St. Louis on the Air

March 14 is celebrated nationally as Pi Day in honor of the mathematical constant π. But in St. Louis, the local community acknowledges another aspect of the 314 numerical value – the city itself. For years, locals – especially in the black community – have embraced showing pride for St. Louis through informal gatherings or St. Louis-themed parties and supporting local businesses.

To hear Kitty Ratcliffe tell it, the America’s Center Convention Center in downtown St. Louis has had a good run since it first opened in 1977 – and since it grew bigger with the addition of the Dome in 1995. But now, the president of Explore St. Louis says, the 42-year-old complex needs some major attention – to the tune of $175 million in upgrades and expansion.

Seven years ago, writer and community activist Sylvester Brown founded the Sweet Potato Project in north St. Louis to promote urban farming and provide entrepreneurial skills to underserved youth. Brown’s involvement in the project has now led to his newly released book “When We Listen: Recognizing The Potential of Urban Youth.” He talks with host Don Marsh about his vision for engaging area young people and their impact on the future.

When “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” opens its 2019 North American tour at the Fabulous Fox Theatre Tuesday evening , it will be a bit of a homecoming for stage producer Paul Blake. Blake, who joined host Don Marsh on Tuesday’s St. Louis on the Air, spent 22 years as executive producer at the Muny.

A study released this week by the National Institutes of Health indicates that nearly one-third of Americans between the ages of 10 and 12 “screened positive for suicide risk in emergency department settings.” Meanwhile, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have been studying even younger children who think and talk about suicide – and their most recent findings refute some conventional wisdom about children’s understanding of what it means to die.

Host Don Marsh discuses a variety of local efforts underway to attract and retain newcomers to the St. Louis region.

Even as an especially wintry winter continues to make itself known across the St. Louis region, spring is more and more on residents’ minds – and will finally be here, at least officially, in less than two weeks. Along with warmer temperatures the new season brings renewed focus on gardening and yardwork. Representatives from the St. Louis Audubon Society, Shaw Nature Reserve and the Missouri Department of Conservation discuss ideas for fostering native habitats and incorporating native plants as part of those efforts.

Host Don Marsh discusses local efforts underway to attract and retain newcomers to the region – and also delve into how transplants can take advantage of the innovation community in St. Louis.

Ninety years ago, daring air races across the U.S. routinely attracted crowds that would dwarf attendance at spectacles such as the Super Bowl today. “I’m talking about a half million people – paying customers – during the Great Depression coming out to watch races over the course of a weekend,” Keith O’Brien said during Friday’s St. Louis on the Air. “An additional half million would watch for free from the hoods of their automobiles parked on nearby highways … in this little window of time, air racing was one of the most popular sports in America.” The pilots vying for the prize were usually men, and the few women pilots were often ridiculed – until they combined forces to break down barriers and make aviation history.

Earlier this week, the local union representing educators who serve in St. Louis Public Schools began arbitration relating to its claims about pay discrepancy within the district. Host Don Marsh led a conversation in light of that news, touching on challenges surrounding teacher compensation as well as other matters.

Host Don Marsh talks with St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger about the state of the county and recent news concerning the region.

Retired astronaut and U.S. Air Force officer Catherine “Cady” Coleman is among very few people who have lived in space. But during a visit to St. Louis last month, she came across as equally excited about life on earth – especially because of her interactions with some accomplished high school students. Thursday’s "St. Louis on the Air" included a conversation with Coleman as well as comments from two Gold Award Girl Scouts, 17-year-old Molly Frei and 16-year-old Lilly Orskog, whom Coleman came to town to help celebrate alongside the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri.

A 2018 study by the National Low Income Housing Coalition showed that a St. Louisan who earns minimum wage would have to work 81 hours per week in order to afford a modest apartment. That reality is part of what Esther Shin describes as a "national affordable-housing challenge" stretching from San Francisco to New York City.

Host Don Marsh discusses the results of the St. Louis primary election in which race for president of the Board of Aldermen is the most high profile.

Roughly 850,000 people are facing food insecurity in the state of Missouri alone – and that includes about 220,000 kids. Representatives from Food Outreach, Operation Food Search and the St. Louis Area Foodbank discuss the issue and their distinctive efforts to address it.

Mardi Gras one of St. Louis’ biggest events, but it’s even bigger in cities across the county and world. The holiday dates back to the middle ages and has evolved over time. Host Don Marsh explores Mardi Gras festivities here in St. Louis and Brazil, where the holiday is referred to as Carnival.

Many average Americans aren’t seeing the kinds of refunds they expected in the wake of President Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act – instead, it’s wealthier people that are tending to see larger refunds. That’s according to Lance Weiss, a certified public accountant and partner with SFW Partners, LLC in St. Louis.

Host Don Marsh talks about some of the latest additions to the St. Louis region’s food-and-beverage community with Sauce Magazine managing editor Catherine Klene and staff writer Matt Sorrell.

At a United Methodist Church conference in St. Louis, delegates from around the world narrowly voted to uphold a ban on same-sex weddings and on ordaining LGBTQ clergy. We talk with STLPR reporter Shahla Farzan about the conference and with two Methodists about the decision.

Host Don Marsh talks with two St. Louisans directly impacted by adoption – and by the Missouri Adoptee Rights Act, which thousands of people have taken advantage of since the legislation passed in 2016. Patti Naumann is a lineal descendant of a deceased Missouri adoptee, and Jason Reckamp is an adoptee who recently connected with his birth parents after many years of searching.

<p>Taulby Roach, who started as CEO and president of Bi-State Development about two months ago, discusses the state of public transit in the St. Louis region.</p>

<p><em>St. Louis on the Air’s</em> latest Sound Bites segment with <a href="https://www.saucemagazine.com/">Sauce Magazine</a> explores how local chocolatiers create confections ranging from truffles and sauces to classic chocolate bars – and what makes them different from mass-produced chocolates from companies such as Mars and Hershey’s.</p> <p> </p>

<p>A new volume co-edited by Harris-Stowe State University's Mark Abbott and Washington University's Catalina Freixas features a variety of locally based conversations, as well as essays by current and former St. Louisans in response to those conversations, reflecting on the experience of segregation in America and ways to address it.</p>

<p>Locally based musicians Ms Hy-C and the Fresh Start band caught international attention when they won first place in the 2019 International Blues Challenge held in Memphis last month. Host Don Marsh talks with several of the band members: lead singer Jacinta Branch-Griffin – also known as Ms Hy-C – as well as guitar player Thomas “Tommie” Johnson and drummer Tyrone McCain.</p>

<p>Joining host Don Marsh for in-depth analysis in this segment are Mark Smith, J.D., associate vice chancellor of students at Washington University; William Freivogel, J.D., journalism professor at Southern Illinois University Carbondale; and Donna Harper, J.D., partner at Sedey Harper Westhoff P.C.</p>

<p>The local sporting goods store Johnny Mac's announced it was being acquired by a Texas company and will close its retail locations. The company's president Bob McArthur joins host Don Marsh to discuss his memories from the store and the difficulties for local businesses competing with online retailers. </p> <p> </p> <p> </p>

<p>The local sporting goods store Johnny Mac's announced it was being acquired by a Texas company and will close its retail locations. The company's president Bob McArthur joins host Don Marsh to discuss his memories from the store and the difficulties for local businesses competing with online retailers. </p> <p> </p> <p> </p>

<p>Our weekly Behind the Headlines segment is an update to a story we brought you Monday about civil asset forfeiture. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously on the matter earlier this week.</p>

<p>We listen to excerpts of a May 2, 2007 conversation with Ben Abell, a tongue-in-cheek pledge drive skit from decades ago and listener reflections.</p>

<p>Host Don Marsh talks to three guests about the benefits of dance therapy – also known as movement therapy –for cancer patients.</p>

<p>Last month, NBC premiered Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s show “Titan Games,” a reality television program where men and women compete in emotional and daunting physical challenges. Tonight, the semi-finalists will compete and inch one step closer to the final prize –among them is native St. Louisan Derik Scott. The 30-year-old attorney joins host Don Marsh to talk about his participation in the athletic competition. </p>

<p>The Marvel hit “Black Panther” brought the fictional country of Wakanda to the big screen and showcased exuberant sub-Saharan African culture – and St. Louis native Kevin Mayes was a part of that process. Mayes is a clothing designer who served as the head tailor for the film’s costumes, helping bring the visions of designer Ruth E. Carter to life. </p>

<p>Host Don Marsh talks with incumbent President Lewis Reed, who has held the seat since 2007, along with two key challengers, Alderwoman Megan Green, who currently represents the city’s 15th Ward, and state Senator Jamilah Nasheed, whose 5th District includes the eastern half of St. Louis.</p>

<p>A recent study of American teenagers showed a big jump in nicotine vaping among young people in 2018. Even as many steer clear of other substance-related activities such as binge drinking and drug use, the number of teens who are vaping has more than doubled since 2017. "The data shows that one in five middle schoolers are using these products and one in three high school [students] are using these products, so those are incredibly concerning numbers,” Dr. Patricia Cavazos-Rehg said during Tuesday’s <em>St. Louis on the Air </em>Cavazos-Rehg, who is an associate professor in the Washington University School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry, told host Don Marsh there’s a need for more education about vaping – and its risks – among both teens and their caregivers.</p>

<p>Host Don Marsh discusses the current state of the St. Louis Fire Department, touching on various recent initiatives as well as challenges ahead. Joining him for the conversation are Chief Dennis Jenkerson and Capt. Garon Mosby.</p>

<p>Host Don Marsh delves into the way in which police departments use civil asset forfeiture as well as its legal implications. St. Louis Public Radio city politics reporter Rachel Lippmann and legal expert William Freivogel join the discussion. </p>

<p style="line-height: 21.0pt;"><span style= "color: #3d3d3d; letter-spacing: .05pt;">Host Don Marsh talks with Caitlyn Collins, author of "Making Motherhood Work: How Women Manage Careers and Caregiving." </span><span style= "color: #3d3d3d; letter-spacing: .05pt;">The newly released book looks at working mothers' daily lives and the revolution in public policy and culture needed to improve them.</span></p> <p style= "line-height: 21.0pt; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 1.5625rem; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: .4px;"> </p>

<p>St. Louis Public reporters Ryan Delaney and Lindsay Toler talk about the effects of cyberbullying and its impact a one local family as well as the challenges in trying to get cyberbullying removed. Tina Meier, whose 13-year-old daughter Megan took her own life in 2006 after she was bullied online, joins the conversation. Tina established the Megan Meier Foundation in 2007 to wage a campaign against cyberbullying.</p>

<p>The St. Louis Public Radio newsroom has been fielding a wide range of questions from listeners the past few weeks concerning Better Together’s recently unveiled proposal for a reunification of St. Louis and St. Louis County. Host Don Marsh and several STLPR journalists aim to provide answers to a number of those Curious Louis queries that haven’t already been answered.</p>

<p>For more than 30 years, Steven Woolf has been at the heart of the Repertory Theater of St. Louis. Since taking the helm as artistic director in 1986, Woolf oversaw three decades of productions and directed 47 shows. He joins host Don Marsh to reflect on his career, and to discuss his last production at The Rep – “Oslo.”</p>

<p>Constance Gully, CEO of Parents as Teachers, joins host Don Marsh to talk about the national (with local roots) organization’s efforts to promote optimal early development in children by educating and engaging parents and guardians.</p>

<p>Host Don Marsh talks with Quincy Troupe about his friendship with Miles Davis, stories about the jazz great and a review of some of his music.</p>

<p>If a child faces abuse, neglect and/or household dysfunction early on life, those experiences can later affect how they form relationships with others. Some may resort to treating others in harsh ways, reflecting what they perceive as something that “resembles love.</p> <p>Stephen Zwolak, founder and CEO of LUME Institute and executive director of University City Children’s Center, and Joshua Carlson, a licensed clinical social worker in Illinois and associate director of The Knowledge Center at Chaddock, explain to help intervene and address children struggling with challenging behavior. </p> <p> </p>

<p>The Selfie Room just made its debut in downtown St. Louis, offering the latest evidence of a seemingly ever-present selfie phenomenon. The museum’s mission is to “bring people together by taking photos with fun, whimsical backdrops” that comprise its interactive art exhibits. In this episode, host Don Marsh talks with Selfie Room co-owner Erica Klotz about what visitors can expect at the new entertainment destination – and also discusses the broader cultural landscape that surrounds it. Amber Hinsley, an associate professor in the Department of Communication at St. Louis University, and Jennifer Siciliani, a University of Missouri-St. Louis psychology professor in the area of behavioral neuroscience, also participate in the conversation.</p>

<p>While the art of persuasion and the study of public discourse have enriched human civilization for millennia, negative connotations frequently surround contemporary notions of rhetoric. Politicians are dismissed as "all rhetoric, no action," and talking heads on TV make everyday people sigh over "all the rhetoric" of the 24-hour news cycle. But for those who conduct research in the academic field of rhetoric – and anyone interested in the work that words can do – the term "rhetoric" still holds great hope and possibility for society. Host Don Marsh talks with two local scholars, Lauren Obermark and Paul Lynch, about cultural understandings of rhetoric, its positive uses and the ever-shifting ways in which humans communicate.</p>

<p>A two-night History Channel series, “Presidents at War,” will tell the stories of eight men who served in active duty and who would later become presidents of the United States. Host Don Marsh talks with military historian John McManus, a professor of history at Missouri S&T, who is featured in the show. In it, McManus specifically comments on the role of Dwight D. Eisenhower.</p>

<p>STLPR reporter Nancy Fowler talks about her story published earlier in the week about first-generation student Ngone Seck whose dental problems are presenting a roadblock. </p>

<p>STLPR reporter Nancy Fowler talks in-depth about her story published earlier in the week about Ngone Seck, a first-generation student at Washington University whose encountered dental problems.</p>

<p>St. Louis Public Radio investigative reporter Beth Hundsdorfer and longtime political reporter Jo Mannies offer analysis and context in light of what critics have called a "broadside attack" on Missouri Sunshine Law by state legislators.</p>