getting left behind in the first round. We also discuss the public health messaging necessary to get everyone on board.

The way Missouri tracked hospital bed capacity was misleading at best and dangerously inaccurate at worst. KCUR health reporter Alex Smith talks about his recent investigation into this issue.

Missouri Department of Conservation furbearer biologist Laura Conlee will join us to talk about the expanding black bear population in Missouri, new hunting guidelines and the Be Bear Aware Campaign.

Arnold resident Carrie Rayfield Cabral participated in Pfizer's vaccine trial this fall. In this interview, she shares why she's convinced the trial spared her from serious illness, and what she hopes others take from her experience.

Tamara Keefe joins us to share how her local creamery is managing to keep delighting ice cream fans near and far this holiday season — and why she wants the general public to be more cognizant of what people in the food industry are going through right now.

Librarians Jennifer Alexander of St. Louis County Library and Jen Ohzourk of St. Louis Public Library share their favorite new books of the past year.

Last Saturday, along south St. Louis’ lively Cherokee Street, it was almost possible to forget about the coronavirus pandemic for a bit. The sun was shining. The businesses along Antique Row were looking festive. Shop owners carefully handed out cookies to passersby. And right near Whisk bakery sat a white van with a bright yellow piano inside it, along with a pianist: Alexandra Sinclair.

Lisa Montgomery is scheduled to die on Jan. 12. She faces the death penalty for one of the most heinous murders in recent Missouri history. Her lawyer explains her tragic life story and makes the case for sparing her life.

Earlier this year, after being approached by the Great Rivers Environmental Law Center, Karisa Gilman-Hernandez and her colleagues at Dutchtown South Community Corporation added excessive air pollution to the list of things they're no longer willing to see the community they serve just put up with. She offers her perspective to "St. Louis on the Air," and host Sarah Fenske talks with Great Rivers staff attorneys Bob Menees and Sarah Rubenstein about why the pollution burden in the Dutchtown area caught their eye and how their legal efforts there fit in with other issues in their portfolio.

In his work leading the Missouri Veterans Commission, Tim Noonan serves in a volunteer capacity. But in the year 2020, the job has proved to be a particularly intense one — and in recent weeks it’s been filled with tragedy. The seven long-term care facilities the commission oversees suffered "a prolonged and rapidly escalating outbreak of COVID-19" beginning in September, according to a recent summary of an independent investigation.

Jessica Baran has been awarded an Andy Warhol arts writers grant to subsidize her ongoing “critical engagement with art, artists and exhibitions” in the Midwest. She explains what drives her criticism and how the St. Louis arts scene has changed.

A judge's decision could mean big changes for Missouri residents' abilities to referendum the decisions of the state legislature. ACLU Legal Director Tony Rothert explains why.