Aaron Malin and attorney Dave Roland have spent a decade in a legal battle to unseal the records of Missouri's drug task forces. These multijurisdictional law enforcement groups can seize vast quantities of drugs, money, and property, but they operate in secrecy. Ten years and many lawsuits later, Malin and Roland are upping the stakes with a motion for civil contempt against the Cole County Prosecuting Attorney’s office. Malin and Roland reflect on a decade of fighting government secrecy and th...
Mar 10, 2025•21 min
Republican Missouri Rep. Peggy McGaugh wants to allow someone to serve up to 16 years in either the House or the Senate. Currently, most legislators can serve up to eight years in the House and eight in the Senate. McGaugh discusses her proposal on the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air. Then, term limits expert Thad Kousser, a political science professor at the University of California-San Diego, discusses the history and trends behind term limits in the U.S.
Mar 07, 2025•33 min
Some GOP lawmakers have faced angry crowds at town hall meetings, particularly over federal job reductions. That led to one GOP member suggesting an end to in-person town halls. During an appearance on the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Springfield, agreed saying, “I think that the town halls create a dynamic where only political nutjobs show up.” Burlison also discusses why he thinks Medicaid needs major changes.
Mar 07, 2025•17 min
The 2017 slaughterhouse escape of six steers turned "The St. Louis Six" into animal rescue celebrities and inspired an expansion of the California-based nonprofit Gentle Barn to Missouri. Eight years later, the sanctuary’s abrupt closure this past October has left its former volunteers and staff feeling abandoned. An investigation by St. Louis on the Air producer Danny Wicentowski goes inside the final days of the sanctuary's existence and the aftermath of its closure. The investigation confirms...
Mar 06, 2025•49 min
The broader St. Louis economy would not necessarily be left in turmoil if the Trump administration cuts some of the nearly 26,000 federal employees in the region, but there could be negative trickle-down effects. STLPR Metro East reporter Will Bauer and interim managing editor Jonathan Ahl discuss their reporting on this topic.
Mar 06, 2025•14 min
When Ron Branstetter created the memecoin Unicorn Fart Dust, he knew he’d learn from the cryptocurrency experiment. He didn’t know that he was building a space for tens of thousands of people to support, connect and learn from one another across the globe. Branstetter discusses the highs and lows of memecoin creation, shares what he’s learned about crypto, and reflects on why the token has amassed a loyal following of “dusters.”
Mar 06, 2025•28 min
The 2025 race for St. Louis mayor is officially a rematch. Mayor Tishaura Jones and 8th Ward Alderwoman Cara Spencer were the top two vote-getters in Tuesday’s St. Louis primary and now will compete head-to-head in the April 8 general election. STLPR reporter Rachel Lippmann discusses the results of the Tuesday primary and sets the stage for the general election.
Mar 06, 2025•8 min
Ujima wants to change how St. Louis eats and grows. The nonprofit, which operates urban farms in north St. Louis’ Fairground and Hyde Park neighborhoods, offers apprenticeships to teens to grow produce and learn to work the land. But Ujima is facing significant change this season: Its community garden was abruptly closed down last summer after SLPS evicted several nonprofits, including Ujima, from the Clay Community Education Center. The nonprofit’s founder, Nick Speed, discusses Ujima’s plans f...
Mar 04, 2025•25 min
Operation Food Search invested $10 million to renovate its headquarters in Overland to better distribute fresh meat and produce, and frozen food, last year. Now that its facility updates are done, the organization can continue its mission to feed those who have fewer means to obtain fresh and nutritious food. President and CEO Kristen Wild shares how the upgrades and additions will directly impact the region’s food pantries and reach individuals in 25 counties in Missouri and Illinois.
Mar 04, 2025•17 min
The researchers say their device could keep farmers from having to cull their flocks when they detect the contagious virus, which has affected more than 5 million birds in Missouri since 2022. STLPR health reporter Sarah Fentem shares how the device works and the latest on how avian influenza is affecting the St. Louis region.
Mar 04, 2025•10 min
Season 37 of the CBS original reality show “The Amazing Race” premieres March 5 at 8:30 pm central. Jeff Bailey Sr. and Jeff Bailey Jr. are one of 14 teams competing for $1M — and they’re representing St. Louis at the same time. The pair, known as Pops and Jeff on the show, share how their careers as lumberjacks — and the sensibility that comes with being born and raised in St. Louis — prepared them to compete on one of the longest running reality shows in the U.S.
Mar 03, 2025•21 min
The fine dining restaurant Tony’s, in Clayton, closed in February as did Mom’s Deli in southwest St. Louis. STLPR’s Jessica Rogen and Abby Llorico discuss notable closures of St. Louis area restaurants — and openings. Restaurant openings in February included four new spots at Energizer Park, Good Strangers on Cherokee Street and Side Project Pizza in Maplewood.
Mar 03, 2025•20 min
Ahead of the April 8 general election, St. Louis voters will go to the polls Tuesday for the primary election. There are four candidates for St. Louis mayor: Tishaura Jones, Cara Spencer, Michael Butler and Andrew Jones. Comptroller and two aldermanic races are also on the ballot. The top two finishers under the city’s approval voting system will go on to the general election. STLPR reporter Rachel Lippmann discusses.
Mar 03, 2025•11 min
Alexia Simone is admittedly a bashful person, but she pushes that all to the side with 808 beats and low-end R&B sound in her new project, “Multiply.” She takes host Elaine Cha behind the scenes of the album’s production which includes collaborations with local music producers and her InBloom partner, Slikk Darko.
Feb 28, 2025•25 min
February’s new music roundup showcases Black artists with ties to St. Louis. The various genres highlight the artists’ creativity and talent. Producer Miya Norfleet and WSIE host “Tracey J” Shanklin discuss their top picks.
Feb 28, 2025•26 min
A St. Louis County Girl Scout troop was told to stop fundraising for child war victims in Gaza. Instead, they created their own organization. Less than a year later, Salam Scouts has more than 200 members in 24 troops nationwide. Co-founder Nawal Abuhamdeh says she hopes Salam Scouts will empower young girls and boys not only to be confident leaders, “but compassionate, kind leaders who will always stand up for what's right — despite what other people are telling them to think or say.”
Feb 27, 2025•31 min
Between 2023 and 2024, the number of homeless Missourians increased by almost 10%. Regional coordinator for the Missouri Balance of State Continuum of Care April Redman, Director for the Department of Human Services Adam Pearson and NPR Midwest Newsroom’s investigative reporter Kavahn Mansouri discuss the challenges in providing an accurate count of homeless people in order to provide appropriate services across the region.
Feb 27, 2025•19 min
The Animal Protective Association cut ties with the St. Louis County animal shelter on Friday. The partnership’s dissolution comes at a time of anxiety and suspicion among shelter volunteers, who were told they would need to reapply in order to continue volunteering at the facility. Animal advocates are also concerned after a Missouri Sunshine Law request revealed a proposal suggesting the use of mass euthanasia to lower the shelter’s population. We talk about the shelter’s operations with Post ...
Feb 26, 2025•31 min
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins is defending his decision to reject sports betting emergency rules, saying there isn’t an urgent need and also he doesn’t want to short circuit public input. STLPR politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum talks with Hoskins. Later, Rosenbaum joins the show for context and analysis about the future of sports gambling in Missouri.
Feb 26, 2025•19 min
A former St. Louis sheriff’s deputy who was fired is suing Sheriff Alfred Montgomery for defamation. Janae Edmondson, the visiting volleyball player who lost both of her legs in a terrible car crash in downtown St. Louis in 2023, has settled a lawsuit against the city. Producers of Nelly’s “Country Grammar” are suing the famous St. Louis rapper for alleged unpaid royalties. And, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey says Starbucks’ hiring practices are discriminatory. Those were among the topi...
Feb 25, 2025•50 min
Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and her daughter, poet and writer Ruby Aiyo Gerber, talk about co-writing the opera, “This House.” Taking place in a majestic Harlem brownstone, the opera explores themes of gentrification and losing Black histories. It also delves into what connects – and binds – people to history and to one another. “This House” will have its world premiere at Opera Theatre of St. Louis this May.
Feb 24, 2025•27 min
About 2,680 people with developmental disabilities died under the care of the state of Missouri — on average, one person every day between 2017 through 2023. Reporter Will Skipworth’s new investigation from the River City Journalism Fund dives into that system and its flaws. Skipworth shares his findings from his investigation into why disabled people keep dying, why reports of abuse and neglect continue to be ignored, and what can be done to prevent further harm to the state's most vulnerable p...
Feb 24, 2025•24 min
More than three months after the voter-approved Amendment 3 went into effect, Planned Parenthood affiliates are once again offering abortions to Missourians. That’s because Jackson County Judge Jerri Zhang froze licensing requirements for clinics, which Planned Parenthood cited as a major obstacle for offering abortions for the first time in years. Nick Dunne, vice president of marketing and communications for Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, discusses last week’s ruling and abortion access movi...
Feb 21, 2025•23 min
When Ken Martin announced his first national tour since taking on the high profile post of DNC chairman, it may have come as a surprise to some that he included Missouri as one of the stops. On the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, Martin talks about his goals for the party and why deep red states like Missouri are important.
Feb 21, 2025•12 min
Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday compared President Donald Trump’s “authoritarian playbook” to the Nazi movement as he unveiled a $55.2 billion spending plan that also saves the state more than $400 million by nixing a health care program for adults who lack legal status. STLPR Metro East reporter Will Bauer joins the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air to discuss Pritzker’s address and budget proposal.
Feb 21, 2025•18 min
Music producers are behind-the-scenes creators who make the drumbeat, and heartbeat, of many experiences we enjoy. But this corner of the industry is male-dominated, leaving little recognition and appreciation for the women in the field — despite their major contributions. St. Louis music producers Lexxiii Beatz and Volume Speaks share their experiences as women in music production, the sisterhood they’ve found among other musicians and the obstacles they’ve overcome.
Feb 20, 2025•27 min
Due to past racial events, there is often a mistrust in communities with people of color when it comes to the healthcare system. Owner of GreaterHealth Pharmacy and Wellness, Marcus Howards recollects how Black people were experimented on during the Tuskegee experiment. He also discusses how GreaterHealth develops trusts and provides care for patients as a Black-owned pharmacy. The St. Louis native also reflects on the growth and obstacles since opening the pharmacy.
Feb 20, 2025•17 min
Weeding out invasive species can feel like a never ending chore because of the rapid growth and spread rate. Missouri Botanical Garden associate scientist Wendy Applequist encourages traditional uses of these plants to help the ecosystem — and ourselves.
Feb 19, 2025•25 min
Social media has put art and entertainment from all corners of the world in the literal palm of your hand. Manga and anime (Japanese comic books and cartoons) hit mainstream American bookshelves and screens starting in the 1990s, and cross-cultural exchange has resulted in the development of distinct subcultures — including “blerds” or Black nerds. In this encore episode, St. Louis born and raised content creator Shawn “Rab” Fentress discusses the popularization of Blerd culture. Shawn has accum...
Feb 18, 2025•25 min
In the U.S. alone coffee has an economic value upwards of $340 billion dollars annually. But in the countries where coffee is grown, farmers and producers often face exploitation. St. Louis University student Firaol Ahmed started Moii Coffee, an online platform that aims to cut down on exploitation by connecting Ethiopian coffee farmers directly to U.S. roasters. STLPR reporter Marissanne Lewis-Thompson has that story, and then we check-in with Jason Wilson, owner of Northwest Coffee Roasting Co...
Feb 17, 2025•34 min
