Jason Hall built a reputation as one of St. Louis’ most vocal cheerleaders in various positions at different economic development organizations over the past 12 years, most recently as the first CEO of Greater St. Louis Inc. Hall is leaving his post to take over the reins of the Columbus Partnership on Jan. 13. He talks with STLPR economic development reporter Eric Schmid about his time in St. Louis and upcoming transition.
Jan 03, 2025•26 min
St. Louis Zoo WildCare Park plans to open to the public in 2027, but the 425 acre conservation area in north St. Louis County is already home to 38 animals. Park leaders share what it takes to transform a golf course into a safari park, the zoo’s aim to bolster endangered species, and how the park will be a boon to local wildlife and the regional economy.
Jan 02, 2025•20 min
The Michelin Guide is a gold standard in the culinary world, but you won't find a single Michelin-starred restaurant in St. Louis or even Missouri. As STLPR Morning Newscaster Abby Llorico discovered through recent interviews with St. Louis restaurateurs, it turns out that it's not simple (or cheap) to get a Michelin scout in your city. Along with Llorico, St. Louis Magazine food writer Cheryl Baehr joins the discussion of Michelin rankings and more, including her reflections on the major events...
Jan 02, 2025•31 min
In 2024, Missouri voters got rid of the state’s near total ban on abortion yet overwhelmingly voted for Republicans who were opposed to doing so. St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell defeated Rep. Cori Bush in the Democratic primary. And, former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan went on trial for public corruption. On this episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, STLPR reporters discuss the top Missouri and Illinois political stories in 2024.
Dec 31, 2024•51 min
Growing up in St. Louis in the 1950s and 60s, Lee Hendrix was taught to fear the Mississippi River. But the sense of adventure it offered ended up being the seed that became a five decade career of piloting boats on the Mississippi. In this encore episode, Hendrix discusses his book, “Peep Light,” where he shares stories about the dangerous work of starting as a deckhand and later ascending to the pilothouse. He also talks about what it was like to pilot passenger vessels, including the grand Am...
Dec 30, 2024•50 min
In 2024, we said goodbye to a number of remarkable people who lived and worked in the St. Louis region. In this episode, we honor those we lost this year by listening back to conversations with them or by hearing from those who knew them well.
Dec 23, 2024•51 min
Republicans will gain control of the House, Senate and presidency next month and that means Missouri Rep. Jason Smith will become even more powerful, as he’ll have a clearer path as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee to reshape taxation and trade policy. Smith, who represents Missouri’s 8th Congressional District, discusses priorities including renewing or expanding tax cuts — and governing with a narrow majority.
Dec 20, 2024•14 min
Congresswoman Cori Bush had an unlikely journey to Washington, D.C., rising from the Ferguson protest movement to the House of Representatives. Bush, who represents Missouri’s 1st Congressional District, will be leaving office in November after losing an expensive and bitter primary battle against St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell. She sits down for an exit interview reflecting on her four years in Congress — and why she won’t be disappearing from the public view anytime soon.
Dec 20, 2024•37 min
Aida Ade — born Jamie Hudson — took a step back from music after the passing of her cherished aunt. She returned to music this year with the EP, “The Unbreakable Aida Ade,” which features songs written to lift herself up and to celebrate the power of a strong circle of loved ones.
Dec 20, 2024•24 min
Metro Boomin takes trust seriously. The St. Louis native recently returned to his hometown to continue his annual tradition of celebrating single mothers and honoring his late mother Leslie JoAnne Wayne, who was killed in June 2022. Producer Miya Norfleet sat down with the Grammy-nominated music producer to talk about his accomplishments, values, and views on what it means to be part of hip-hop culture.
Dec 19, 2024•9 min
Courtney Dowdall, music reviewer for The Arts STL, joins producer Miya Norfleet and Elaine Cha for a roundup of new music releases from St. Louis musicians. Their picks cover a range of genres, from Midwestern country to jazz to death metal.
Dec 19, 2024•19 min
Lawyers for County Executive Sam Page and Governor Mike Parson met in court this week to argue their case for appointing a new St. Louis County prosecutor to replace Wesley Bell. The unusual legal battle that pits county and state interests against each other is just one of the topics tackled in this month’s Legal Roundtable. Attorneys Mary Anne Sedey, Liz Lenivy and Dave Roland also dig into a former St. Louis county staffer’s retaliation claim — and why the Los Angeles Rams prefer arbitration ...
Dec 18, 2024•50 min
A recent report out of the Policy Research in Missouri Education Center at St. Louis University shows that about 61,000 children in Missouri are homeschooled — an almost two-fold increase since 2020. Executive Director Collin Hitt and Senior Research Associate Amy Shelton discuss how Missouri compares to other states, what a continued trend toward homeschooled K-12 students could mean for state-level policy and funding for public schools, and the need for more research into demographic trends an...
Dec 16, 2024•24 min
For more than 60 years, Santa’s House in Belleville’s historic downtown square has been a mainstay of the holiday season. Combined with an open air German Christmas Market, experiencing Christmastime in Belleville is a tradition for many Metro East families. Cindy Hawkins, co-president of the Optimist Club of Belleville and chairman of the Santa committee, shares the history and memories of Santa’s House.
Dec 16, 2024•10 min
A Black man from St. Louis has served a decade in prison for a crime he swears he didn’t commit. The only evidence linking him to the shooting that resulted in a 25-year sentence was the testimony of a white police officer. But what neither he, his attorneys nor the jury that convicted him knew at the time was the officer had mistakenly arrested another Black man seven months earlier, using an illegal choke hold that ended in the man’s death. The officer also had a long history of racist posts o...
Dec 16, 2024•16 min
The closure of three Christian boarding schools in Missouri since 2020 is only a start, says Amanda Householder, whose parents ran the now-closed Circle of Hope Girls Ranch. Householder reflects on her upbringing at her parents’ unregulated boarding school, what happened after she escaped, and her feelings as her mother, Stephanie Householder, faces numerous charges of child abuse. We also hear from David Clohessy, the former national director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Pr...
Dec 13, 2024•39 min
Former St. Louis Public Schools superintendent Keisha Scarlett misused district funds and violated hiring protocols according to a new report from the district. Scarlett also racked up nearly $210,000 worth of charges on credit cards assigned to her and the superintendent’s office during her 14-month tenure, including expenses at Bath & Body Works and Massage Envy. STLPR education reporter Hiba Ahmad discusses the report and how the school board and district leaders have responded.
Dec 13, 2024•11 min
A recent E. coli outbreak at several events in the St. Louis region has left more than a dozen people hospitalized and affected at least 115 others. That follows news of a shigella outbreak in Fairview Heights where nearly a hundred diners were sickened after eating at a LongHorn Steakhouse. We talk about food borne illness and pose your food safety questions to an infectious disease physician, a food safety attorney and a health inspector.
Dec 12, 2024•38 min
Vernon Betts, Sheriff for the City of St. Louis, will leave office after 8 years on Dec. 31. Betts lost his bid for re-election to Alfred Montgomery in the August primary. Known for his colorful personality (and controversies that have come with it), Betts has always spoken highly about serving St. Louis. STLPR Visuals Editor Brian Munoz sat down with Sheriff Betts, who reflected on his career in the St. Louis Sheriff's Department; his time at the helm, working alongside fellow St. Louis City le...
Dec 12, 2024•19 min
A land transfer agreement announced in November 2024 brings the Osage Nation one step closer to reclaiming Sugarloaf Mound — the last remaining Mississippian mound in St. Louis — in its entirety. Osage artist Anita Fields and her son Nokosee Fields created "WayBack," a sculptural and musical installation, at the Sugarloaf Mound site as part of a Counterpublic arts exhibition in 2023. Fields speaks to what this recent agreement means for her as an Indigenous person, Osage citizen and artist. The ...
Dec 11, 2024•22 min
In January, Gov. Mike Parson will leave office after 6 ½ years as Missouri’s top executive. Thanks to Republican supermajorities and a flood of federal money, Parson was able to enact significant policies — and make appointments that shaped Missouri politics and the judiciary. STLPR’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg conducted a wide ranging exit interview with Parson. Later, Jason and Sarah join the show to discuss the interview and Parson’s legacy.
Dec 10, 2024•42 min
Among Average White Band's hits are "Pick Up the Pieces," the 1974 song that highlights the group's funk and soul sound. The band's final performance is this Friday in St. Louis and ahead of that show, saxophonist Fred Vigdor reflects on his 28-year tenure with the group and its influence on hip-hop culture.
Dec 10, 2024•19 min
The “Ellington Strayhorn Nutcracker” from Jazz St Louis and St. Louis Dance Theatre will take audiences into the lives of Duke Ellington and LGBTQ composer Billy Strayhorn. Combining the holiday classic with a story set in 1960s St. Louis' Gaslight Square, the production represents “a love letter” to Strayhorn as an “unsung genius, who dared to live authentically in the face of adversity,” said choreographer Kirven Douthit-Boyd. Douthit-Boyd is joined by Jazz St. Louis CEO Victor Goines to discu...
Dec 10, 2024•21 min
The GOP-controlled Missouri General Assembly spent recent years focusing on restricting the rights of trans people. That pattern is already repeating for 2025, with multiple pre-filed bills that propose ways to make it harder for trans people to change their gender markers on state-issued IDs. Katy Erker-Lynch, the executive director of the policy and advocacy organization PROMO Missouri, and Shira Berkowitz, senior director of public policy and advocacy at PROMO, discuss the state of Missouri’s...
Dec 06, 2024•16 min
Missouri Democrats were fairly bullish that 2024 would be the election cycle where they would finally gain some ground. But not only did Democratic candidates get blown out in statewide contests for governor and the U.S. Senate, the party failed to gain any ground in the Missouri General Assembly. Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Russ Carnahan discusses the disappointing results and how the party intends to move forward.
Dec 06, 2024•26 min
It’s December: What better time to cozy up and open a great new book? Or perhaps you’re looking for the perfect book to give as a gift this holiday season. Ted Reidy of St. Louis Public Library and Tammy Albohaire of St. Louis County Library share their favorite books released in 2024.
Dec 04, 2024•50 min
Journalist Steven Thrasher was featured as a speaker at the Missouri History Museum during a commemoration of World Aids Day on December 1. Thrasher's 2022 book, "The Viral Underclass," draws deeply from his reporting in the St. Louis region, and explores the way viruses — from HIV/AIDS to COVID-19 — expose society’s fault lines.
Dec 03, 2024•50 min
Katie Lee, of Katie’s Pizza and Pasta, talks about writing her autobiography — a work being published in serial, print form — and its focus on her past struggles with alcohol addiction and the development of a thriving restaurant and fine foods business.
Dec 02, 2024•37 min
Democrats in St. Clair County in Illinois have previously enjoyed double-digit victories over their Republican opponents, but those margins of victory over the last three elections have crept into the single digits. STLPR Metro East reporter Will Bauer discusses his reporting on this topic.
Dec 02, 2024•14 min
Owen Ragland started his pop-project Whitworth alone, but over time has added friends-turned-collaborators to bring his nostalgic and optimistic sound across the country. In this “producers cut” of “St. Louis on the Air”, Ragland shares the journey behind his debut album “Earth To Dreamer.”
Nov 27, 2024•36 min
