The Gateway: Recent Episodes
St. Louis Public Radio
Essential news for the St. Louis region. Every weekday, in about 8 to 10 minutes, you can learn about the top stories of the day, while also hearing longer stories that bring context and humanity to the issues and ideas that affect life in the region. Music by Ryan McNeely of Adult Fur.
Lawmakers have strengthened Illinois’ nearly 50-year-old sexual abuse survivors law in an effort to make sure patients get critical care after sexual assault. The changes come after an investigation last year revealed that dozens of hospitals violated that law.
The Bullet Related Injury Clinic in St. Louis, known as The BRIC, is helping the community heal through acupuncture in the aftermath of the tornado that tore through St. Louis last month. The nonprofit is one of dozens of organizations that lost half of their federal funding just before the storm, but organizers say that isn’t stopping them from getting resources to residents who need them.
Today marks one month since a deadly tornado blew through parts of St. Louis. Since the storm, relief efforts led by the community and organizations have filled a much-needed gap.
The price of earthquake insurance in Missouri’s bootheel has skyrocketed over the last 25 years. There are some possible government solutions to the problem, but the will to implement them is lacking.
This month the Opera Theatre of St. Louis is producing a new opera by one of the world’s most-celebrated living playwrights. Lynn Nottage — the only woman so far to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama twice — wrote the libretto for “This House” with her daughter, Ruby Aiyo Gerber. The opera looks at African American history through the intersecting powers of memory and place.
A bankruptcy judge approved the sale of community radio station KDHX for $8.75 million to Christian broadcast network Gateway Creative Broadcasting. We sort through the judge’s decision, and what happens next.
The decade-long criminal pursuit of former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan finally comes down to this. On Friday, a man once regarded as the state’s most powerful politician will be sentenced for multiple corruption convictions. If Madigan gets a long prison term, could his next step be to seek relief from President Trump?
Centennial Christian Church sits in the heart of Fountain Park. It’s the lifeline of the north St. Louis neighborhood. But last month, an EF-3 tornado destroyed the 121-year-old church. Three people were trapped inside buried beneath the rubble for nearly two hours. One of them did not make it out alive. Repeated calls from a victim inside Centennial to the city’s 911 emergency line went unanswered.
Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley called for swift federal help for victims of the May 16th tornado in St. Louis. But President Donald Trump hasn’t signed Gov. Mike Kehoe’s major disaster declaration request, which would unlock direct aid to St. Louis and St. Louis County residents.
You might remember the alt-rock band The All-American Rejects and lead singer Tyson Ritter from their handful of turn of the century hits such as “Dirty Little Secret.” As University of Missouri seniors graduated this spring, the band played the latest in a series of pop-up shows it’s been doing at people’s houses. We hear what the band, concertgoers and even the police think about this diversion from the current era of arena concerts.
One of the many bills that didn’t cross the finish line this past Missouri legislative session was one backed by agricultural giant Bayer. The bill would have shielded Bayer from liability in some lawsuits where its herbicide Roundup has been accused of causing cancer. With the end of the regular legislative session, the bill is dead for now. But as St. Louis Public Radio’s Evy Lewis reports, it’s likely not the last Missouri will hear of the issue.
William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” is the story of a Danish prince who can’t decide how to respond to his father’s murder. St. Louis Shakespeare Festival’s production of the play in Forest Park this month is inspired by the fashion and jazz of mid-20th-Century Manhattan. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin reports, the production shows that one of the most famous plays ever written can inspire new sounds and surprises.
Missouri lawmakers are back in Jefferson City for a special legislative session. Gov. Mike Kehoe called for the session last week and specified three things he wanted done. That includes legislation that allows the state to help fund new stadiums for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals.
Missouri’s political leaders are united behind getting federal aid to victims of the May 16 tornado. But actually delivering critical assistance to people is often a slow and cumbersome process. Plus: In April, a mother from Kennett (KEN-it), Missouri, attended a routine immigration meeting to renew her documents, which allowed her to work in the U.S. Instead, she was arrested and placed in an ICE jail. Now, her hometown is rallying for her release.
While agricultural incomes are expected to rebound this year, farmers have been taking on more debt lately. Coupled with high costs to run a business, some are worried. It makes it really tough. A look at why loan demand is up — and why some ag economists believe it could be a sign of better things to come.
Artificial intelligence, or AI, is already in classrooms in states across the country, including Illinois. And teachers are trying to navigate the challenges that AI presents. Illinois lawmakers are considering a bill that would create an advisory board to give schools guidance on how to use Artificial Intelligence or AI.
St. Louis officials estimate that around five thousand homes and other structures were damaged during the deadly May 16th tornado. As people start to rebuild, many are trying to do so without homeowners’ insurance.
U.S. Army Corporal Frederick Carrino went missing nearly 75 years ago during the Korean War. He was only 18. His family recently welcomed his remains back to St. Louis with a special funeral service in his honor.
There’s no parallel in American theater to August Wilson’s American Century Cycle … 10 plays that together depict a century of change in one neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The Black Rep’s production of the cycle’s final play, “Radio Golf,” marks a milestone for the company and its artists.
When Friday’s deadly tornado swept through St. Louis, Gloria Nolan’s husband sent her a photo from the front of their home in the O’Fallon neighborhood of north St. Louis. We hear more about Nolan's experience during and after Friday’s storm,
Measles was eliminated in the United States 25 years ago. Now, it’s back in the news as hundreds of cases are reported around the country. Many St. Louis area residents are wondering how they can stay safe from the contagious virus. Plus tornado coverage continues.
A powerful EF-3 tornado with winds of up to 150 miles per hour tore through St. Louis -- killing at least five people and damaging up to 4500 buildings.
As St. Louisans pick up the pieces, there are still many unresolved issues.
Republican Missouri legislators had a productive 2025 session. But tensions flared between Republicans and Democrats in the final days.
Republican Missouri legislators had a productive 2025 session. But tensions flared between Republicans and Democrats in the final days.
St. Louis based metal band Torchlight Parade has been making music that’s influenced by two of its founders' day jobs in the funeral industry.
Even though Illinois Governor J-B Pritzker is being coy about his political future, there’s a widening view he’ll seek a third term even though he’s also eying a 2028 bid for the White House.
Mayor Tishaura Jones' loss in last month's election was the latest result that was a hit to the region's progressive politics and to Black female political power.
The Republican-led chambers still have several priorities they want to accomplish before they leave Jefferson City in five days.
This weekend will see the performance of a play by St. Louisan Mariah Richardson about blues singer Alberta Hunter, and the Rolla High School musical that was nearly canceled by severe weather.
The one term mayor of St. Louis reflects on her time in office, the state of the progressive movement and what's next for her after 20 years in public service.
Cases of measles – the viral infection that can be life-threatening – have exploded across the country this year, particularly in areas with low vaccination rates. St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Fentem reports: Missouri and Southern Illinois have seen a handful of cases this year, but the risk is growing as vaccination rates fall.
Air travel can be stressful for anyone – especially with a little one in tow. Here's the story of how one St. Louis mom found opportunity in a travel nightmare, and is working to help other families on the go.
When you hear "Fight Club," you may think of the movie where guys beat each other up for fun. But a local group of LGBTQ kickboxers has made its own club of the same name to learn self-defense. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Abigail Wetteroff reports, these fighters are packing punches and fostering a safe space.
A Colombian man from St. Louis died in ICE custody last month after being detained in a Missouri jail. He left his country seeking a better life with his family. Now his mother is searching for answers. Plus, a huge ensemble of musicians, actors and singers will perform a classic work in St. Louis this weekend, including some of the most famous music you may not realize you already love.
Most Missouri workers will now accumulate an hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, as part of voters' approval of Proposition A last fall. But as STLPR's Evy Lewis reports, efforts to undo or change Prop A’s provisions have also been underway in the state legislature.
The floral industry has a new thorn in its side—tariffs. In the U.S., the bulk of cut flowers making their way into floral shops throughout the country are imported. The Trump administration’s tariffs mean local florists might have to pivot towards homegrown alternatives. But as St. Louis Public Radio’s Marissanne Lewis-Thompson reports local flower farmers say it will be a challenge to meet the demand without federal funding.
People are flocking to backyard chickens this year, in part due to the sky-high cost of eggs at the grocery store. Some first-timers have turned to chicken rentals to try out ownership for a few months.
Missouri has begun testing drinking water systems for forever chemicals in accordance with new rules from the Environmental Protection Agency. As Harshawn Ratanpal reports, early results show the Maries County town of Vienna has four years to clean up its water supply.
Missouri has begun testing drinking water systems for forever chemicals in accordance with new rules from the Environmental Protection Agency. As Harshawn Ratanpal reports, early results show the Maries County town of Vienna has four years to clean up its water supply.
Lucy Garzón risked everything to keep her children safe, then ended up losing a son to the very country she hoped would protect him. STLPR's Brian Munoz and Chad Davis, and The Midwest Newsroom's Kavahn Mansouri report. Plus: STLPR's Hiba Ahmad takes us to a new literacy program available through St. Louis County Library.
The end of a political era in Illinois is here. Five-term Democratic U.S. Senator and East St Louis native Dick Durbin has decided he will not be seeking re-election next year. Durbin spoke with Dave McKinney to break the news that is sure to set off a major contest to succeed him.
After being appointed to lead the Missouri Children’s Division, Sara Smith is facing the difficult challenge of having enough staff — and following through with legislative initiatives aimed at keeping families together. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum has more on Smith’s vision for protecting Missouri’s children.
UM System President Mun Choi signed an executive order last month outlining a process for law enforcement compliance. It was passed as Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, agents are going to campuses around the country to detain those whose speech the Trump administration disagrees with. Aminah Jenkins reports on how the UM policy works for both staff and students.
Increased tariffs on many countries have been a hallmark of the first months of the second Trump administration. And a researcher in St. Louis finds these new levies will likely have broad and varied effects on the global supply chain.
The Asian elephant born at the St. Louis Zoo last fall is preparing to meet the public. But before that can happen, the keepers have been helping little “Jet” reach some important milestones. We paid a visit the Zoo to learn more about what he’s been up to.
Janis Mensah is the former vice-chair of the St. Louis Detention Facilities Oversight Board, and is scheduled to go on trial next month for charges stemming from a 2023 arrest at the City Justice Center. Mensah says police beat them unconscious while waiting to see a detainee, but police say Mensah ignored orders and refused to leave. Mensah spoke with STLPR’s Lacretia Wimbley about the need for greater transparency at the jail, where 19 detainees have died since 2020.
Missouri Republican lawmakers are working to pass a second version of the Second Amendment Preservation Act this session, after the first version was struck down as unconstitutional. The Midwest Newsroom's Kavahn Mansouri reports on how the bill was brought back to the table, and why law enforcement groups aren’t happy about it.
The president of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen is suing to knock down parts of a new law placing a gubernatorial board in charge of the city’s police department, and Cara Spencer says goodbye to her aldermanic colleagues before being sworn in as mayor today. Plus, a look at what impact a looming "enrollment cliff" could have on Missouri education institutions.
St. Louis’ reputation was rattled a year ago when the Wall Street Journal described the region’s downtown as a ‘real estate nightmare.’ A year later, the city has made strides, starting by tackling two prominent vacant properties. But St. Louis Public Radio’s Eric Schmid reports a full rebound will take many more years of sustained effort by civic and business leaders across the region and state.
Leaders of community radio station KDHX will head to court next week seeking a judge’s approval of their planned sale of the station’s radio frequency to K-LOVE, a national chain of syndicated Christian radio stations. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin reports on how supporters of the station plan to push back on the sale, and what could happen next.
St. Louis Mayor-elect Cara Spencer cruised to victory by outflanking incumbent Tishaura Jones in high turnout wards. STLPR’s Jason Rosenbaum breaks down the factors that led to Tuesday’s results. Plus: an audio postcard from a Missouri tree nursery might get you inspired to go outside and start planting.
Mayor Tishaura Jones lost in a landslide to Cara Spencer. Long-time comptroller Darlene Green suffered her first election defeat ever. The president of the St. Louis Public Schools Board of Education was also ousted. We have a breakdown of the big races in the St. Louis area in Tuesday night's election.
A growing effort to eliminate “junk food” from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has some access advocates worried about a restriction's impact on recipients. Harvest Public Media's Anna Pope examines the push -- and the possible problems.
Soman Chainani is on a mission to get kids to read. And not just one of the millions of books he’s sold as a children’s author – he wants to get kids into any book. As he shared with Laura Spencer from the Kansas City Public Library, the St. Louis author’s debut graphic novel taps into a childhood passion for horror.
The most competitive race for St. Louis comptroller in decades is nearing the end. Voters are choosing between a 30-year incumbent and a former alderwoman and state representative who says the city needs a new set of eyes on its finances.
Paul Thiel’s poetry collection “Snapshots” is a memoir full of vivid details from 1960’s San Francisco, 1970’s New York and the bygone nightlife scene in St. Louis and East St. Louis. He discusses his work with STLPR's Jeremy Goodwin.
Buildings and light pollution will take a heavy toll on migrating birds this spring – particularly in the middle of the continent. One especially deadly building in the Midwest offers lessons on how residents can help more birds survive the journey.
Ferguson residents will vote on who will serve the city's three wards April 8. Some residents have questioned if one candidate is living in the ward he’s representing. STLPR's Chad Davis dives into the question--and its why the impact of its answers is complicated.
A combative race for mayor of St. Louis is nearing the end. Voters will decide on April 8 whether to keep incumbent Tishaura Jones in office, or give Eighth Ward alderwoman Cara Spencer the keys to the city. St. Louis Public Radio’s Rachel Lippmann takes stock of what was often a bitter and personal campaign so far.
The Mississippi Valley Library District Board of Trustees has been caught up in culture war-like issues for the past two years. On Tuesday, three of its seven seats are open, and the winners will steer the board as it navigates aging facilities, staff unionization and more. STLPR's Will Bauer reports.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s organic label is supposed to give consumers confidence that their food was grown without pesticides, and with care for the animals. But high certification costs have some smaller farmers looking for alternatives. Harshawn Ratanpal reports on one label that's trying to establish itself as an alternative.
The James Beard Awards are considered some of the most prestigious culinary honors in the nation – and in a new national category, two women from St. Louis are being celebrated. Abby Llorico speaks with Natasha Bahrami of The Gin Room and Alisha Blackwell-Calvert of Madrina about the honor.
A new trail is coming to Mark Twain State Park in Monroe County near Hannibal this summer. As Harshawn Ratanpal reports, volunteers came together recently to clear the trail and remember a friend.
The second half of the 2025 Missouri Legislative session begins today: STLPR's Sarah Kellogg has a preview of what lawmakers in Jefferson City hope to accomplish in the upcoming weeks.
President Trump signed an executive order yesterday to further downsize the U.S. Department of Education, and as STLPR’s Hiba Ahmad reports, some St. Louis area education leaders are concerned about this change. Plus, a conversation between St. Louis Public Radio’s Marissanne Lewis-Thompson and local artist Mee Jey about how the immigrant experience shaped her work in a new exhibit.
Explore St. Louis CEO Brad Dean says the local tourism industry is on the rebound and this is the year it will rebound to pre pandemic levels.
Demolition has begun at the Medium Security Institution in north St. Louis known as the Workhouse, following a years-long fight to close it. Plus: Harvest Public Media contributor Frank Morris reports on how uncertainty over federal programs is impacting rural communities.
The Missouri legislature passed a major utility bill before it left for spring break. The 133 page bill contains dozens of policies. St. Louis Public Radio’s Kate Grumke explores how some of the changes in the bill could affect power companies and the people who rely on them.
Thousands of people are still without power and hundreds are working to repair damage and clean up debris from deadly storms and tornadoes that came through the region Friday night. Plus: Peat bogs are a type of wetland found in Missouri and Illinois that absorb a lot of the Earth’s carbon dioxide, but these natural air purifiers are at risk. A story of how scientists are working to protect the bogs and educate the public.
Fairmount Park in Collinsville will open soon for its 100th season. And with that anniversary, there will be major changes at the horse race track. St. Louis Public Radio’s Will Bauer has a preview.
Doug Burris, credited with turning things around at the St. Louis County jail, is now the new leader of the St. Louis City Justice Center. Burris sat down with STLPR reporter Lacretia Wimbley to discuss his plans to improve conditions at the city jail.
Missouri Republicans who attended the recent Lincoln Days event say they are enthusiastic about the first few weeks of President Donald Trump’s second term. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum reports, the state’s GOP leaders remain unwavering in their support — despite backlash over Trump’s early moves.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, fired 800 employees earlier this month. Experts are warning that cuts to the agency could have serious impacts on weather forecasts and climate research, but As Harshawn Ratanpal reports, University of Missouri students are grappling with what cuts to the agency mean for their careers.
Twelve people are on the ballot for three seats on the St. Louis Public Schools Board of Education. St. Louis Public Radio’s Hiba Ahmad sat down with the candidates to hear how they plan to handle the district’s most pressing issues.
The Mildred Kemper Art Museum is showing an exhibition of artists who use their work to call for a better balance between humans and our natural world. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin reports, some of the artwork grew from the work at an urban garden in the Old North neighborhood.
The 2017 escape of the St. Louis Six brought the Gentle Barn to Missouri. Its abrupt closure left volunteers abandoned and grieving. Then, animals started dying. STLPR's Danny Wicentowski discusses his investigation into the circumstances around the closure.
Results of the St. Louis municipal primary, which sets the ballots for the April 8 general election, and a look at how Missouri TikTok creators are preparing for life after the app.
Black pediatric patients believed to have neurological conditions are falling through the cracks. A new study finds that just half of Black patients completed the necessary genetic tests for diagnosis and treatment. St. Louis Public Radio’s Marissanne Lewis-Thompson spoke with Dr. Christina Gurnett, co-author of the Washington University School of Medicine study highlighting the barriers Black families face accessing care.
Voters in St. Louis go to the polls tomorrow to vote in primaries for mayor and comptroller. Some will also select their general election candidates for aldermen. St. Louis Public Radio’s Rachel Lippmann breaks down the municipal ballot.
A local filmmaker recently debuted a documentary on the destruction of most of a former all-Black community in Richmond Heights. STLPR's Andrea Henderson spoke with Margie Hollins about the legacy of Hadley Township and her film capturing its legacy and demolition.
At the beginning of this year, the federal government took over regulation of Missouri's gas pipes: a report on why, and how state agencies are trying to win back jurisdiction. Plus, ongoing job cuts and uncertainty cause concern for local federal workers at the National Park Service, and farmers who rely on USDA funding.
The head of the United States Postal Service announced earlier this month that he’s resigning, and it’s not clear whether that will affect a proposal to scale back service in rural areas. Harvest Public Media reports on the concern over cutbacks.
At institutions around the world, there are special libraries called "herbaria," containing millions of plants. As scientists work to understand and adapt to climate change, these plant collections have become even more important. But in some places, their future is in question. St. Louis Public Radio’s Kate Grumke reports on why scientists want you to care.
St. Louis faces a massive challenge with vacant land and buildings. It’s more than lost tax revenue: these pieces of property can end up costing the city thousands of dollars each. STLPR's Eric Schmid dug into the issue to find out how St. Louis is slowly beginning to account for and collect these costs.
Early voting is underway for St. Louis’ municipal primary. In addition to the races for the offices of mayor and comptroller, there are competitive primaries to represent the Third and Eleventh Wards at the Board of Aldermen. St. Louis Public Radio’s Rachel Lippmann introduces us to the legislative candidates.
Musician Martha Redbone draws on influences from Black and Native American folk styles to explore the roots of American music. She speaks with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin ahead of tomorrow’s concert in St. Louis.
A look at the state of Illinois’ finances ahead of the governor’s annual budget address, and a report from STLPR's Hiba Ahmed's "field trip" to the Missouri Statehouse with St. Louis Public School families.
The Criminal Justice Ministry in St. Louis is helping hundreds of formerly incarcerated people get back on their feet, many of whom are veterans and have spent at least 10 years in prison. And for some of the nonprofit’s case workers, the service hits close to home. St. Louis Public Radio’s Lacretia Wimbley has more on how the organization is impacting lives through its housing re-entry programs.
Coffee is big business in Ethiopia, where farmers and producers are often exploited. St. Louis Public Radio’s Marissanne Lewis-Thompson shares how a St. Louis University student’s company is attempting to shake up, and humanize, the industry by directly connecting Ethiopian coffee farmers to roasters in the U.S.
The aronia berry, also known as chokeberry is native to North America. And in recent years, it’s gained a following for its reported health benefits and potential market.
Federal prosecutors say they won a historic conviction in the case of Michael Madigan yesterday. The Former Illinois House Speaker was found guilty of wire fraud and bribery. Today, a conversation with Illinois politics reporter Dave McKinney, who has covered this trial from start to finish.
At the beginning of each year, volunteers venture into the night to count the number of people experiencing homelessness across the country. Getting an accurate count is a challenge, though, especially in rural regions. The Midwest Newsroom’s Kavahn Mansouri reports.
The St. Louis Board of Aldermen enter their spring elections break this week with no agreement on how to spend nearly $300 million of Rams settlement money. St. Louis Public Radio reporter Eric Schmid covered the whole saga and joins STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum to discuss what happened.
St. Louis Public Radio’s Hiba Ahmad reports on why some representatives are stopping by schools during this legislative session, and STLPR's Sarah Fentem shares how students at Washington University have worked at a rapid pace to create adaptive tech inventions for people with disabilities.
A number of Hispanic-owned businesses will temporarily close next week as part of a coordinated effort to highlight the contributions of immigrants to the region's economy and culture in the wake of Trump’s mass deportation plans. STLPR's Brian Munoz reports.
When The Kansas City Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles for their third Super Bowl win in a row, tight end Travis Kelce will once again be in the spotlight. His journey from football star in the Midwest, to international fame. Plus, STLPR's Jeremy Goodwin talks to jazz player Donny McClaslin about how he set out to adapt David Bowie’s album “Blackstar,” ahead of his performance with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
The latest on hearings seeking to add abortion restrictions in Missouri, develop a plan for Rams settlement money in St. Louis, and oust the city's Personnel Director. Plus: The University of Missouri is launching a new research center that aims to provide information and context to the often controversial topics of renewable energy and transmission lines that cut through small communities. But Jana Rose Schleis reports, some are concerned its funding may cloud its findings.
Sandra Hemme served 43 years in a Missouri prison for a murder she did not commit. One key detail in her exoneration was her false confession. Reporter Sam Zeff checked in with her attorney, Sean O’Brien, to talk about how that detail sets the stage for future exoneration cases.
We have the latest from the St. Louis Board of Aldermen after contentious debate Friday devolved into online accusations over the weekend. Plus, beloved vegan restaurant SweetArt is branching out after 16 years in St. Louis’ Shaw neighborhood with a City Foundry location: Owner Reine Keis speaks with STLPR's Jessica Rogen.
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe gave his first State of the State Address on this week. St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum sat down with Kehoe to discuss his priorities for the state. Plus, St. Louis band Starwolf makes music inspired by synthwave and yacht rock. STLPR's Chad Davis takes us on a journey through their latest album and musical evolution.
Following President Donald Trump issuing executive orders for federal agents to begin enhanced immigration enforcement, some attorneys in the St. Louis region are helping immigrants and people without legal status prepare family emergency plans and legal documents. STLPR's Andrea Henderson reports.
This month, Missouri began enforcement of a distracted driving law: using a cell phone behind the wheel without hands-free technology can come with fees of hundreds of dollars. The Missouri Department of Transportation reports – distracted driving costs about 100 lives in the state each year. Randall Siddens is one of them. STLPR's Abby Llorico speaks with his wife Adrienne about navigating through her grief to enact change at the state level.
The New Madrid Seismic Zone, centered near the Southeast Missouri county of the same name, sees hundreds of earthquakes a year--but as Harshawn Ratanpal reports, the people of the town of New Madrid have bigger problems.
Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day, a time to honor the millions of people murdered by the Nazis. Students in middle school and high school will soon be learning some of that history through music, in a curriculum created by the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum. Three contributors to the project speak to STLPR's Jeremy Goodwin about what they took away--and hope students do, too.
St. Louis County Executive Sam Page is encountering a familiar problem. After the latest election, he only has one reliable ally on the St. Louis County Council — and a host of adversaries who want to exert their power over Missouri’s largest county. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum reports on why voters could have the final say over who gets the upper hand.
Illinois residents have until February 14th to cast their ballot in the contest to pick the state’s next flag. St. Louis Public Radio’s Will Bauer spoke with members of the flag commission and a flag design expert about the process, and why the details matter.
Missouri gamblers soon won’t have to cross the state line to bet on their sports teams, but public health experts worry gambling on your smartphone makes it too easy to slide into addiction. Zach Dyer with KFF Health News reports from the Metro East.
Donald Trump’s first day back in the oval office included issuing pardons to more than 1,500 people charged with attacking the U.S. Capitol at the end of his last term. Plus: A case in federal court is aiming to dismantle a decades-old wetlands law, best known for its nickname: "swampbuster." Harvest Public Media's Rachel Cramer reports on why a landholding company says the wetlands law is unconstitutional and how sustainable agriculture groups are pushing back
Larger retail pharmacies are closing stores around the country, including in St. Louis. That leaves some communities vulnerable to becoming “pharmacy deserts.” A new pharmacy in north St. Louis hopes to fill the need created when a big chain drug store closed.
Prosecutors in Illinois are required by law to publicly release a report if they determine they won’t bring charges against a police officer for killing someone. But Madison and St. Clair counties are some of the more populous counties in the state not doing so. St. Louis Public Radio Metro East reporter Will Bauer and Invisible Institute reporter Sam Stecklow discuss.
President elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services wants cities and towns to stop adding fluoride to drinking water. St. Louis on the Air host Elaine Cha spoke with Dwight McLeod, dean of A.T. Still University’s Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health, about what fluoride has meant to public health.
President Elect Donald Trump has promised mass deportation of immigrants and refugees when he takes office. That will hit some agricultural industries—including meatpacking—especially hard. Harvest Public Media’s contributor Ted Genoways reports on what that may mean for workers and consumers.
The federal government is investing millions of dollars into projects that involve growing hemp. But there’s a lot of work to do before its potential can be realized.
More than 28 billion glass bottles and jars end up in U.S. landfills every year, but a company in St. Louis is collecting some of those glass items and giving them new life. St. Louis Public Radio’s Ulaa Kuziez takes us to a glass processing center in North St. Louis.
Missouri Department of Social Services director Robert Knodell is leaving state government next week to become city manager of Poplar Bluff. The southeast Missouri native became well known in state political circles for leading the House Republican Campaign Committee. But in an in-depth conversation with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, Knodell detailed what drew him to lead the complex and challenging agency.
For the first time since 2018, Missouri lawmakers will work with a new governor. While outgoing Gov. Mike Parson pushed a more budget-focused agenda, Gov.-elect Mike Kehoe already has established policy goals. STLPR's Sarah Kellogg has a preview on the issues expected to be front and center this year.
St. Louis was only about halfway to breaking the record for inches of snow Sunday, but it did break a record for the amount of water that fell. The latest on how the region is dealing with continued frigid temperatures. Plus: Female athletes are getting more concussions, and St. Louis doctor wants to know why. Dr. Jamil Neme, director of the Concussion Clinic at SSM Health St. Louis University Hospital, speaks with STLPR's Marissanne Lewis-Thompson.
The need for inpatient mental health care for pediatric patients has grown in recent years. Health officials say a proposed facility in Webster Groves could provide much-needed treatment, but as St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Fentem reports, some neighbors are concerned about where the proposed hospital will be built.
Greater St. Louis Inc.’s outgoing CEO has been one of the St. Louis region's most vocal champions. Just days before beginning his next gig, Jason Hall sat down with St. Louis Public Radio’s Eric Schmid to discuss his career, what he sees for this region, and why he’s headed to Ohio.
St. Louis Public Radio Editor Brian Moline speaks with health reporter Sarah Fentem about why patients still can’t get an abortion in Missouri even after the passage of Amendment 3. Plus, St. Louis boosters have worked in recent years to elevate its reputation as a “foodie destination.” That’s despite the region being ignored by one of the world’s pre-eminent culinary institution– the Michelin Guide, which recently released its new list of star-earning U.S. restaurants. STLPR's Abby Llorico explores why some local restaurateurs think the omission could be a good thing.
Collard greens are a staple for many households during the holidays. But the majority of collards sold at grocery stores are one of just a few varieties. There’s an effort underway to change that, and get tastier and hardier collard greens onto people’s plates. STLPR's Kate Grumke brings us to a greenhouse in East St. Louis. * The Gateway will be on holiday break for the next week and will be back on January 2, 2025.*
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis will have a new CEO next month. Since 1996, Flint Fowler has grown the club from one location to eleven. The incoming president, Brandon Williams, hopes to build on that momentum and inspire more children to become leaders. St. Louis Public Radio's Andrea Henderson spoke with Williams and Fowler about the organization’s future.
Tucked within a new wide-reaching Missouri law on property rights is language expanding who can own chickens. St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg explains the sponsor’s personal reason for backing it. Plus, Christmas is about love, joy and kindness--but this weekend in Sullivan, it’s also about scaring the stockings off people. STLPR's Jonathan Ahl takes us to Santa’s Slaughterhouse.
Advocates for reforming the St. Louis City Justice Center say they’re concerned that the city hiring a consultant this month is just the latest turn in a carousel of several commissions that have failed to produce meaningful change at the city jail, where 18 detainees have died since 2020. St. Louis Public Radio’s Lacretia Wimbley spoke with Reverend Darryl Gray, Chair of the Detention Facilities Oversight Board, which was created in 2021 to scrutinize jail conditions and hold its leaders accountable.
St. Louis native Eric von Schrader set his science fiction trilogy in an alternate version of St. Louis, taking real bits of local history and giving them a cosmic twist.
St. Louis native and jazz vocalist Denise Thimes has a knack for putting a new stamp on old songs by connecting with them personally. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin asked Thimes to break down her approach to holiday classics.
The cost of higher education continues to go up. There is a movement in Illinois to overhaul the way public colleges and universities are funded. Proponents concede it will be very expensive in the short term. Lisa Kurian Phillip reports on the plan, and why they think it’s worth it.
Every day, Missourians pay a small tax with each purchase they make that supports conservation efforts in the state. And as Tadeo Ruiz Sandoval reports, with large portions of Missouri regularly in a drought, those dollars have helped farmers prepare.
Illinois law requires transparency when people die at the hands of police officers. But many of those cases remain unseen. Farrah Anderson and Chris Weber explain what happens when prosecutors stay silent on police killings.
Vernon Betts has been at the helm of the St. Louis Sheriff’s Department for nearly a decade, but remains undecided on how quiet his retirement from the post will be. Betts reflects on his tenure in office and contemplates what his life will look like after the badge in this conversation with STLPR's Brian Munoz.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson is winding down his term as 57th Governor. Come January, he will be replaced by Mike Kehoe. St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum sat down for an interview with Parson to discuss his time as governor.
Donald Trump promised increased tariffs while on the campaign trail. As president-elect he's doubled down on the pledge, targeting Canada, Mexico, and again...China. Charlie Schlenker reports Illinois agriculture organizations still hope he doesn't mean it.
St. Louis-based composer Christopher Stark visited outdoor spaces in Montana, New Hampshire and New York to create an album that celebrates nature … while warning of catastrophes triggered by global climate change. STLPR's Jeremy Goodwin brings us "The Language of Landscapes."
Farmers say implementing more sustainable practices means higher costs - for themselves and for consumers. But with food prices already high, many people can’t or won’t pay more. Jana Rose Schleis reports on what producers and purchasers are to do about it.
Rahaf is one of thousands of children injured during the yearlong war in Gaza. Her two legs were amputated after an Israeli bomb struck her home several months ago. St. Louis Public Radio's Ulaa Kuziez reports.
A traditional building material is getting new life in the Midwest. It locks away carbon and is strong enough to stretch stories into the sky. St. Louis Public Radio’s Kate Grumke reports on a new way builders are using . . . wood.
Democrats used to win St. Clair County in the Metro East by double digit margins. But in the last few elections, that margin has gotten closer — leaving some to wonder: Can Republicans flip the county like most others in downstate Illinois? St. Louis Public Radio’s Will Bauer reports.
A new baby Asian elephant born this weekend is part of a fourth generation of the herd living at the St. Louis Zoo. In what turned out to be the final days before his long-awaited birth, Abby Llorico stopped by to learn the ways in which Raja’s grandson is already making zoo history. * Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and weekend -- we'll be back in your podcast feeds Monday. *
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture is helping Black St. Louisans trace their roots as far back as possible. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Andrea Henderson reports, Black St. Louisans want to help the next generation better understand their ancestry.
A big announcement from The St. Louis Blues, and City SC may be getting close to naming a new manager. Plus, a visit with the Missouri professor whose research into insect communication is changing the field.
Broadcaster Bob Costas has been on sports' biggest stages. Before he called the Olympics, the World Series and the NBA Finals, he was a broadcaster in St. Louis. Costas is back in town to receive a major award, and sat down with St. Louis On The Air’s Alex Heuer.
Regenerative agriculture practices are a good long-term investment for most farmers, but the up-front costs can make it difficult to get started. We’ll learn about a University of Missouri program helping farmers clear that hurdle .
The Green Party missed a major benchmark this past election that would have helped them skip a significant hurdle in future races.
State Sen. Karla Eslinger passed on seeking a second term in the Missouri Senate this year. Instead, the former educator now leads the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. She spoke to St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg about her goals for the Department.
The St. Louis County Department of Public Health has expanded its investigation into an E. coli outbreak tied to a local catering company. Plus, a report on how persistent drought has impacted Midwest wildlife.
It’s that time of year when people eat a lot of pumpkin…and most of the pumpkin that goes into these treats comes from a town about 150 miles northeast of St. Louis. Harvest Public Media contributor Joe Deacon gives us a look into how this popular crop figures into the local economy.
For 25 years, Prison Performing Arts has given detainees in Missouri prisons the chance to act and star in theater productions. But what happens after they’re released? St. Louis Public Radio’s Chad Davis reports on how two alumni members are bringing their experiences to new works onstage in St. Louis.
There are hundreds of places to bank in the St. Louis region… but not every community has equal access or comfort. St. Louis Public Radio’s Eric Schmid examines what it takes to sustainably expand banking access.
Perennial crops – ones that don’t have to be re-planted each year — are proven to be good for the soil and, by extension, the environment. Jana Rose Schleis reports how Missouri growers and researchers made the sustainable elderberry a success.
The Missouri Botanical Garden will have its first woman president next year. Kate Grumke sat down with Dr. Lucia Lohmann to learn why she wanted to come back to the Garden and to St. Louis.
Drug companies already have sent 100 million dollars to Missouri to settle lawsuits for their role in the opioid crisis, and the state is set to get hundreds of millions more. St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Fentem reports on what communities are doing with the massive payout.
Election Day is behind us, but we'll look at the issues our reporters are still tracking, and how the outcome of the vote is starting to play out. Plus - St. Louis Art Museum is now showing an exhibition of African art that includes a wider selection than museum goers typically see. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin reports on its narrative power.
Missouri ended up voting for Republican candidates on Tuesday — while legalizing abortion. What the causes and candidates that emerged victorious tell us, how people impacted by these decisions are reacting, and what happens next.
It’s Election Day. We have the important reminders and updates on this last day of voting, and a story on the first voting experience for students at a local school, looking to elect their new mascot. Plus, indulge in a few minutes of some truly old fashioned alternative programming, courtesy of a couple in Rolla—for whom using a manual typewriter is a multi-sensory experience.
Quincy officials are itching to depart with its sole airline provider, citing unmet promises and unreliable service. St. Louis Public Radio’s Marissanne Lewis-Thompson reports on a possible fresh start for the city and Quincy Regional Airport.
A Midwest Newsroom investigation looks at outside money trying to influence ballot initiatives and Madison County is one of several downstate counties voting on exploring leaving Illinois.
As trick-or-treaters get their costumes ready, scientists are working to save a spooky native bug whose numbers have plummeted. St. Louis Public Radio's Kate Grumke reports.
Missouri was the first state in the country to ban most abortions after the fall of Roe v. Wade. But next week, voters will decide whether to place abortion rights protections in the state constitution. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum has more on the high stakes over Missouri’s Amendment 3.
Missouri’s U.S. Senate race between Democrat Lucas Kunce and Republican incumbent Josh Hawley is arguably the most competitive, and combative, statewide contest this year. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum reports, Kunce and Hawley are pitching strikingly different messages in the campaign’s final stretch.
St. Louis has a reputation as a beer town, but in the past few months, a handful of local breweries have filed for bankruptcy, indicated they’re closing, or both. Craft breweries across the country are facing headwinds. St. Louis Public Radio’s Eric Schmid explores how that's playing out locally.
St. Louis has a reputation as a beer town, but in the past few months, a handful of local breweries have filed for bankruptcy, indicated they’re closing, or both. Craft breweries across the country are facing headwinds. St. Louis Public Radio’s Eric Schmid explores how that's playing out locally.
There are 11 days until the November 5th election., when Missourians will choose 5 statewide positions, including the governor. Several ballot initiatives – including a question on overturning Missouri’s abortion ban – could be an influence on who wins the governor’s race. St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg reports on the contest.
In addition to federal and statewide races, voters in St. Louis will cast their ballots on three changes to the city charter. St. Louis Public Radio’s Rachel Lippmann will break them down. Plus, Chuck Berry did much to define what rock n’ roll sounds like. But a new tribute project shows that his songs can translate to any genre. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin shows how you never can tell how far a good song will go.
With the election now less than two weeks away, airwaves and social media feeds are flooded with ads for candidates and causes. This cycle, those messages increasingly rely on inflammatory language...and loose facts. We spoke about this trend with Professor Natasha Casey, a media literacy educator at Lincoln Land Community College and with the Media Literacy Lab.
Proponents of an amendment to legalize gambling on sporting events in Missouri say the resulting tax revenue could help fund education, but critics say tax loopholes could mean the state’s classrooms would see little benefit.
Think of all the things you might do differently than your grandparents' generation: how you dress, how you cook, how you communicate. Same goes for farming. Reporter Jana Rose Schleis explores the historical context behind the generational divide in agriculture, and how future-proofing some Missouri farmland has led some to ditch decades of advice.
Medicare enrollment began this week. As Rebecca Smith reports, there are some big changes this year that could immediately affect the lives of senior Missourians and, in the long term, the overall Medicare marketplace.
Missourians will select five of the six statewide office holders this year, including the Attorney General and Lieutenant Governor. With less than three weeks until election day, St. Louis Public Radio’s statehouse and politics reporter Sarah Kellogg breaks down those two races. You can read more of our coverage of the 2024 election at stlpr.org.
Graham Nash sang about a changing world for more than 50 years as a member of the supergroup Crosby, Stills and Nash, sometimes joined by Neil Young. After the final breakup of the group, and Crosby’s death, Nash is touring to promote his solo album, called “Now.” He plays the Pageant on Thursday. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin asked Nash his legacy and how he likes life as a solo artist.
Great Rivers Greenway is the public agency responsible for building the hundreds of miles of bike and pedestrian paths across parts of the St. Louis region. Susan Trautman has led the organization since 2010 and will leave that position next May after 15 years. St. Louis Public Radio’s Eric Schmid sat down with her to discuss her time as CEO.
Missouri’s trade unions have been a source of Democratic votes and financial support for decades. But trade union members are increasingly willing to give Republican candidates a chance – especially ones who hold pro-labor positions. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum explores whether this GOP outreach is part of a wider trend or just an election year strategy.
Today, two stories about how technology is changing the hospital experience: for pediatric patients whose weeks or months-long hospital stay means school has to come to them, and for nursing students learning how to care for real patients -- with the help of artificial intelligence.
When she arrived in St. Louis on September 9th, Ashley Johnson became the first woman to be the special agent in charge of the FBI’s St. Louis field office. Johnson told St. Louis Public Radio’s Rachel Lippmann that her previous postings taught her to value the people working for her.
A new Midwest Newsroom investigation found that many rural school districts in the Midwest aren’t identifying and helping their unhoused students with the assistance they qualify for, and that the majority of rural school districts in Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska undercount homeless students.
St. Louisans gathered to mark one year since Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people, and sparking a military response that has claimed more than 40,000 lives in Gaza. St. Louis Public Radio’s Ulaa Kuziez and Jeremy Goodwin report.
Over the last two years, agriculture in the United States has been riding the highs of elevated crop prices and record incomes. But farm income is projected to dip this year. St. Louis Public Radio’s Will Bauer reports on what that means for farmers and the larger ag economy.
Bellleville East and Belleville West just wrapped up their first regular season of girls flag football. STLPR's Will Bauer brings us a look at how the first year has gone for the Metro East programs – and what it’s meant for the girls playing. Plus, another story from the participants in the NPR Next Gen Radio project held in St. Louis. Today, how University City resident Jeff Perkins is most at home as a DJ.
All this week we are bringing you stories produced by participants in the NPR Next Gen Radio project held in St. Louis. They focused on the meaning of home. Today, the story of the Naichuk family, who fled for the St. Louis region after the war broke out in their hometown in Ukraine.
St. Louis Public Schools Acting Superintendent Millicent Borishade is trying to address concerns in the district about many issues, including transportation. Borishade’s conversation with STLPR reporter Lacretia Wimbley. Plus, all this week we are bringing you stories produced by participants in the NPR Next Gen Radio project held in St. Louis, focused on the meaning of home. Today, a story about how for a traveling nurse, introducing a local dish to people far away was a step in bringing him back to St. Louis.
Today we bring you another story from NPR's Next Gen Radio project held in St. Louis about a local restaurant owner, whose Bosnian heritage and the food she makes create her sense of home. Plus, STLPR's Statehouse Reporter Sarah Kellogg breaks down the races for MO Treasurer and Secretary of State.
As part of our collaboration with NPR Next Gen Radio project, we hear from a local writer who found the meaning of home in a rough and tumble sport.
In 2023, the federal government reinstated access to Pell grants to incarcerated students– allowing them to apply for financial aid. This will affect the future of higher education in Missouri prisons. Rebecca Smith has more from one graduation ceremony where both incarcerated individuals and Department of Corrections staff received associate’s degrees.
As the St. Louis Reparations Commission comes to an end, Black St. Louisans say they want repayment for decades of racial discrimination in education, healthcare and housing … and they want it in cash. St. Louis Public Radio’s Andrea Henderson reports.
Agriculture replaced nearly all of the original prairie in the Midwest, but a growing number of farmers are incorporating strips of prairie into their row-crop fields. These colorful corridors help with soil and water quality, and wildlife. Harvest Public Media’s Rachel Cramer reports on the efforts to expand the use of prairie strips.
Missouri is among states that have deployed National Guard troops and law enforcement agents to the US-Mexico border as part of Operation Lone Star. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott launched the operation in 2021, saying the Biden administration was not doing enough to keep undocumented immigrants and illegal drugs out of the country. Journalist Kallie Cox tells Managing Editor Holly Edgell it's being described as an effort of "political theatre."
Most agricultural crops like corn, wheat or barley are replanted into the ground every single year. It’s a lot of work, and hard on the soil where they're grown. Perennial crops, like Kernza, can stay on the land for several years, offering environmental benefits. But there’s not that much of it being grown right now. St. Louis Public Radio’s Eric Schmid reports on how researchers hope to change that with more consumer products made with Kernza, like beer.
Over the last two weeks, school officials and law enforcement have been bombarded with threats of violence against schools in the St. Louis region. St. Louis Public Radio’s Brian Moline spoke with reporter Lacretia Wimbley about the toll these threats are taking on students, teachers and law enforcement.
Politically minded comedian Sarah Silverman debuts her new stand-up show tonight at the Stifel Theatre. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin speaks with Silverman about her comedy.
One year ago today, Illinois got rid of cash bail under new legislation called the SAFE-T Act. Now, if the state or county want to keep someone in jail, prosecutors have to convince a judge that the accused criminal should remain detained at a pre-trial hearing. St. Louis Public Radio’s Will Bauer sat down with Chief Judge Andrew Gleeson at the St. Clair County Courthouse to see how the new system has worked so far.
IVF patients in Missouri fear a state law that says life begins at conception could put the procedure at risk. But a local attorney says laws protect the procedure, for now. St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Fentem speaks to fertility lawyer Tim Schlesinger.
Sam Altman is the co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. He’s also a St. Louis native. Altman was back in his hometown Friday, the day after the launch of the newest model of ChatGPT. He started his day at his alma mater, John Burroughs School in Ladue, talking to students and teachers. Later he sat down to talk with St. Louis on the Air host Elaine Cha.
There’s a fruit that grows throughout nearly half of the U.S. that most people have never tried. It’s called the paw paw. While the fruit trees are native to much of the Midwest and East Coast, you won’t find them in many grocery stores. St. Louis Public Radio’s Kate Grumke reports on the push to popularize the elusive paw paw.
With plenty of great barbecue restaurants around the St. Louis area, James Beard award winning chef Gerard Craft knew it didn’t make sense to compete--so instead, he’s charting a different path with the new Niche Food Group restaurant, Expat BBQ, opening today at City Foundry.
Missourians will vote on an amendment to put abortion rights in the state Constitution, after the Missouri Supreme Court put it back on the ballot. STLPR’s Brian Moline and Jason Rosenbaum discuss. Plus -- Jazz musician Esperanza Spalding says she’s a perfect fit for this weekend’s Music at the Intersection festival. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin spoke with Spalding about her expansive style.
The Missouri Supreme Court will meet this morning to decide if an amendment to the state constitution that would protect some abortion rights will go in front of voters.
The shooting death of Sonya Massey by a Sangamon County Illinois Sheriff’s Deputy in July has prompted nationwide outrage. Massey, an unarmed Black woman, was shot and killed by Sean Grayson in her central Illinois home in July after she called for help. But as Farrah Anderson reports, Massey’s death wasn’t Grayson’s first issue as a police officer.
Agriculture is a notoriously tough career path. Farmers need to be able to take care of crops, livestock and a business. As Jana Rose Schleis reports from Sedalia, youth agricultural groups are now teaching members how to manage both animals and money.
The Missouri Department of Revenue updated the process that Missourians must go through to change gender markers on a state ID. A new rule requires either a court order or proof of gender reassignment surgery. But as Anna Spidel reports: advocates, health law experts and LGBTQ+ Missourians say the new regulations could create serious problems for transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people in the state.
When Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft blocked Governor Mike Parson’s emergency order banning the sale of hemp-derived drugs, he delayed the ban by at least six months. As Harshan Ratanpal reports, the looming ban leaves farmers and businesses in Missouri’s hemp industry holding their breath.
When someone wants to add chicks to their backyard farm or populate a larger operation, they often order from hatcheries. For the past 100 years, those hatcheries have used the U.S. Postal Service to ship live baby birds around the country. Increasingly, customers and suppliers say slow deliveries are causing birds to arrive dead. The Midwest Newsroom’s Kavahn Mansouri investigates.
The Western U.S. has seen decades of disputes over water. Now climate change could bring more water scarcity to the Midwest. That’s left states like Missouri wondering if the thirst for water could be headed this way. St. Louis Public Radio’s Kate Grumke reports.
The Mark Twain National Forest includes more than 1.5 million acres of land across southern Missouri and hosts more than half a million visitors a year. Vince Keeler is the new forest supervisor as of this month. He sat down with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jonathan Ahl to talk about his vision to manage the land in terms of conservation and recreation.
61 years ago this week—the Jefferson Bank protests paved the way for the region’s very own civil rights movement. St. Louis Public Radio’s Marissanne Lewis-Thompson reports the demonstrations are the center of the new play “We Shall Not Be Moved: The Jefferson Bank Protest.”
In about a month, the longtime arts center in Alton will be moving from its current building — with no official plan to return. What’s led to the departure of the Jacoby Arts Center from that building has some Metro East residents worried about what’s to come. St. Louis Public Radio’s Will Bauer reports on the uncertainty for a staple of downtown Alton.
The police killing of Michael Brown Junior and the Ferguson uprising that followed inspired music, visual art, and poetry, including this untitled poem from Ferguson inspired word artist Pacia Elaine Anderson.
On Wednesday afternoon, supporters of Marcellus Williams were relieved. A deal reached with prosecutors meant he would not be executed for a 1998 murder they believed he did not commit. But the deal fell apart in less than 24 hours. That means Williams could be executed on September 24th. St. Louis Public Radio’s Rachel Lippmann and Jonathan Ahl lay out the legal twists and turns in the case.
When a Ferguson police officer shot and killed Michael Brown ten years ago, it brought policing in the city under scrutiny - and federal oversight. A familiar face is now in charge of the path forward. St. Louis Public Radio's Rachel Lippmann has this profile Troy Doyle.
The Missouri Legislature expanded a tax credit for people who donate to crisis pregnancy centers right around the same time that the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The resulting prohibition of nearly all abortions in Missouri led those pregnancy centers to take on a new tactic: taking their efforts to other states. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jonathan Ahl spoke with Jeremy Kohler of ProPublica who investigated how these taxpayer subsidized groups are operating.
Latino immigrant farmers in the Midwest face many obstacles starting their own business, especially when it comes to finding financial assistance. Federal grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture can help, but those can be challenging to access. As Isa Luzarraga from the Midwest Newsroom reports, nonprofit organizations are stepping in to help.
In February, twenty-five Kansas City Chiefs Fans went to Union Station to celebrate the Super Bowl victory, and left with bullet wounds. Nearly half of them were under 18. Countless more children experienced the trauma first-hand. More than 6 months later, these kids continue to endure fear, anger, sleep problems, Peggy Lowe reports, as part of ongoing coverage of the aftermath of the parade shooting, produced by KCUR and KFF Health News with reporter Bram Sable-Smith.
Science has been studying the growing of crops for a long time, but the study of soil is relatively new. Researchers are finding that there’s a lot to be learned about how farming has impacted soil over the decades. As Harvest Public Media’s Jim Meadows reports, that research could be greatly helped by the discovery of soil samples over a century old.
Poet Carl Phillips taught at Washington University for 30 years before winning the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry last year. He retired at the end of the school year. His new collection is out now. It’s called “Scattered Snows, to the North” and it includes poems about memory, sex and the natural world. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin asked Phillips how his prestigious award affected his writing.
Keeping the 300,000 who visit the small town of Sedalia for the Missouri State Fair requires a big, temporary, volunteer fire department.
Missouri frog hunting season is underway. Conservation experts say it's a slightly cruel but necessary practice to balance the ecosystem. Hunters say the frogs are a tasty but time-consuming snack.
He's known as the president of the St. Louis Cardinals. So visitors to a new exhibition at a St. Louis art gallery might be confused when they see his name at the corner of a collection of works.
The second episode of We Live Here: 10 Years After The Ferguson Uprising looks at the citizen journalist/activists that documented the protests.
A decade ago Ferguson was thrust into the spotlight after a white police officer killed Michael Brown Jr. His death sparked months-long demonstrations and protests that fueled change.
Many businesses in Ferguson and surrounding cities have bounced back ten years after a white police officer killed Michael Brown, Jr. But recovery has been uneven.
Wesley Bell won one of the most expensive Democratic primary contests in congressional history.
Raw milk has seen a rise in popularity in recent years. More than 30 states allow its sale for human consumption in some form, including Missouri and Illinois. But food safety officials have long warned of risks with drinking unpasteurized milk. Now a recent outbreak of bird flu in dairy cattle has raised new health concerns with consuming the product.
It’s been nearly 10 years since Michael Brown Jr. was shot and killed by a Ferguson police officer. His father Michael Brown Sr, stepmom Cal Brown, and their kids have been working everyday since then to heal. They launched the Michael Brown Sr. Chosen For Change Organization to turn their pain into purpose.
On a special Saturday episode of The Gateway - It’s been 10 years since Michael Brown Jr. was killed and the Ferguson Uprising that followed. To honor that history and reflect on where St. Louis is today, St. Louis Public Radio is bringing back the podcast “We Live Here” for a special season.
In the Republican primary for Missouri Governor – three candidates have the best chance of winning on Tuesday: Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, State Sen. Bill Eigel and Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe. Though there are policy differences between the candidates, this race is more about personality. St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg breaks down the Republican primary for Governor.
An election preview double feature: In Missouri’s sprawling sixth district, U.S. Congressman Sam Graves has represented voters for more than two decades. He’s heavily favored to retain his seat this year–even as some critics say he’s lost touch with the district over the years. Plus, Missouri’s 1st Congressional District Democratic primary could determine what type of political leadership takes hold throughout the St. Louis region. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum breaks down the high-stakes race between Congresswoman Cori Bush and St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell.
Two Springfield Democrats are the main contenders for their party’s nomination to be Missouri’s next governor. Missouri House Minority Leader Crystal Quade announced her campaign for governor in July of 2023. Businessman Mike Hamra declared his candidacy months later, bringing a large checkbook with him. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg reports, Democrats see a proposed constitutional amendment legalizing abortion as a boon to their campaigns.
Unlike many other states, the lieutenant governor in Missouri doesn't run on a ticket with the governor. Instead, voters elect the state’s second-in-command. As Noah Taborda reports, five Republicans are trying to distinguish themselves enough to capture the nomination despite the position's limited authority.
Missouri’s only nuclear power plant is turning 40 this year, and Illinois recently cleared the way for small modular nuclear reactors by repealing a moratorium. St. Louis Public Radio’s Kate Grumke takes us inside the plant to find out how nuclear energy might evolve in coming years in Missouri and Illinois.
Missouri’s only nuclear power plant is turning 40 this year, and Illinois recently cleared the way for small modular nuclear reactors by repealing a moratorium. St. Louis Public Radio’s Kate Grumke takes us inside the plant to find out how nuclear energy might evolve in coming years in Missouri and Illinois.
Missouri’s Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate is not as contentious as other races on the Aug. 6 ballot. But as St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum reports, the winner of the contest between attorney Lucas Kunce and state Sen. Karla May will then take part in what’s sure to be a closely-watched race against incumbent GOP Sen. Josh Hawley. Plus, St. Louis Public Radio's Brian Munoz chats with local Olympian Brandon Miller ahead of the Opening Ceremony in Paris.
There are two Republicans running for Missouri Attorney General, including the current office holder. Andrew Bailey, who Gov. Mike Parson appointed to the position in 2022, faces Will Scharf in the August 6th primary. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg reports, in the middle of a contentious campaign, former president Donald Trump looms large.
Missouri Republicans in the state’s 3rd Congressional District essentially have two former state senators to choose from to replace Blaine Luetkemeyer: Bob Onder and Kurt Schaefer. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum reports, the candidates are taking different approaches to the combative contest.
Amendment 4 on the ballot Missouri Voters will get this August 6 election asks voters whether Kansas City should be required to increase funding for police. The city’s mayor is opposed. We’ll learn more about the measure, and why voters are seeing it for a second time
Sunday afternoon, President Joe Biden announced he’s ending his campaign for a second term. We talked to local lawmakers, party leaders, and voters about how they’re feeling, and their plans moving forward. Plus, eight Republicans are running to become Missouri’s next Secretary of State. St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg breaks down the race and explains what has so many people throwing their hats in the ring.
The new artistic director of the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis says the theater needs to be a place where all St. Louisans feel welcome. Kate Bergstrom joins The Rep after a financial crisis led its leaders to cut last season short. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin asked her about the theater’s future.
The 6th District, which covers south St. Louis County, is the only one with a contested Republican primary. Incumbent Ernie Trakas, who is seeking his third term, has a GOP opponent for the first time – attorney Michael Archer. St. Louis Public Radio's Rachel Lippmann has more from both candidates.
Some Democratic voters in St. Louis County will go to the polls in August to choose their candidates to run for a seat on an often-fractious County Council. St. Louis Public Radio's Rachel Lippmann has more from the women running to represent the Second and Fourth Council Districts.
A good cup of coffee in the morning can be eye opening. For one St. Louis organization, that’s the mission – putting money from coffee sales toward sending local kids on international travel experiences to broaden their horizons. St. Louis Public Radio's Abby Llorico has the story of Show Me The World.
The Republican National Convention begins today – after an attempt on the life of their presumed presidential candidate, Donald Trump. How our local lawmakers are responding to the events of the weekend and preparing for the week ahead. And: a onetime member of the Hollywood paparazzi who relocated to St. Louis has published a novel based on the everyday lives of his new neighbors. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin gets the view of St. Louis from a relative newcomer.
The Republican National Convention begins today – after an attempt on the life of their presumed presidential candidate, Donald Trump. How our local lawmakers are responding to the events of the weekend and preparing for the week ahead. And: a onetime member of the Hollywood paparazzi who relocated to St. Louis has published a novel based on the everyday lives of his new neighbors. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin gets the view of St. Louis from a relative newcomer.
Illinois Republicans are preparing to head to Milwaukee for next week’s Republican National Convention where they’ll nominate Donald Trump to be the party’s official nominee for president. The state party now appears to be in lockstep with their presidential pick even though Trump has twice lost Illinois. And intense in-fighting recently cost the Illinois G-O-P’s leader his job. As Alex Degman reports, the next week will likely feature some tough discussions on where the Illinois Republican Party hopes to go.
When a child enters the foster care system, the primary goal is to place them with a family member. But when the foster child has significant behavioral or mental health conditions, they are placed in a residential facility with staff trained in specialized treatment. In Iowa and Missouri, there is ample space for boys in those centers, but not for girls. The Midwest Newsroom’s Kristofor Husted reports.
Summer break can be the hungriest time of the year for children who rely on free and reduced lunch at school. For years the US Department of Agriculture has offered funding for on-site meals. This year the USDA also rolled out a new program called SUN Bucks… to provide eligible families $120 per child for groceries over the summer months. But as Harvest Public Media’s Anna Pope reports, 13 states opted out of the program -- leaving almost 10 million children without the food benefit.
Missouri’s child welfare system has struggled to perform essential functions over the years. But after hiring more staff and making other changes in recent years, state officials say fewer foster kids are languishing in the system. St. Louis Public Radio’s Lacretia Wimbley spoke with one woman who spent more than 10 years as a foster kid in Missouri, and reports on what officials are doing to better outcomes for children in the system.
Earlier this year, federal health officials fined the former directors of the Northview Village nursing home in St. Louis 56 thousand dollars for the overnight closure of the facility. The shutdown upended the lives of 174 residents and their families. St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Fentem reports that despite public outcry, that may be the directors’ only penalty.
A group of Illinois teachers spent a week learning how to teach their students about water and their local watersheds. It culminated with a kayak ride down the Rock River.
St. Louis is one of many cities across the nation acknowledging its role in racism and establishing task forces to help make the case for reparations for Black Americans. A national group is supporting these efforts with research and legal assistance.
The Biden Administration wants the nation’s house hunters to give manufactured homes a try, because they’re more affordable. Meanwhile, officials are close to updating construction codes to make the homes more climate-resilient.
A celebrity chef known has a new restaurant in an iconic downtown St. Louis dining room--and says he's excited to be part of the city's momentum. Chef Gordon Ramsay’s newest “Ramsay’s Kitchen” location is now open inside the Four Seasons Hotel overlooking the Mississippi River. The restauranteur and media personality stopped into St. Louis for the grand opening this weekend, sharing why he’s eager to work with St. Louis talent, where else he ate while he was in town, and what he really thinks of the Gateway Arch.
Women have historically trailed behind men in the STEM field. A local non profit is working to boost young girls' interest in STEM one shop class at a time.
A nonprofit is building some of the first private housing in East St. Louis in decades. The religious organization plans to have 20 homes finished by the end of this summer. St. Louis Public Radio's Will Bauer spoke with one of the leaders of Landsdowne Up about their goals and the challenges facing East St. Louis.
A Florissant restaurant has gained national attention for its gender-based age policy. Experts say the rules could violate state law, but owners tell St. Louis Public Radio’s Madison Holcomb their new Afro-Caribbean restaurant aims to bring something different to the community.
During the school year, Sarah Adam is an assistant professor of occupational therapy at St. Louis University. But this summer, she’s turning her studies toward Paris, and the 2024 Paralympics. St. Louis Public Radio’s Abby Llorico spoke with the first woman to make the wheelchair rugby team about what it means for her and her sport.
It’s called the “dead zone:" a massive area in the Gulf of Mexico that’s so low in oxygen that fish and other wildlife can’t live there. Roughly 70-percent of harmful nutrients that cause the dead zone come from Midwest farms, namely fertilizer. Without laws to regulate fertilizer use, farmers are left to make changes on their own. But many don’t. St. Louis Public Radio’s Eric Schmid reports on why.
Four months after the shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade, the cost of surviving is hitting hard for the 24 people with bullet wounds. Expenses like medical bills, missed work, and many out-of-pocket costs are all coming due for the survivors and their families. They’re waiting for a promised payout, but they’re racking up debt in the meantime. Bram Sable-Smith from our partner at KFF Health News reports, it can be expensive to survive a mass shooting.
Connecticut-based band Goose launched its summer tour at The Factory in Chesterfield earlier this month. The show sounded and looked great for fans in the room, and those watching a live webcast from home. Few of them knew the sights and sounds arrived, in part, through the work of a Chesterfield company that’s become a force in the concert industry. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin reports on the work that happens before a band can hit the stage.
America needs more renewable energy, and of course it needs food--and those two demands are on a collision course over farmland. Solar power is the fastest growing source of renewable power, but solar farms can take land out of crop production. As Harvest Public Media’s Frank Morris reports, a growing field of study is searching for ways to get calories and kilowatts off the same land.
While the work to get Missouri residents compensated for radiation exposure has gotten lots of attention, an effort to help victims in Venice, Madison and Granite City has largely gone unnoticed. St. Louis Public Radio’s Will Bauer reports on what's being done and who's being impacted.
Galileo’s observations about the solar system made him the father of modern astronomy. They also clashed with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. And in 17th century Italy, spreading scientific facts could earn a death sentence. Opera Theatre of St. Louis is presenting a work about Galileo by the American composer Phillip Glass that opens Saturday. In a report by STLPR's Jeremy Goodwin, Performers Paul Groves and Vanessa Becerra reflect on some key moments in the opera and its continuing relevance.
Precision agriculture has promised to revolutionize farming since the mid-1990s. The idea is to give growers more granular data about their operations and new technology to put that information to use. Some of this has come to pass: farmers have more sophisticated equipment and hard data on how their operations perform. But St. Louis Public Radio’s Eric Schmid reports, some of the loftiest promises of precision ag are still out of reach. This reporting is in conjunction with Harvest Public Media, a collaboration of public media newsrooms in the Midwest and Great Plains - including St. Louis Public Radio.
The right haircut can be hard for anyone to find. Some St. Louis hairdressers understand a good haircut is especially important for transgender clients. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Lauren Brennecke reports, these stylists and barbers are moving toward gender-free terminology and using in-depth consultations.
One of the centerpieces for free public gathering in downtown St. Louis is back open after eight months of renovations. Citygarden, the three-acre sculpture park stretching along the Gateway Mall, is again offering a greener and more peaceful environment than the busy streets and city sidewalks it sits among. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin reports, an opening day party at Citygarden offered a view of the amenity as a colorful hub for city residents and visitors.
A recent report showed child abuse investigators missed warning signs parents were taking fentanyl before their children overdosed. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum explains, the report is prompting sharp questions about why Missouri’s Children’s Division isn’t using a process to steer parents into rehabilitation programs.
Missouri’s Department of Conservation has a new director. Jason Sumners, a former deputy director of the department, is taking the reins from Sara Parker Pauley who stepped down after 30 years. St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg spoke with Sumners about how conservation work has changed over the years and his goals for the department.
Staffing at the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department dropped by about a third since 2014. There’s a backlog of DNA samples linked to homicides, and the homicide squad grappled for resources as murders in the city spiked. Our investigation with APM Reports and The Marshall Project has found that one reason police failed to solve more than 1,000 homicides in the city over the last 10 years is a lack of resources. Tom Scheck with APM Reports, spent a lot of time digging into the finances of the SLMPD’s homicide squad. He spoke to St. Louis Public Radio's Rachel Lippmann about the findings.
We’ve been reporting this week on the difficulty the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department had with solving homicides between 2014 and 2023. Reporting by St. Louis Public Radio, APM Reports and the Marshall Project found that the department kept detectives in the unit even after a supervisor claimed they repeatedly failed to perform basic investigative tasks. St. Louis Public Radio’s Rachel Lippmann has more of the investigation’s finding.
This week, we’re taking a look at how the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department handles homicide investigations. An investigation by St. Louis Public Radio, APM Reports, and The Marshall Project found there were roughly 1,000 unsolved homicides involving Black victims over the last 10 years. Tom Scheck takes us to a stretch of road in north St. Louis where Black families rarely see justice.
There were more than 1,900 murders in St. Louis between 2014 and 2023, and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has failed to solve more than 1,000 of them. That means thousands of family members and friends do not have answers from police about the violent death of their loved ones. Rachel Lippmann has the story, part of an investigation into the city’s homicide clearance rates by St. Louis Public Radio, APM Reports and the Marshall Project.
Researchers at University of Missouri St. Louis are listening to cicadas with the help of area residents to better understand where the bugs that have emerged this summer are, and where they aren't.
So far, 2024 is one of Missouri’s most active tornado seasons on record. The St. Louis region has been especially stormy, which means meteorologists at the local National Weather Service are busy. St. Louis Public Radio’s Kate Grumke spoke with Ben Herzog, the Science and Operations Manager at the National Weather Service St. Louis. They talked about what goes into tornado warnings and how they are changing.
Dr. Suzanne Saueressig was known for transforming veterinary medicine in the St. Louis region. She helped stabilize a struggling Humane Society of Missouri clinic in the 1950s and 60s despite resistance from her colleagues in a then heavily male dominated field. St. Louis Public Radio’s Marissanne Lewis-Thompson spoke with Andy Primm at the Missouri History Museum about Saueressig and how she became the state’s first practicing female veterinarian.
Having a baby is expensive. But the growing cost of medical debt related to giving birth is becoming one of the largest part of those bills. KFF Health News has the story of one Illinois family and the medical bills that piled up after their daughter was born.
Organizers of a night of LGBTQ solidarity in Chesterfield on Saturday are touting it as a first-of-its kind event. The Gay-la will feature music, dancing, and many of St. Louis’s top drag performers. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin spoke with Greg Coleman, who will host as drag queen Karma T. Cassidy, about what drew him to drag, why nights like this matter, and how he hopes to get the audience on their feet outside the venue, too.
A new study at Washington University is examining how yearly vaccines for COVID-19 affect someone’s ability to fight the virus. So far, the data suggest people who receive repeated COVID-19 vaccines don’t lose their ability to fight the virus. WashU infectious disease specialist Dr. Michael Diamond talked to St. Louis On The Air Host Elaine Cha about his research.
Researchers have spent the past two years on the Mississippi River between Hamilton, Illinois, and Keokuk, Iowa, studying whether underwater acoustic systems will deter invasive carp. Halfway through the study, the results are promising. Reporter Eleanor Lindenmayer spoke with the two lead scientists about how it works and why it matters.
It’s spring, and most of us have rolled out the lawn mower at least a few times by now. But in the United States, there’s an ongoing debate over the traditional turfgrass yard. Harvest Public Media contributor Teresa Homsi explains how lawns became the default in American communities - and how a push for more environmentally-conscious options could change the landscape of our neighborhoods.
While the Missouri House spent its final week of session working on and passing legislation, the Missouri Senate spent that same week in a record breaking filibuster that later dissolved into dysfunction. What legislation made it across the finish line - and what will have to wait until next year? St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg breaks down the end of the 2024 Missouri legislative session.
Almost 10 years after the police shooting of Michael Brown Jr., questions remain around police reform at the federal and local levels. Civil rights attorney Bakari Sellers says national police reform is dead, and people must vote to start over. St. Louis Public Radio's Andrea Henderson recently spoke with Sellers while he was in town promoting his new book on national politics about ways to implement police reform.
Illinois’ state veterinarian says the latest strain of bird flu that’s shown up in some dairy cattle across the United States doesn’t appear to be a threat to the country’s milk supply. But, Mark Ernst says, it's important to "remain vigilant." We'll hear how veterinarians and agriculture leaders are working to keep H5N1 from spreading.
It’s been nearly three months since the shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade. While the event itself has largely faded from the headlines, recovery remains a daily presence in the lives of the 24 people who were shot and survived. Several still carry the bullets from that day, and are grappling with their wounds, both physically and emotionally. Peggy Lowe reports that medical guidelines aren’t exactly clear about what to do with the bullets.
Six-time Grammy winner David Sanborn has died at the age of 78. He grew up in Kirkwood and built a career playing with giants of many different musical styles. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin spoke with Sanborn in February about the key to his eclectic output.
The Missouri Legislature is set to adjourn on Friday. While lawmakers passed the state budget last week, there are a few big issues that still could come up in the final days. St. Louis Public Radio’s Brian Moline spoke with Statehouse reporter Sarah Kellogg about what has to happen in the final week of the 2024 Missouri Legislative session.
When the pandemic hit in the spring of 2020, a lot of life was put on hold – even those once in a lifetime moments, like high school graduation. Four years later, many members of that year’s senior class are finally experiencing a traditional commencement ceremony, graduating college. St. Louis Public Radio’s Abby Llorico spoke with two St. Louis area students graduating this weekend about how the legacy of the class of 2024 is one of revamped traditions and resilience.
For years, boosters of St. Louis’ technology sector have argued the region needs to double the number of jobs here, but a new report shows fewer openings than in years past. It's prompting some to look to startups as a solution. STLPR's Eric Schmid digs into some of the barriers keeping more startups from flourishing in the St. Louis region.
Missouri is one of the big battleground states over reproductive rights, where abortion is almost entirely illegal. One group that has recently given a significant amount of money to keep it illegal here is Catholic bishops. The Catholic church is strongly opposed to all abortion, but a majority of the faithful in Missouri don’t see it that way. A recent study shows many parishioners don't agree with their church's leadership on the issue, finding six out of 10 Catholics support abortion rights. Reporter Katia Riddle came to Missouri to talk to some of them.
St. Louis Cardinals fans who watch the games on Comcast X-finity were thrown a curveball last week when the Bally Sports Midwest channel disappeared from their TV service. Comcast and Diamond Sports Group couldn’t come to an agreement to keep Bally Sports Midwest and eleven other regional sports channels on the cable tv provider by the May first deadline. St. Louis Public Radio’s Brian Moline spoke with Evan Drellich, senior writer for The Athletic about this dispute and how it’s indicative of larger issues for Major League Baseball’s television rights.
Pitcher Adam Wainwright retired last year after an impressive 18-year career with the Cardinals. His final season had multiple milestones. Two weeks after securing his landmark 200th win, he performed three original songs after a game at Busch Stadium. It was a preview of his new country album, “Hey Y’all.” St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin asked Wainwright what it was like to perform for Cardinals fans, not with a ball and a glove, but a microphone and guitar.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey opened a tip line last year to get information about care of transgender people that could be considered abusive or illegal. St. Louis On The Air Producer Danny Wicentowski submitted a sunshine request for what was sent in during the first 48 hours it was open. He spoke with Elaine Cha about what he found: that most of the input was in favor of transgender care and critical of Bailey.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker wants state employees to have access to medication to help them lose weight. But the price tag, and how it was passed, has lawmakers and taxpayers outraged. Dave McKinney has more on the plan to cover injectable weight-loss drugs like Ozempic on the tax-payer dime.
Since 1952, Schwan’s has gone door to door delivering frozen food. Its yellow trucks, ice cream treats and customer service won the company a dedicated customer base. But recently, Schwan’s changed its name and stopped deliveries in most states. Harvest Public Media’s Elizabeth Rembert explores the company’s legacy and future.
The work of Colombian artist Delcy Morelos makes connections between political bloodshed and degradation of the natural environment, particularly in places where conflict over the land has left a legacy of blood. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin reports on a rare solo exhibition of the artist’s work now on view at Pulitzer Arts Foundation.
St. Louis has the highest rate of syphilis infections in the state. Cases of congenital syphilis among newborn babies are rising, too. St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Fentem speaks with Suzanne Alexander of the St. Louis Department of Health about how local officials hope to reduce the infection's spread.
If backers of an abortion rights initiative turn in enough signatures by May 5, Missourians could be voting to end the state’s ban on the procedure in November. While polling shows some GOP support for the measure, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum reports that it’s up for debate whether the ballot item hurts Republican electoral prospects.
An article published this month in a national publication put St. Louis in the spotlight—with a dark warning: beware the doom loop. It points to empty office buildings and shuttered restaurants, calling Downtown a “Real Estate Nightmare.” People are talking about it, but what's the conversation missing? Abby Llorico and Economic Development Reporter Eric Schmid discuss the response from the local business community.
NPR National Political correspondent Sarah McCammon recently released "The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church." It is part memoir and part exploration into the role Evangelicals play in politics. In a conversation with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, McCammon first talked about how her book connected with a wide audience — including people who didn’t grow up Evangelical like her.
A large number of Missourians and Illinoisans say college is still worth it. That’s according to a new report from the Strada Education Foundation. The State Opportunity Index calculates a positive return on investment score for each state.
An ancient farming practice is getting a new life. Biochar is gaining traction as a regenerative agriculture practice that could help improve soil and sink carbon. Efforts are underway to introduce more farmers to biochar.
Ferguson Police Chief Troy Doyle says one of his first goals as head of the department was to convince officers that the federal consent decree they’re under is a good thing. He is also focused on recruitment of officers and improving community relations.
A U-S Supreme Court decision last year stripped most federal protections from wetlands. That’s made cooperation between federal, state and local conservation groups more important than ever. A nature preserve along the Illinois River may serve as a template of how to move forward.
Last year was the deadliest, on record, for people walking in St. Louis County. The data reinforces a reputation that St. Louis is not the safest place to walk or bike. The St. Louis-based nonprofit Trailnet recently released a report that presents key findings about STL’s traffic violence during 2023.
Over the last two decades, the number of newspapers in the U.S. has dropped by nearly a third. Rural areas have been especially impacted. But newspapers are experimenting with different strategies in an effort to keep local news alive.
Last fall, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency appointed a federal coordinator to oversee the response to Cahokia Heights’ ongoing sewer and water issues. The inaugural coordinator is EPA scientist Beth Murphy. She’ll leave the position at the end of the month.
A team of behavioral health clinicians is working to bridge the gap in local policing by helping meet the mental and emotional needs in St. Louis. They’re known in St. Louis as the Purple Shirts.
Over the last month, Muslims across the world have observed the holy month of Ramadan with fasting, gatherings for meals, community prayer, and intentional giving. And yesterday marked Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of Ramadan. We hear from with a range of St. Louis area Muslims about the way they’ve experienced Ramadan this year:
Some property equity firms buy lots of single family homes and rent them out. Ohio based VineBrook Homes is one of the larger companies. Many of its renters claim VineBrook neglects its properties and renters which the firm denies. Now it faces another problem–and is selling hundreds of properties in order to pay off a huge debt.
Thousands of people yesterday poured into towns, stadiums, fields and even an airplane across Missouri and Illinois to watch the solar eclipse. Totality lasted about 4 minutes but left an emotional impression on many watchers.
Farmers often rely on herbicides to keep weeds out of their fields. But a startup company in the Midwest has developed a high-tech way to cut weeds down, by using robots.
The once dominant Missouri fur industry has been declining due to shifting attitudes around the use of fur and increased trade tariffs. But the enduring market is adapting.
Mike Mills sold over 60 million albums as bassist and songwriter with R.E.M., which emerged from the college-rock scene of the 1980’s to become one of the world’s most successful bands. Now he’s blending genres with his concerto for orchestra and rock band.
Mills and violinist Robert McDuffie will perform it Friday with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, in a program that also includes orchestral interpretations of R.E.M. songs.
The fur industry has a long history in the state of Missouri, and while it looks different now – it’s still around. Rebecca Smith recently went to the annual Missouri fur auction and brings us this look at fur trapping’s role in the community and in conservation.
The average age of farmers in the U.S. continues to rise, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new “Census of Ag.” It’s now nearly 60 years old. But there’s also an increase in the number of new farmers. and student membership in the agriculture organization FFA is at an all-time high.
Gray foxes are found from Central America to Canada. But their numbers are shrinking in parts of the Midwest. Researchers in several states including Illinois are working to find out what’s behind the decline of the gray fox.
This time a month ago Kansas City was still coming to grips with a Super Bowl victory celebration turned upside down in an instant by a mass shooting. Shocking as it was, shootings of the same basic type happen almost twice a day in the United States.
The FDA recently approved two cell-based gene therapy treatments for the blood disorder. Doctors and advocates believe the therapy could bring relief to the nearly 2,000 St. Louisans living with the disease. However, many are questioning the accessibility, their costs and risks.
The St. Louis Cardinals start their 2024 season tomorrow afternoon in Los Angeles against the Dodgers. Last year, the redbirds had their first losing season since 2007. There are tempered expectations that this year will be better.
Beauty school has made its way to incarcerated women at the St. Louis County Justice Center. The aim is to address recidivism with hot tools and clippers.
The 2024 Missouri Legislative Session resumes today after a week away from the Capitol. With only roughly two months left in the end of session, GOP priorities include passing a resolution that if later approved by voters, would make it harder to amend the state’s constitution as well as measures on education and crime.
Damon Davis has worked in many art forms, including sculpture, painting and film. His latest work is a multi-genre opera inspired by Afrofuturism.
In the early 1900s many race massacres where white mobs attacked and killed Black people across the country, including in East St. Louis and Tulsa, Oklahoma. The oldest known survivor of the Tulsa massacre spoke about it at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Answers to the main question about the Clayton campus' planned 2025 closure and reaction from students with an uncertain future.
Two wildfires consumed more than 1,000 acres of the Mark Twain National Forest in late February. Firefighters contained the burns, but the unseasonably warm and windy conditions that let them spread quickly underscore the importance of the forest service's plans to set some fires on purpose.
It’s illegal to fight roosters in the U.S. yet raising game fowl is a big business. There have been recent efforts in some states to lower the penalties for cockfighting. Animal rights activists call foul, while breeders say they’re simply protecting their right to raise chickens.
St. Louis has roughly 20-thousand vacant properties spread across the city. And responding to this challenge will require a fair amount of cash and investment.
One month ago today, Kansas City was shaken when the Chiefs Super Bowl celebration turned into a mass shooting. Since then, people around the country have donated millions to aid the victims. Now, the community needs to figure out the landscape of need.
Kahlil Robert Irving makes sculptures at his spacious studio in South St. Louis that he exhibits around the world. His latest show, an innovative mix of ceramics and digital collage, is at the Kemper Art Museum.
The GOP candidates for Madison County board chairman, Kurt Prenzler and Chris Slusser, used to be allies — but are now bitter rivals. Since no Democrat is running, whoever wins the primary will be the chairman.
Farms across the Midwest use biosolids—a type of byproduct from wastewater treatment plants—to fertilize their land. But toxic chemical could be contaminating that fertilizer, along with millions of acres of farmland.
In the GOP primary race to represent southern Illinois in Congress, incumbent Mike Bost is being challenged by Darren Bailey. The two Republicans have tried to differentiate themselves — despite having similar policy positions. How are they different and what are their priorities for the 12th congressional district?
St. Louis’ major league soccer team has started its second season as the newest member of the league. But this summer, the team will not be playing in the U.S. Open Cup. The decision by MLS has angered the supporters groups that have been called the backbone of the fan base.
One of the most contentious topics for members of Congress right now is whether the United States should continue giving military support and money to Ukraine. It’s an issue that’s divided candidates in Missouri’s U.S. Senate contest — as well as GOP members of Missouri’s House delegation.
The Francis Howell School District made national headlines when it canceled its Black History and Black Literature courses. After protests from teachers and students, the board agreed to reinstate it, only it was, in the board’s words, a politically neutral curriculum. A new version will be before the board later this month.
Parts of the Midwest including Missouri lack reliable data on Hispanic maternal mortality rates. A new investigation shows that while an accurate count is challenging, it may also cause underserved populations to miss out on health care resources.
Women now make up a majority of veterinarians in the United States. But they still face skepticism and even discrimination in rural areas where there’s a shortage of veterinarians.
Abortion rights activists in Missouri are feeling a surge of momentum around a ballot measure legalizing the procedure. But foes of abortion rights are fighting the effort — both inside and outside of the state legislature.
Most Illinois teachers feel parents and administrators support the state’s efforts to teach students about racially inclusive history. That’s according to a new University of Illinois survey of teachers.
Lincoln University students and alumni are still grieving the death of a beloved administrator. Antoinette “Bonnie” Candia-Bailey died by suicide in January. Her passing has brought awareness to the Black mental health crisis.
The sixth-generation family run A.E. Schmidt company hasn't changed much in 150years. The oldest American manufacturer of billiards tables is carving history into every pool table at a factory in south St. Louis.
Many Asian people in the area say they miss spending the holiday with family back home, but they try to keep the traditions alive in St. Louis. And, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra will perform a musical melding of Radiohead and Brahms.
Not everyone is sold on Gov. JB Pritzker's plan, which would put more money toward education while caring for the influx of migrants. Plus, Jazz St. Louis will honor Kirkwood-raised musician David Sanborn with its first lifetime achievement award.
For thirty years, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra IN UNISON Chorus has brought singers from churches across the St. Louis area to perform songs arranged and composed by Black artists. For singers, the music tells the history of Black America.
Missouri Republicans are bracing for a crowded primary season — and some sharp divisions over the party’s future. While some GOP leaders want to see unity ahead of the general election cycle, feisty intraparty battles may be part of the new normal in GOP-dominated Missouri.
The launch of the revamped federal student aid form, known as FAFSA, was supposed to make getting help paying for college easier. But for many students from immigrant families, it’s shut them out. They’re all U.S. citizens but their parents are not. The issue may jeopardize their ability to afford college.
A new proposal before Illinois lawmakers would allow terminally ill people to end their own lives with medication.
The St. Louis branch of Missouri’s Children’s Division has struggled for months with a massive backlog of unfinished abuse and neglect cases. But last year, officials said increased hiring put the agency on a track to eliminate the backlog by September of this year.
More than a third of Illinois students don’t have basic reading skills by the fourth grade. As parents and teachers are trying to figure out why kids are struggling, some experts say a popular teaching strategy isn’t working.
Local opposition to wind and solar energy projects is on the rise. But now local governments in some states including Illinois are being told their ability to say no to wind and solar farms is limited.
Modern day cannabis products now dwarf the weed of yester-year when it comes to strength. That spike in potency may be leaving new consumers behind, but industry newcomers are looking to corner the market on low strength weed.
In far southern Illinois, conservative congressman Mike Bost faces a serious challenge in the March 19th primary from a fellow Republican who says his voting record isn’t good enough – even though Bost was in line with former President Donald Trump 94% of the time.
St. Louis created the city’s Office of New Americans in October to help streamline resources for immigrant and refugee families. Gilberto Pinela, the office’s director, talks about its goals and how the office is prioritizing new arrivals.
Before last February, St. Louisans needed to travel to the Metro East to buy recreational marijuana. In the year since Missouri legalized it, there has been an affect Metro East dispensaries and communities.
Lawmakers have supported pipelines to sequester CO2 or distribute hydrogen power across the Midwest. Farmers and landowners are resistant to the projects.
Herman Mellville’s 1851 novel Moby-Dick is one of the most-adapted books in American literature. Repertory Theatre of St. Louis is presenting a theatrical adaptation that borrows some of its moves from the circus.
A new Missouri Historical Society collection is highlighting the life of a prominent Black St. Louis physician. Dr. John H. Gladney was the first Black ear, nose, and throat specialist in the city.
Despite a drop in crime rates and homicides the last four years, St. Louis area community members feel public safety officials shouldn’t be hasty to take credit. They still see a disconnect between police and the public.
Chris Koos is the mayor of Normal, Illinois, and the newest member of Amtrak's board of directors. He wants to see the passenger rail service increase ridership to above pre-pandemic levels, including on the Chicago to St. Louis route.
A 140 year-old crematorium in south St. Louis is now home to a new alternative to traditional burial practices. It's one of the few places in the region that offers “water cremation.”
A federal program is sending the pricey machines to rural and low-income districts. While they have some downsides, they are being embraced by the schools, drivers and students.
Mike Parson is outlining goals for this year while looking back on his six years in office. The Republican delivered his final State of the State address this week.
Legal recreational marijuana is grown at 51 cultivation facilities approved by the state. Another eight are waiting for Missouri to sign off on their ability to compete.
The state’s Child Care Assistance Program workers want higher pay and retirement benefits. The initiative provides affordable services for low-income families throughout Illinois.
Republican Jason Smith wants to move colleagues toward future bipartisan collaboration with a bill that increases the child tax credit. It also provides incentives for business development and low-income housing.
Students are working on ideas for cities that solve problems and meet the needs of modern society. It's part of a national competition that challenges sixth through eighth graders to design a city of the future.
The president of Lincoln University, a historically black college in Jefferson City, is under suspension while an investigation is underway into his conduct. John Mosely was the subject of an email from the school’s former vice president of student affairs, Antoinette Candia-Bailey, sent hours before she died by suicide.
A group will begin gathering signatures for an initiative petition to strike down the state’s ban on most abortions. It needs roughly 171,000 signatures to put the measure on the August or November ballot.
The St. Elizabeth Republican hasn’t been shy about expressing his disdain about high-profile infighting within the party but says the decision to leave Congress after 16 years is based on a desire to stop working.
The National Weather Service says the frigid temperatures over the past few days have broken a temperature record from the late 1800s. Forecasters say a warm-up is expected over the next couple of days before the temperatures drop again over the weekend.
The National Weather Service says an Arctic air mass is moving in. It will bring windchill values around 15 below on Sunday and Monday. The St. Louis region is not expected to receive much snow in the winter blast.
School board members plan to replace the courses with a "politically neutral" curriculum. Many students opposing the decision say the classes helped them learn about long-ignored histories and their identities.
Democratic Congressman Mike Quigley was at the U.S. Capitol Building during the insurrection. He wonders how it might impact this year's Presidential election.
The method to preserve food is gaining popularity. People with extra time and money are returning to the age-old tradition as a hobby.
The CommUNITY Arts Bus provides tuition and transportation scholarships to children in the St. Louis area from low-income families. Some are as young as 3.
Andrew Bailey is entering his second year in the office. He is facing a challenge by Will Scharf in the August Republican Primary. The general election could feature a race against Democrat Elad Gross.
It’s been nearly three months since members of the Shah family were at a trunk-or-treat event at North Kirkwood Middle School when prosecutors say a former St. Louis County Police officer fired shots while surrounded by children.
As of November, the U.S. imported $20 billion more in agricultural products than it exported. That is trending toward the largest calendar year deficit in nearly a century.
Missouri lawmakers convene tomorrow for the new legislative session. Some are concerned election year posturing will hinder progress.
St. Norbert Parish in Florissant offers mass in Swahili and French. Advocates say the services allow African immigrants to establish friendships and discuss immigration issues.
St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum reflects on the region's top political stories over the past year.
Many are already investing in nature-based solutions, such as removing pavement, building marshes and making room for rivers to flow. Now, St. Louis is looking to learn from Missouri neighbors about what it can do with the River Des Peres.
Advocates in Illinois say merit scholarships mainly benefit white, wealthy students and make it harder for low-income students to afford college.
A housing shortage and a competitive market are causing increasing rental costs in the Midwest. That comes as research from realtors throughout the country shows national rental prices dropped by nearly 2.5 percent in the past six months.
The push started with parents in local school districts and eventually led to state legislatures. One school librarian says her colleagues are leaving the profession because it has become too painful.
The head of the U.S. Census Bureau says data can save lives. He delivered that message during a keynote address at the 2023 Minority Health Conference in Illinois.
The reporting program restricts who can have a gun. Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly says the tool is stopping major tragedies before they happen.
It first opened in 1924 and was shuttered in the 1980s. A local commission is attempting to restore the venue to its former glory.
The mini music district on South Broadway on the southern edge of downtown St. Louis has seen some ownership changes and new clubs. That may be the recipe for an expanded music destination.
St. Louis-area residents who live near sites contaminated with radioactive waste are looking for a new path forward after an effort to secure compensation for life-long health issues did not end up in final defense legislation.
A nonprofit was formed this year to run the innovation district. It's designed to help develop resources for a company looking to grow into a world-class venture.
Low-income families needing safety-net services have become collateral damage in the bureaucratic scramble to determine whether tens of millions of people still qualify for Medicaid after a pandemic-era freeze on disenrollment ended.
A weeklong summit is examining collaborative crime prevention. The discussions come as St. Louis points to a drop in homicides.
Illinois is routinely on lists of the most corrupt states in the country. How does that ongoing legacy of corruption affect the government and erode voters' trust?
More than 100 billion pounds of food goes to waste every year in America—in kitchens, at grocery stores, and on farms. Now a federally-funded program is connecting local farmers and food pantries in an effort to cut down on that food waste. But funding for the program depends on Congress and what gets included in the next farm bill.
Illinois has devoted $25 million in federal COVID funding to the program. The money runs out next year.
Strong resistance to explaining climate change has convinced some meteorologists and climatologists in the Midwest to leave the profession.
DeJuan Strickland has self-published two comic books, hoping that young, Black superheroes would inspire a greater interest in science, technology, engineering, and math.
The initiative allows seniors to attend school in the morning and work in the afternoon. The goal is for students to pick up workplace skills to transition into adulthood and possibly a job after graduation.
The East St. Louis native is playing with genre expectations in his first holiday film, "Candy Cane Lane." It's Hudlin's first time working with Eddie Murphy since directing "Boomerang" in 1992.
The initiative provides $12,500 in forgivable home loans to benefits-eligible employees. The program has a long history in some St. Louis neighborhoods and has the city’s support.
Many families are deciding which pie to cook for the holiday. Food historians say pumpkin pie is associated with American culture. Sweet potato pie is a significant part of African American soul food culture.
The St. Louis Reparations Commission is preparing a race-based harm report for Mayor Tishaura Jones. Robin Rue Simmons got Black residents in Evanston, Illinois, the country’s first reparations payout and is closely monitoring St. Louis’ push.
Washington University, St. Louis University, the Saint Louis Zoo, and other local institutions are bringing children into Forest Park to show them wildlife can thrive in urban areas.
Many in the trans community are conflicted between their identities and faith within Christian denominations. That includes a trans man in Illinois searching for a church he can call home.
Council members discussed a measure opposing the International Institute’s efforts to bring Latin Americans to the region. The resolution opposes "the importation of illegal immigrants," though institute leaders said people helped by the program are in the country legally.
Council members will weigh a resolution condemning the International Institute’s efforts. The resolution opposes "the importation of illegal immigrants." Institute leaders say they are helping people in the country legally.
The President says workers at the northern Illinois plant will be treated fairly under a new contract. The parent company of Chrysler is planning to resume production after a pause earlier this year.
The St. Louis County Democrat is facing an unexpected primary race from St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell and drawing criticism from St. Louis’ Jewish community.
Many smaller, often rural, schools are improving cooperation to address lower enrollment. It allows districts to provide options that are offered at larger schools.
TWA had one of its largest hubs at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. Two authors with in-depth access to the company's archives in St. Louis have detailed the airline's history, which includes ties to Charles Lindbergh, Howard Hughes and Carl Icahn.
Thousands of competitors at the American Royal Livestock Show in Kansas City each year show their best livestock. The competition includes children as young as 7.
The region’s urban core has struggled since the pandemic, with many companies relocating offices away from downtown. Urban centers with more diverse economic sectors have been more resilient.
The Hazelwood School District has sharply increased its rate of investigating student residency, deploying a team of employees who can use intrusive tactics.
Military medical providers have a unique way of practicing medicine. They serve alongside patients every day. That can lead to specific challenges at many operations, including Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.
Intimaa AbuHelou is worried her relatives will not survive the Israel-Hamas war, which she says is more devastating than previous conflicts.
Fans have dressed up and traveled to the Delmar Loop for decades to see showings of the movie at the historic venue. Many came this year to protest a decision to stop showing the 1975 classic.
Many of the nonprofit station’s listeners are missing several former on-air voices following long-running disputes with management.
Most of the large public demonstrations in the St. Louis area since the violence erupted have been in support of Palestinians bombarded during Israel’s attacks on Hamas targets in heavily populated areas in Gaza. Public responses from elected officials have been largely supportive of Israel and critical of Hamas.
The International Institute of St. Louis is partnering with unions and philanthropic leaders to resettle hundreds of migrants from Chicago. The goal is to bolster the city’s workforce and stem its population decline.
Many students at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School are reluctant to speak about the shooting one year ago today. Alumni are trying to help by producing art that reflects their attempt to handle the grief.
Many in the Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience community feel written out of the narrative of last year’s deadly shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts. The schools share a building.
State legislators refused to consider any gun restrictions during the 2023 session despite pleas from students affected by the shooting. The St. Louis Board of Alderman has tried to fill the gaps.
A nonpartisan education policy organization's report shows the educator shortage in Illinois is better than in other Midwestern states. It also suggests keeping teachers in Illinois improved during the COVID-19 outbreak.
In the last three decades, thousands of volunteers, many in the Midwest, have helped tag butterflies to gather more information about their journey to Mexico.
Black animators from the region are breaking into the industry by creating content focusing on diverse stories about and by people of color and the LGBTQ community.
Three companies are proposing pipelines to carry CO2 from ethanol plants in the Midwest. The projects would go through farmland and past small towns, leaving rural first responders worried about safety.
They use their own bikes while adult "bus drivers" lead and tail the group. Organizers want to continue the initiative in the spring and expand it to upper elementary students.
The organization has been teaching the Spanish art form for decades. The group's founder says it's a way for people to learn about Hispanic culture and history.
St. Louis Actors’ Studio is presenting the local debut of Liza Birkenmeier’s play “Dr. Ride’s American Beach House.” It takes place on a St. Louis rooftop, as women question their own identities after learning astronaut Sally Ride was gay.
The University of Missouri - St. Louis is celebrating its 60th anniversary with five new fanfares. They are short pieces with big goals.
Every two years, the wing that runs Scott Air Force Base — the 375th — gets a new leader. Colonel John Poole has now been that leader for 81 days. St. Louis Public Radio’s Will Bauer sat down with Colonel Poole and asked him about what his wing does on a day-to-day basis. (Rod Milam hosting for Wayne Pratt)
Federal borrowers are paying off student loans after a more than three-year reprieve. Many in the region say they face an uncertain future with the payment pause lifted.
Two groups have separate ideas on an abortion access measure that could go on the Missouri ballot in next year's election cycle.
Officials have moved dozens of people from the homeless camp, but many wonder where they will go. Mayor Tishaura Jones says the city navigated a complex situation while addressing a growing public safety hazard.
Several people who are homeless are still outside St. Louis City Hall despite an attempt to remove them from the area. The city's effort came hours after Board of Aldermen members announced plans for a so-called Unhoused Bill of Rights.
Community composting is popping up in cities across the country. It keeps waste out of landfills and returns nutrients to the soil. It can also save municipalities money on landfill fees. Yet not all cities are welcoming the operations.
Amanzi Umoye has danced from coast to coast, finding a new sense of home within folk dancing. Umoye's story is part of our weeklong exploration of the concept of home with help from NPR's Next Generation Radio Project.
A historic St. Louis church-turned-skatepark caught on fire in June, leaving a shell of a building and charred rubble. Skateboarders no longer have a physical home, but the heart of the community remains.
Auralie Wilde says she finds comfort and freedom in her performances and her body. Wilde's story is part of our weeklong exploration of the concept of home with help from NPR's Next Generation Radio Project.
Management has parted ways with several volunteer DJs. Others have quit in protest. They say leaders are creating a vision for the radio station that does not serve the community.
The operator of Izumi says the food connects him with his heritage and childhood. His story is part of our weeklong exploration of the concept of home with help from NPR's Next Generation Radio Project.
The transportation sector accounts for nearly 30% of the greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Barge shipping could help reduce that number.
Many political observers don't believe Republican U.S. Senator Josh Hawley is in danger of losing next year's election. Several Democratic challengers beg to differ. Some in that party worry about whether a competitive primary is a blessing or a waste of resources.
The sweeping federal program funded by taxpayers softens the blow when natural disasters destroy crops. The multi-billion dollar initiative is up for renewal this year.
Illinois is the first state without cash bail. The new system took effect yesterday. Illinois has been preparing for two years to take money out of pretrial decisions on detainment and release.
Craft brewing is a male-dominated industry, but efforts are underway to make it more diverse. In St. Louis, some women have broken through to become head brewers and want beer to be more welcoming to all.
Missouri is part of an emerging extreme heat belt that could deliver more scorching days within 30 years. So far, there’s no unified plan to make dwellings safe in the dangerously high temperatures.
The museum and the Baltimore Art Museum have partnered on an exhibition about hip-hop culture and music. The attraction includes work from eight St. Louis artists.
Most people in the St. Louis area pronounce the name of the small Metro East village of Sauget incorrectly. It's one of many French names St. Louisans may botch.
Lawmakers gather tomorrow in Jefferson City to consider overturning this year's vetoes by Gov. Mike Parson. That includes his removal of more than $500 million from the state budget.
The county is one of the only local health departments that operates its own clinics. They comprise 40 percent of the organization's budget. Officials want the federal government to approve a status that would add millions of dollars to the annual budget.
This weekend's festival in Grand Center will highlight the region's contributions to the genre. DJ G. Wiz will lead the tribute. He has showcased hip-hop over the years through documentaries for generations of fans.
The aerospace company is seeking close to $155M in tax incentives for a new manufacturing facility next to Lambert International Airport. It expects to create nearly 500 high-paying jobs with the project. The request comes a few weeks after the St. Louis County Council voted against freezing property taxes for seniors.
Former workers at Missouri's Children's Division say the department is not properly investigating abuse allegations because of the backlog. They also say there is a shortage of investigators.
The Indian population is now the St. Louis region's fastest-growing immigrant group, surpassing the area's Mexican population. The U.S. Census Bureau says there were roughly 18,000 people from India in the region in 2021, up from around 11,000 a decade earlier.
Salmonella is one of the most pervasive foodborne bacteria in the country. Researchers in Missouri are working on how to detect the pathogen in the chicken supply chain.
A year ago, Mayor Tishaura Jones signed legislation that strengthened civilian oversight of police and corrections facilities. But there's evidence that the system is not working as intended. (Rod Milam hosting for Wayne Pratt)
The rare lemon cuckoo bumblebee bee was recently spotted in a Belleville garden by an amateur citizen scientist. The bee’s population has been on the decline, but this recent sighting could mean good news for rare bee species and bumblebees in the region.
During the past two legislative sessions, the Missouri House of Representatives has passed bills legalizing sports betting in the state. However, its continued failure to advance in the Senate could lead to the issue being decided by voters instead. (Brian Moline in for Wayne Pratt)
The city of Belleville made history last week: The mayor nominated and the city council approved the first female fire chief by a 15 to 1 margin. (Rod Milam in for Wayne Pratt)
The Evolution Festival will feature headliners the Black Keys and Brandi Carlisle, plus a focus on local barbecue. Producers are counting on a strong first year in the hopes of creating a signature event in St. Louis.
The National Weather Service says the triple-digit temperatures could end this weekend. Residents, businesses, and schools are coping with the weather that has brought near-record heat index values.
Many are holding indoor recess, providing bottled water on bus routes, and making sure teachers and staff can recognize heat-related distress. The first week for many school districts coincides with a heat index that could reach 119.
A former newspaper reporter in the southwest part of the state wants to make sure no one forgets about the lynchings in Pierce City, which has a population of roughly 1,200. The town had a sizeable Black population, but that changed more than 100 years ago.
The expanding population of the federally protected bird is becoming a big nuisance for producers.
Two major groups are no longer working with the club as sexual misconduct allegations are increasing calls for change across the chess world.
The duo was one of the most successful St. Louis-based national rock acts. The group has released its first album since 2016 following a move to Brooklyn.
Lawmakers and advocates supporting the proposal say children need an attorney to understand their constitutional rights. Some law enforcement groups oppose the plan, saying all individuals are entitled to counsel at their request.
J.B. Pritzker has put the brakes on the state building new nuclear power plants. A nuclear power expert says it’s a missed opportunity.
Climate change is one factor that will influence future tick behavior. Some experts believe ticks will move further north while their populations decline in areas that become too warm.
Those who staff the call centers say the work can be challenging and rewarding. The largest Illinois center is in Bloomington.
The lake didn’t become what it is today naturally. It was the brainchild of two Kansas City businessmen. One ended up in prison for taking advantage of unsuspecting people.
Cherokee Street Theater's Suki Peters has crafted a version of Shakespeare's “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” It reimagines the 500-year-old comedy as a sitcom and is being performed this month in 24 public parks.
Costs have reached record levels because of several factors including high crop prices, increasing interest rates, and more expensive transportation costs. Those prices might not trickle down to consumers, but they affect farmers.
Some Midwest farmers want to provide Americans with better-tasting, sustainable shrimp. The industry struggled during the pandemic, but farmers remain hopeful it will come back stronger than ever.
New grass at the home of the Cardinals and a high-tech approach at the pitch for the city's Major League Soccer team are helping to keep the fields in shape during the sweltering St. Louis summer.
Jay Nixon was having a busy political retirement as a law firm partner and hiking trails around the world. Then, he decided to become a key figure in a national political group considering if it should field a third-party presidential ticket.
A federal report places a spotlight on Indian Boarding School policies that took Native children from their parents in the 1800s. More than 50 were sent to St. Mary's School for Boys near Chicago. Several of them died at the school.
The state just passed the new Native American history bill. It calls for all Illinois K-12 students will be required to learn about Indigenous history, tribal sovereignty, genocide, and more starting in the 2024-25 school year.
A Missouri Department of Conservation study shows many tick diseases are in the state, including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme disease. Officials say ways to avoid the illnesses include wearing light-colored clothes, long pants, and avoiding shaded areas along the edge of forests.
As Missouri Republicans mull over whether to put a measure on next year’s ballot making it harder to amend the state constitution, at least one other state with similar political characteristics will soon vote on the idea.
The St. Louis Art Museum's first exhibition of contemporary and modern works by Native Americans involves elements of Indigenous culture. It runs through early September.
A winter freeze and summer drought have put the southern Illinois peach crop in jeopardy. At least one farmer says it’s the worst loss since 2007.
Hospital leaders say plans by the St. Louis and Kansas City-based systems will make treatment and innovation easier. But there are studies showing such mergers, on average, do not result in lower prices.
Transgender people are complaining about gender discrimination within some housing shelters in St. Louis and St. Louis County.
As St. Louis Public Radio’s Andrea Henderson reports, transgender people and housing advocates say shelter staff aren’t complying with updated federal housing policies and are denying people shelter because of their gender identity.
St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin introduces us to three filmmakers whose works will be featured at the STL Filmmakers Showcase
Two years after the Madison County state's attorney created a task force to curb crime by Missouri residents, the number of Missourians convicted of felonies in the Metro East county continues to grow.
Jules Perkovic is one of 75 artists from around the world participating in the Big Balloon Build. They are creating a larger than life world out of more than 100,000 biodegradable balloons in four days before opening to the public for a charity event.
The department’s clearance rates have improved in recent years, but more than 750 murders in the city since 2017 remain unresolved. Those numbers are from data provided by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department as part of an open records lawsuit settlement.
Aomawa Shields' fascination with the stars started with the 1986 film "SpaceCamp." Shields' new book details her unconventional path to becoming a leading scientist in her field.
The berries are native to the Midwest and many believe they have medicinal properties. Demand increased in the years leading up to the pandemic, which has resulted in an increase in growers, and an oversupply.
The last place St. Louis Cardinals open the second-half of a frustrating season tomorrow at Busch Stadium against Washington. They are more than 11 games behind division leading Cincinnati and have their lowest winning percentage at the All-Star break since 1990.
The shortage of nurses, especially in rural areas, stretched many providers to their limits during the pandemic. A Certified Nursing Assistant in Boss, Missouri, about 2 hours southwest of St. Louis, says many CNAs are leaving because of low pay and little support from management.
A new state law will expand Medicaid coverage for new moms to a full-year after giving birth. Currently, those benefits last only 60 days.
The federal Inflation Reduction Act made uncapped tax credits available for capturing emissions, including CO2, to reduce the worst impacts of climate change.
The festival centering on the music and culture of the Black, queer community enters its fourth year this weekend, when it takes over the Big Top in Grand Center.
Advocates say unhoused people are among the most vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. Cooling centers can help, but a 2017 Centers for Disease Control study shows some aren't aware of that option, or can't get to them.
Congress expanded work requirements for food assistance during the debt ceiling negotiations, a move that would normally happen in the Farm Bill. Shortly before that, the state of Kansas made similar changes.
Fixing pinball machines is a specialized skill. Some in the St. Louis region are teaching a younger generation the rare art of pinball repair.
City leaders are looking for ways to protect young people from rising gun violence. The Giffords Center for Violence Intervention is suggesting several options like improving health and education resources along with increasing employment opportunities.
After the flood of 2019, communities along the Mississippi River started pouring more resources into projects to restore wetlands habitat. The initiatives in the St. Louis region help with seasonal and flash flooding, which have become more frequent.
A massive public art exhibition includes works from sculptors, filmmakers and sound artists. The pieces engage with social issues in the neighborhoods where organizers place the art.
The Catholic Church's teachings oppose abortion. Many in the faith don't believe Roe versus Wade should have been overturned. That includes Catholic abortion doulas, who describe themselves as the faithful majority.
Honey bees can gather in inconvenient places. That's usually when beekeepers come in for the tricky job of moving the insects without harming them.
Thousands of patients seeking an abortion have been going to clinics in the Metro East since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade one year ago. Planned Parenthood officials have increased staff at the Fairview Heights clinic to keep up with increased patient loads.
The education and supplemental nutrition program is for pregnant and postpartum people as well as children up to age five. Recent revisions include the addition of more than 700 items to the approved food list.
Joplin earned the nickname king of ragtime, but his work in opera is lesser known. He never finished “Treemonisha.” Now, a composer has written a new adaptation of the opera.
The federal government plans to distribute $1.5 billion to cities and states to establish and maintain urban canopies. Trees provide more green space for residents...and help cities adapt to extreme weather events and rising temperatures.
Each year, a group of young members of the Cherokee Tribes gets on bikes to retrace the steps of their ancestors who were forced to march the Trail of Tears. The group is currently traveling through southern Missouri. We’ll hear from three of this year's participants, Kenzie Snell, Nelson Lambert and Faith Springwater.
GOP lawmakers want to make it more difficult to amend Missouri's Constitution. But an ideologically diverse coalition could be ready to kill any proposal.
Greenwood Cemetery is in the St. Louis County community of Hillsdale. It was established in 1874 and is believed to be one of the oldest historically Black cemeteries in the region.
Lisa Holder White has been on the state's high court for about a year. She wants to show young people of all races that they can achieve goals by working hard, believing in themselves and helping others.
The ancient fish has survived mass extinctions and multiple ice ages. But human engineering and climate change could be the challenges is can't survive, and may be a harbinger for other species.
Officials answered questions last night about testing at the school. It closed after results from a private firm showed dangerous levels of radioactive material. Further testing by the Army Corps indicated the school was safe.
A report from the Missouri Attorney General's Office shows police stopped Black drivers at higher rates than their share of Missouri's population for the 23rd consecutive year.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker legalized pot nearly four years ago saying hundreds of thousands of people will have a chance at a better life, jobs, housing and real opportunity. Is the law living up to those claims?
Therapy for children in the state is not always coordinated in a timely and affordable fashion. It's one reason why the new Illinois budget includes $250 million for early childhood education.
A growing legal movement to grant natural entities like rivers and forests legal rights is having a moment in the U.S., as environmentalists set their sights on the Mississippi River.
Last year’s race attracted more than 100,000 people for the weekend, including 60,000 for Sunday’s main event. Organizers at World Wide Technology Raceway in the Metro East want to build on that momentum.
The city's new top prosecutor says failure is not an option, but rebuilding the office will be a very difficult task. Gore says a high-performing circuit attorney's office is necessary for a viable criminal justice system.
Libraries could lose funding if they don’t follow the new regulations including a ban on what the state describes as “age-inappropriate” displays in children’s areas.
The Defense Department wants more small businesses in its contracting ranks. But the process can be cumbersome and frustrating for some employers seeking opportunities with the military.
A new exhibit at the St. Louis Public Library Central location features Prom Magazine. It highlighted St. Louis high school life from the 40s to the 70s.
The global music icon who launched her career in St. Louis died yesterday. She became the queen of rock 'n' roll. Fans gathered at Turner's star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame yesterday to pay their respects.
A new documentary about the baseball legend and St. Louis native is hitting local movie screens this month. It focuses on career highlights and the hall-of-famer's life off the field.
The United Nations has declared 2023 the International Year of Millets. The highly resilient and cost-friendly grains could be the next crop for U.S. farmers in the midst of climate change.
Salsich was a fan of the show for years, and dreamed of bringing his mix of bluegrass, rock and country to the show where singers compete for a record deal.
The national historic site recently became the nation’s 424th national park. The Illinois community made history in 1836 as the first plat and town legally registered by a formerly enslaved couple.
After repeated calls by residents for relief from sewage and rainwater flooding, repairs to the Metro Eat city’s faulty system could start in a few months, but not finish until 2026.
She had planned to step down June 1, but decided to resign yesterday. Governor Mike Parson says he’ll announce a replacement this week.
The expiration of the federal declaration after three years marks a new phase where the virus has not gone away, but is less dangerous to the general public.
Infighting and contention derailed many points of the GOP-dominated agenda in the just-completed 2023 session in Jefferson City.
The Army wants to add new robotic equipment to its arsenal. Soldiers at the military base this week are working with two prototypes that could help save lives.
A staffing crisis in the Circuit Attorney’s Office has serious implications throughout the criminal justice system. Many reports indicate there are fewer than 10 assistant circuit attorneys handling serious criminal cases.
The largest residential property owner in St. Louis is dealing with complaints ranging from unresolved maintenance issues and unfounded evictions to aggressive rent collection tactics.
The St. Louis native who started his career as a background dancer for Janet Jackson, Usher, Beyonce, and Justin Bieber returns to his hometown for a show tomorrow.
Transgender health, foreign ownership of farmland, and the threshold for constitutional amendments are some of the major legislation Missouri lawmakers could address as they head into the last week of the regular legislative session.
Facing a move by the Missouri attorney general to oust her, a contempt of court charge, and increasing public pressure, the city's top prosecutor has decided to step down.
Most of the children struggle with depression and anxiety from language barriers and migration to a new country. They learn about African dance and drumming every week to help them gain confidence.
The region has bet on growing its geospatial, advanced manufacturing and tech industries to position the area for the future. The transition depends on a skilled workforce to fill open positions.
Congress renews the measure about every five years. But with the $31 trillion debt ceiling crisis looming, agriculture policy experts say cost will drive farm bill 2023 policy discussions.
Some indigenous people in Illinois say education about Native American history is incomplete, and possibly inaccurate. A bill at the Illinois state capitol wants to change that.
Three openly transgender educators in the school district say discrimination has forced them to leave their jobs.
Roughly three-quarters of the all-female ensemble’s repertoire in a typical season comes from women composers. The group teams with the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra this week to perform “The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci.”
The emergency regulations begin Thursday. Some providers have already warned patients they cannot continue providing care under the new restrictions.
As Illinois’ legal pot industry and the demand for educated workers grow, schools and companies are collaborating on marijuana classes.
Missouri Republicans have spent months working to curtail gender affirming care for minors. They’ve portrayed the issue as a way to protect children. Now, Andrew Bailey is substantially restricting hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgeries for adults.
The autonomous delivery droids look like a microwave on six wheels. Many consider them a cut oddity and a sign of things to come.
The proposed state budget again includes funding for public libraries. It also no longer prevents spending on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The Senate Appropriations Committee made those changes yesterday.
The shooting of Ralph Yarl in Kansas City is bringing more attention to laws allowing someone to use deadly force if they feel threatened in their home. Saint Louis University Law School professor Anders Walker discusses whether they apply in this case.
Today is the first hearing in the effort by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey to remove the top prosecutor in St. Louis. He says Gardner is mismanaging the office. She says neglect of duty has not been proven.
Three companies want to capture carbon dioxide from Midwestern ethanol plants, transport it by pipeline and store it underground. Many claim it’s essential to the industry’s survival. Environmentalists and farmers argue the pipelines are not a real solution for climate change.
A book from St. Louis-based author Stephanie Bearce has a familiar subject for many in the region: Stan Musial. She follows his journey from Pennsylvania coal country to becoming one of the most beloved Cardinals of all-time.
Providers in the St. Louis region are having trouble finding enough workers. Low pay is taking a toll on child care centers and parents.
A new book by Abraham Josephine Riesman focuses on the professional wrestling promoter’s rise to power and touches on how St. Louis had a key role in building the WWE.
Nine months after a court appointed monitor made the claims, there is no evidence the corrections department investigated the allegations.
The soccer standout and Olivette-native is a key figure in an equal-pay agreement between the national women's team and the U.S. Soccer Federation. She discusses the fight for the same pay as male players in advance of tomorrow's exhibition match in St. Louis against Ireland.
Lawmakers in Jefferson City are again determining how much money should go to education. Items now reaching a head in the legislature include teacher pay and how to handle race and LGBTQ issues.
The Republican secretary of state will take on Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and potentially state Sen. Bill Eigel and others in next year’s gubernatorial primary.
Reductions to the St. Louis area’s bus service for people with disabilities begin Monday. Roughly 250 people in parts of St. Louis County who use Call-A-Ride will have to find other options.
The treatment for young people is under attack from state legislators in Jefferson City. Critics and lawmakers say clinics are providing the care too freely. Patients and clinicians say transitioning is a complicated long-term process that varies among individuals.
Taxing recreational marijuana is one of the issues before voters in several parts of Missouri tomorrow. There are more than 40 marijuana sales tax proposals in the state's municipal elections.
Education officials say families are struggling to afford food. Many signs point to hungry children falling through the cracks. Some state lawmakers are proposing the return of universal free lunch.
The Cards begin another baseball campaign today. This year comes with rule changes, and the potential for the team's longtime TV broadcaster to give up the telecasts.
Representatives debated late into the night yesterday before giving first round approval to a state budget. The package is about $2 billion less than the proposal from Governor Mike Parson.
Rural areas are losing stores to consolidation but some residents have come up with innovative solutions.
Officials at the military base need to comply with Pentagon directives to convert all non-tactical vehicles to electric. They are contracting with a local utility to help reach the goal.
For nearly a century, the St. Louis American has been a trusted news source for Black St. Louisans. Rudolph Clay, an African-American Studies and Urban Studies Librarian at Washington University in St. Louis, talks about the paper's impact as it celebrates its 95th anniversary.
Increasingly restrictive abortion laws in many states have sent women traveling, in search of procedures and pills they can no longer legally get at home. A volunteer pilot organization is helping.
Lawmakers and the Attorney General in Missouri are stepping up their efforts to restrict rights if transgender children. Like many other states, Missouri is seeking action to reduce the ability of trans minors to get gender affirming care and to participate in sports. (Rod Milam in for Wayne Pratt.)
The Missouri Senate debated a few bills throughout the night that would place new restrictions on transgender youth in Missouri. Democrats filibustered the legislation into the morning, but after a short recess the senate gave first round approval to the bills.
This year’s Missouri legislative session has been moving bills faster than in previous years. Lawmakers quickly passed the supplemental budget which included pay raises for state workers and have moved forward on extending maternal Medicaid care, foreign ownership of farmland, parental bill of rights, state control of the St. Louis police department and creating a special prosecutor in St. Louis. Still to come are bills targeting transgender people.
The first U.S. solo exhibition by Faye HeavyShield invokes the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, and the Mississippian mound building culture. She is a member of the Blackfoot Confederacy from the Kanai Nation in Alberta.
Proposals affecting transgender Missourians have moved to the top of the Republican agenda in Jefferson City.
Three works debut this week in an initiative to bring new voices to American opera. The effort focuses on artists excluded from predominantly white opera institutions in the past.
Legislation is being proposed at the federal and state level to restrict foreign ownership of farmland, especially by China. The scrutiny comes after a Midwestern project was scuttled by military concerns and the flight of a Chinese spy balloon across the U.S.
The Illinois State Police says homicides in East St. Louis are roughly 30% over the last four years. The mayor wants that trend to continue.
The St. Louis Battlehawks return to the Dome this weekend. They were off to a great start in 2020 when the pandemic shut down the XFL. Fans are hoping to pick up where the enthusiasm left off before the outbreak.
Rural residents can be miles away from doctors and grocery stores. That forces many without cars to move closer to essential services.
Gentleman Jim Gates was the first St. Louis DJ to play rap music on the radio. He included "Rapper’s Delight" on East St. Louis station WESL. Gates says the record was a watershed moment for the genre across the region.
The Jefferson College student started writing her debut album when a music teacher suggested it could be a way to work through her grief over the death of her twin sister.
The Jefferson College student started writing her debut album when a music teacher suggested it could be a way to work through her grief over the death of her twin sister.
After studying satellite images, researchers have found the use of cover crops on Midwestern farmland has quadrupled over the past decade. But the crops that can help prevent erosion and give farmers an additional revenue source are still on less than 10% of farms.
After years of preparation, St. Louis's Major League Soccer team is set for its home debut. Soccer enthusiasts are hoping this is the start of a long-lasting era of professional sports in the city.
The district has been under fire after cutting some diversity programs. Black students want the initiatives restored so they can better navigate mostly white schools.
Native Americans in the region want more people to know about their heritage. Some have launched efforts to rediscover the area's indigenous identity.
The circuit attorney in St. Louis is facing the biggest crisis of her six years as the elected city prosecutor. That's after a man who repeatedly violated house arrest seriously injured a teenager in a car crash. Gardner is also facing an effort to oust her from office.
The first chief from outside the St. Louis department is outlining his goals. They include addressing violent crime to make the city "a better place than where we've been in the past."
Calling it a critical moment for the state and the people of St. Louis, Andrew Bailey is moving to oust the city’s circuit attorney.
Andrew Bailey says he will try to force St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner out of office if she does not step down.
Those who receive Medicaid benefits during pregnancy would be able to keep them for one after birth. The program can only begin after nearly 5,000 other people are kicked off Medicaid.
In a little over a year, local prosecutors have twice used a new Missouri law to free innocent men who served decades in prison. Both received no compensation from the state for the years they lost. Lawmakers are now discussing a change to the law.
Some former Illinois lawmakers lost their jobs amid corruption allegations, but they are keeping state pensions. That includes indicted former House Speaker Michael Madigan and his close contacts who are awaiting trial.
The Center for American Progress says nearly 60% of families living in rural areas throughout the country do not have access to childcare. That leaves parents scrambling with friends and family, or driving miles to the nearest daycare.
Some political observers feel Missouri is so Republican that primaries for key offices are inevitable. Others are concerned that nasty party contests could make general elections more difficult.
Supporters burst into joyous cheers after a judge announced Johnson should walk out of the downtown St. Louis courthouse a free man.
Two big proposals to develop St. Louis' riverfront have gained a lot of attention. One is near the Chain of Rocks bridge and the other near Soulard. The biggest challenge may not be governmental approval or financing, but the river itself.
More than a quarter of a million people are in the low-cost insurance program, but some are concerned what will happen when the federal COVID-19 public health emergency ends and patients are not automatically re-enrolled.
When it comes to music, it’s often the lead singer who receives the most attention. Those who record, mix, and master the hits many of us might sing in the car, on a jog, or in the shower take center stage in this special episode. St. Louis on the Air Producer Miya Norfleet brings us the beats and the story behind a St. Louis music competition.
The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis this weekend will become just the third company to perform the play by Dominique Morisseau. It presents the parallel stories of an enslaved woman who becomes a spy for the Union army during the Civil War, and a current-day professor at a private university battling systemic racism.
Hugh Ferriss was a highly regarded architect and his distinct moody nighttime illustrations of skyscrapers and suspension bridges inspired the backdrops of many fictional worlds. Andrew Wanko of the Missouri Historical Society examines how St. Louis inspired the work.
The Hazelwood Central High School graduate has developed a name for himself by releasing singles over the last few years. His debut album is part of a record deal with a top hit-maker.
Groundskeepers at a cemetery in St. Clair County have built an area just for children. Many of those resting in Baby Land were victims of gun violence.
Next time you go to your kitchen, check the labels on your food. You might find a small statement or symbol that says “bioengineered.” A year ago, the U.S. began to mandate that food manufacturers, importers and retailers make that disclosure if a food or substantial ingredient has been genetically modified. Rod Milam hosts for Wayne Pratt.
The next superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools, Keisha Scarlett, says she wants to celebrate victories that are happening in the district. ALSO Missouri’s Department of Health will start approving recreational marijuana licenses today. What does that mean for Illinois sales? Rod Milam hosting for Wayne Pratt.
Some Black doulas and midwives in the region are seeing more requests for help. Birth workers say Black women seek out their services because many have dealt with medical abuse or discrimination.
Graves is outlining his goals as he becomes chairman of the powerful committee. He will have to find bipartisan consensus in a divided house.
Goldie Taylor faced many obstacles while growing up in East St. Louis and St. Ann, but followed a thirst for learning to a successful career as a writer. She describes the journey in her memoir, "The Love You Save."
The Environmental Protection Agency recently released new rules regarding the Waters of the United States that decides which bodies of water fall under federal protection. But a case the U-S Supreme Court is expected to rule on soon throws those rules into question… and could mean less protection for wetlands.
Old film footage of indigenous dancers inspired composer James Lee III's "Visions of Cahokia," premiering this weekend at Powell Hall. The piece references Cahokia Mounds, the historic site of one of the largest Native American settlements in North America, in what is now Collinsville.
The United Nations says five conditions need to be met for actions to be considered reparations. But many of the requirements can be relative according to past wrongs and how those affected feel after a reparation attempt.
The East St. Louis instructor is expanding opportunities for local jazz musicians with a new organization. Build a Yes foundation aims to better promote acts while also providing opportunities to record music and new places to perform.
Gov. Mike Parson's goals include investments in infrastructure, education, and state workers. The plans received general bipartisan support after being outlined in the State of the State address.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Consumer Price Index shows the cost of eggs has jumped more than any other food in the last couple of years. A dwindling supply is a key reason for the increase.
A lawsuit filed yesterday claims the ban and other laws restricting the procedure violate religious freedom.
Gov. Mike Parson wants to use the state’s general revenue surpluses for major transportation and capital improvement projects.
In-person classes have resumed at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis, but administrators say students, staff and their families likely need more time to address the trauma from last year's deadly shooting.
Officials at the Gateway Arch National Park say a recently renovated museum is giving students a much broader story of the country’s history.
A square-cut, thin-crust pie topped with Provel cheese is the result of decades of St. Louis ingenuity. But it elicits debate throughout the country.
The Republican U.S. Rep. from a small Missouri town is now one of the most powerful members of Congress as the new chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. It makes key funding and operations decisions.
Dr. Kanika Cunningham started her new job this month. She previously served as a public health officer in the department and as a primary care physician at a community health clinic.
Thousands of Missouri residents are dealing with long COVID. They can't work, and that is adding to the state's labor shortage.
Legislation in states including Missouri and Nebraska are paving the way for large livestock operations. Some rural residents worry about the potential pollution and decreased quality of life.
The American military is providing weapons, supplies and humanitarian aid as the European country fights off the Russian invasion. Those shipments are coordinated by the U.S. Transportation Command headquarters at the military center in the Metro East.
The American military is providing weapons, supplies and humanitarian aid as the European country fights off the Russian invasion. Those shipments are coordinated by the U.S. Transportation Command headquarters at the military center in the Metro East.
The death sentence was carried out this week at the state prison in Bonne Terre. We spoke with a reporter who was a media observer at the execution.
The ongoing fight over Missouri's near-total abortion ban, legalizing sports betting and making it more difficult to pass ballot issues are some of the top issues this year in Jefferson City. The 2023 session starts today.
The state is taking a different approach to teaching children how to read. A new law calls on educators to use research-backed methods that have been gaining in popularity.
The extreme winter weather is causing delays and cancellations at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. The conditions are also affecting people who are planning to hit the roads for the holiday.
Arts organizations still coped with diminishing audiences this year as the pandemic continued. Many leaders say they are not waiting for things to return how they were before the outbreak.
The Republican's retirement marks the end of an era in Missouri politics. He's been known as a consensus builder with Democrats.
The Pentagon is spending close to $2 billion on the north St. Louis project for the lesser-known member of the intelligence community, which largely deals with mapping and satellite imagery.
The forest encompasses more than 1.5 million acres in 29 southern Missouri counties. Dawn Laybolt is the new manager of the sprawling woodlands, and plans to balance the forest's diverse needs while preparing it for climate change.
Johnson was convicted of murder in 1995. He has maintained his innocence. A hearing is underway in St. Louis that will determine if Johnson was wrongfully prosecuted.
For the first time in its 214-year history, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has a chief from outside its ranks. Robert Tracy is leaving a similar job in Wilmington, Delaware to become the top officer in St. Louis.
Two young refugees who resettled in St. Louis are releasing their debut album this week. Some songs are based on folk tunes from their homeland and others feature beats familiar from musical styles throughout Africa.
A witness testified yesterday that Lamar Johnson did not kill Marcus Boyd in 1994. Johnson has maintained his innocence and is trying to clear his name after roughly 30 years behind bars.
As Midwesterners become more familiar with the extreme wind events, scientists are grappling with how to gather more information about the storms.
Gospel Music Hall of Fame in Missouri Founder Monica R. Butler will emcee a one-day music festival this weekend. She says St. Louis has a rich gospel history that has shaped the genre around the globe.
The base houses the U.S. Transportation Command which moves equipment and people around the world. Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost leads the command, which has moved close to 195 million pounds of supplies to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia.
The three will spend between three and nearly four years in federal prison for their roles in a case involving development incentives.
A public forum tonight will give city residents their first chance to hear from the remaining hopefuls to be the next police chief. The process is coming to an end after officials relaunched the search earlier this year.
Populations have bounced back after many states put the animal on protected species lists. Now, bobcats are hunted in nearly every state, and some conservationists are pushing back.
A little known St. Louis city ordinance permits judges to banish people from certain neighborhoods. But the actions can keep people who are homeless or mentally ill from accessing people and services they need.
St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Marissanne Lewis-Thompson discuss the now-approved deal to split up money from a settlement over the departure of the now Los Angeles Rams.
St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Marissanne Lewis-Thompson discuss the now-approved deal to split up money from a settlement over the departure of the now Los Angeles Rams.
The new leader of Cherokee Street's Luminary gallery says the nonprofit can do more to boost St. Louis artists and become a community hub.
The dry conditions that wreaked havoc over the Great Plains and Midwest this year may be a dress rehearsal for the future, as scientists are predicting more severe droughts more often due to climate change.
From deadly wildfires to choking dust storms to decimated crop harvests, this year’s drought has left its mark in the Midwest and recovering won't be easy.
Illnesses including RSV and the flu have swamped hospitals in the St. Louis region. Health systems are also suffering from worker shortages after many employees left during the pandemic.
St. Louis County, the city and the Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority are still figuring out how to spend hundreds of millions of dollars awarded after the football team moved back to Los Angeles. The authority's board recently passed a resolution calling for the money to go into an unspecified long-term use fund.
The $500 billion spending plan is one of the biggest issues the incoming Congress will have to address. It covers dozens of areas, each with lobbyists and interest groups vying for their positions.
The Missouri House of Representatives will still have a Republican supermajority during the upcoming session. However, Democrats point to a few possible reasons why they were able to flip three seats this past election cycle.
Many Americans are contending with high inflation and haywire housing costs and military members and their families are no exception. Their quest for suitable housing has become more complicated.
Schmitt heads to Washington, D.C., as Missouri’s newest U.S. Senator. His fellow Republicans may be in the minority but many people have high expectations for the St. Louis County native.
Many Midwest cities have an abundance of vacant land. Urban farmers often have a difficult time acquiring it, either from private landowners or city-run land banks.
Neighborhood associations are going to court to take back rundown homes, especially in north St. Louis. Many businesses bought vacant homes during the 2008 financial crisis and left them abandoned.
This a day to honor veterans for their sacrifice. Like Memorial Day, it also stirs emotions for people whose loved ones have been designated as missing in action.
The Corps of Engineers says results from a preliminary analysis show the school is safe for students and staff. Some parents and environmental activists doubt that information following a private report showing dangerous radiation levels.
Missouri voters picked a new U.S. Senator and backed recreational marijuana. Voters in St. Louis made a historic selection to lead the Board of Aldermen. People who cast ballots in Illinois decided to keep the status quo in the Governor’s office. Those are some of the key results from yesterday’s midterm elections.
Making sure members of the military can vote has been an ongoing issue for more than 100 years. Most are away from home or overseas in combat areas. Technology and federal laws are closing the gap in accessibility.
It's becoming more difficult to find a Democrat in public office in the northern Missouri district. That's a change from about 20 years ago, when conservatives in the area also described themselves as Democrats.
The St. Louis County Executive race features incumbent Sam Page and Democrat turned Republican Mark Mantovani. In Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District, the incumbent says the economy is the top issue, while the challenger is focusing on abortion rights.
Republican Eric Schmitt is the favorite over Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine in next week’s U.S. Senate contest to replace the retiring Roy Blunt. Some are predicting a landslide for Schmitt because the state is now so red.
There are five statewide issues on the November ballot. The proposal on legalizing recreational marijuana could make the biggest impact. Others include how the state treasurer invests money and making the National Guard a separate state department.
Two members of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, Jack Coatar and Megan Green, are facing off one week from today in the election to replace Lewis Reed as board president. Coatar is a more traditional Democrat while Green is part of the progressive group on the board.
Funeral services for Central Visual and Performing Arts High School teacher Jean Kuczka are being held Monday at the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica. And a performance of Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven" on this Halloween.
A shooting on Monday at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School left a teacher and a student dead and seven others injured. We’ll take stock of the week’s events and get the latest info. Rod Milam in for Wayne Pratt today.
The 18th district was Missouri's most competitive state Senate race in 2006. Now, it's not on the radar of either political party. We examine why the northeast Missouri district has transformed from ultra-competitive to ultra-Republican.
Central Visual and Performing Arts High School and Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience are off for the rest of the week so students and staff can receive counseling. They will return to class next week with virtual learning.
Hundreds gathered at a candlelight vigil last night at Tower Grove Park to remember the victims. Seven others were injured in yesterday's shooting. Police say they are all stable.
Pumpkin patches, corn mazes and hay rides aren't just fun fall festivities -- they are part of a growing agricultural tourism effort, and an increasingly important way for some farmers to make a living.
U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley and U.S. Rep. Cori Bush want the federal government to complete an immediate cleanup of the school in Florissant following a report of radioactive contamination on the property.
Original cast members of the 1989 show "Some Of My Best Friends Are..." will reunite tonight for one show at the Missouri History Museum. They describe the satirical revue as the first piece of explicitly LGBTQ theater ever performed in the state.
A St. Louis Public Radio/Midwest Newsroom investigation finds the Department of Natural Resources knew about groundwater contamination in Springfield, Missouri since the late 1990s. Residents weren’t notified until 2018.
Abortion providers in the Metro East say the Supreme Court's June ruling that overturned the landmark Roe Vs. Wade decision has forced many patients from out-of-state to visit their clinics.
The Griot Museum of Black History is gearing up for a permanent exhibit that pays tribute to Black women that shaped the St. Louis region.
A colorful exhibition of textile sculpture at the Craft Alliance in St. Louis is fun to look at, but reflects some of the tensions of life as a trans person.
A very private family has commissioned the new structure that is very noticeable in the historic cemetery, and also packed with symbolism.
Farm equipment manufacturers are on track to put autonomous tractors into fields by the end of the decade. The new technology holds a lot of promise but is also receiving mixed reactions from farmers.
Farmers in many parts of the Midwest are dealing with heavier rainfall. Some install drainage tiles and trenches to handle the water, but that can lead to soil erosion and flooding downstream.
A California law will impose stricter rules on raising hogs in that state before they are sold. Pork producers in the Midwest say it could cost them millions, leading to a lawsuit. The high court will hear arguments in the case tomorrow.
A California law will impose stricter rules on raising hogs in that state before they are sold. Pork producers in the Midwest say it could cost them millions, leading to a lawsuit. The high court will hear arguments in the case tomorrow.
Henry Elementary teacher Peggy Plesia decided to try something different this year: a new wall of ukuleles. They’re pretty easy to learn, sound good, and help students quickly master pop songs.
It’s been 14 years since Missouri has had a functional governor-appointed commission assigned to address issues facing Hispanic and Latino residents. The population has increased by more than 40% in that time.
St. Louis vocalist Laka has never stood onstage and played a character. Now she’ll play a few every night. All are Black women who spent some of their lives in St. Louis or East St. Louis and achieved great success.
The organization says the decision follows an increase in patients traveling to Illinois from states that prohibit the procedure after this summer's U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade
SNAP-Ed, the USDA funded program designed to help teach beneficiaries learn how to make the most of their food budgets are paid barely above minimum wage in the Midwest, which makes those employees eligible for the benefits, or forces them to take second jobs.
Shalon Gates has been homeschooling her four kids off and on for over a decade in Ferguson. Academically, all of her kids are thriving in her classroom. But some of her kids are ready to close this chapter for good. In this final episode of Doin' It Our Way, we’ll explore the challenges of homeschooling kids with different social needs.
Several parts of the region have been dealing with devastating flooding for years. That includes the West Alton area, where the Audubon Center at Riverlands was hit hard in 2019.
Many in the St. Louis region are still recovering from July's record rain. That includes Alvin Cooper, who is pleading for help. His story is part of an intensive reporting project from St. Louis Public Radio and NPR's Next Generation Radio.
July's record rain forced many residents from their homes. It was more complicated for a St. Ann resident because of his limited mobility. He shares his story with St. Louis Public Radio and NPR's Next Generation Radio project.
St. Louis Foodscaper Matt Lebon runs an edible landscaping business where he introduces the community to the many benefits of growing native plants. He believes understanding biodiversity is vital as the world adapts to changing weather patterns.
Changes in the weather are convincing many farmers to revise their approach. That includes an urban farmer who is adapting by growing crops that are culturally important to his community.
For Miquilaue Young, homeschooling her 7 kids was always part of her plan. More than a decade into her homeschooling journey, the kids are fully immersed in their tailor-made school experience. It’s something Miquilaue wishes she had. In this episode from Doin’ It Our Way, we’ll explore how they’re able to pull it off their way.
The Corps must curate artifacts discovered during its work. It uses that responsibility to train veterans. In the St. Louis office, 7 veterans come in for 5 months at a time to receive job experience.
A new law criminalizing books in Missouri schools will have the biggest effect on libraries already targeted by some parents. In one local high school, police responded twice last year to calls about books. That librarian is speaking out.
The declaration allows millions of children to receive health coverage through federal programs, without going through the usual hurdles. That will change once the emergency ends.
Several area districts were hoping the driver shortage would only last a couple of weeks. But many routes are still not running more than a month into the new academic year.
Church leaders are gathering input on the potential closure and consolidation of its 178 parishes. The archdiocese is dealing with a shortage of priests and churches at only 25% capacity
New from St. Louis Public Radio: For years, Black parents have talked about how traditional schools have failed their kids in the classroom. Now, a growing number of Black families are leaving those schools behind to take a chance on themselves. Doin’ It Our Way explores why some St. Louis area families chose to homeschool, how they are able to do it, and what that experience has been like for their kids. Hosted by Marissanne Lewis-Thompson.
The best-selling St. Louis author says "They Knew: How a Culture of Conspiracy Keeps America Complacent" examines the country's relationship with conspiracies and how people should be skeptical of authority figures.
Lawmakers have gathered in Jefferson City for the beginning of the annual veto session and a special session that is supposed to be centered around tax cuts and credits. However, not all of the bills introduced on the first day are related to taxes.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says vet clinics in non-urban areas have been declining since World War II. Lower pay and debt from medical school are some of the reasons why it’s tough to attract vets to rural settings.
Blue-green algae blooms are increasing with rising water temperatures and fertilizer runoff. They can make people sick and kill pets. Private and volunteer efforts in some states are helping to fill the testing gap.
Political strategist Lis Smith helped popularize a communications strategy in which candidates accept every media opportunity. Her new book examines those principles and how they helped Claire McCaskill’s first Senate campaign in 2006.
The driving force in jazz music over the last decade is one of the artists performing this weekend at the Music at the Intersection festival. It will be the tenor sax player's first appearance in St. Louis since playing keyboards for soul legend Chaka Khan a few years ago.
St. Louis residents who received $500 to help make ends meet during the pandemic most often spent the money on food and utilities. The city has released a preliminary analysis of the program.
The theater will perform The African Company Presents Richard III, a historical play based on a Black theater in New York City sabotaged by a white venue in the 1820s. Director Ron Himes says the play remains relevant 200 years after the real-life events.
This weekend's festival in St. Louis will highlight musical greats from the city, including Albert King and Tina Turner.
Mental health workers in Missouri say there are potential problems with a new emergency helpline, including whether there are enough workers to absorb an increase in calls. The 988 service launched in July.
This year's celebration of music will resemble other big festivals after being limited in 2021 because of the pandemic. Organizers say the overall event is part of a strategy to raise the city's profile in the industry.
A recent poll shows respondents don’t like the new reality for abortion access in Missouri following the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. But many may not be prepared to punish politicians who support the high court’s ruling.
The pandemic and lack of affordable housing are leading to an increase in homelessness in the St. Louis region. Advocates say the increase will likely continue once a Missouri law making living on state-owned property illegal takes effect on January 1.
It's been decades since the last lead mine closed in southeast Missouri, but the region is still dealing with their impact. Now a company wants to bring a new kind of mining -- for silica -- to the region.
Invasive carp receive most of the attention, but officials say many other unwanted species could cause problems for the Mississippi River.
Researchers from George Mason University, the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Florida State University will spend the next 18 months talking to corrections officers and people in the jail as part of the process known as Plan, Do, Study Act.
Sex workers in Missouri are mobilizing to help members of their community access out-of-state abortions.
Missouri lawmakers will return to Jefferson City on Sept. 6 for a special legislative session centered on taxes. Governor Mike Parson wants a permanent income tax cut and to create agriculture tax programs.
Increasing commodity prices and a global food shortage are driving up the cost of farmland. Young farmers are trying to keep up so they can grow their businesses.
The festival in St. Louis features an inventive staging of the play “The Rose Tattoo.” Actors, circus performers, and goats are part of the production at the Big Top in Grand Center.
Two women who held significant power in a small north St. Louis County city are accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past six years.
Army National Guard troops had until June 30 to get COVID-19 vaccinations. About 10% haven't received their shots. A handful of states are challenging the vaccine mandate.
Missouri residents may have heard ghoulish tales of “Doc Annie” Smith, a physician who performed illegal abortions in the early 1900s. Today, the truth about her work has largely disappeared.
The University of Missouri is promoting the idea of cattle grazing in forests instead of pastures. Researchers say it’s better for the cattle and the environment.
Confusion surrounds a federal program allowing people fleeing war-torn Ukraine to temporarily stay in the U.S. They don't qualify for the benefits other refugees receive, making it difficult for sponsors in the St. Louis area to help.
St. Louis musician Tre-G has advocated for Black, queer artists with the Werqfest festival and his own work. Now he is directing a touring production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” based on his music, with a six-member cast of Black women.
St. Louis Public Schools officials are planning a national search for a new superintendent. Kelvin Adams will retire in December after leading the district for more than a decade.
The new Major League Soccer team in St. Louis doesn't play its first match until next year. But City SC is already reaching out to all areas of the city to establish a strong community presence.
Many Missouri school districts will be in class only four days a week this academic year. A professor who studies rural schools in the state says the condensed schedule is a reflection of the teacher shortage, which is now a crisis.
The overturning of Roe versus Wade is forcing a Memphis-based abortion provider to expand into rural southern Illinois. CHOICES will soon build a clinic in Carbondale, which will make the town the closest place with abortion access for millions of residents in the Midwest and South.
Black women entrepreneurs in the St. Louis region are part of a national trend of opening more businesses. Nationally, the University of California, Santa Cruz reports a roughly 30% increase in the number of Black-owned businesses since before the pandemic. The researchers say women are a big reason for the increase.
Missouri’s Attorney General emerged victorious in a crowded Republican primary for the U.S. Senate. The win secured a prime position for Eric Schmitt to succeed outgoing Sen. Roy Blunt in the fall.
Governor Mike Parson has spoken with St. Louis area lawmakers and regional emergency management officials about damage assessments after last week's record rain. Federal Emergency Management officials could have their estimates ready this week.
Grassroots homeless service providers face challenging hurdles when trying to access St. Louis’ millions in American Rescue Plan funds. Some gave up after seeing the requirements.
Two days after a record-breaking rainfall, another storm hit St. Louis, causing more flooding throughout the metro area.
St. Louis is coordinating with organizations including the Red Cross and United Way to help people who need help following this week’s massive downpour. That comes as meteorologists and researchers assess the record rain.
St. Louis broke the record yesterday for the most rain in a single day leading to flash flooding throughout the region. One person died in the high water and many more are wondering how they will recover.
There is an effort to restore links between Native Americans and foods unique to their culture. Centuries of colonization disrupted that connection leading to food insecurity and health disparities.
Lead paint is regularly found in products more than 40 years old. They are not regulated, and many buyers don’t know about the neurotoxin's dangers.
Jay Greenberg is the new head of the FBI’s St. Louis office in May. He arrives about a year after Missouri severely limited the ability of local law enforcement to work with his agents on gun crimes.
21 Republicans are vying for the party's nomination to replace Roy Blunt in the US Senate. But one candidate is taking up a lot of the oxygen in the race.
The 2nd Congressional District in Missouri became more Republican due to redistricting. But the democrats looking to unseat Ann Wagner are not conceding it yet, or any time in the next decade.
In August, St. Louis voters will decide on a $160 million bond measure for upgrades at the city's schools...but that's only a portion of what its schools need to fix their buildings.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he is not running for president in 2024. But recent stops in New Hampshire and Florida are fueling speculation he may end up in the race.
A documentary by St. Louis filmmaker Joseph Puleo tells the story of thousands of Bosnians who built a new community in the city after fleeing civil war. A surplus of affordable housing in the 1990s made St. Louis a good destination for Bosnians looking for a new home.
Dylan Triplett is ready to release his debut album. The record is a reflection of his life’s journey and is inspired by performers like Ray Charles along with some local professional musicians.
There's no way of knowing how many LGBTQ farmers there are in the U.S. The USDA doesn't include sexual orientation or gender identity in its Census of Agriculture. But many are making a difference in rural communities.
Missouri is one of the only states that regularly monitors wastewater for new coronavirus variants. They show up in sewage as more people get sick.
The U.S. Space Force says enlisted members will no longer take an annual physical fitness test. Instead, they’ll wear rings tracking vital signs including heart rate and sleep performance.
Recently retired. Lt. Col. Rochelle Jones is sharing what she encountered while rising through the ranks as a Black woman. That includes racism in the department and police relations with minorities in St. Louis.
Missouri lawmakers are waiting for a special session to cut the state's income tax. Governor Mike Parson called for it after signing 37 pieces of legislation from this year's regular session in Jefferson City.
A recent ranking of state health system performance places Missouri 47th. It also shows all states struggled with the pandemic.
A preliminary report from Forward Through Ferguson focuses on the inefficiencies and fragmentation of St. Louis County’s 911 system. Some of the findings include low dispatcher staffing levels and outdated technology.
Future recorded deeds in Missouri will not be able to include restrictions related to a person’s race, color, religion, or national origin. It’s one of several bills signed yesterday by Governor Mike Parson.
A new exhibition at the St. Louis Art Museum is from the personal collection of Ted and Maryanne Ellison Simmons. They focus on socially relevant works dealing with topics including civil rights, the Vietnam War and the AIDS crisis.
The American Rescue Plan promised $4 billion in debt relief to “socially disadvantaged farmers.” But a swarm of lawsuits from banks and white farmers alleging discrimination has put the aid on hold.
The Phelps County Clerk wanted to take anyone with a court-ordered guardian off the voting rolls. She relented, but people with disabilities and their advocates concerned about the future are fighting back.
Missouri has banned abortions in the state, except in cases where health is severely threatened. But activists on both sides say their work is far from over.
Anti-abortion advocates in Missouri are praising a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the landmark 1973 ruling that legalized abortions across the country.
As theater companies try to keep performing in a time of high community spread of the coronavirus, leaders of small organizations say they are much more vulnerable to cancelations they can't afford.
U.S. Senate candidate Eric Greitens says his recent controversial ad is supposed to be 'humorous." The move might backfire if voters aren't up to the glorification of violence.
Missouri is expected to receive $250 million from the federal government to remove lead pipes. But many water utilities aren't sure about the location of those pipes. They've never been required to have a thorough inventory, except in a crisis.
The winner of the Republican primary in Illinois' new 15th Congressional district will likely win the general election. The contest between incumbents Mary Miller and Rodney Davis will again test the power of former president Donald Trump’s endorsement.
Universities, coaches, and individuals associated with an athletic department would be able to identify or assist student-athletes with seeking compensation opportunities under a law signed by Governor Mike Parson.
An elections bill that includes voter photo ID is on Missouri Governor Mike Parson's desk. The legislation also includes new rules for election authorities, leading some to wonder how to enforce the regulations.
Fort Leonard Wood has one of the highest suicide rates among military bases in the country. Officials have started a suicide prevention program to address the issue.
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Service had 84 young people in its care last year kept in a juvenile detention center. That’s after a judge ordered their release. In some cases, young people were wrongfully imprisoned for months.
Jobs in agriculture don’t just take place on the farm. Plant science and ag companies in the Midwest are looking for people in science, technology, engineering and math careers to fill positions that may not fit the traditional image of agriculture.
The Negro Leagues Baseball Grave Marker Project and the Descendants of the St. Louis University Enslaved will unveil the gravestone Monday for St. Louis baseball star Sylvester Chauvin. He played for the St. Louis Black Stockings in the 1800s.
The past eight years have been the hottest ever recorded, based on global data that stretches to 1880. Frustrated with the slow pace of progress among their parents’ generation, some young Missourians are taking action.
Lewis Reed is leaving the board following calls for his resignation from colleagues. It marks a changing of the guard. Reed has held elected office for more than 20 years.
Supporters of crossbreeding cattle and buffalo say the industry has experienced setbacks over the years. Producers in the midwest think they now have the right breed to make a dent in the specialty meat market.
St. Louis native and opera singer Adrienne Danrich leads tomorrow’s “Music as the Message” program at the Grandel in Grand Center. It’s a celebration of Black musical artistry across genres. Area musicians, poets and opera singers will perform work by Chuck Berry, Otis Redding, Maya Angelou and others.
A grand jury indictment accuses Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed, former Alderman John Collins-Muhammad and Alderman Jeffrey Boyd, of taking payments in return for supporting development deals.
Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents a world premiere adaptation of Oliver Sacks’ book “Awakenings,” about his promising but ultimately unsuccessful treatments for patients with “sleeping sickness.” Two longtime friends place Sacks’ story in the context of his life as a closeted gay man, something Sacks only disclosed in his memoir shortly before his 2015 death.
As schools look for creative solutions to help students learn English, one local district is testing a method that’s popular in other parts of the country. Teachers and district administrators say the approach is boosting confidence and test scores.
The lead industry spent years using racial bias to divert public attention away from the dangers of the toxin. It also minimized the impact of mounting evidence indicating lead was poisoning children. Author and professor Gerald Markowitz co-wrote “Deceit and Denial: The Deadly Politics of Industrial Pollution," which describes attempts by the lead industry to deceive Americans.
The growth of wind farms has created a new challenge for the industry: what to do with massive turbine blades once they reach their 25-year expiration date? A company in Louisiana, Missouri is trying to solve the problem through recycling.
The Missouri legislature has passed the Essential Caregivers Bill. It would allow two visitors to act as caregivers for people in hospitals, hospice, and nursing homes. The Missouri Hospital Association says it’s an important step in ensuring residents are not isolated during emergencies like a pandemic.
The opioid crisis is still described by many as a secret hidden in plain sight. A recent project at a community college in Illinois tried to bring that secret into the light.
Some companies are looking to install pipelines to move carbon dioxide emissions long distances so they can be sequestered. But farmers are leery after dealing with other pipelines the cut across their land.
For years, thousands of patients have come to Illinois for abortions as surrounding states restrict the procedure. If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe Vs. Wade, the Metro East could see tens of thousands of new patients a year.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that 5 to 11-year-olds who got their second dose of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine at least five months ago receive a booster shot. The announcement comes as the U.S. passes the 1 million dead marker, and cases are climbing across the country, including in St Louis.
As the climate heats up, farmers will need to find a new crop that can handle extreme temperatures. Some farmers believe a grain called kernza could revolutionize farming.
Officials first reached a deal on $210 million in upgrades in 2019. But the pandemic prompted city officials to delay the approval of their share of the bonds needed to fund the expansion.
Composer-vocalist Annika Socolofsky will present reimagined lullabies with seven members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra this week at the Pulitzer Art Foundation. She turns folk melodies into “feminist rager-lullabies” that convey messages she describes as full of beauty, passion and rage.
Republican infighting in the Missouri Senate often got in the way of passing bills, including many of the majority party’s priorities.
Republican infighting in the Missouri Senate often got in the way of passing bills, including many of the majority party’s priorities.
When the coronavirus pandemic made indoor gatherings unsafe, many arts organizations in St. Louis took programming online. Some have found that the new practices work better than expected, and are keeping them in place even as they return to in-person events.
Climate change continues to show different vulnerabilities in communities across the St. Louis region. But solutions for some places need to be different because of wealth inequality.
A redrawn congressional map could be in for a rough reception today in the Missouri Senate. A committee is holding a hearing on a version the House passed on Monday.
Missouri is on the verge of making abortion illegal in almost any instance except a medical emergency. The culmination of years of conservative activism is raising questions about whether it will strengthen the Republican grip on state politics.
Illinois is sitting on a pile of extra money from the federal government but is not using it to help address gun violence, which the governor has declared a public health crisis.
Missouri scientists are tracking lake sturgeon populations in the Mississippi River, as part of an ongoing effort to prevent the extinction of the endangered fish species. The team implanted radio transmitters into wild sturgeon this spring, so they could track movement in the river ecosystem.
The newest branch of the U.S. military is a sign of what military leaders consider to be the future of war. Several people are going through training for the Space Force.
Congressional candidates throughout Missouri are not sure about the areas they could eventually be representing. Lawmakers still haven’t approved a congressional map. Whether the legislature breaks the months-long impasse could have big consequences for the impending election cycle.
The agriculture industry is a big contributor to greenhouse gasses, and a new program is trying to get farmers to be part of the solution without telling them it's about climate change.
The Mehlville school district recently announced it is adding Eid as an official holiday in the 2022-2023 school year. It might be the first district in Missouri to do so. Officials say about 20% have missed school on Eid in years past.
The historic Black cemetery has fallen into disrepair after years of neglect and improper maintenance. Efforts are underway to bring awareness and funding to bring the land near St. Louis Lambert International Airport back to its former glory.
Nicole Miller’s commissioned, site-specific installation “A Sound, a Signal, the Circus” incorporates interviews with St. Louisans about the Black experience in America. It incorporates audio and video recordings along with laser animations.
There is concern among many Missouri Republicans about the possibility former Governor Eric Grietens will win the state's soon-to-be-open Senate seat and gain a major platform to promote his views. He is among 21 members of the GOP running for the spot being vacated by Senator Roy Blunt.
Pork producers are feeling threatened by attempts to change how they raise pigs. So they have made a surprising move to reduce the money they automatically give to the industry’s fund for marketing, education, and research.
Anonymous pages dedicated to posting pictures of students in embarrassing situations have quickly spread in popularity at high schools across the country. Some consider the posts lighthearted jokes. But other students say the online images are an invasion of privacy.
The last performance of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus under Amy Kaiser's direction is May 1. She is retiring after 27 years. Kaiser came to St. Louis after a career as a freelance conductor in New York City.
School districts, parents, and lawmakers are pushing to ban books. Several are by Black or LGBTQ authors. Many St. Louis-area students say they are determined to read banned materials to better understand Black history.
Engineers at St. Louis University and members of the St. Louis Blues Blind Hockey Club are working on improving the puck for visually impaired players. It’s a deceptively complicated engineering problem.
More than 22 million chickens, turkeys, and other birds have died or had to be destroyed as the highly-contagious bird flu spreads in several states, including Missouri and Illinois. Most of the affected flocks are commercial, but backyard flocks aren’t any less susceptible.
Many students are behind in their learning following remote classes during the pandemic. Parents are more interested in how to support their children’s education at home. A St. Louis-area expert shares some advice on ways to learn outside the classroom.
Kohn’s Kosher Meats is vital to the Orthodox Jewish community. The business is also beloved by the larger Jewish community for its authenticity and odd charm. But owner Lenny Kohn is ready to move on.
A Ukrainian couple who lived in that country since 1983 fled after the Russians invaded this year. The two are now living with their son in St. Charles. They spent four days traveling to the Hungary border and another four to get to Germany and catch a flight out of Europe.
The former Missouri secretary of state and daughter of the late Gov. Mel Carnahan is in charge of an agency that oversees federal buildings and handles big-ticket federal contracts. The General Service Administration will play a role in executing a federal infrastructure law that will pump billions of dollars into Missouri.
A pilot program at the Missouri Eastern Correctional Center is training incarcerated men to code, as they prepare for their release. The first group to participate in the program graduated last month.
A 2021 study finds Missouri has some of the highest rates of elevated blood lead levels in children. The research is part of an investigation into lead and its impact on Midwest children by the Midwest Newsroom and the Missouri Independent.
Dancers are returning to studios, classes and clubs after the pandemic prevented many events. Health experts say dancing can be safe if people are vaccinated and take other precautions.
The Cardinals are marking opening day by honoring one of the franchise's landmark seasons. It's the 40th anniversary of the 1982 World Series championship.
Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist Diane Reeves is back on the road after taking the longest break of her career during the pandemic. She performs this week at The Sheldon Concert Hall with a renewed desire to collaborate with musicians from different backgrounds.
Opioid overdoses in Missouri a decade ago were fueled ago by prescription pills and largely affected rural, mostly-white communities. The crisis has entered a new phase in the last few years, dominated by fentanyl in urban areas.
A federal study shows only 6% of industrial hemp growers in the U.S. are Black. A couple in Missouri is hoping to help change that by creating the state’s first Black-owned hemp processing site.
At candidate forums and on social media, debates over highly politicized issues, such as masking and how race, history, and LGBTQ issues are taught in schools, are at the center of some local school board races.
Authorities in St. Louis have bragged about lower murder rates. An investigation by ProPublica and APM Reports finds the department has achieved lower numbers by redefining what it considers murder.
Parents of medically vulnerable students are worried their children are no longer as protected against coronavirus as school face-covering requirements disappear. A Metro East family wants to make sure its child is kept safe.
Dozens of young refugees from Afghanistan gather on Saturdays to play soccer. It gives them an opportunity to be kids as they resettle in a new land.
Collegiate mining teams from as far away as England and Australia came to Rolla over the weekend to compete in mining events like hand-mucking, Swede sawing, and gold panning. The event featured mining techniques used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The St. Louis Blues have launched an after-school program to give more children a chance to learn the sport while increasing diversity in hockey. North City Blues is a partnership with KIPP Schools and Friendly Temple.
Members of the military move to a new base every few years. Some in the service are not re-enlisting because they don’t want to constantly uproot their families. The Department of Defense is considering whether the moving policy is still a good idea.
As part of Women’s History Month, we reflect on several influential women over the years in St. Louis. They include an educator who ran a riverboat school for formerly enslaved people and a union organizer who advocated for better working conditions.
The pandemic is leading some local districts to increase outreach efforts to families who speak languages other than English at home.
Missouri lawmakers return to the State Capitol today following a one-week break. Only one bill has become law so far this session as operations in the Senate have been at a near-standstill.
Band together has brought LGBTQ musicians and allies together in St. Louis since 1997. What started as an excuse to march in a pride parade has grown much larger.
Music fans will again gather in Grand Center this fall when the Music at the Intersection festival returns for a second year, with national headliners like Erykah Badu, Gary Clark Jr, and plenty of room for local acts. Organizers say the young festival is here to stay.
WBEZ's Dave McKinney investigates the financial holdings of Ken Griffin, Illinois' wealthiest person and the financier of a challenger to Gov. JB Pritzker.
Nonprofits and advocates in Missouri to enroll working to enroll people in Medicaid when they’re released from prison in order to keep them from coming back.
Sanctions against Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine has meant less fertilizer on the market for farmers, which means higher prices and concerned farmers.
A new Pulitzer Art Foundation exhibition focuses on audience participation. The show encourages people to pick up, fold or wrap some of the artwork around themselves.
The Missouri House is sending a measure to the Senate that could move millions of dollars from public schools in St. Louis and Kansas City to charter schools. A fiscal analysis indicates schools in the St. Louis district could lose more than $18-million.
Some Missouri residents say they are putting off health care needs because the state has been slow to approve Medicaid applications. The governor's office expected roughly 275-thousand people to gain coverage in the first year of Medicaid expansion. Only about 60-thousand have signed up so far.
Midwestern lakes are a hotbed of toxic algae blooms, largely caused by agricultural runoff. Without regular testing, visitors to lakes in many states have no idea what they're getting into.
Workers at a small business in Missouri are from Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus. All are working together while closely monitoring the war involving their home countries.
Legal advocates are going to court to seek benefits for Missourians who they say are being illegally shut out by a protracted application process.
Former Illinois House Speaker and ex-Democratic Party boss Michael Madigan has been indicted in federal court for racketeering. The indictment cites alleged bribery schemes.
The contract for deed or rent-to-own option is marketed as a way for people who can’t get a conventional mortgage to own a home. But more often than not, buyers do not end up as homeowners.
St. Louis is an old city and houses from the 1880s fill entire neighborhoods. The Missouri Historical Society can help homeowners who are curious about the history of their property.
Missouri officials are planning an official end to the COVID-19 pandemic as a public health crisis in mid-March. They will shift to treating the coronavirus similar to the flu. Scientists say it’s too soon to declare an end to the outbreak.
U.S. Senators from Missouri and Illinois want the U.S. to go beyond the sanctions against Russia already announced by President Joe Biden. Their comments follow Russia’s decision to invade neighboring Ukraine in what U.S. defense officials describe as the largest European conventional military attack since World War II.
For much of the last decade, the FarFetched music label in St. Louis united rap, electronic, R&B and experimental musicians to create a vibrant collective that still influences the local scene today.
For enslaved people in western Missouri, the muddy Missouri River was all that separated them from Kansas, and freedom. Many waited until winter and went through the ice in what became known as slave stampedes.
A new company has acquired 10 minor league baseball teams, including the top minor league squad in the Cardinals system. Those purchases are in the shadow of collective bargaining in the big leagues, which has put spring training on hold.
Missouri is among the last states to distribute federal education funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. Education leaders are urging state lawmakers to appropriate the money before a March 24 deadline.
Missouri's seven state-run veterans homes are so short on workers they are running at 50% capacity. Low pay, difficult work, and COVID issues are at the heart of the shortage. Meanwhile, many veterans are on a waiting list and the state is losing out on VA reimbursement money.
Across much of the U.S., winter is not as cold as it used to be. The four warmest Januaries on record have all occurred since 2016. In Missouri, winters are about four degrees warmer on average than in 1970 — and farmers are starting to feel the effects.
Illinois does not have safety regulations for warehouses like the Amazon facility hit by a tornado late last year in the Metro East. That means workers in surrounding buildings, and in the Amazon operation, once it’s rebuilt, won’t be any safer during the next major storm.
The soldiers who used deception to defeat Hitler in World War II have finally received the Congressional Gold Medal — nearly 80 years after they served in what’s become known as the “Ghost Army.”
Rung For Women is trying a new strategy. It is using personal coaches to help women climb the economic ladder. The initiative comes as U.S. Census numbers show women consistently earn less than men and the gap widens over time.
St. Louis blues and soul great Denise Thimes returns to the theatrical stage in the Metro Theater Company's production for young audiences. It is the first time the 2018 musical, based on a popular children's book, will be performed in St. Louis.
Some in the St. Louis area are sticking to at-home workouts as the omicron variant of the coronavirus spreads. But others say going to a gym is to break a sweat is worthwhile, even during a pandemic.
A New Missouri House map could lead to more competitive elections. That’s the assessment of a University of Missouri Political Science professor. The revised House map has received unanimous support in Jefferson City.
The current Wentzville School District superintendent will shift to the same job with the Rockwood district in July. Curtis Cain’s move comes as Rockwood parents push back on COVID-19 protocols and the district copes with contentious debates over race and equity.
Gene Dobbs Bradford is leaving Jazz St. Louis this week after leading the organization for more than two decades. He helped bring internationally-renowned jazz acts to the city. Bradford is joining the Savannah Music Festival.
A new docuseries focuses on how Black comedians got their shot at Hollywood's famed Comedy Store. Comedian and St. Louis native Guy Torry founded Phat Tuesdays after moving to Los Angeles in the early 90s because many club owners wouldn't give Black comedians a chance to perform.
More low-income Missourians are now eligible to receive public health insurance following the expansion of Medicaid. That includes people leaving prison.
New St. Louis County Police Chief Kenneth Gregory says his appointment is probably one of the biggest changes ever in the department. The county's first Black police chief moves into the job as officials are dealing with ongoing racial issues and discrimination lawsuits.
Many school districts are dealing with a teacher shortage by luring substitutes with higher pay and easing requirements. An Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents survey shows 96% of responding districts have a "substitute teacher shortage problem."
Veterans suffering from certain medical conditions became eligible for “presumptive” VA disability benefits last year. But their claims are adding to the agency’s huge backlog.
After three attempts to qualify for the Olympics, St. Louis-area native and speedskater Ian Quinn is competing for Team USA in Beijing. He is focusing on possibly winning a medal and the pandemic.
Some rural Missouri counties have COVID-19 vaccination rates as low as 12 percent. That is fueling some of the largest coronavirus outbreaks in the country. Political beliefs and a distrust of government are some reasons why people are not getting the shots.
The pandemic has exacerbated the growing gap between people with extreme wealth and those struggling to make ends meet. What does wealth inequality mean and what does it look like in St. Louis?
The director of African American Studies at St. Louis University says the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s calls for economic equality and workers’ rights have been diluted around the famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Christopher Tinson discusses why politicians ignore King’s call for economic rights.
A shortage of MetroBus drivers has prompted the suspension of six routes and changes to dozens of others. As a result, riders are waiting longer at bus stops in the often bitter cold or missing work when buses don’t show up.
Coyotes have become fixtures of American life, from the biggest cities to the open range. The number of coyotes in Kansas has nearly tripled since the 1980s and they're unwelcome around ranches, farms and homes. One response is to hunt them, but the canine still finds ways to survive.
Listener note: This story includes the sound of gunfire and depictions of hunting animals.
Workers at the Endangered Wolf Center in Eureka are working to educate people about the animals. The operation includes some American Red Wolves, which are the most endangered in the world.
The new president and CEO of one of the oldest arts organizations in St. Louis want to make sure the Muny is welcoming to people of all backgrounds. Kwofe Coleman is the first Black person to lead the 103-year-old theater in Forest Park.
There are many projects governments create to help rural areas. But there are dozens of definitions of rural. That means tiny communities far from urban areas can be left out of initiatives like grant programs.
Missouri service providers are working long hours and consolidating services as they grapple with a shortage of workers during the pandemic.
Schools are reporting widespread staffing issues because so many people are out sick. But so far, many districts have not moved back to online learning.
Cahokia Mounds has a new way to experience the heritage site. It’s an augmented reality app that can show what the area looked like at the height of the Mississippian culture about 1,000 years ago.
Job turnover, vacancies and competition from the private sector are just some of the reasons Missouri Governor. Mike Parson and others want pay hikes for all state employees. House Budget Committee members heard testimony on the proposal yesterday.
Illinois is a Democratic state, but Republicans have strong support in most areas outside Chicago and nearby counties. That divide will shape this year's race for governor.
Snow days are becoming a thing of the past. After more than a year of practicing virtual learning, school districts can now send students home with work if a winter storm is on its way.
There have been four directors of the St. Louis County jail in the past three years. Scott Anders is now in the role and is dealing with COVID, court delays, re-entry for inmates, and recent jail releases.
Missouri's 2022 legislative session opens today with lawmakers having to decide how to spend billions in federal COVID relief and infrastructure money. They also need to redraw the state's congressional districts.
Missouri health officials say even though homicides reached record levels in 2020, there were more suicides that year throughout the state. Some Black gun owners are taking more steps to protect themselves and that has others stepping in before more people possibly take their own lives.
The Asian population in the St. Louis region increased significantly between 2010 and 2020, according to the most recent Census. Most of the growth is concentrated in St. Louis and St. Louis and St. Charles counties. In St. Louis County, Asians now account for nearly 5% of the total population. Who is deciding to move here and why?
A look back at the biggest local and state political stories of 2021 and how some, like the politicization of the coronavirus pandemic and the race to fill U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt’s seat will play out in 2022.
Families are preparing to gather for the Christmas holiday as COVID cases surge and new variant looms. But doctors say simple precautions can reduce the risk.
St. Louis Public Radio's Chad Davis and Jeremy Goodwin look back on how artists and arts organizations adapted during a second pandemic season.
Large slaughterhouses can profit by selling parts of cows like tongues and livers. But small processors struggle with what to do with parts of a cow that aren't steaks or can be used in ground beef.
Miranda Walker Jones has spent almost two decades working in public service in St. Louis. Now, she’s starting a new role as CEO of the Little Bit Foundation, which helps break down learning barriers for students living in poverty.
The 2020 Census shows St. Louis lost thousands of African Americans to St. Louis County, the Metro East, and other states. Experts say the makeup of the city could change if the trend continues.
Missouri legislators are getting a late start on congressional redistricting. Much of the speculation centers around the future of Kansas City Congressman Emanuel Cleaver. The real conflict could be about how to change Congresswoman Ann Wagner’s 2nd Congressional District.
A Cole County judge’s ruling is creating confusion over who has the authority to issue public health orders like mask mandates. A St. Louis University School of Law professor weighs in on the judge’s action and what it means for Missouri residents.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker will be in the Metro East today as cleanup continues after Friday night’s deadly tornado in Edwardsville. Crews are also going through the rubble in St. Charles County, where the same storm system spawned a tornado in Defiance.
People are dealing with higher prices in several areas, including food, gas, and building materials, as the pandemic drags on. Many economists are trying to figure out if this will be an economic blip or a long-lasting hit to the wallet.
Most local arts venues now require patrons to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a recent negative test to enter. Beyond that, showgoers may encounter different environments from one venue to another or even one night to the next.
Communities throughout the Midwest are offering money and land to attract new residents. But are the incentive programs working?
St. Charles, Jefferson, Franklin, and Phelps counties have not used much of their federal coronavirus relief funds because officials say they don’t have enough guidance about how the money can be spent.
Detecting coronavirus variants has been a challenge for U.S. health officials during the pandemic. Some researchers say omicron might be less difficult to track than other strains.
Keyon Harrold has collaborated with many big names in popular music, including Beyoncé, Mary J. Blige, and Erykah Badu. He is the first creative advisor for Jazz St. Louis. Harrold has brought an activist's spirit to the role while meeting with community groups to plan collaborative projects with young musicians.
Remote communities where real estate prices have remained low for decades are now seeing unprecedented price spikes. The higher costs are compounding problems for area residents.
More Black Americans are attending college, but some researchers say disparities in borrowing and post-graduation incomes have caused the increase in the pursuit of higher education to fuel economic inequality and contribute to the widening of the wealth gap.
Banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck’s current tour includes a date this week at the Sheldon. Fleck has won 15 Grammy Awards blending bluegrass with other genres and highlighted the banjo’s roots through collaborations with African artists.
Months after a court ordered Missouri to expand Medicaid, the state has been slow to reach out to hundreds of thousands of eligible residents who could benefit from the public health care program.
Public health officials and law enforcement in Missouri are blaming fentanyl for an increase in overdose deaths. The opioid has grown in prevalence throughout the country.
The Biden administration is looking to broaden the definition of "Waters of the United States," which would have Clean Water Act ramifications and could put millions of acres of farmland back in protected status.
APM Reports is suing the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department for withholding data about which homicide cases have been solved. As calls for police accountability grow nationally, the St. Louis department has become less transparent.
Owners of St. Louis properties that have illegal and unenforceable racial covenants are working to remove them from the public record.
Tens of thousands of properties in St. Louis have racially restrictive covenants, even though they've been outlawed for decades. These covenants segregated neighborhoods and left a lasting impact on the city's housing.
A former St. Louis based arts organizer is documenting how art is linked to social movements across history. Visual artist De Nichols shares her artistic journey and her hopes that history will inspire younger activists and artists to want to change society.
The Latino population is one of the only communities that grew in every corner of the St. Louis region, according to the most recent census. The 2020 results indicate their numbers will continue to rise.
The largest farmland asset manager in the world gave the University of Illinois $5 million back in 2013, which helped launch the TIAA Center for Farmland research. But some are wary of corporations funding ag research at public universities.
In the first month since Missouri started processing Medicaid expansion applications, some 13-thousand people have enrolled in the service. That has major implications for Missourians dealing with cancer, which requires expensive treatment and benefits from early detection.
A new documentary tells the story of the U.S. military’s secret Cold War-era experiments in north St. Louis. Director Damien D. Smith says it relates to environmental racism affecting Black St. Louis residents.
Several new tick-borne viruses have been identified in the central U.S. since 2009, including the Heartland virus, which was first discovered in northwest Missouri. A group of St. Louis researchers and virus experts are working to identify the next generation of viruses before they infect people.
An updated database is keeping track of contaminants in tap water. The group behind the online tool says it shows that following federal water quality standards might not keep people safe.
Illinois is on the verge of once again allowing midwives without nursing degrees. The state stopped licensing them in 1965 and outlawed midwifery in 1992. A measure to restore the practice is awaiting Governor JB Pritzker's signature.
The Rolla School District has a big construction project underway, and students enrolled in vocational classes are taking on some work as part of their training. They are alongside recent graduates employed by local construction firms.
The stakes for reshaping the St. Louis County Council’s seven districts are low. There’s no chance of drawing a map where anybody but Democrats would hold a majority. But the commission responsible for the process has been full of drama.
President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan includes proposals to expand subsidized child care, free school meals, and a plan to establish universal preschool. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona says the childcare provisions could help many parents return to the workforce.
Missouri had one of the highest rates of anxiety medication prescriptions in the country before the pandemic. The research from a leading pharmacy benefits management company comes as the state deals with a shortage of mental health care providers.
Schools in the Ritenour district are closed today, so stressed teachers, other staff, and students can focus on their mental health. The pandemic and the return to in-person learning have caused more stress than usual.
A Washington University professor says Missouri has an opportunity to evaluate its cybersecurity practices after a flaw on a state-run website exposed the personal information of thousands of workers.
The new director of the St. Louis Art Museum wants to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion at the 142-year-old institution. Min Jung Kim is the first woman, the first immigrant, and the first person of color to lead the institution permanently.
The St. Louis Department of Health’s new leader plans to tackle continuing vaccine hesitancy and pandemic complacency. Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis is also dealing with a department suffering from high burnout rates, increasing staff turnover, and lack of funds.
The Missouri legislative redistricting commission is holding hearings to help determine future state House and Senate maps. Similar panels in the past have deadlocked along party lines, sending the issue to the courts.
Illinois has taken steps to overhaul energy programs to combat climate change. Now, there is a call to reach a goal of eventually putting 1 million electric vehicles on the state’s roads.
Thousands of high school bands from nine states are packing the Dome at America’s Center over the next couple of days for the Bands of America Super Regional Championship. It marks a return to competition for students after being sidelined during the pandemic.
Despite last year's protests and petitions calling for the removal of statues and street names in St. Louis that honor people with ties to slavery, genocide, and other atrocities, little has changed.
Several districts in the Midwest are setting up school farms. They help students develop a work ethic while learning about caring for animals and growing food.
St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones has joined a coalition of U.S. mayors to commit to reparations for the descendants of enslaved Africans. Many Black Americans say it's past time for a reparations program to address the legacy of slavery, legalized segregation, and to address the wealth gap between Black white people.
Families and friendships have been strained by those who don't get the COVID-19 vaccine. For people who want their loved ones to be safe from the virus, trying to persuade others to change their minds can be frustrating but not impossible.
More Black families are choosing to homeschool their children. The U.S. Census Bureau says the rate of Black families shifting from traditional learning to homeschooling is increasing at a greater pace than other racial groups.
The Grammy Award-winning band plays a fusion of Gospel, blues and music from the Gullah culture of enslaved Africans who lived in South Carolina. A member of the band what it means to interpret the music for a contemporary audience.
Americans import the vast majority of chestnuts they eat each year, despite it being one of the few countries where the nut can be grown. That's changing as interest in starting orchards of the nut trees is gaining traction in the Midwest.
St. Louis-based online learning company Nerdy recently started trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The company has gone public as it focuses on helping students who have fallen behind during the pandemic.
A new publication driven by artists in the region will hit the streets at the end of October. Search Party Magazine will highlight the work of Black artists in St. Louis.
For the first time, Missouri's Teacher of the Year comes from the Ferguson-Florissant School District. James Young teaches music at the Johnson-Wabash 6th Grade Center and is the second African American to receive the honor.
The museum at Fort Leonard Wood is celebrating the 80th anniversary of the Army's Military Police Corps with a new display showcasing the history and evolving role of the unit.
A franchise-record 17-game winning streak is the big reason why the Cardinals are in the playoffs. One of the team’s beat writers says that was an impressive run but St. Louis best remembers teams for winning World Series championships.
The federal government says Missouri will receive nearly $1 billion for expanding Medicaid to individuals making roughly $17,800 a year. U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Chaquita Brooks-LaSure says the money helps the state cover more people and encourage more individuals to enroll.
The first Missouri gas tax hike in more than 20 years took effect last week. The money will address crumbling roads and bridges. State officials are trying to figure out how much money will come in and which projects the increase will fund.
A mural near the Delmar Loop highlights the connection between African Americans and Latinos. The artists hope it will spark conversations about the similar struggles of African Americans and Afro Latinos.
Frustration over the media’s coverage of autism, myths surrounding the disability, and policies shaped by society’s misconceptions have prompted a journalist to try to change perceptions. We’ll speak with Eric Michael Garcia, author of “We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation.”
Missouri public school districts can still issue mask orders to slow the spread of COVID-19. That’s after a judge denied Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s effort to immediately block the mandates throughout the state.
After a recent legal setback, St. Louis County has issued a new indoor mask mandate that County Executive Sam Page is confident will hold up to legal scrutiny.
Many rural utilities are trying to keep up with increased demand for water and electricity as more states approve recreational marijuana.
Musician Ryan Marquez is celebrating what he calls the city’s “artistic renaissance” with a series of collaborations on his new album, “Saint Unity.” Twenty local vocalists and other musicians contributed to what Marquez calls a snapshot of the creativity in St. Louis.
Many doctors in Missouri are worried about more serious pregnancy complications in women battling COVID-19. That includes a rise in miscarriages, emergency pre-term deliveries, and stillbirth.
Missouri allows passengers in moving vehicles to drink alcohol. That policy has cost the state roughly $370 million in highway construction money for failing to comply with federal safety policies.
Several elements came together at the World's Fair in St. Louis to show off America's global impact on the economy, science, art, and food. It also opened in the middle of the Jim Crow era of discrimination and at the height of the country's removal and forced assimilation of Native Americans.
While some people think of vacuums as just an appliance, the Vacuum Cleaners Collector Club members are passionate about them. The held their national convention in Rolla over the weekend.
Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft wants to see all elections in the state become partisan elections. He says voter turnout in non-partisan municipal elections can be in single digits, while partisan elections tend to have a much higher turnout.
The initial detailed numbers from the 2020 Census show growing diversity in the region among Asian and Hispanic populations. But the communities also face challenges with government services and support.
St. Louis County employees will need to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Those who refuse will be tested every 14 days. There are exemptions for medical reasons or religious objections to the vaccine.
St. Louis native Carla Power’s new book focuses on deradicalizing extremists. It’s told through the stories of former militants and people working to bring them back into society. Power has won the National Book Award and been a Pulitzer Prize finalist for non-fiction.
Some Missouri farmers are trying to learn just how much carbon they can keep out of the atmosphere by putting it in the ground. And the research is looking at how environmentally friendly practices could also help farmers' bottom line.
The three-day festival "Music at the Intersection" kicks off in Grand Center tonight and will feature the first big live shows for some local venues since the start of the pandemic. It also marks the beginning of a fall season that could include more live events than St. Louis has seen in the past year and a half.
The Blues Hall of Fame member and soul singer worked in relative obscurity for decades before receiving her due in recent years, propelled by a 2005 collection of radically reinterpreted classic rock songs. She is now widely considered one of the great song interpreters. Her most recent release, "Blackbirds," is a collection of songs first popularized by other Black women.
George Washington Carver is best known for his innovative work with peanuts. But this Missourian is also responsible for advancements in biofuels, plant-based meats, alternative medicines, and so much more.
Missouri says it can’t start processing applications under Medicaid expansion until October, even though a judge ordered the state to accept them in August. The gap is leading to uncertainty for many Missouri residents.
Some renters in the St. Louis region could be out of their homes soon now that the U.S. Supreme Court has lifted a federal ban on evictions. Housing advocates expect a wave of evictions if state and local officials do not process aid applications quickly.
Agriculture researchers are examining ways to reduce the industry’s carbon footprint. That could involve changing the type of crushed rock farmers use to neutralize soil acidity.
Missouri’s 1st Congressional District was created with the help of Black Democrats and Republicans. That relationship will be put to the test next year because of population loss.
St. Louis aldermen have approved the extension of an order requiring masks in indoor spaces. Mayor Tishaura Jones requested the move. The order went into effect in late July and will now last at least until September 29.
A former schoolhouse for Black children in Chesterfield is getting a second chance. African School #4 will be renovated and moved to the Historic Village at Faust Park in St. Louis County.
Professional wrestling is coming back to The Chase Park Plaza this weekend after a nearly 40-year hiatus. In its heyday, The Chase was one of the most prominent locations in the U.S. for pro wrestlers.
President Richard Nixon was facing his first midterm election when Kansas native Tom Stubbs joined the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. He is retiring, as associate principal timpanist and cymbal specialist, after 51 years.
Attorney General Eric Schmitt has filed a reverse class-action lawsuit against school districts that require face coverings. His office calls the mandates unreasonable and arbitrary. The White House says the legal action puts children in danger.
Increasing COVID-19 vaccination rates in rural America is now less of a problem of access and more an issue of trust. Scientists say people in under-vaccinated parts of the country like sections of rural Missouri and Illinois, are at serious risk, especially as the delta variant spreads rapidly.
Musician Eldraco Price is releasing his first collection, "Free Love," today. He wrote the music for the five-song project over the past few years. The artist has already received national acclaim for his song Malori, which won a John Lennon songwriting award.
Some parents in school districts throughout the St. Louis region are demanding teachers stop talking about race and identity in the classroom. They are opposing three controversial words: critical race theory.
A recently elected member of the Rolla City Council may not be eligible to serve in that office. The situation underlines the difficulty in proving where a Missouri elected official lives and who enforces the requirements.
Wine lovers should thank a few Missouri winemakers and scientists who saved the global industry after small bugs almost wiped it out in the 1850s.
A recent United Nations report predicts a dramatic reshaping of the climate undoubtedly driven by human activity. The state climatologist discusses the changes in Missouri.
Another disturbance at the downtown jail in St. Louis comes as improvements are being carried out at the City Justice Center. The work is expected to be complete by the second quarter of 2023.
Kansas City and St. Louis are both known as barbecue destinations, but recent efforts to redefine the cuisine have sidelined the very barbecuers, pitmasters and restaurateurs who made it an institution.
Environmental organizations in the region are collaborating on rallies and other efforts. The groups on both sides of the river have not traditionally worked together. Some are already thinking beyond just strengthening regional ties.
Keeping farm animals cool is essential – not just for their comfort and health - but also for their productivity. But many livestock producers are struggling to keep livestock cool during increasingly hot summers linked to climate change.
Economists have long used measurements like unemployment, inflation and interest rates as measurements of economic health, but new research suggests that measuring posts made by businesses may be another useful tool.
It’s been seven years since the death of Michael Brown Jr. His father, Michael Brown Sr., and his stepmom, Cal, are reflecting on his life and legacy. They remain hopeful the former Ferguson police officer who killed their son will be prosecuted.
A United Nations report finds more than 2 billion people around the world regularly eat bugs. But munching on insects is a tough sell in the U.S. Some farmers in the Midwest are trying to change that.
COVID-19 cases are increasing throughout Missouri, including among people behind bars. A highly contagious mutation along with a lack of universal testing and staffing shortages are making outbreaks more dangerous inside the state’s prisons.
A circuit judge has issued a temporary restraining order against St. Louis County’s indoor mask restriction — which only went into effect last week. The order will remain in effect at least until another hearing later this month.
Illinois has hired thousands of contact tracers through $300 million in grants to local health departments. Many have been at it for months and say their job is more than just contacting people to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Missouri is one of the leading states for new COVID cases. Critics say Governor Mike Parson is not doing enough to cope with the Delta variant-fueled surge. Parson counters those claims by saying the vaccine incentive lottery is working, citing a significant increase in daily doses.
Though COVID-19 vaccines are now widely available for adults and adolescents in the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration has not approved them for children under 12. A St. Louis area pediatrician is advising parents about when young children should wear masks, and the return to in-person learning this fall.
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt wants a judge to grant a temporary restraining order against St. Louis County’s face-covering restriction. His office is also suing to invalidate the mandate. County Executive Sam Page says the restriction will remain pending the court battle.
Scott Air Force Base has many connections to the St. Louis region, including how it collaborates with the medical community. One initiative trains military medics in trauma care and another is a shared residency program at an area hospital.
The Archdiocese of St. Louis recently revealed some of its early bishops and clergy held enslaved people. That includes Bishop William DuBourg and Bishop Joseph Rosati. Now two schools named for the men are reckoning with that history.
The Missouri Supreme Court delivered an earthquake for the state's politics and health care communities: It means thousands of people among the working poor will have a way to pay for medical procedures — and a lifeline for rural health care providers. It also fundamentally changes the state's politics.
Advocates worry that a highly contagious strain of the coronavirus could cause staffing shortages and health risks for residents in nursing homes. Many want Congress to pass the Essential Caregivers Act to give people in long-term facilities better care during public health emergencies.
Area hospitals report as much as one-third of their workforce is still unvaccinated. That is a concern as a new wave of cases sparked by the Delta variant sweeps across Missouri.
Health officials in the region are thinking about taking more steps to avoid another wave of COVID-19. Low vaccination rates and the highly contagious Delta variant are two reasons why officials recommend residents go back to face coverings in public spaces.
The state of Missouri has issued a hotspot advisory for three counties southwest of St. Louis as the Delta variant continues to spread. The vaccination rates in Laclede, Pulaski and Phelps counties are lower than the state average.
The future of farming in heavily forested areas like southern Missouri may be under the trees instead of clearing them out. Some landowners who are new to farming are trying out forest farming and are getting help from universities and the government.
Missouri is reporting its highest daily total of COVID-19 cases since January. The increase comes as the Delta variant continues to spread, putting health officials throughout the state on alert.
The Missouri Supreme Court is expected to rule quickly on a lawsuit seeking to expand Medicaid. That decision will impact future ballot issues, the state budget and the amendment process.
Missouri Supreme Court judges have heard arguments in a battle over Medicaid expansion. Three women are trying to gain access to the health care program. Their attorneys reject an argument that the women can’t sign up because the legislature did not appropriate funds.
St. Louis County is planning to announce a COVID-19 vaccine incentive program this week. It is also encouraging residents who might have been exposed to the Delta variant to get tested immediately.
Health officials throughout Missouri are preparing for another potential surge in coronavirus cases. They say there isn’t much that can be done to stop the spread if the Delta variant gains a tighter grip on areas with low vaccination rates.
Missouri's Governor and the federal government do not appear to be on the same page in dealing with the surge in COVID-19 cases. The disagreement comes as state officials have requested assistance from federal health teams to deal with the Delta variant.
Finding help for a child with mental illness is not easy. There are several barriers to treatment, creating a nightmare for relatives. We report on one family’s fight to secure care for their child.
Some people who followed stay-at-home recommendations during the height of the pandemic were unwittingly exposed to an increased risk of getting sick by issues in their homes like mold and rodents.
Hospital officials in Springfield are holding their breath as they deal with an increase in COVID-19 cases. They are also battling low immunization rates.
A fast-spreading coronavirus mutation in Missouri is fueling a rise in cases. The state’s epidemiologist says vaccines alone may not be enough to stop the delta variant.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson has signed 13 bills that make up the state budget. The move comes after the last-minute approval of a tax to help fund Medicaid and hours before the start of Missouri’s new fiscal year.
Fontbonne University in St. Louis and Quincy University are among the schools launching a new sprint football league. Fontbonne President, Dr. Nancy Blattner is the founding chair of the league’s board of governors and says the sport can boost the entire university.
The federal government plans to send more debt relief payments to Black farmers in recognition of how the USDA and local farm credit offices denied generations of people loans and foreclosed on their properties. For many, the money will be too late to reverse the decades of damage caused by discrimination in farming.
Many hemp growers in the Midwest are finding it more difficult than anticipated to sell the crop for industrial uses. That has led to a drop in the number of licenses in at least one state.
Most states don’t allow transgender people to correct their names on marriage documents. Some lawmakers and advocates are working to change that in Illinois.
Twenty-five percent of Illinois marijuana sales tax revenue goes to grants for underserved communities. There appears to be some success, but many say a lot can be improved to help community organizations.
The head of the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force says it’s time for the region to adjust to a “new normal.” Dr. Alex Garza’s comments come as the group stops weekly briefings with reporters after more than a year.
The tense relationship between the city of St. Louis and the organizations that provide services to homeless people has prompted the St. Louis Continuum of Care to consider breaking off to form its own independent nonprofit.
The Jesuits have committed to raising $100 million to go towards the Descendants Truth & Reconciliation Foundation. The new organization formed by descendants of formerly enslaved people and the Catholic order of priests with ties to St. Louis University is an effort to atone for involvement in slavery.
Black people in the region want Juneteenth to be a day to educate people about the Black plight. President Joe Biden has signed a law making it a national holiday.
More than 100 schools in Missouri have installed new air cleaning technology with the hopes of keeping students and staff safe from the virus that causes COVID-19. But scientists are skeptical.
Optimism among many Missouri Republicans following last weekend’s Lincoln Days event is being tempered by the primary race to replace U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, who is not seeking re-election.
Doctors have found new ways to utilize support animals, in physical and speech therapy, and in substance abuse programs. Now educators are using the strategy to help ease teachers, students and staff back into the classroom after roughly a year of online learning.
Many are struggling with anxiety about resuming certain pre-pandemic activities, even after they have been fully vaccinated. A study from the American Psychological Association shows nearly half of respondents feel uneasy about returning to in-person interactions after the pandemic.
Several new St. Louis leaders are changing the way the city used tax incentives to leverage growth in thriving areas to help other parts of the city. It's part of a vision for more equitable development.
A new vision of Shakespeare's "King Lear" is coming to Forest Park. St. Louis Shakespeare Festival is setting the classic play in northern Africa 30 years in the future. The aim is to attract a diverse audience some say is long overdue in American theater.
The video game Farming Simulator, in which players run a farm, has found a loyal and niche audience in the gaming world.
Linn County, in north central Missouri, has a coronavirus case level five times the state average. Meanwhile, employees at coal-fired power plants in Illinois are fighting new clean energy legislation.
Increasingly, farmers don’t own the land they work. That’s particularly true in the country’s breadbasket and can have environmental consequences. Farmers who rent appear less likely to use conservation practices.
A preview of an online exhibit that examines how Black artists are responding to COVID-19 and police brutality.
Animal disease labs expanded testing capacity during the COVID-19 outbreak. The lessons learned by those scientists could help prevent another pandemic.
Two recent university graduates invented a robot that could help farmers improve their crops and avoid the dangerous job of having to go inside grain bins.
The play examines the black market ivory trade by dramatizing the spirit of a dead elephant as it follows its tusks around the world. The performance is at the Repertory Theatre of St Louis through July 11.
Coronavirus complicated the academic year. We asked some first-year teachers to document their experiences over the last few months by recording audio diaries.
iLLPHONiCS has been a big presence on the St. Louis music scene since 2006. The pandemic has given members plenty of time to fine-tune a new album. They are also preparing for their first live show in more than a year.
Former U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill discusses whether Democrats can ever become relevant in Missouri. In a wide-ranging interview, she also criticizes the man who defeated her, Senator Josh Hawley, the race for Senator Roy Blunt’s seat and her job at MSNBC.
George Floyd’s death one year ago today and the national protests that followed prompted lawmakers in Illinois to pass legislation to address systemic racism. That includes a measure dealing with health care.
The pandemic forced many small towns to cancel large festivals that they depend on for tourism. The events are returning this year to many communities throughout the Midwest.
Census numbers show Illinois will lose a seat in Congress and many observers believe it will come from consolidation in the Metro East.
A Florida-based real estate investor with Missouri roots is leading a company that is snapping up wineries in St. Charles County. He wants to convert the Augusta area into the nation's next big region for wine-related tourism.
The Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum is poised to reopen this year after being shut down since 2019 for a nearly $40 million renovation. The 3,000-square-foot addition will help make the story of Truman and his presidency relevant to what's happening today.
Residents are pushing to permanently open a gate that blocks pedestrian and car traffic into the DeBaliviere Place neighborhood.
Tensions among lawmakers and measures that did not pass are overshadowing accomplishments of the just-completed Missouri legislative session. Those achievements could have a far-reaching impact.
St. Louis-based band Drangus has been making music for five years. The three-person group creates synth-pop music. Frontman Tom Pini started the group after splitting with successful emo-indie rock band, Foxing.
Summer festivals are signature events for many communities in the region.. They were a casualty of the pandemic last year. Now that people are getting vaccinated and restrictions on large gatherings are being reduced, organizers are working on plans to bring them back.
Despite working with both traditional school districts and charter schools, many backers of St. Louis Public Schools see The Opportunity Trust as a shady organization bent on privatizing public schools in Missouri.
Lawmakers in Missouri probably won’t get to debate how the state should spend more than $2.5 billion in additional Coronavirus Relief Act money. In Illinois, health officials are moving ahead with a plan to vaccinate workers as they return to their offices.
Harris-Stowe State University’s 20th president started the job during the height of the pandemic. Dr. Corey S. Bradford Sr. says the university has made it through the toughest part of the outbreak, while still planning to increase student enrollment and to launch initiatives to boost employment opportunities for African American graduates.
More cannabis dispensaries are popping up in the St. Louis region offering infused soda, cookies and chocolate bars. This comes as demand for edibles is booming in Missouri.
As part of the effort to improve conditions in on-base housing, Fort Leonard Wood is reestablishing its Mayor program, where each neighborhood elects a mayor to help solve problems and build a better sense of community. Some soldiers and their families believe in the program, others say it won't address long-running problems.
Shelters and nonprofits are focusing on the vaccination of people in the region without homes. Those efforts, combined with others getting the shots, could mean lifting many restrictions by the Fourth of July.
What started as a tense debate over whether Rockwood’s schools should reopen in person last fall has descended into schoolyard bullying among the adults.
It’s morel mushroom hunting season in much of the Midwest. Finding the hollow, sponge-like edible mushrooms can be somewhat lucrative. They sell for an average of $25 to $40 a pound and even more when the season ends.
The Missouri legislature seems to be intent on ignoring the will of the people when it comes to ballot issues. Lawmakers have either successfully challenged or are challenging minimum wage increases, Clean Missouri redistricting and Medicaid expansion. Their argument: voters have been duped by special interests.
St. Louis’ MLS team is holding tryouts for its new youth academy. It’s part of an effort to remove costs that have been barriers for some parents and young soccer talent.
Agriculture is among the largest contributors to the Gulf of Mexico’s dead zone. Farmers up river are trying to change their agricultural practices to prevent further damage, but so far they are having little luck.
Many Black Americans continue to struggle with how George Floyd died, even though a Minneapolis jury found former police officer Derek Chauvin guilty of murder. Many are suffering from mental anguish after repeatedly watching the justice system allow police officers who kill Black people to escape accountability.
About half the veterans in the St. Louis VA system have received the COVID-19 vaccine. Many say the process has been effective because of strong relationships with VA doctors.
The Pulitzer Arts Foundation is presenting an exhibition of a New York-based artist’s work, which is designed to be outside and encountered by people walking by. It involves signs bearing thought-provoking questions about human relationships.
A St. Louis chef is planning to reopen a high-profile eatery with a new concept. Tim Eagan is hoping to open the doors of the former Eat-Rite Diner south of downtown next month. He is bringing years of experience to the venture and a new name for the restaurant.
St. Louis Public Schools are underutilized. An analysis shows the city has the second-lowest occupancy level for major cities. But even as the district consolidates buildings, rightsizing is tough.
As the federal government starts shipping more doses of the coronavirus vaccine to Missouri, hospitals and health departments in the St. Louis region are relying more on volunteers to help administer the shots.
Six new members of the Rolla City Council will take the oath of office tonight. Five of them upset incumbents to win their seats. Those incumbents voted for mask mandates and shutdown ordinances during the pandemic.
St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson is spending her final few days in office reflecting on her legacy, regrets and what is ahead for the city once new leadership is in place. Krewson retires Tuesday.
Farmers along the Missouri River are suing after flooding-related property damage. They have fought for years over whether the government should prioritize the river’s endangered animals or human interests.
Scott Air Force Base swore in roughly 20 members of the new U.S. Space Force in February. The former Airmen are now called Guardians. They will remain at Scott for another 12-to-18 months before they transfer to an official Space Force installation.
Much of the green energy focus on transportation is on cars and trucks. But barge traffic along inland waterways is critical to shipping crops. More focus on climate change could lead to improvements in the industry or leave it behind.
Latinos are far less likely to receive the COVID vaccine. A reluctance to get the shot grounded in language, culture, and other factors piles onto the health care inequities that many Latinos already face. That could leave many meatpacking communities at risk.
St. Louis County is slated to receive about $190 million in federal coronavirus relief funding from the most recent stimulus package. Officials are still figuring how to spend the money. And with a majority of the council opposed to County Executive Sam Page, there could be a fight.
The Cardinals are ready for their second consecutive pandemic-influenced home opener. A limited number of fans will be allowed in Busch Stadium, unlike last year when they were not inside the ballpark because of COVID-concerns.
After more than two decades at the St. Louis Development Corporation, Executive Director Otis Williams is retiring. His exit comes as the organization shifts how it does business.
The day after inmates at the St. Louis Justice Center broke out of their cells, smashed windows and started a fire, city officials again blamed faulty locks in the downtown jail.
Lawmakers and advocates in Missouri are pushing to restore voting rights more quickly to formerly incarcerated people. Current state law delays them from being able to vote before completing parole or probation.
As the race for the next mayor of St. Louis heads to the finish line, we preview candidate Cara Spencer. The 20th Ward alderwoman is running against city Treasurer Tishaura Jones in Tuesday’s election.
As the race for the next mayor of St. Louis heads to the finish line, we preview candidate Tishaura Jones. The city treasurer is running against Alderwoman Cara Spencer in Tuesday’s election.
The Fabulous Fox Theatre and Opera Theatre St. Louis will host live performances after a year of cancelations. The changes come after a tumultuous year where productions were canceled because of the pandemic.
The Illinois Department of Corrections halted in-person visitations last March to try and prevent the spread of COVID-19. As more people get vaccinated, advocates and people with incarcerated loved ones say the state needs to figure out a way to allow in-person visits again.
As Missouri adds new groups to vaccine eligibility lists, many city residents continue to make long drives to rural towns to find appointments for the shots. Ever since the vaccine arrived in the state, there have sometimes been more doses than demand in rural areas, while urban centers have found themselves far short.
Some Black Metro East residents are running for city offices to make local government more diverse. In many cases, they are running against white incumbents who have held power for years.
A St. Louis Public Radio investigation in collaboration with APM Reports finds St. Louis officials may have put the city’s homeless population in even greater jeopardy during the pandemic. They cleared homeless encampments last spring and moved residents into temporary shelters including hotels.
The two candidates for St. Louis Mayor have ideas on how to improve the relationship between the city and county, including whether a merger will ever be discussed again. It's a key issue heading into next month's election between St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura Jones and Alderwoman Cara Spencer.
Several groups in the St. Louis region have released sweeping economic development plans over the last year centering on the idea of inclusive development. Black-led organizations say the initiatives are on the right track, but there is a need to rebuild trust in the community.
How to pay for Medicaid expansion is possibly the most contentious issue lawmakers will tackle as they return to the Missouri state capitol this week. Other big items include a statewide prescription drug monitoring program and increasing the gasoline tax.
Artist Aaron Fowler’s first major exhibition in his native city is the culmination of a year-long residency at The Luminary. Fowler is combining 12 projects into what he describes as a “dream space” filling every inch of the gallery.
Former members of fraternities and sororities at Washington University are pushing to abolish Greek life from the campus. The number of active members in the university’s Greek organizations is already falling.
A push to use technology to track livestock is meeting strong resistance. Supporters say it can better ensure the safety of meat and protect businesses. Small cattle producers say it will increase costs.
Thousands missed out on summer camp last year because of COVID-19 cancelations. This year, camp directors want to reopen and welcome children back.
Missouri residents who the state says “keep the essential functions of society running” are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. That includes educators, child care providers and critical infrastructure workers. Also, more students are returning to schools today.
A Des Moines-based artist is returning to St. Louis with a new project that includes the Close the Workhouse campaign.
On the year anniversary of the WHO declaring a pandemic, Sarah Fentem talks to those who are still suffering months after being infected with the coronavirus.
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the demand for backyard chickens and other birds. For hatcheries, getting newborn chicks to their owner is a race against time. Extreme weather, like the snow storm that hit Missouri in February, make that process more challenging.
Arts organizations, alumni, and Harris-Stowe State University are rallying to save historic Sumner High School. The St. Louis School board could vote this evening on whether to permanently close the oldest high school for African Americans west of the Mississippi.
Tourism is being hit hard during the pandemic. Many attractions throughout the region have gone through a huge drop in business but are planning to bounce back.
Teachers want to skip standardized state examinations for the second year and focus on getting students caught up and back in the classroom. Some administrators worry about how testing would work for those learning remotely. The state education department in Missouri insists exams are necessary to pinpoint learning loss.
Story Stitchers’ latest project examines everyday life in five St. Louis-area neighborhoods and municipalities: the Ville, West Side, University City & Delmar Loop, Walnut Park, and Ferguson. The initiative includes an album celebrating life in St. Louis, and a podcast about the city’s music scene hosted by rapper Ntegrity.
Environmental activists say the concern over demolishing a shuttered East Alton coal plant is only the beginning. They say there are few state or federal rules and more coal plants will go offline as demand continues to drop.
The director of the film “America’s Last Little Italy: The Hill” was concerned the lack of in-person festivals during the pandemic would hurt distribution. But Joseph Puleo says online streaming helped attract a wide range of viewers in cities like Chicago and New York.
A Black St. Louis-based chemical engineer has played a key role in battling COVID-19. Paul Mensah led the team that developed Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. He says the shots are critical to ending the pandemic.
The four candidates for St. Louis mayor agree that violent crime is the top issue facing the city. They are outlining their approaches to the complex issue ahead of Tuesday’s primary.
Singer Javier Mendoza who performs as Hobo Cane has been writing and performing Latin music for years. The artist has written songs for Enrique Iglesias, Juan David, Ricky Martin. He has also poured his heart into rock music.
Some of the 46,000 Missourians ordered to pay back unemployment benefits are appealing. State representatives are moving forward on legislation to forgive the federal portion of the money, but legal groups representing people filing appeals are looking for more help.
St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson used federal funding to build 50 tiny houses for the homeless in December. Some homeless advocates say the money could have been better spent on other initiatives.
Many students have not been in a classroom for roughly one-year. Some have decided to stay away during the pandemic. Others have been following decisions by school districts. Many parents and students are feeling burned out and unmotivated to continue with online lessons.
Missouri may not finish drawing House and Senate maps until 2022 because of delays in obtaining Census data. That could conflict with the start of candidate filing, possibly causing lawmakers to reshuffle the election schedule to avoid a time crunch.
Throughout the pandemic and protests, Black artists grappled with expressing grief and joy in their lives. Seven local African American artists will showcase that work through a virtual exhibit hosted by the Griot Museum.
Missouri S&T has an ambitious plan to improve access to campus and pave the way for growth. But it will include demolishing the three oldest buildings on campus. Historians, preservationists and community die-hards are opposed to the measure.
Residents in the St. Louis region are traveling to National Guard sites in rural areas to receive doses of the coronavirus vaccine. That’s after recent data shows "vaccine deserts" are expanding in the metro area.
The limited supply of the coronavirus vaccine has Missouri officials trying to strike a balance. They want to make sure the shots are available to everyone while preventing people from cutting in line.
St. Louis gospel singer Kenny DeShields has been performing in the St. Louis area for years. His most recent singles are songs that combine socially conscious lyrics with pop crossover appeal.
The New Missouri Republican Party chairman is settling into the position with the goal of making sure members of the GOP continue to win elections. Nick Myers takes over with Republicans in most statewide offices. The party also holds majorities in the legislature.
There is a new leader at one of the area's major funders for arts organizations. Regional Arts Commission President and CEO Vanessa Cooksey started the job in November. She has been dealing with pandemic-related issues and increased demand to advance racial equity.
St. Louis County officials say it might have to stop booking immunization appointments today because of the low coronavirus vaccine supply. In the Metro East, St. Clair County officials are warning it might not have enough shots to get through Friday.
An uprising at St. Louis’ downtown jail is leading activists and public officials to two conclusions when it comes to the city’s other and more notorious jail known as the Workhouse.
The popularity of the Kansas City Chiefs has grown in the past few years, especially in St. Louis. As Sunday’s Kansas City-Tampa Bay Super Bowl approaches, we dive into the appeal of the Chiefs throughout Missouri.
Some voters in St. Louis are upset Missouri does not include fear of contracting COVID-19 as an excuse to obtain an absentee ballot. Their concerns come less than a month before the city’s mayoral primary.
After early success in reopening schools, most German students have been learning from home for nearly two months amid a resurgence of COVID across Europe. It means they could face similar learning loss as Americans.
Missouri is revising its plan to distribute the COVID-19 vaccine. Most of its shipments will be sent to roughly two-dozen hospitals. Also, the Cardinals have finalized a big trade.
Arrey Obensen is the new President and CEO of the International Institute of St. Louis. He replaces longtime leader Anna Crosslin who spent more than 40 years on the job. Obensen begins his new responsibilities with ambitious goals, including launching a conversation with the community.
A think tank says improving access to broadband internet could bridge the rural-urban divide. But it is one of many issues the Biden Administration has to tackle with limited time and resources.
Federal aid for live music venues has had mixed results for St. Louis arts organizations. Also, Governor Mike Parsons delivered his State of the State address.
The Missouri vaccination plan categorizes correctional officers as essential. They will be among the first workers to receive the shots. Though inmates are at a high risk of contracting the virus inside dense prison settings, the state plan does not specify when they will be vaccinated.
In parts of eastern Germany, teens are making up a growing percentage of perpetrators of hate crimes. St. Louis Public Radio’s Ryan Delaney traveled to Germany in the fall with support from the Pulitzer Center. He reports several nonprofits are working with educators and students to teach against anti-semitism and far-right extremism.
Some African Americans in the St. Louis region do not trust the coronavirus vaccine because of the country’s history of racism in the healthcare system. Doctors and health officials in the St. Louis area are educating Black patients about the vaccine to build trust.
The intensity of the current split on the St. Louis County Council is affecting the flow of county business. The fiery debate centers on leadership of the seven-person body.
Illinois launched legal marijuana sales a year ago this month. There have been some successes including an increase in tax money for the state and cities. But there have been failures such as a lack of minority ownership.
It's an historic day as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris take the oath of office for President and Vice President of the United States. Also, the St. Louis County Council presses forward with business while the chair position remains contested.
Employees at the St. Louis Aquarium are raising concerns about working conditions during the pandemic. More than a dozen former and current workers have told St. Louis Public Radio that management doesn’t always enforce COVID-19 rules, putting people’s health at risk.
Many were not surprised by last week's insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Several groups have been warning for years that hate speech could lead to mob violence. The regional director of the Anti-Defamation League says there is a clear link between the violence and rhetoric from the President.
Even though doses of the coronavirus vaccine have reached hospitals in the region, health care workers in private clinics and urgent care centers are wondering when they will receive the shots to give COVID-19 patients.
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidelines allow employers to require staff to get the COVID-19 vaccine. But there are questions about what happens if a worker refuses. A Washington University law professor discusses considerations for workers and employers as they prepare for the vaccine rollout in Missouri.
The St. Louis Board of Education votes tonight on a plan to close 11 buildings. Parents have been trying to save some of those schools. Also, we’ll hear from a teacher about online learning during a pandemic in her first year as an educator.
Many who watched a mob storm the U.S. Capitol last week noticed the restraint of police. Those images were in stark contrast to the force used against protestors for Black lives. Many history experts say the nation has a long tolerance for white violence and there is a lengthy road to equity ahead.
Many politicians are blaming President Donald Trump for Wednesday's violence in the nation’s capital. Much of the fallout is also centering on Republican Senator Josh Hawley. He was one of the first senators to announce an objection to Joe Biden’s victory in the Presidential election.
Missouri and Illinois members of Congress are using terms like, “ashamed” and “a sad day for our country” to describe the riot at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington. Some politicians want the President removed from office.
It has been an academic year unlike any other because of COVID-19. College students say even when they are on campus, they are missing out on the social life a higher education environment usually provides.
The 2021 session of the Missouri legislature begins tomorrow. Medicaid expansion, COVID-19 liability and increasing the gas tax are some of the issues expected to be up for debate this year at the state capitol.
Illinois election authorities have released absentee and mail-in voting totals from the general election on a county by county basis. Missouri is soon to follow. We examine how election night in November might change voting forever.
The most recent farm bill legalized hemp production nationwide, but left individual states in charge of oversight. As the crop rolls out across the Midwest, some states are seeing more success than others, but overall, farmers remain optimistic.
St. Louis City FC signed its first player, more than two years before the team will take the pitch. But this player will compete only on the screen. And, we take a ride with a passionate model airplane club.
Tik Tok, the social media video platform, might not be the first place you think of for politicians. But some state lawmakers in Missouri and Kansas are using the app to reach a younger audience.
The first piece by The Rep's playwright-in-residence is a compilation of vignettes by nine artists. Regina Taylor says the production addresses pandemic life through monologue and song.
High school seniors are applying to college in uncertain times. They're struggling to market themselves following an academic year without many extracurricular activities and standardized tests because of COVID-19.
Former Iowa Governor and previous Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is President-elect Joe Biden's choice for the cabinet post he held under President Obama. While he was perceived to be the "safe" choice, Midwest farmers from across the political spectrum have major concerns.
The Chief Executive Officer of Niche Food Group says many restaurants will close over the winter without more financial support and a regional plan. Gerard Craft discusses how the region’s restaurant owners are trying to stay in business during the coronavirus outbreak.
A licensed counselor has launched a wellness mobile to give young girls access to safe therapy to help address trauma and anxiety. Girls have access to 15-minute mental health check-ins, virtual sessions, and a wellness kit.
Food service, nursing homes, janitorial. Industries whose workers are essential. Those workers say they’re risking their health and safety during the coronavirus pandemic as they have to go to work every day. Some say limited hazard pay, long hours and losing coworkers has left them drained and exhausted.
Staged versions of Charles Dickens’ short novel “A Christmas Carol” are reliably popular every December. With theaters closed this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, some creative people in St. Louis are finding new ways to adapt Dickens’ story to fit the times and keep the tradition intact.
The expansion of absentee voting in Missouri is set to go away at the end of the year. Some election officials and lawmakers want to permanently change how Missourians can vote early.
The St. Louis region lacks a cohesive approach to coronavirus restrictions. Area counties have different regulations to deal with the pandemic. Those differences are severe for businesses along country borders.
Information from Johns Hopkins University shows the pace of coronavirus infections in the U.S. continues to increase. And as state health officials continue to battle the outbreak, the virus has claimed the life of a former Illinois state senator.
Those on the frontlines at St. Luke’s Hospital in Chesterfield have been working overtime for months to care for patients with the coronavirus. Nurses, therapists and others are trying to cope emotionally and physically while admitting more sick patients every day.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson says the state has hired a private health care company to provide temporary workers and additional beds for hospitals overrun with coronavirus patients.
The Missouri legislature is expected to discuss expanding Medicaid in the 2021 session, which begins next month. That’s after voters approved the concept in August. But some lawmakers might try to limit expansion or put a stop to it.
The number of COVID-19 patients in St. Louis area hospitals is at its highest level since the start of the pandemic. The head of the St. Louis Area Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force says if the trend continues, hospitals will reach maximum COVID patient capacity in about a week.
About half of America’s ethanol plants shuttered as gasoline demand plunged at the beginning of the pandemic. Most have reopened, but there are questions about returning to pre-coronavirus production levels once the outbreak is over
Interest in outdoor education for younger students is growing. In part, because of digital fatigue from the pandemic. Nature education and forest preschools have long been popular in parts of Europe.
With fewer and smaller Thanksgiving gatherings this year, local turkey producers, particularly smaller ones that supply specialty birds, are making sales during the pandemic. Also, many families are opting to dine only with household members this holiday to curb the spread of the virus.
More passengers are expected to go through St. Louis Lambert International Airport this holiday season, compared to previous months during the pandemic. The overall numbers are expected to be down from last year and likely won’t be back to pre-coronavirus levels until a vaccine is widely distributed.
The pandemic has isolated many nursing home residents as officials implement strict no visitor rules to slow the spread of coronavirus. Several families are worried about the impact another spike in COVID-19 cases could have on their loved ones.
The first female mayor in St. Louis history will not seek a second term. Lyda Krewson is leaving elected office after more than two decades. Also, we examine some unexpected challenges with a Missouri law allowing cameras inside nursing homes
Female farmers are at a disadvantage when it comes to agricultural equipment. Most of the tools are designed for tall, heavy, and strong male bodies. But there is an effort to design farm tools and machinery for women.
A St. Louis University professor and census expert is weighing-in on what to expect when the numbers from the 2020 headcount are released. There are questions about whether the data will be tainted by the pandemic and political fighting over how the census was conducted.
Many parents and educators in the U.S. are worried about a lost school year because of the pandemic. But German parents, whose children returned to school full-time this fall, don’t have the same concerns.
Missouri is using federal stimulus money to help small meat processors increase capacity during unprecedented challenges brought by the coronavirus pandemic.
Data from the St. Louis Federal Reserve shows married women are leaving the workforce in huge numbers. It appears many are staying home to care for elderly relatives and children during the pandemic.
Governor Mike Parson won handily in last week’s election and other Republicans swept the four state offices on the ballot. The party also maintained supermajorities in the House and Senate. The results give Republicans the ability to control the direction of state policy for years.
The Missouri chapter president of Minorities for Medical Marijuana says dispensaries opening across the state highlight the lack of diversity in the licensed industry. Marne Madison also says there are plenty of opportunities for entrepreneurs of color to launch ancillary cannabis businesses.
Many in the St. Louis-area are celebrating President-elect Joe Biden's apparent victory, but others say all legal challenges need to play out before a winner is declared. Also, a St. Louis artist is using animated short films, poems and illustrations to supplement his music.
Coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to rise in the St. Louis region. We answer some of the most common questions from listeners about the virus as we prepare for colder weather.
This year’s St. Louis International Film Festival includes the 2020 documentary “The Black Artists’ Group: Creation Equals Movement,” chronicling the St. Louis-based artistic collective with an emphasis on its jazz musicians. Director Bryan Dematteis and veteran trumpeter George Sams share their thoughts on the film.
President Donald Trump has won Missouri in this year’s election by double-digits. That is a repeat of his showing from four years ago. Trump’s victory likely had an impact on other races throughout the state.
Formerly incarcerated felons in Missouri can’t vote until they are off probation or parole. Some say immediately granting the right would make them feel like they are part of society and provide a reason to engage in the political process.
There is more to tomorrow's election than just the presidential race, especially in Missouri. Voters will determine several legislative and local contests.
Where do absentee and mail-in ballots go once they are turned in? The logistics for Missouri election authorities slightly differ. But there are safeguards to make sure your vote is counted.. We'll go through the process from start to finish.
Phelps County has been a reliable stronghold for Republicans for decades, but there have been more progressive approaches recently in Rolla. Those signs of potential change include efforts to decriminalize marijuana and Black Lives Matter protests.
Republican incumbent Mike Parson is stating his case to stay in the Governor’s office. He’s been the state’s chief executive since Eric Greitens resigned in 2018. Parson is expected to defeat state Auditor Nicole Galloway on Election Day, although not by as big a margin as previously anticipated.
Republican incumbent Rodney Davis faces a tough challenge from Democrat Betsy Dirksen Londrigan in Illinois’ 13th Congressional District, which includes parts of the Metro East. Londrigan lost to Davis by about 2,000 votes in 2018. This year's tight race is attracting national attention and money.
Illinois residents will decide on November 3 if the state constitution should be changed to replace the current flat tax with a graduated system, similar to federal income taxes.
Voters in St. Louis will have a chance next month to change how most city officials are elected. They also will decide whether to raise property taxes to support early childhood education.
Members of the St. Louis Ballet are among the first troupes in the region to perform together during the pandemic. Artistic Director Gen Horiuchi composed a series of vignettes responding to the outbreak and the performance will stream online starting this weekend.
Fatigue stemming from President Trump’s administration could spur realignment in traditionally Republican parts of St. Louis County. The performance by Democrats in next month’s election could be an indication of the party’s future in Missouri.
It’s halfway through the fall semester and many St. Louis area students are just now trickling back into classrooms. Thousands are still learning from home. Schools in most of Europe have been open for a while. St. Louis Public Radio’s Ryan Delaney has that story from Germany.
Andrea Henderson and Marissanne Lewis-Thompson explain the concerns about intimidation that voters of color have with the 2020 election.
Agriculture policy is not getting much attention in the run up to the presidential election. But farmers are looking closely at what they might be able to expect from four more years of Donald Trump versus a Joe Biden administration. But there aren't a lot of solid answers, and any difference may not matter.
Republican state legislators are leading an effort to repeal Clean Missouri and return redistricting to a commission or the courts. Supporters want to keep the plan approved by voters which places the process under a non-partisan state demographer.
New St. Louis County jail chief Doug Burris has been in charge for about three weeks. He has taken the job during a time of intense scrutiny. There have been several inmate deaths and harassment allegations against the former jail director.
Democratic State Auditor Nicole Galloway has always faced an uphill battle for governor against Republican incumbent Mike Parson. But the race now appears closer than expected. Parson’s handling of the coronavirus crisis and less support for President Trump in Missouri have given Galloway an opening.
The longtime director of the St. Louis Art Museum says more needs to be done to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout the museum world. Brent Benjamin is also the president of the Association of Art Museum Directors. He is planning to retire in mid-2021.
Nearly 1,800 nursing home residents in St. Louis County have contracted the coronavirus and more than 400 have died. Some families say staff shortages, which existed before the pandemic, have worsened in recent months and are putting their loved ones at risk.
The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is playing small-group concerts for limited audiences during the pandemic. The sites for the pop-up shows include senior living facilities and people’s front porches.
Small business owners in St. Louis have faced shutdowns, restrictions, and fewer customers during the pandemic. And there’s still no end in sight. That has many wondering if they should stay open.
St Louis city and county have hired dozens of contact tracers to track down people who have come into contact with those who have tested positive for coronavirus. But there are still staffing shortages, along with a lack of cooperation and a sense of mistrust from the public.
St. Louis artist Cbabi Bayoc has a new installation of paintings hanging at the former Greyhound Station on Cass Avenue. The colorful artwork of black lives is inspired by the recent protests against police violence.
Many parents are debating if their children should trick-or-treat during the pandemic. Some are coming up with alternatives, including leaving goodie bags at the end of driveways instead of the traditional ringing of doorbells on Halloween night.
Voters in Missouri will decide next month whether to place term limits on more state offices. They already exist for the Governor and Treasurer. Some believe they help reduce the number of career politicians. Others say they could do the opposite.
Some young Black people are preparing to vote in their very first presidential election. We’ll hear some of their thoughts on why it’s important to go to the polls.
MIssouri S&T students are foregoing their massive job fair this year in favor of a COVID-safe virtual option. But it's happening as some S&T researchers have found employers have a lower opinion of candidates who interview online instead of in person.
Community-based organizations in the Metro East are working to get residents in traditionally hard-to-count communities included in the Census before the tally ends. They’re employing different tactics to engage with residents who do not want to take part.
The seats at Busch Stadium are not totally empty during the pandemic. Many fans have sent in pictures of themselves or loved ones that have been slapped on cardboard cutouts and placed throughout the ballpark.
Many Black seniors in north St. Louis are worried about November’s election. There were broken voting machines, long lines, and no curbside voting attendees during the last primary. They are hoping change will come to their community when it comes to casting ballots.
The new owners of the Webster-Kirkwood Times realize they are in for a challenge because of the pandemic and overall tough newspaper climate. But they strongly believe there is enough community support to make a print edition successful in today's digital media world.
Teachers starting their careers this fall are dealing with more challenges than expected. A couple of them share their thoughts on being a new educator during a pandemic.
Renters who can’t pay are receiving some help during the coronavirus outbreak. There are state and national orders preventing evictions during the pandemic. But they are causing problems for landlords who are concerned about not being able to keep up with mortgage payments.
An illustrator and Washington University professor has composed an anti-Trump project in the form of an ABC book for young readers. D.W. Dowd says he developed the idea after coming across a 1946 booklet that included a guide to proper behavior for children.
Doctors say the upcoming cold weather will put more people at risk of catching the coronavirus. They say it will likely spread more easily as people move to poorly ventilated indoor spaces to socialize.
The pandemic is causing a backlog of thousands of cases in municipal courts. They haven’t convened in-person for six months. Now, the courts are finding ways to operate virtually in the era of COVID-19.
Local producers have competed in a battle of songs in front of a crowd of hip-hop fans for a decade. This year the beat battle is online because of the pandemic. But producers will still have a platform to share music and connect with other musicians.
There is a national moratorium on evictions during the COVID-19 outbreak. That means people facing evictions have until December 31 to find rental or housing assistance. But African American and Latino neighborhoods in the St. Louis region are expected to be hardest hit if the ban is lifted at the end of the year.
Two of playwright Melda Beaty’s plays will be streamed this month by The Black Rep. Both focus on the experiences of older Black Americans.
Also, we remember the attacks of September 11, 2001.
How people speak, and how other people react to it is a major cause of racism and sexism, according to an English professor at Missouri S&T. Sarah Hercula has written a book advocating for English teachers, people who study linguistics and others to tear down stereotypes of language as part of the overall effort to combat systemic racism and sexism.
Midwest states rely on private insurance companies to provide healthcare to people on Medicaid. Now in Illinois, thousands of foster children are being switched into this new system.
Many students are more than a week into remote learning because of the pandemic. It’s been chaotic for many families, but there are some success stories. Also, we remember one of the greatest Cardinals of all time.
St. Louis County Executive Sam Page just won the Democratic primary and is facing minimal opposition in November. But he is also being heavily criticized on a number of fronts.
The Mount Pleasant Homing Pigeon Club has been racing pigeons in St. Louis for more than a century. Members release their pigeons hundreds of miles from St. Louis and then track how long it takes them to make it home. The brawny birds are bred to fly long distances and can be worth thousands of dollars.
African Americans have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus and its economic impact. Black families in the St. Louis region are facing unprecedented hurdles as the virus worsens already stark disparities.
A group of stakeholders is gathering input on ideas to solve problems in the city's core. Members are planning to deal with several issues including, infrastructure, property maintenance, and safety.
Businesses featuring live music in the St. Louis region have been hit hard by the pandemic. Regulations allow those locations to open their doors with new guidelines. Now, many owners are deciding if the timing is right to reopen.
Craft brewers thrive on being local. That has prompted the University of Missouri to study the feasibility of growing certain varieties of hops in the state. And in southern Illinois, the owners of a microbrewery are using unusual ingredients to flavor their beer.
Stray Rescue is calling the last few months, "the summer of violence." The no-kill animal rescue organization in St. Louis says it's receiving more requests for help with cases of abuse than usual, and those cases are more severe.
There is excitement in the birdwatching community about a rare sighting in Missouri. Officials say a bird usually found in other areas has been spotted in the state for the first time.
Researchers at the University of Illinois are figuring out how to expand a new saliva-based COVID-19 test to other colleges and universities throughout the state. The Food and Drug Administration has given emergency authorization to the technology developed on the Urbana campus.
The school year is starting remotely for many students after pushback from parents and teachers. Online learning during the pandemic could be a different experience now, compared to the spring.
MBz Live has been blending rapping and melody to make party music for years. But the south St. Louis rapper’s latest work is focused on police brutality. He says living in a region plagued by inequality and racial divisions has inspired his new music.
There is confusion among many Missouri voters about mail-in and absentee voting. That includes how to make sure those votes will count in November's election.
A public art installation in St. Louis is raising awareness about the needs of those with cancer. Painters have decorated "42 doors of hope" to offer inspirational messages to patients and their loved ones.
Illinois has been selling legal marijuana for more than six months and the industry is flourishing. The pandemic is delaying the next round of cannabis-related licenses. There is also a question about the social equity portion of the regulations designed to bring minorities into a business dominated by white men.
A Rolla business owner used the coronavirus shutdown to fix up an old steam engine and passenger car. The 1923 steam engine has been on display in a city park for more than 60 years.
St. Louis has very few environmental activists of color. They have felt isolated in their work, deal with more microaggressions than white colleagues and have proposed ideas that end up getting dismissed.
Earlier this summer, the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, the Missouri chapter of the Sierra Club and other St. Louis environmental groups issued anti-racism statements in solidarity with the George Floyd protests. But these groups are almost entirely staffed by white people and do minimal outreach in communities of color.
The Mark Twain National Forest is deploying a herd of goats to eat non-native plants. It's a natural and cheap alternative to using herbicides and mowing.
More than 60,000 people in Missouri who have served time in prison are unable to vote because they are on probation or parole. Tracy Stanton with EX-incarcerated People Organizing-MO, or EXPO-MO, is working to change that.
Black therapists have been in high demand since the killing of George Floyd. They offer a space for Black people to feel heard and valued. Many patients are using sessions to discuss police brutality, racial trauma, and other anxieties.
Some are against wearing masks during the pandemic. Doctors and public health experts insist face coverings could slow the spread of coronavirus by keeping it from traveling out of a person's mouth.
Farms have been slow to use solar power because of start-up costs and other issues. But the technology appears to be catching on with more farmers in Missouri thanks to a USDA grant program.
In an upset, activist Cori Bush has unseated longtime Congressman Lacy Clay in Missouri's 1st Congressional District. The surprise result in yesterday's Democratic primary also ends a family political dynasty. Also, we examine how small colleges in Missouri and Illinois plan to make it through the pandemic.
Monument Lab recently gathered 750 crowdsourced maps of St. Louis monuments, both real and imagined. A Washington University professor of African and African American History says those maps reflect the city’s lingering divides.
Horse racing has resumed without fans at Fairmount Park. It had been delayed for months because of the pandemic. Online betting is helping to generate some revenue but is likely not enough for the track to survive.
St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner faces one of her former top assistants, Mary Pat Carl, in the Democratic primary on Tuesday. Gardner beat Carl in 2016. Both have visions for using the criminal justice system as a tool for second chances.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department collects a lot of information on how it uses force. But it doesn’t release most of the data. Researchers say those details are crucial for understanding how officers interact with the public.
Curators from the Missouri Historical Society are keeping track of how St. Louisans are coping with the coronavirus pandemic. The project includes photos, videos and journal entries.
Longtime Congressman Lacy Clay faces progressive Cori Bush in the Aug. 4 Democratic primary. Clay easily defeated Bush two years ago. He’s favored again. We also examine the Democratic primary for St. Louis treasurer.
Most hospitals have severely limited visitor access to the Intensive Care Unit to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus. Not being able to see sick loved ones, especially those who are terminally ill, can take a psychological toll on families and make it more difficult to make decisions about care.
People without formal journalism training are filling the trust gap between Black communities and mainstream media, especially within the Black Lives Matter movement. Citizen journalists have become a central source for information on civil unrest in the St. Louis region as they livestream protests.
After years of debating whether to expand Medicaid in Missouri, voters will finally get the chance to decide in next month's primary election. Supporters say it will save millions of dollars while opponents say it will cost the state millions.
Can you travel safely during the coronavirus pandemic? Are certain forms of travel safer than others? And what kinds of precautions should you take? We get answers from a University of Missouri epidemiologist.
The pandemic prompted the St. Louis County Executive to take unprecedented action. Sam Page says his administration’s response is worthy of praise. His opponents in the four-way Democratic primary for county executive disagree.
Nearly five weeks before school is scheduled to begin, many teachers have conflicting feelings about returning to the classroom and being able to stay healthy during the pandemic.
Aloni Benson started out protesting the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson. He would later become a St. Louis County Police officer. Benson talks about his decision and his experience on both frontlines.
Nearly 2,000 people attended a George Floyd protest in O'Fallon, Mo., recently. That would have been unheard of just a few years ago. St. Charles County is still 90% white. Diversity has been increasing but protest organizers say the turnout has more to do with the video of Floyd's death.
An infectious disease doctor at Washington University had to make a tough choice at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Matifadza Hlatshwayo Davis was about 7 months pregnant and worried about being exposed to the virus. She decided to dial back on work and eventually gave birth to a healthy boy.
Three Black teenagers who are aspiring police officers share their thoughts on the national conversation about the role of police and their relationship with the Black community.
The U.S. relies on more than 2 million seasonal workers to cultivate and harvest crops. In the Midwest, workers are now heading out into the fields amid concerns about COVID-19 outbreaks.
The protest movement condemning police killing Black people is one of the top issues in the contest for St. Louis County Executive. All four Democratic candidates say they are the right person to bridge social, economic and public safety divides.
Many environmental groups consider a recent federal court decision to ban three dicamba herbicides as a big victory. Several farm organizations are criticizing the ruling, which comes in the middle of spraying season. The case is raising questions about the future use of dicamba.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order suspending certain work visas for immigrants. Donald Danforth Plant Science Center President Jim Carrington discusses how the decision impacts the region's economic growth and innovation
Hundreds of inmates at Illinois prisons have contracted COVID-19 since the pandemic began. At least 13 have died. According to data obtained by Illinois Newsroom, the Illinois Department of Corrections has only conducted about 950 tests as of a couple weeks ago out of more than 30,000 people in state prisons.
A group of black and white men who were trying to prevent their business from being looted in downtown St. Louis in early June was held at gunpoint, cussed out, and handcuffed by St. Louis Metropolitan Police officers. The incident was caught on camera and has been shared on social media, but there is no police report. The department says there is an internal investigation.
Nearly half-a-million undocumented students are not eligible for federal money to help cover education costs during the coronavirus outbreak. The funding goes to colleges and universities, which then distribute it. But they aren't allowed to give the money to undocumented students.
A psychology professor at Missouri S&T has compiled a list of 107 melodies that are shown to have the right levels of familiarity and complexity to help diagnose and study brain disorders. The standard set of music will make data more consistent and improve outcomes.
The St. Louis Cardinals will open training camp this week at Busch Stadium. A beat writer talks about the different approaches she will take to cover the team during the outbreak-shortened season.
Outbreaks at poultry processing plants in southwest Missouri are driving a spike in COVID-19 cases throughout the state. We examine how officials are responding to Missouri's most-recent coronavirus hotspot.
The Missouri Department of Health and Human Services has issued a one-year license for Planned Parenthood's St. Louis abortion clinic. The issue has been the subject of a lengthy legal battle. Also, Missouri’s first medical marijuana dispensaries were supposed to open this month. But now, the earliest they will start selling the drug is late summer or early fall.
St. Charles County Prosecutor Tim Lohmar says two Florissant officers will not face criminal charges after a detective driving an SUV hit a man in Dellwood. That detective has been fired and charged with assault. The case has sparked protests outside the Florissant Police Department. Also, we examine the impact of canceling cultural events to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
Two economic development announcements in the St. Louis region will lead to more workers in downtown St. Louis and in St. Louis County. Also, we examine how coronavirus cancelations have prompted increased interest in hunting.
There are concerns among health officials that many people don't realize coronavirus is still a deadly threat. That comes as restrictions throughout Missouri and Illinois are lifted. Also, the Ethical Society of Police says the St. Louis County Memorandum of Understanding with the African American police union is more than a year too late.
Missouri health officials say Sunday is the first day since the pandemic started that more than 400 new cases of COVID-19 were reported. Most of the spike is coming from rural counties in the southwest part of the state. Also, the pandemic has prompted courts throughout Missouri to close. We examine the slow process of reopening the state's legal system.
June 19, or Juneteenth, commemorates when some of the last slaves learned they had been freed by the surrender of the Confederate Army. The day has more significance this year amid the racial injustice protests following the death of George Floyd. Also, we explore the renewed efforts to privatize St. Louis Lambert International Airport.
A former Florissant police officer has been charged with assault and armed criminal action after video emerged of a man being hit by an unmarked SUV. The case has sparked protests at the Florissant police department. Also, many families are feeling anxious about loved ones in prison now that visits have been halted during the pandemic.
St. Louis County Executive Sam Page says he wants to make sure streets, parks, and statues reflect county values. His announcement came on the same day crews took down the Christopher Columbus statue in Tower Grove Park in St. Louis. Also, we speak with the incoming, first-ever female president of Eden Theological Seminary.
LGBTQ advocates in Missouri say a U.S. Supreme Court decision barring employers from firing workers because they are gay or transgender could be tough to enforce because of state labor laws. Also, we speak with protestors about the new wave of activism.
More businesses in St. Louis County can open today after being closed for months during the coronavirus pandemic. Also, this is the last full day in office for Ferguson's mayor. James Knowles III talks about the lessons he's learned after nine years on the job. He also shares some advice for his successor.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson says the time has come to reopen all businesses in the state. That is one of the reasons why he's lifting all coronavirus related restrictions next week. Local officials will be able to keep their limits in place. Also, we report on immigrant meatpacking workers afraid to speak out about safety issues at work in the age of COVID-19.
Demonstrators are still planning to gather in front of Florissant Police headquarters every night until a former officer is arrested after hitting a man with a vehicle. The city's police chief has fired the detective after video of the incident emerged on social media. Also, we'll tell you about Quarantine Radio Theater.
St. Louis County Police Chief Mary Barton has outlined her plans for diversity, inclusion, and reform in the department. Also, we'll report on African American protestors who plan to remain in the streets despite coronavirus concerns.
St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson has lifted restrictions calling on people to stay inside from 9 at night to 6 in the morning. It had been in place for a week after a night of violence and looting. We also examine how the pandemic is affecting scientific research.
A series of demonstrations against police brutality took place throughout the region over the weekend. The largest was Sunday afternoon in downtown St. Louis amid temperatures in the mid-90s. Also, The Muny will not produce shows in Forest Park this year. And many entrepreneurs are reshaping their businesses during the pandemic.
Hundreds marched through Brentwood and Richmond Heights last night in one of the largest protests in the St. Louis region since the death of George Floyd. Also, we examine the protest environment six years after the death of Michael Brown.
Republican Senator Roy Blunt says the George Floyd protests throughout the country should prompt the federal government to resume examining police practices. His comments come as demonstrations in the St. Louis region continue, including two yesterday in St. Charles. Also, we attend a unique high school graduation ceremony during the pandemic.
Voters in Ferguson have chosen the community’s first African American mayor. Ella Jones also becomes the city’s initial female mayor. Also today, authorities are reporting a calm night on the region’s streets after this week’s violence following protests over the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota. And we explore why some people are buying homes during the pandemic.
Four St. Louis police officers are recovering after they were shot during overnight protests. Thousands took to area streets once again following last week's death of a black man while in police custody in Minneapolis. Also, as officials battle COVID-19, we examine the challenges of caring for people with disabilities during a pandemic.
St. Louis, Ferguson, Clayton, and Edwardsville are some of the local communities where protests occurred over the weekend following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Some of those demonstrations turned violent. Also, as the region continues to battle coronavirus, summer camps are scheduled to resume today in St. Louis city and county.
Many non-essential businesses in Illinois that have been shut down during the pandemic can open their doors today, Restrictions, including social distancing guidelines, will have to be followed. Also, we examine how the pandemic is changing next week's municipal election for Missouri voters, election officials, and candidates.
Questions about the qualifications of the top health official in St. Louis have prompted Mayor Lyda Krewson to announce a title change. Dr. Fred Echols is now the health department's acting director. Also, we'll examine how black business owners are dealing with the pandemic.
The head of the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force says it would not be a surprise if there is an increase in the number of coronavirus cases following the partying over the holiday weekend at Lake of the Ozarks. Also, we’ll examine how the Metro Theater Company is adjusting to the pandemic.
A researcher from the Missouri Historical Society is sharing his thoughts on how actions during the 1918 influenza pandemic could help during the current outbreak. Also, a lack of social distancing at Lake of the Ozarks is prompting a travel advisory from health officials.
Many businesses in St. Louis are reopening their doors to customers after officials lifted stay-at-home orders. But workers say it's a far cry from business as usual.
Businesses throughout Missouri continue to reopen. In Rolla, some owners say they will bounce back from the pandemic, while others are concerned about new restrictions. Also, businesses in the Metro East still have to wait before they can allow customers to return.
More St. Louis region workers are feeling the financial impact of the pandemic. BJC Healthcare says about 10 percent of its staff could be furloughed for roughly 8 weeks. The University of Missouri-St. Louis has announced salary reductions as it reacts to the coronavirus. Also, the pandemic is reviving the popularity of the drive-in movie.
Many stores and restaurants in the region are reporting brisk business after reopening following the coronavirus-related shutdown. Also, for many African Americans, the outbreak is a reminder of the health and economic disparities in the St. Louis area.
Many non-essential businesses in the area can reopen today. They have been shut down for weeks because of the coronavirus. Also, the just-completed Missouri legislative session will be remembered for how it was affected by the pandemic.
Most schools have been forced to shift to online teaching during the pandemic. But many students in Missouri do not have a strong enough internet connection to learn from home. Also, Illinois is forming a task force to examine how students can safely return to colleges and universities in the fall.
First responders including police officers and firefighters are revising how they operate in the age of COVID-19. Part of the focus is making sure they stay safe. Also, some businesses and churches in Madison County are considering options after county officials cleared them to reopen immediately.
Members of the health board in Madison County have voted to restart the area's economy. The decision allows businesses to open sooner than a statewide plan from Governor J.B. Pritzker. Also, many parents are preparing to head back to work and scrambling to find child care during the pandemic. And, it's a landmark day for The Gateway.
Mayor Lyda Krewson is giving some details on how the city will restart its economy on May 18. Employers must provide masks for workers and social distancing will remain in effect. Also, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley wants the federal government to pay a portion of salaries for employees at businesses coping with COVID-19.
The outbreak is causing hospitals to think about the ethical challenges of triage policies. Also, Missouri legislators are starting the final week of this year's session by planning to limit floor time because of coronavirus concerns.
The majority of COVID-19 cases have been in urban areas, but rural hospitals in Missouri are getting ready in case the virus spreads to less populated regions. Those preparations are increasing the financial strain on many hospitals and they may be in danger of closing. Also, the Archdiocese of St. Louis says church services can resume May 18, but is leaving the final decision to each pastor.
Elected officials are providing a glimpse of what life will be like once their economies start to reopen May 18. Mayor Lyda Krewson says bars and restaurants will be allowed to open. County Executive Sam Page says employees will be required to wear masks. Also, theater owners are putting together safety plans as they prepare to reopen.
Elected officials in the St. Louis area are expected to provide specifics this week on the easing of public health restrictions starting May 18th. The new guidelines will include social distancing regulations and call on people to wear masks. Also, a St. Louis University professor discusses the hurdles small businesses are facing as they prepare to reopen.
The first female chief in the 65-year history of the St. Louis County Police Department has moved into the role with the region in the grips of COVID-19. Mary Barton says assuming the leadership position during the outbreak is not as taxing as many would believe. Also, nursing home workers are seeking hazard pay during the pandemic and want paid sick leave if they contract coronavirus.
Governor Mike Parson is allowing a statewide stay-at-home order to expire today. It's is the first phase of his plan to allow businesses in most of Missouri to reopen. Similar restrictions remain in effect for St. Louis city and county. Also, some teachers in Missouri are working on a coronavirus curriculum.
The leader of the region's pandemic task force says officials can start planning to reopen the economy and ease some social restrictions. Dr. Alex Garza says that comes amid a decline in the number of COVID-19 patients at area hospitals. Also, families are worried about their loved ones because of the lack of coronavirus information from officials operating nursing homes.
A nearly $35 billion budget is headed to the Missouri Senate. House members approved the package which reflects a roughly $400 million drop in state revenue related to the coronavirus outbreak. Also, as many states prepare to restart their economies, some restaurant owners in the Metro East are still worried about the future of their businesses.
Many in the region who have recovered from COVID-19 are telling others to take the disease seriously. They say it's unlike any sickness they've ever experienced. Also, some communities in the St. Louis region are planning to follow the state of Missouri's lead in restarting their economies next week. St. Charles County and Eureka are among the locations planning to reopen businesses Monday.
Several states are announcing how their economies will restart during the pandemic. All businesses in Missouri will be able to reopen next week. Governor Mike Parson says social distancing will be in effect and local governments can keep stricter guidelines in place. Also, some school nurses fear stay-at-home orders are stopping them from spotting the warning signs of illness or abuse.
The head of the regional pandemic task force is suggesting the COVID-19 outbreak could be cresting in the area. That detail comes as Missouri lawmakers return to Jefferson City to work on a new state budget based on revenue that has been hammered by the coronavirus. Also, an expert from St. Louis University's Institute for Healing Justice and Equity dives into the information revealed by the outbreak.
Mike Parson will deliver his plan today to restart Missouri’s economy. The governor says he is balancing public safety during the outbreak with the need to reopen businesses. Also, the pandemic is prompting calls to expand access to absentee ballots.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson says most businesses in the state should be able to open May 4. He says social distancing guidelines will remain in place as people head back to work. In Illinois, Governor J.B. Pritzker says reopening in that state will be a slow process. Also, college towns, including Rolla, are taking a hard hit from the pandemic.
Franklin County will allow some non-essential businesses to open Friday with social distancing guidelines still in effect. All county government buildings will reopen May 1. Also, people with chronic conditions are taking extra precautions to avoid the coronavirus. But some families are arguing about the best way to cope during the pandemic.
Washington University is planning to furlough more than 1,000 employees. That includes many at its medical campus in St. Louis. Also, the coronavirus outbreak is prompting some in the region to cope with the stress by gardening.
The pandemic is expected to peak in St. Louis late this week. Health officials say fewer people will need to be hospitalized than initially thought because social distancing is working. Also, the St. Louis Board of Alderman will meet today through an online platform for its first session since the stay-at-home order went into effect.
Missouri's governor is keeping a stay-at-home order in place until May 3. The decision by Mike Parson comes as officials in St. Louis city and county announce an indefinite extension of their stay-at-home guidelines. Also, the outbreak is prompting pregnant women in the region to rethink birth plans.
Doctors and other medical workers are on the front lines during the pandemic. Many are worried about getting infected and the safety of their families. Also, elected officials in Missouri continue to talk about extending stay-at-home orders to slow the spread of coronavirus.
Many St. Louis-area residents are having a tough time with mental health issues as they try to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. They are worried about a lack of structure and an uncertain future. Also, St. Louis County's executive wants to establish a special fund of federal money to fight the coronavirus.
More than 240-thousand Missouri residents have filed for unemployment benefits since the start of the pandemic. Many are very concerned about whether they'll ever be able to return to their jobs. Also, elected officials in St. Louis County and the city are suggesting an extension of social distancing guidelines and stay-at-home-orders.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker says health care experts report the state could be at a peak in the fight against the coronavirus. Also, the pandemic has placed more focus on health disparities in the St. Louis region.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson says schools in the state will not reopen this academic year. He says online learning should continue as the state responds to the coronavirus. Also, small farmers are coming up with new ways to reach out to customers as farmers market openings are delayed due to the outbreak.
St. Louis Health Director Dr. Fred Echols says COVID-19 is prevalent in the African American community. In an op-ed for the St. Louis American, he writes that the 12 patients in the city who have died of the disease were black. Also, Missouri is converting a Florissant hotel into a makeshift facility that could house patients if the region experiences a surge in cases.
Many congregations in the St. Louis area are taking steps to mark some of the most important religious events of the year in the age of social distancing. Also, state health officials are reporting coronavirus among transit workers and prison inmates.
St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson says the city is anticipating a COVID-19 budget impact in the tens of millions of dollars. Her comments come as the newest numbers show areas of north St. Louis have some of the highest coronavirus rates in the city.
Missouri residents are being told to stay home to help limit the spread of the new coronavirus. Governor Mike Parson has issued the order. He says local governments can continue to implement tighter regulations. The statewide measure comes as leaders of a new task force in the St. Louis region estimate the peak for COVID-19 cases will likely come in the next two or three weeks.
The COVID-19 outbreak has prompted another jump in weekly unemployment insurance claims in Missouri and Illinois. It is also causing St. Louis County to close its parks so more people follow a stay-at-home order. And amid the pandemic, lawmakers are set to return to Jefferson City next week.
Missouri's governor says the state budget is expected to take a more than $500 million hit related to COVID-19. Mike Parson is hoping money from the federal government will help fill that gap. Also, we speak with the incoming bishop for the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri on adjustments being made to deal with the outbreak.
The city of St. Louis has closed its buildings to the public as it deals with coronavirus. The move comes as another university takes a role in a potential COVID-19 treatment and another area newspaper takes drastic measures to cope with the pandemic.
Multiple nursing home residents in the St. Louis area have tested positive for COVID-19. Many homes are understaffed and are struggling to protect patients from infection. That battle comes as Missouri's governor prepares to extend social distancing measures and the state moves to waive some requirements for out-of-state doctors to treat coronavirus patients in Missouri.
St. Louis is taking more precautions as the number of COVID-19 cases in the region continues to increase. Officials are shutting down more recreation facilities in city parks. The action comes as area residents have more concerns about coronavirus. We answer some of those questions as part of our Curious Louis series.
President Donald Trump has approved disaster declarations for Missouri and Illinois amid the coronavirus outbreak. The declarations come as St. Louis County reports a second COVID-19 death and amid an increased focus on the different approaches to the pandemic.
The Food and Drug Administration is clearing Washington University researchers to test a possible new coronavirus disease treatment involving a blood transfusion process. It comes as St. Louis County's executive says the worst of the outbreak might not hit the region for weeks. The uncertainty has several couples in the area adjusting wedding plans because of restrictions on social gatherings.
The governors of Missouri and Illinois say budget projections in both states will not hold as the coronavirus drains the economy. Mike Parson says any revenue estimate for Missouri is now unrealistic and J.B. Pritzker says he'll work with the General Assembly to come up with a new budget for the new fiscal year. Also, a group of engineering students at Missouri S&T is producing masks for the hospital in Rolla.
Health officials in St. Louis city and St. Charles County have announced the first COVID-19 deaths in those areas. The announcements come as Harvard University researchers say hospitals in the region probably won't have enough beds to treat all the coronavirus patients who will need care.
Residents St. Louis city and county are being told they must stay home as the region tries to halt the spread of coronavirus. People can still go outside for exercise or to get groceries and prescriptions. The wide-ranging order takes effect as the number of positive tests for COVD-19 continues to increase.
As more COVID-19 cases are confirmed in the region, listeners continue to submit questions to our Curious Louis series. St. Louis Public Radio's Shahla Farzan answers a few of the most common inquires that have come in over the past few days.
A patient from Boone County is the first coronavirus-related death in Missouri. State officials say there are two dozen COVID-19 cases in the state. They include two physicians from Washington University. In Illinois, nearly 290 cases are being reported, including at least 7 in the Metro East.
Dine-in service is being suspended at restaurants in the Missouri part of the St. Louis region. It follows similar action in Illinois designed to stop the spread of coronavirus. More cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in both states, including the first case in Madison County. Also, we examine how decade-old quarantine policies appear to have left states including Missouri unprepared for the outbreak.
St. Louis officials are reporting the first case of COVID-19 in the city. Health officials also say a third person in St. Louis County has tested positive for the disease caused by the new coronavirus. More positive results are also being reported in Illinois as that state holds its primary election. Also, we examine the implications of a question on the 2020 census that has not received much attention.
Several school districts in the St. Louis region will be shutting down this week for an extended period to help stop the spread of the new coronavirus. In Illinois, restaurants will stop dine-in services tonight. Also, we examine efforts in Missouri to convince people to fill out the census.
The Collective STL is a group of black yoga instructors who provide a space for African Americans to improve their well-being. Most members are educators, activists and social justice workers who practice yoga as a way to prevent mental breakdowns from the stressors of their jobs and work in the community.
A Rolla middle school student who doesn't have use of his right arm is succeeding at the French horn, a left-handed instrument. But the marching French horn, the mellophone, is a right-handed instrument. So Rolla High’s technical school is working with him to create attachments so he can march in the high school band next year.
Hospitals and doctors have been preparing for a case of the new coronavirus disease to be found in the St. Louis area. Washington University infectious disease specialist Hilary Babcock discusses how one local case does not change much in what St. Louis area healthcare professionals are doing and how limited testing makes it difficult to know how much the disease has spread.
A St. Louis County woman presumed to be the first person in Missouri with the new coronavirus took steps that could keep others from becoming infected. But more cases are expected to be found in the coming days, especially as the state gets more kits to test people for the virus.
Children who live amid regular ongoing gun violence in U.S. cities like St. Louis often have a protocol when the gunfire erupts: hide in the bathtub, drop to the floor, seek shelter by the fridge. And sometimes the precautions have just become part of everyday life, such as watching TV from the floor, leaving the lights off at night so no one can see who is home. We tell the story of the long-lasting trauma of everyday living in America’s warzones where even one’s home or daycare center isn’t a safe space.
The rapidly narrowing Democratic presidential race is coming to Missouri — and supporters of Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders believe they can make a play for the state's 68 delegates.
Getting an education can reduce recidivism in prisoners. But many people in Illinois' prisons aren't able to get a high school diploma, associate's degree or learn a trade skill.
East St. Louis native and two-time Olympic medalist Dawn Harper-Nelson is gearing up to participate in the 2020 Olympics. She announced her retirement in 2018 to become a mother. Now, she’s picking up her cleats and hitting the track again.
A small group of volunteers is trying to help St. Louis children stay connected with their incarcerated parents. Let's Start provides free monthly transportation for children and their caregivers to the women's prison in Vandalia. For many families, the trips are the only way for them to stay connected with their relatives in prison.
There are a few Underground Railroad stops in the Metro East verified by the National Park Service. Other places are believed to have been part of the network that brought as many as 100,000 slaves to freedom. But there is no physical marker of their existence.
Five years ago ArchCity Defenders filed a series of federal lawsuits to pressure cities into changing their municipal court practices. Jennings settled almost immediately. Ferguson continues to fight.
Three medical marijuana dispensaries will open along or near Cherokee Street in St. Louis. Some leaders in the cannabis industry are referring to the strip as the city's new "green light district" because of the number of marijuana and CBD-related businesses, and advocacy organizations.
Mary Fox has been promoted from running the St. Louis public defender’s office to heading up the organization statewide. We ask her about the chronic shortage of public defenders and court reform.
How do two teenagers who've had siblings injured by bullets feel about guns? Normandy teenagers Cassidy Stokes and Claudia Graham share their experiences and thoughts about guns in their community.
The St. Louis BattleHawks of the new XFL play their first home game this weekend. For fans who have been following the team even before it hit the field, it will mark the end of a long wait for the return of professional football in St. Louis.
A play at the Black Rep is set in a St. Louis bar frequented by African American artists, who explore their experiences living and working in a racist society in a series of vignettes. “Spell #7” is written by Ntozake Shange who was a notable participant in the Black Arts Movement.
Researchers are examining how psychedelics including LSD and certain mushrooms might be used to treat people with major depression. Some St. Louis professionals agree. Others in the region say they have experienced benefits from the illegal substances.
Donald Hutson is one of hundreds of Missouri inmates who have overdosed in the past two years. He died in September 2018 at Missouri Eastern Correctional Center. According to an internal Missouri Department of Corrections investigation, Hutson was strapped face down to a medical backboard for 30-45 minutes while he was overdosing – which is not in accordance with standard operating procedures at the prison.
The 2020 census will have a wide-ranging impact on the Metro East. We examine the steps communities are taking to ensure an accurate count, especially in East St. Louis where many hard to reach areas have been identified.
The Benin native has made a career of exporting West African sounds. Her interpretation of the work of salsa star Celia Cruz earned her this year's Grammy Award for Best World Music Album. She’ll feature that material in a concert at the Sheldon Concert Hall.
Local singer Katarra Parson had an eventful year with a new album, an award for best St. Louis R&B artist and a being selected to join the Kranzberg Music Artists in Residence program. Her Neo-Soul music has taken her across the country where she's worked with artists and activists to create socially conscious music.
State Representative Steve Lynch wants to give professional license reciprocity to military spouses. The Waynesville Republican says it's a hardship when a member of the armed services is deployed to Missouri and a spouse's professional license does not transfer from another state.
Patients need certification before they can receive medical cannabis in Missouri. Some St. Louis doctors are refusing to certify patients because of a lack of clinical trials and evidence-based studies. Other physicians say medical cannabis can help people who need treatment.
A new charter middle school with a unique model is finding its groove halfway through its first year. We examine the growing pains of Kairos Academies in St. Louis.
Draft horses are intertwined with the history of St. Louis … from the 1904 World's Fair to the first Budweiser Clydesdales.
But nowadays, you're more likely to see these horses pulling carriages downtown.
One listener asked our Curious Louis series about the lives of the city's carriage horses.
The National Park Service designated parts of Ste. Genevieve as a National Historic site in 2018. Now, it has its first superintendent who talks about the French vertical-style construction of several Colonial-era homes in the area.
A panel that could suggest big changes to St. Louis city and county government was formed four months ago but hasn't done anything. That's primarily because of a deadlock in appointing members from the city. The stalemate is leading to frustration among local officials.
Historically, black churches have been on the receiving end of violence in the U.S. Recent acts of violence against religious groups have led one local black church to take safety precautions. New Northside Missionary Baptist Church has beefed up security by adding armed security guards.
Under Illinois' new cannabis legalization law, thousands of people will see their criminal records cleared of some pot convictions and arrests. But not everyone with a cannabis conviction will get a clean slate automatically.
The Missouri Senate's conservative caucus formed just last year but the six senators have already shaped legislation. They were among the staunchest supporters of one of the most restrictive abortion bills in the country and they broke with their party to oppose a workforce development bill. We examine their priorities for this session.
Middle school students from across Missouri are designing cities of the future with an emphasis on how they use water. The winner of the state competition in Rolla is receiving an all-expenses-paid trip to the nationals in Washington, D.C. The goal is to bring awareness to water issues and increase interest in STEM fields.
As Republicans in the state legislature look to repeal Clean Missouri over its redistricting plan we ask what really constitutes fair redistricting? What would that look like and how might it affect political power in the state?
"Dress the Part" is an adaptation of Shakespeare's "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" that swaps iambic pentameter for a hip-hop beat.
The Fly North Music theater company is presenting the musical, Madam at .Zack. It is based on the life of St. Louisan Eliza Haycraft. She was a 19th brothel manager and one of the richest women in the city. The writer of the musical describes how Haycraft ran her business during the passage of the social evil act which legalized prostitution in St. Louis.
Bread and Roses Missouri is presenting an original compilation of sketches and songs that address issues faced by workers. The participants are not professional performers, and most are members of a trade union. Topics include the importance of participating in the upcoming census and the intricacies of applying for Medicaid.
The National Hockey League's All-Star festivities this weekend in St. Louis mark another chapter in what has been an unprecedented year for professional hockey in the region. The Blues captured the Stanley Cup and are among the league's leaders this season. Former Blue and St. Louis-native Cam Janssen talks about the impact the team's success is having on his hometown.
Sham support animals: In Missouri, having a pet certified as an emotional support animal is as easy as filling out a form online and paying a fee. And that fee is less than the pet deposit for most rental properties. And the law says you don’t have to pay a pet deposit for a service animal. Especially in college towns, like Rolla, some landlords are getting tired of it.
St. Louis salvage nonprofit Refab has been taking apart or "deconstructing" a building in the Vandeventer neighborhood for six months. It is part of a recent push to deconstruct, rather than demolish, buildings. The alternative costs more in labor, but has more environmental benefits for the surrounding community, saves valuable architectural materials and could create new jobs.
East St. Louis native Nichole McHenry is the head of diversity initiatives for the National Park Service in the Midwest. She worked her way up from park ranger. Now based in St. Louis, McHenry advocates for people of color to engage with national parks in urban and park settings.
In the past two years, gunmen have killed dozens of people inside U.S. churches and synagogues. In response, some religious leaders in St. Louis have fortified their buildings, hired armed security guards and even encouraged congregants to bring guns to services. Others say guns have no place inside houses of worship.
The St. Louis County Council has a new chairwoman. Lisa Clancy moves into the role as the County faces significant challenges. That includes a $20 million verdict awarded to a gay police officer for employment discrimination.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, St. Louis was America's second fashion capital behind New York City. Today, the city is revitalizing its historic garment district by expanding manufacturing and building a diverse and inclusive community through incubators like the St. Louis Fashion Fund.
St. Louis Public Radio's Jaclyn Driscoll answers the most-asked questions about marijuana laws in both Illinois and Missouri, most especially “can I buy pot in Illinois and bring it home to Missouri?”
Ashland Elementary School is surrounded by some of the worst gun violence in St. Louis. Students bring the toxic stress and trauma of crime into the classroom. The school has become a safe space in the community that includes the Penrose and O'Fallon neighborhoods.
Mental health first aid is gaining popularity throughout the United States. Like traditional first aid, it teaches people how to recognize problems and help people having a crisis. Local courses aim to help people understand mental health issues and offer empathy and care, not judgment and stigma.
Missouri has collected more than 2,000 applications for medical marijuana business licenses - but who will bank those businesses? Many are not willing to take on the risk for something that is illegal at the federal level.
Ten years ago today, a disgruntled ABB Power employee walked into the St. Louis business and killed three coworkers and wounded five more before killing himself. We look back on how that day changed many lives.
Business owners of color have historically faced barriers in access to affordable loans. It's another hurdle for owners, but some have been able to run their businesses with the odds stacked against them.
Gun control and sports betting are some of the big issues Missouri lawmakers are expected to tackle when they convene next week in Jefferson City. The 2020 legislative session is also expected to feature an intense debate on redistricting.
Mobile payment company Square's upcoming move into the old home of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch could mark the start of an effort to attract more companies downtown. The group behind the building's renovation has filed paperwork with the state for the North of Washington Innovation District.
A Belleville-based organization trains volunteers to describe live events for the blind and visually impaired. MindsEye recently signed an agreement with the Enterprise Center to provide the service for selected events, including St. Louis Blues games.
Missouri and Illinois will have legal cannabis in some capacity starting in January. That complicates workplace drug testing policies. We examine how some employers are dealing with the upcoming changes in marijuana laws.
Missouri has a backlog of 3,500 people awaiting a clemency decision. So far, Gov. Mike Parson has done little on this front. The parole board says he has made one clemency decision since taking office. With Christmas fast approaching, some are making a push for him to consider pardons and sentence commutations in time for the holidays.
Local filmmaker David Kirkman is working on his next project following the release of his short "Static Shock" last year. That landed him a screening at Netflix. His most recent short film is "ICON," a black superhero film based on the DC Comics series. His films focus on racial inclusivity and feature primarily black casts.
Research shows that teens' internal clocks make them much more likely to go to bed later and sleep later. California recently passed a law requiring middle and high schools to start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. What are St. Louis school districts doing?
Researchers at St. Louis University and the St. Louis Zoo have been studying Missouri's native box turtles in Forest Park and at a wild habitat near Washington University's Tyson Research Center in Eureka for seven years. Zoo scientists have recently found the turtles survive better in the wild than in urban parks.
A Washington University music professor and composer is exploring the intersection of science and art through his new work "Seasonal Music." The 30-minute string quartet, which draws inspiration from Vivaldi's Four Seasons, focuses on the ways we interact with our environment and how humans are changing it.
The head of the Cortex Innovation Community is stepping down at the end of the year after nearly a decade in the role. Dennis Lower talks about the district's impact on the startup business community in St. Louis and what’s next.
The National Rifle Association Foundation provided more than $1 million to K-12 schools and 4-H clubs in Missouri between 2010 and 2016. We examine how that support of youth shooting sports is viewed.
As funding for higher education continues to be slashed, HBCUs may be disproportionately affected. Harris-Stowe State University and Lincoln University often serve the underrepresented, meaning tuition must be kept low. As recently as several years ago $750,000 was appropriated for infrastructure purposes at Harris-Stowe, but was withheld due to "budget concerns." What solutions are in the works in order to keep these institutions viable?
The success of the Maplewood Richmond Heights school district has led to a growing student population. The area also has a popular housing market as young, wealthier families move into the district. That demand means more property taxes for the district but also has the superintendent worried about losing racial and socioeconomic diversity.
The new director of St. Louis County Justice Services is bringing more than 30-years of experience as a corrections officer to the job. Raul Banasco was hired last month. The New York native is now in charge of managing the county jail, which has come under scrutiny after several inmates died.
Phelps Health Hospital in Rolla, Missouri S&T, and Fort Leonard Wood are teaming up to research traumatic brain injury. The intent is to find ways to more quickly diagnose serious problems so treatment can start right away. They are testing a cell phone-sized device that can read brainwaves and diagnosing injury through a urinalysis.
Alderman Sam Moore touched a racial fault line recently when he argued against Asian representation from north St. Louis on the Board of Freeholders. Members of the Asian community have called his comments insensitive. Moore contends St. Louis has a long way to go to deliver equality to African Americans who have long suffered discrimination. He says he meant no disrespect.
Barbecue and cookout traditions run deep in many communities, but more people are considering how meat production contributes to harmful emissions. Many environmental activists and advocates who say you don't have to go vegan to help cut those emissions.
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra is coming to St. Louis tomorrow for a Christmas-themed program at Powell Hall. Musician Wynton Marsalis is enthused about the Swing Symphony, which his orchestra recorded with St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and released this year.
The Dutchtown neighborhood, in southeast St. Louis, has seen anti-violence initiatives come and go over the years. Now, it is one of three neighborhoods selected for a nationally-known program called Cure Violence. The effort is being met with cautious optimism.
New gaming machines are all over Missouri in places like bars, gas stations, and lodges. Now opponents, backed by the casino industry, are fighting to get them removed. Some advocates want to keep them for tax revenue.
Sukanya Mani earned a degree in chemistry in her native India before resettling in St. Louis 21 years ago. She puts her fascination with the sciences to work in her art, cutting and shaping paper into sculptures that reflect scientific concepts. Her new pieces are being shown at the Kranzberg Arts Center through the end of the year.
With Missouri set to begin medicinal cannabis sales in the spring and recreational marijuana coming to Illinois on Jan. 1, what do we know about research into the drug? A scientist at the forefront of the issue talks about the myths and misconceptions of cannabis.
Missouri lawmakers were motivated in the spring of 1989 to figure out how climate change would affect the state. A commission was formed to study the issue and come up with solutions. The result was more than 100 policy suggestions, covering everything from the use of solar and wind energy to transportation and teaching about climate change.
A recent presentation to the Crestwood Board of Alderman is leaving questions about the redevelopment plan for the old Crestwood Mall site. Developer Kent Evans discusses the project and when he hopes work on the property can begin.
It's been roughly 18 months since Mike Parson became Missouri Governor. The Republican is assessing accomplishments over that time and responding to critics. Parson spoke with St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum about what he expects during the upcoming legislative session and whether big goals can be accomplished during an election year.
Missouri has combined its higher education and workforce development departments. But some liberal arts students and professors question whether public universities should steer students toward high-demand professions.
Many community college workforce development programs are supposed to prepare residents to fill vacancies in the local job market. There are questions about whether they are helping close the skills gap noted by employers. St. Louis Community College is expanding some programs in the hopes of filling that gap.
When St. Louis resident Elsie McGrath became an ordained female priest in 2007, her defiance angered local Catholic officials. Though she was later excommunicated by a St. Louis archbishop, McGrath has continued to lead a small Roman Catholic congregation. She's now feeling hopeful that the church may eventually allow women to join the ministry.
Kyle Wernke teaches music at Missouri S&T which has no music majors. But Wernke is having one of his compositions recorded by a European Orchestra and premiered this weekend by the Tampa Bay Symphony.
A documentary about Prison Performing Arts will be shown this weekend at the Missouri History Museum. Director Lisa Rhoden Boyd talks about her experience documenting a group of prisoners at the women's prison in Vandalia, Missouri as they developed the St. Louis-based organization's first commissioned play.
There is no legal place in Missouri to buy medical marijuana, even though more than 17-hundred patients are already in the state's medical cannabis program. That number indicates greater access in Missouri compared to Illinois, where an initiative has been in place for almost five years.
Increasing tuition is putting pressure on students throughout the country. Many state universities in Missouri are relying on it for more than half of their budgets. We examine how the rising cost of higher education is affecting students at Missouri's flagship university.
The internationally renowned political dissident and artist Ai Weiwei is presenting a major exhibition at the Kemper Art Museum. The artworks examine questions related to the horrors of war and various forms of violence. Many of the pieces are being presented in the United States for the first time.
St. Louis County police officials are dealing with the impact of a nearly $20 million verdict against the department for discrimination against a gay officer. There are questions about the culture of one of the state's largest police departments and how Missouri handles discrimination against the LGBTQ community.
Every few months, artist Allana Ross gives public tours of the Weldon Spring, Times Beach and West Lake Landfill sites. By allowing people to visit those locations and learn about their history, Ross hopes many will see that people have repeatedly dealt with toxic waste by dumping it and contaminating the soil for future generations.
Charter schools opened in St. Louis two decades ago. But it was not a warm reception all around. Now a once adversarial relationship between traditional public school backers and charters is showing signs of warmth.
African swine fever has been infecting its way through the pig herds of Asia. The disease, which took officials in China by surprise, could kill up to a quarter of the world’s pig population. Harvest Public Media’s Amy Mayer reports that while the disease isn’t here, the U.S. pork industry is preparing for a possible crisis.
Most of the houses in downtown Belleville are more than 80 years old, according to the US Census. And many of them were built decades earlier -- in the 1800s. These older homes are attracting a new crop of residents to the neighborhood, for personal and practical reasons.
State funding per student at Missouri's colleges and universities has dropped by almost half since 2000. That is leaving people throughout the state trying to figure out how to pay for their higher education.
The former president of the National Bar Association and the civil rights attorney for Michael Brown Jr. is on tour promoting his new book "Open Season: Legalized Genocide of Colored People." Benjamin Crump talks about race and the criminal justice system, and violence in St. Louis.
Three St. Louis-area House seats will be filled in special elections on November 5th. Only one is competitive. It's Jean Evans' former seat in West County where Republican Lee Ann Pittman is facing Democrat Trish Gunby.
Nonprofit immigrant health clinic Casas De Salud President Jorge Riopedre will leave the job on Friday, November 1st. Even though he's moving on, Riopedre says he has set plans in motion to make the clinic more includes for all non-English speakers in the St. Louis Region.
For 20 years, Gerry Marian has played the organ before movie showings at the Chase Park Plaza Cinema. He is one of a few people who still hold a job that dates back to the days of silent films. Marian will enter the spotlight this weekend to debut his newly written score for the 1925 silent film "The Phantom of the Opera."
Every week, thousands of people across the U.S. head to dance studios and clubs to move to Afro-Cuban, Puerto Rican and Dominican beats. Some of the most dedicated will arrive in St. Louis this week for the 10th Annual St. Louis International Salsa Congress, which starts today.
The mayor of Woodson Terrace is sending a letter to St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson asking for a say in whether the city privatizes the Lambert International Airport. Also, the mayor of Bridgeton and others involved in the Municipal League of Metro St. Louis are spearheading an impact study to discover how they could be affected if a private operator leases the airport.
East St. Louis has a rich history but much of it is at risk of being lost. East St. Louis native Reginald Petty has helped launch a society to preserve the city's history. He has written a book about major people who have come from East St. Louis and is concerned younger residents are disconnected from the community's history and culture.
Florissant native Kevin Cox Jr. is a post-doctoral associate at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and one of 15 Hanna H. Gray Fellows named by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The more than one-million-dollar fellowship specifically seeks out scientists from underrepresented groups early in their careers. Cox is African American.
St. Louis–based LGBTQ advocacy organizations are taking steps to anticipate the outcome of a U.S. Supreme Court case that could overturn municipal laws protecting transgender and gender-nonconforming employees in Missouri and Illinois. Legal experts say the case outcome could leave LGBTQ workers with just a "patchwork" of protections, opening them up to legal discrimination.
Unlike some Mississippi River-adjacent states that have set limits on nutrient pollution, Missouri has addressed nutrient pollution by providing funds for farmers to use conservation practices that reduce nutrients from the waterways. But environmentalists say that the state needs to vastly improve how it monitors nutrients that enter waterways and set limits in order to make a substantial progress on water quality in Missouri and reducing the dead zone in the Gulf
Missouri has thousands of untested rape kits sitting on shelves in police stations and hospitals — some containing DNA evidence that could put rapists behind bars. The state is getting closer to finishing an inventory of those untested kits, but there's still a lot of work to be done.
A conversation with Arriel Biggs, the Founder and CEO of Young Biz Kidz. Her organization teaches kids and their parents financial literacy and entrepreneurism.
Gov. Mike Parson pledged not to restart a state program that creates low-income housing unless the legislature made big changes. That didn't happen, and now he's facing pressure to end a nearly two-year freeze of the controversial incentive.
Judy Gladney graduated from University City High School in 1969. She and her husband were among the first African-Americans to attend the school. She was hesitant about attending her 50th reunion but has decided to go. Gladney reflects on her high school experience in a conversation with St. Louis Public Radio's Holly Edgell.
St. Louisan Ronald Ollie is displaying the works of black abstract artists, who are often under-represented in art galleries. We explore what “abstract" means for many African Americans artists and what messages and themes are typically conveyed.
Washington University's Kemper Art Museum has re-opened after a major expansion. Exhibition space has increased by 50 percent, and a new facade of polished stainless steel heightens the museum's presence on campus and in the neighborhood.
Many are familiar with the fact that women make up the majority of the ownership group for St. Louis’ new pro-soccer franchise. Plenty of fans in the area also know that Georgia Frontiere owned the NFL’s Rams when the team moved to the region. But they might not be aware that the first female owner in Major League Baseball history was in St. Louis.
Children from Emerson Academy Therapeutic School in the Greater Ville neighborhood of St. Louis are talking about how they cope with gun violence. The area has a high crime rate with little to no resources to change the culture.
Michael Plisco is a pulmonologist in the intensive care unit at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis who treated the man who died from vaping-related lung injury last month. While medical experts still don’t know exactly what causes death and severe illness in some people who vape, Dr. Plisco says the St. Louis patient offers clues into the little-understood dangers of vaping.
Fort Leonard Wood is huge, and a lot of it is undeveloped natural areas. That means some of Missouri’s threatened species, such as bats, have a safe home among the soldiers. And the Army is working to keep it that way.
A mural project in Belleville is bringing public art to the city's downtown streets. It's funded through donations from individuals and area businesses. Artists and organizers believe the effort will have a lasting impact on the Metro East city.
Leaders of Native American tribes say they support proposed legislation to make Cahokia Mounds a national park as a way to preserve a place that is sacred to their people. Many tribes who live in the Midwest trace their heritage to those who built the ancient city 1,000 years ago.
When people are shot and killed, the pain can linger for families left behind. Sharon Williams’s 19-year-old son was killed on a street corner in the Mark Twain neighborhood 10 years ago. She says losing a child to gun violence has left her with years of traumatic grief and an enormous sense of guilt.
Denver International Airport recently fired Ferrorvial Airports, the developer involved in a nearly $2 billion public-private partnership. The same company likely will bid for a lease to operate St. Louis Lambert International Airport.
When it comes to gun violence, many seem to think children are excluded from being harmed. But more children in St. Louis have been killed by guns since Memorial Day, compared to all of last year. Experts, police, and people in the neighborhoods discuss the "norms" when it comes to not harming or killing children, and why things have shifted.
Queer Puerto Rican author Gabby Rivera is coming to St. Louis to talk about her novel 'Juliet Takes a Breath.' The book was originally published by an extremely small press, to a limited audience. But it resonated with LGBTQ and Latinx readers nationally, and now, three years after its initial publication it’s being re-released in hardback and translated into Spanish.
The new Major League Soccer stadium in St. Louis is expected to be built near other sports and entertainment venues including Enterprise Center, Busch Stadium and Union Station. Washington University Sports Business Program Director Patrick Rishe talks about how other cities have set up similar districts to help boost economic development.
The group Mixed Feelings offers opportunities for people who identify as multiracial to share their struggles in defining racial identity. Members say it's time to reassess the nation's traditional black and white cultural dichotomy and to make room for those with roots in more than one group who want to embrace their varied identities.
Stéphane Denève makes his much-anticipated debut this weekend as the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s new musical director. He is a self-described people person, who fell in love with music as a young child in a small town in northern France. We get to know a bit more about the person behind the artistry.
Every September, many residents of Troy, Illinois, turn out to remember Airman Bradley R. Smith. He died in Afghanistan in January 2010. They honor him with an annual 5K run. Smith's parents started the event as a way to remember their son, who was awarded the Silver Star for saving members of his unit while under fire. But Smith's father says the event has become bigger than his family's loss.
After the failure of Better Together, city and county leaders are planning to put their heads together to decide whether St. Louis and St. Louis County should merge. But even people amenable to a merger aren’t super optimistic this process will lead to systemic change.
St. Louis Public Radio's Andrea Henderson checks in with local members of Remember the 400 following their trip to Virginia to mark 400 years since the arrival of the first African slaves.
The Stanley Cup’s summer tour included five countries over three continents as it made its way to each Blues player, coach, executive, trainer, and equipment manager. The trophy will be back in St. Louis for the start of the new NHL season, before returning to its home at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. The "Keeper of the Cup" Phil Pritchard talks about the busy summer with the Stanley Cup champions.
The Manila-born artist spent some of the summer combing through archives from the 1904 World’s Fair, particularly materials related to the so-called Filipino Village. A site-specific installation building from those materials will be part of an exhibition that examines the use of photography and other images to create social narratives related to imperialism and colonization.
Tamia Coleman-Hawkins is 12 and the owner of Mia’s Treats Delight. Tamia, also known as Mia, told her mom she wanted to start a bakery when she was 8. She's gone on to inspire other kids to start their own businesses.
Missouri students can get two years of community college paid for if they complete 50 hours of tutoring through the A+ Scholarship Program. But access for low-income students is uneven.
The state of Missouri has taken some local control away from counties and cities to regulate where large livestock operations locate. We examine what the new regulations mean in Missouri.
When children are killed by gun violence it can have a ripple effect on the child’s school, from classmates to teachers. Crisis response counselors are sent in and learning can be disrupted as kids respond in different ways. But in neighborhoods where gun violence is the norm, even the youngest students can grow numb to the loss.
Local biologists are studying populations of venomous snakes that live in the St. Louis area, including copperheads. With the help of surgeons at the St. Louis Zoo, they're implanting tiny radio transmitters into the snakes and tracking their movements. The goal is to better understand where these elusive creatures live and hibernate.
The Midwest is tops in field corn production, but it does not stand out when it comes to national production of sweet corn. But for many in the Midwest, nothing says summer quite like a fresh hot ear of sweet corn — plain, buttered or salted.
The Rep's new artistic director, Hana Sharif, is the first black woman to hold that job at a member of the League of Resident Theatres. That is the nation’s largest professional regional theater organization. She is part of a wave of women taking artistic control of theaters in the past few years.
Veteran Erica Camp began adopting chickens that have been discarded from factory farms as a way of addressing her PTSD. She started an organization, Second Hen'd, focused on helping others adopt post-productive chickens. This summer, she started bringing her hens to a school for autistic children, to educate the kids about chickens.
Missouri resident Fidencio Fifield-Perez will premiere a new visual fiber design exhibit based on his time as a member of the DACA program. In his work, the artist from Oaxaca, Mexico, focuses on his experience as an immigrant.
More than 120,000 people, most of them children, have been dropped from Missouri's Medicaid rolls since the beginning of 2018. They've been dropped by the state or did not re-enroll. State officials say fewer people are using the program because they don't need it. But many families say they have unfairly and unwittingly lost coverage.
Tiny plant-eating insects known as treehoppers serenade each other during mating using vibrational songs. They can change depending on the temperature of the environment, which means climate change might disrupt treehopper mating in the future. SLU researchers have found that although the songs changed, female treehoppers still responded to them.
Children’s mental health is a big concern as the risk of suicide and opioid addiction rates rise among teens. But in rural areas, where mental health providers are scarce, spotting problems falls to teachers. Now a new national research center is looking to help rural schools.
Every September, former residents of Times Beach gather at Route 66 State Park near Eureka to remember their old town. It was once home to several thousand people but was so contaminated by dioxin in the 1970s that the EPA bought it out, tore it down and burned the earth in an incinerator. Former residents say Times Beach is a cautionary environmental lesson that should not be forgotten.
Democrats in Missouri have endured three bruising election cycles in a row, resulting in Republican dominance in the state's politics. The party's stalwarts are looking to state Auditor Nicole Galloway to engineer a comeback.
The first African slaves arrived in Virginia 400 years ago this month. The St. Louis chapter of Remember the 400 is headed there to commemorate the historic event. Part of the group's mission is to bridge the racial divide.
After months of anticipation, St. Louis is officially a Major League Soccer city. But there's still a lot of details to work out before the team takes the pitch in 2022.
Main Street in St. Charles is seeing less crime after incidents in recent years led to a new liquor ordinance. But the drop in crime corresponds with a big drop in business. Bar owners want the city to change the law - again.
Illinois' expansion of gambling across the state means slots and table games can now be played at racetracks. How will this expansion of gaming impact Fairmount Track and the horse racing industry in the Metro East?
A popular bakery in the Metro East marks its 100th year in business this weekend. Kruta's Bakery in Collinsville has become a staple in the region serving traditional Eastern European baked goods.
Filmmaker Jane Gillooly documents her experience as a child growing up in Ferguson and how she realized it was segregated. Her film, 'Where the Pavement Ends', closes the Arch City Defenders Racial Justice Film Series.
Three musicians who combine their classical training in Indian musical styles with Western influences are working on a new project that will blend musical cultures. All three studied with Ustad Imrat Khan, the internationally renowned sitar player who also taught at Washington University and died in November.
Feral hogs are damaging farmland and the Mark Twain National Forest. But attempts to allow hunting in the national forest to control the population are meeting resistance from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
There have been more than 400 drug overdoses and at least five drug-related deaths in Missouri state prisons since May 2017, according to internal data from the Department of Corrections. In many cases, inmates have overdosed on controlled substances, including heroin and fentanyl. There are a number of ways drugs can be smuggled into prisons, but institutional corruption appears to play a role. Current and past DOC employees say staff members are bringing contraband into the prisons and selling it to inmates -- often without consequences.
Today marks five years since the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson. St. Louis Public Radio asked dozens of people to reflect on the past five years and to tell us their hopes for the future. The conversations are part of our special project, livingferguson.org.
In this special edition of The Gateway, St. Louis Public Radio brings you an extended interview that profiles Michael Brown Sr. It's part of a larger project that explores what's changed and what hasn't since Michael Brown Jr. was killed five years ago. Find it at livingferguson.org
Five years after a white Ferguson police officer shot and killed Michael Brown, Jr., a black man, artists in the St. Louis region continue to explore the movement that emerged after his death. Some incorporated political concerns into their work for the first time. Others intensified their focus on social justice.
Former National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency leader Robert Cardillo stepped down in February after playing a major role in selecting St. Louis as the site for a new headquarters. On June 1, he started at St. Louis University as a distinguished geospatial fellow, where he will serve as a liaison for the N-G-A, industry leaders and the university.
In the aftermath of Ferguson, the municipal court system came under scrutiny for a variety of unfair practices. Some reforms have been implemented over the last five years, but we examine whether real change has occurred.
Jonathan Tremaine Thomas moved to Ferguson from Indianapolis five years ago to be part of the healing process after the death of Michael Brown. The pastor is planning to reopen the Corner Coffee House to help downtown Ferguson thrive again, which will benefit the entire community.
Two vacant St. Louis County Council seats will be filled in a special election August 6. We review the election, which will decide what party controls the council going forward. Both seats are expected to stay Democratic although one of the races could be competitive.
What has changed in the region politically five years after Ferguson? The past 12 months have showcased big policy gains in St. Louis County government, and some modest advances in Jefferson City.
Science Fiction writers have long warned us about the dangers of modifying organisms. But new technologies are becoming a reality and researchers are trying to figure out how to present gene-editing technology to a skeptical public.
The cannabis industry is predominantly white, and Missouri has said it won’t consider racial equity in its selection process for medical marijuana licenses. A St. Louis minority-owned business is focusing on community impact in its application. REAL Cannabis Co. wants to counteract the negative effects of marijuana in communities of color.
After homes in flood-prone areas have been bought through the FEMA buyout program, the federal agency allows local governments to use the land as long as they don’t build any developments on the properties. Some have been turned into parks and others have been leased very inexpensively to residents who have gardened or allowed people to use them for camping.
St. Louisan Alana Marie is exploring local history and her family’s roots in a film project about the city of Kinloch, where her father grew up. Missouri’s oldest incorporated African-American community now has fewer than 300 residents but was once a vibrant and flourishing place.
Doctors often don’t want to treat pregnant women with substance use disorder. Many times those women are left without access to medications to control their addictions. Washington University’s medical school has started a clinic for pregnant and postpartum women addicted to opioids.
As part of our Curious Louis series, we look into the hidden history of Castlewood State Park — including the clubs, dance halls, and speakeasies once tucked into its hills — and visit the ruins that remain.
After leaving Bosnia in the 90s, Nermana Huskic looked for a way to give back to St. Louis. She saw the growing need to care for the homeless population. Now she owns RukaNade, one of the largest Bosnian nonprofits in the city.
Every July and October, the Belleville nonprofit MindsEye sponsors unique baseball tournaments for St. Louis-area athletes who are legally blind. The games are played with beepballs that emit sounds and bases that buzz. Players with normal eyesight are welcome to play – blindfolded.
St. Louis artist and activist De Nichols will focus on the Griot Museum of Black History in her newly awarded Loeb Fellowship from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. Through the one-year program which begins this fall, Nichols will create a plan for the north St. Louis institution to deepen and sustain its impact as a space for black arts and history.
About 6,000 school nutrition professionals from across the country have spent part of this week in St. Louis sampling food, testing equipment, and sharing best practices for meeting federal nutrition requirements for school cafeteria lunch options.
Some north St. Louis County teenagers are learning the basics of ecology and wildlife conservation this summer and passing that knowledge to the next generation. Also, a local non-profit is turning some vacant St. Louis lots into community gardens.
New laws are allowing farmers to grow hemp for the first time in decades. Millions of dollars could be made, but there are significant challenges that hemp farmers will face for years to come including seed fraud, weather and a lack of machinery.
If you have more time to read this summer, consider picking up a book written by St. Louisans or set in Missouri. Left Bank Books' Shane Mullen shares some of this year's biggest local releases that might interest readers of all ages.
A 16-year-old chess Phenom from Webster Groves is competing in the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship that started this week at the St. Louis Chess Club.
A 16-year-old chess phenom from Webster Groves is competing in the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship at the St. Louis Chess Club. Thalia Cervantes started playing while her family was still living in Cuba. Her international success prompted her family to move to the U.S. five years ago.
Kim Massie never pursued her dream of becoming a professional singer until her 40s. She moved back to St. Louis and competed in karaoke contests. Massie had a weekly residency at the now-defunct Beale on Broadway for 15 years. She sings many styles, from the music of Aretha Franklin to tunes by Steely Dan.
Puerto Rican circus children visiting their counterparts in St. Louis are busy juggling, tumbling and catching up with old friends. They are working with Circus Harmony, a local organization that teaches acrobatics, juggling and life skills like perseverance and teamwork.
St. Louis native Merrique Jenson discusses her work nationally and in the Kansas City LGBTQ community, along with the start of her transition as a transgender woman.
When José moved his family to the U.S. from Mexico nearly two decades ago, he hoped to give his children a better life. Now, the Illinois resident worries about the future of his 21-year-old-son, who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. José fears his son's mental illness could lead to deportation.
Unionized workers at St. Louis Lambert International are concerned about their futures as the city considers privatizing the airport. They've been told contracts would be honored, but there is no guarantee for wages and benefits to stay the same once those deals expire.
The view from I-64 in midtown St. Louis near IKEA is about to drastically change. Work continues on the multi-million dollar City Foundry mixed-use development. Crews are transforming the old Century Electric facility into a destination for food and entertainment.
A Washington University student is reflecting one year after being accused of leaving a Clayton Road restaurant without paying. The story of Teddy Washington and his family is at odds with how many portray St. Louis as a hotbed of racial strife. Washington says in many ways he feels privileged, a word he understands is generally applied to whites.
A group of undergrads at Harris-Stowe State University is studying how CBD, an oil derived from cannabis plants, affects fruit fly development. Also, Missouri is allowing students to take online physical education classes.
St. Louis police increased its presence and focus on crime in an area of north city known as Hayden's Rectangle. Named for Chief John Hayden, the strategy focuses on some of the city's most violent neighborhoods. But, is the approach working 18 months after it was launched?
A commercial cabinet maker in St. James has a unique hiring strategy: bring on employees with prison convictions and past drug addiction problems. The entrepreneur has built his business while giving people second chances, and it’s paying off.
This weekend marks the 40th anniversary of Pride St. Louis. Local photographer Scott Lokitz has captured nearly all four decades. His documentation ranges from a time when many were afraid to be seen at the event to the celebration becoming mainstream.
Missouri's population of alligator gar, a large prehistoric fish, is one of the lowest in the country. Conservationists have been working for more than a decade to raise the numbers, especially since the fish could help consume invasive Asian carp. However, state conservation officials have failed to pass regulations to help protect the species from overfishing.
This year's flooding has brought barge traffic on the Mississippi River to a standstill. But it could be an opportunity for Cairo, Illinois. Many in the community without a grocery store or gas station say a proposed port could revitalize the area's economy.
A program this month at the public library in Normandy involved hip-hop and architecture. The aim was to spark imaginations about how the combination could improve communities. Nearly 30 students, mostly teenagers, took part in the week-long camp.
Protesting in Ferguson after Michael Brown was killed thrust Brittany Ferrell into a national spotlight. Now, the former nurse is funneling her activism into a documentary called “You Lucky You Got a Mama,” about how racism is at the root of why more black women don’t survive childbirth.
Property owners in some flood-prone areas of Missouri have been able to sell their homes to local governments through the FEMA flood buyout program. Missouri has the highest number of such buyouts of any state -- more than 5,000 since 1990.
The president of Harris-Stowe State University is leaving after five years. Dwuan Warmack is moving to another historically black institution - Claflin University in South Carolina. He reflects on his time at Harris-Stowe and shares some thoughts about the challenges facing the school in St. Louis.
The Magic House has opened a new satellite location on Delmar Boulevard. The space features hands-on STEAM activities like video game design, 3D-printing, button-making, and pottery for children. One hope is that the location helps children learn how to become entrepreneurs by turning their creations into businesses.
City officials expect hundreds of thousands of people to come downtown for the St. Louis Blues' championship parade and rally. For diehard fans, Saturday's events will cap a season to remember.
The St. Louis Blues have won their first-ever Stanley Cup. They knocked off the Bruins 4-1 in Game 7 last night in Boston. St. Louis Public Radio's Rachel Lippmann has more from a watch party that had all the atmosphere of a home game.
Party control of the St. Louis County Council is up for grabs. Currently, Republicans hold a 3-2 advantage because of the departures of Democrats Sam Page and Hazel Erby. But on Aug. 9, voters will choose replacements who are nominated by their respective parties.
The Mississippi River has crested in several area communities, including Alton, Illinois. But the water will remain high for a while. That means Alton will not return to normal for some time.
The St. Louis Blues need another road win to claim their first Stanley Cup after losing to Boston at Enterprise Center. Also, advocates for education in prison plan to launch a campaign to increase transparency around how books get into Illinois prisons.
The Mississippi and Missouri rivers have been above flood stage for more than 80 days. That has many comparing the high water to the Great Flood of '93. But geologists note some differences with this year's flood.
A group in residence this summer at the Pulitzer Arts Foundation is challenging traditional assumptions about monuments so they are relevant to everyday people. Researchers with Monument Lab will ask St. Louisans about concepts they would like to see reflected in monuments.
St. Louis leaders want the city to become a magnet for geospatial technology. The effort comes as the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency moves forward with a new west headquarters in north city.
The St. Louis Blues have posted another historic playoff victory. Also, engineering researchers at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla are trying to help protect houses against storms like the recent tornado in Jefferson City.
The St. Louis Blues players aren't the only ones bringing their best to the Stanley Cup Final. Soon to retire singer Charles Glenn, who performs the national anthem, plans a sparkling version he hopes will inspire the team. And organist Jeremy Boyer, whose music entertains hockey fans on game days, is drawing on the playing he does at church on Sundays.
Planned Parenthood's St. Louis clinic could lose its ability to provide abortion services at the end of the day. The organization is asking a St. Louis judge to order the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to not delay renewal of its license.
Much of St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner's tenure has been marked by her handling of charges against former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens. With her personally selected investigator facing a possible grand jury indictment, we examine where Gardner stands in the community and what the future may hold for her.
St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner came into office 18 months ago as a reformer. She has made good on some of her campaign promises. But Gardner's tenure so far has been marked by controversy and confrontation over her handling of charges against former Governor Eric Greitens and her relationship with police.
Many farmers continue to use weed killers with glyphosate despite lawsuits alleging the ingredient might cause cancer. We examine what is at stake for farmers who are awaiting the outcomes of those cases.
When military veterans die, many family members and funeral homes call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office in South St. Louis County. Last year, the Veterans Administration employees made sure more than 135,000 veterans were buried with dignity and honor in a national cemetery.
The quirky, small-town summer festival is a staple in Missouri. But in the town of Nixa, costs and health department regulations are forcing officials to rethink their annual homage to the sucker fish. The most recent festival was Saturday, May 18.
It’s taken more than a year for Webster University to investigate allegations of sexual harassment against one of its game design professors. Now, some students say they’ve lost faith in the university to follow through on Title IX investigations. A Webster official on Friday said the school has hired an independent firm to audit the investigation.
The neighborhood elementary school in St. Louis’ College Hill neighborhood has a 98 percent attendance record, on par with the district’s gifted magnet school and 15 points better than other neighborhood schools. The district hopes to replicate the model of outside case workers attached to students who are homeless or struggling to get to school.
Missouri Governor Mike Parson is receiving high marks from fellow Republicans following the just-completed legislative session. Democrats wonder if he went too far by advocating for abortion legislation. St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum examines how the 2019 session may impact next year's GOP effort to stay in power.
Granite City has an ordinance that requires landlords to evict tenants when they call police about a drug overdose. The unintended consequence of this is that it discourages people with addiction from getting help.
Leticia Colon de Mejias, founder of nonprofit Green Eco Warriors, believes we can impact the environment for the better by making small, consistent changes to energy consumption. She also advocates for Latinos getting a place at the table in activism and involvement in environmental issues.
Women make up just a fraction of professional basketball referees, coaches and owners. A St. Louis woman is doing her best to change that. In our Sharing America profiles series, St. Louis Public Radio’s Andrea Henderson meets Khalia Collier who owns and operates the St. Louis Surge Women’s Basketball Team. Collier uses her role as a means of mentoring youth and advocating for more women coaching and owning pro sports teams and refereeing.
Parenting and pre-K advocate Annie Watson is an Asian American woman who played a leading role in a recent ballot measure to fund pre-K in Kansas City. Sharing America Profiles is a series about women of color doing important local work on an issue of national importance.
David Crosby is a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer twice over: inducted in 1991 for his work as a founding member of The Byrds and again six years later for the folk-rock supergroup Crosby, Stills and Nash. But the 77-year-old isn’t stuck in the past. He’s collaborating with a new circle of younger musicians and has released four albums in five years, with another on the way. He performs May 15 in St. Louis at the Sheldon Concert Hall.
A podcast to help you keep up with the St. Louis region’s news. Every weekday you can get informed about what’s going on in the area. In about 10 to 15 minutes you can learn about the top stories of the day, while also hearing longer stories that explore issues in context or that introduce you to new ideas and people that make the St. Louis area special.