St. Louis on the Air

Planned closures could affect more than a dozen public schools in St. Louis. It's just one example of the pressures facing the region's school districts, parents and students. STLPR education reporter Hiba Ahmad takes us inside her recent coverage, from students staging a musical protest to save their school to a brand-new task force in St. Louis County that's weighing the pros and cons of school consolidation.

Chilean empanadas, Greek coffee, luxe Italian desserts and Midwestern pork fritter sandwiches: that's a sampling of items offered by new restaurants that opened in the St. Louis area in July. This month's discussion of the St. Louis-area food scene delivers notes on these additions. STLPR's Jessica Rogen and Abby Llorico also weigh in on locally-based chain restaurant closures and relocations (Baileys' concepts, Salt + Smoke, Syberg's on Market and Panera) — and mount a case for St. Louis to be the next city to host the James Beard Awards.

The Rams left St. Louis in 2016 and ultimately paid hundreds of millions of dollars for it. Two residents — one who lives downtown and another whose neighborhood was hit by the 2025 tornado — make cases for how that money should be spent. In the newest episode of STLPR's podcast, “Meet Me,” we hear their conversation, along with 14th Ward Alderman Rasheen Aldridge's perspective on the behind the scenes negotiations over how the settlement money was allocated.

A battle of Dr. Browns is heating up in St. Louis, as the local baby bottle-manufacturer Dr. Brown's is fighting in court against the New York-based manufacturer of Dr. Brown's soda. The dispute is just one of the cases on this month's edition of the Legal Roundtable on "St. Louis on the Air." Along with the fate of Dr. Brown's trademark, our expert panelists discuss a lawsuit filed by protesters after they were arrested at a Wesley Bell town hall, a judge in hot water over his social media posts, and more.

St. Louis is uniquely poised to be the hub for modern ragtime — and to learn about the music genre's historical roots. That's according to Ethan Leinwand, the co-founder of the St. Louis Ragtime Initiative. Leinwand joins us to talk about ragtime past and present ahead of the monthly Ragtime Rendezvous at the Scott Joplin House. Also joining the conversation is musician Colin Hancock, who will perform with his band “The Oliver-Smith Incomparables” at the Aug. 3 event.

Each year, more than 10 million visitors make their way to Branson, Missouri. Over many decades, the once-small hillside town developed a reputation for being the U.S. capital for performances with overtly religious and patriotic themes, and sometimes, a Christian nationalist bent. We revisit a conversation with Joanna Dee Das, an associate professor of dance at Washington University and author of the book, “Faith, Family and Flag: Branson Entertainment and the Idea of America.” Her book explores how conservative values and politics have played out on Branson's stages and with audiences. She also describes what makes Branson an important site for the performing arts and how its presentation of American history, values and politics is far more complicated than its reputation suggests.

“St. Louis on the Air” executive producer Alex Heuer moderates Voter Guide Live, an in-person panel discussion featuring STLPR political reporters Jason Rosenbaum, Rachel Lippmann and Sarah Kellogg. In this uncut version of the July 14 event held in the station's Community Room, they explain and discuss local and statewide issues Missouri voters will see when they go to the polls on Aug. 4.

Missouri's contentious primary season is barreling toward its conclusion. In this episode, the STLPR politics team breaks down congressional primaries, state legislative contests and high-level elections throughout St. Louis County. They also discuss why Republicans appear to be running away from an amendment aimed at eliminating the state's income tax.

From changing federal laws to intolerant landlords, trans and gender-nonconfirming people in St. Louis are facing multiple challenges when it comes to housing. Since 2021, the Trans Housing Initiative St. Louis has helped individuals with direct assistance and education. The group says it distributed more than $8,000 this year in rental assistance to 19 people. THISTL executive director Beth Gombos and board president Maxi Glamour talk about the history of the group, the impact of mutual aid programs and why local and federal housing rules pose particular challenges to trans people. Gombos and Glamour share their insight from their years in housing advocacy and research, as well as their own personal experiences with losing and regaining stable housing.

St. Louis' Canaan Wellspring Palestinian dance troupe will present a dabke performance on Saturday to raise funds for Autism Superhero Palestine, a nonprofit supporting autistic children in the West Bank. Coach Hanan Hamed and dancer Sarah Zakarneh discuss the group's growth, cultural preservation, the need for autism support in conflict zones and what attendees can expect from the upcoming showcase.

Missouri Congressman Wesley Bell is once again squaring off against fellow Democrat Cori Bush to represent the state's 1st Congressional District. Bell is banking on St. Louis and St. Louis County voters appreciating how he's stood up to President Donald Trump. Bush contends that she can provide a more assertive posture to combat Trump. With less than two weeks to go before the primary election, Bell and Bush face off in an intense joint appearance focused on the pair's Democratic credentials, campaign finances, and issues including tornado recovery, Medicare for All, federal immigration law, and military spending.

Less than 2% of native prairie remains today. That's a problem for the endangered Mead's milkweed, which is the main food source of monarch caterpillars. We talk with the creator of the new short film “Intervention,” which follows St. Louis-based scientists into some of the last remaining prairies in North America to undertake the painstaking work of hand-pollinating Mead's milkweed. Conservation geneticist Christy Edwards also joins the discussion to share her passion for this work — exacting labor that comes with long, hot days navigating thorny brush in tick country.

Generative AI is just about everywhere. That includes this year's St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase — in the form of a sci-fi short called “Anomaly” by writer and director Jack Snyder. Ahead of a ticketed July 25 town hall about Cinema St. Louis's future festival policy regarding AI submissions, Snyder discusses what prompted him to experiment with artificial intelligence and what the experience revealed about the realities of working with AI. He also drew parallels between current debates over AI in filmmaking and resistance to the mid-2000's move away from 35mm film to digital.

Amid declining use of many Indigenous and Pacific Island languages, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville is helping preserve one of the world's oldest living Polynesian languages with a Samoan language class. The course is one of just a few in the entire country based at a university. Instructor, Talofa Talk founder and SIUE graduate William Fanene shares how his experiences as a heritage language learner shapes his approach to teaching. He also discusses media's role in piquing public curiosity about Samoan culture and language, even in parts of the country with relatively small populations of people with direct connections to the Pacific Islands.

The world of esports is growing rapidly. Video games have become a multibillion dollar industry in the United States, outpacing the music and film industries by hundreds of billions of dollars. In Missouri, more universities are embracing esports by offering scholarships to athletes for games like Valorant, Overwatch 2, and Super Smash Brothers. Rob Powell, founder and CEO of BGG Foundation, and Fletcher Springfield, a rising Southeast Missouri State freshman, talk about how casual gamers can become esports athletes, and how esports helped them land education and career opportunities.

Ambassadors of Harmony, a barbershop chorus from St. Charles, won its sixth national championship earlier this month at the International Chorus Contest. Brothers and performers Jonny and Blake Moroni share their reactions to the win and the collaborative effort that created the chorus' winning arrangement of "Muskrat Ramble," which adapted a jazz standard into a massive performance involving more than 100 singers. Jonny Moroni also leads a special demonstration of how a championship-winning chorus “builds” a harmony, voice by voice.

The legendary Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 came through St. Louis this week, drawing big crowds along the route to see the world's largest operating steam train. Aiden Drohr, a tour guide and train operator at the National Museum of Transportation, talks about the history of this massive train, why it's gained such popularity and spending a day “chasing” the Big Boy across the region.

In conversation with STLPR's Abby Llorico, the outgoing director reflects on privatization efforts, hub dismantling and how the region began rethinking its airport.

The King of Ragtime, the Queen of Rock and Roll and the King of Cool all cut their teeth at clubs in St. Louis and East St. Louis. The Mother of Black Hollywood graduated from Webster University and the Father of Rock and Roll grew up in north St. Louis. Can you name them all? Lyah LeFlore-Ituen, director of the African American History Initiative at the Missouri Historical Society joins the show for a quiz and conversation about the members of pop culture “royalty” with strong ties to the St. Louis region

When a submerged power line became tangled in the motor of their rescue boat on the Black River last Friday, two Missouri state troopers found themselves on a stalled, and sinking, vessel. It was one harrowing experience among many that played out on July 10 in parts of southeast Missouri, where flash flooding stranded hundreds of people and killed a woman. We learn about the rescue effort that brought 361 people to safety and hear from a 13-year-old who was airlifted out of Camp Taum Sauk by the National Guard.

The advent of stereo dramatically changed our experience of sound. St. Louis audiophile David MacRunnel provides a primer on that audio development: how it works, why it took off in the U.S. in particular, and what makes stereo different from — not necessarily better than — monophonic sound. MacRunnel and his partner Katie Cahill will talk in-depth about stereophonic tech, show early-era equipment, and play full albums by Miles Davis, the Beatles, and the Reiner/Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the St. Louis Science Center's 21+ event “Up Late: Experience Sound” on July 25. *This episode is best listened to with headphones or earbuds, or in a car with dual speakers.

Wyclef Jean's three decades of contributions to the music industry are powerful and global. He first broke through as a founding member of the hip-hop group the Fugees. This weekend, Jean brings that background, and a message of resilience, to his fans in St. Louis as the closing-night headliner of the MATI festival, formerly Music at the Intersection, at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Fabulous Fox Theatre. STLPR audio engineer Aaron Doerr talked with Jean about his message to his fans, what it means to believe in yourself and all the things worth fighting for.

In 2013, Shane Devine felt a creative itch that needed to be scratched. Initially, he just wanted to record some songs that bopped around in his head, but his first album was well received and performance opportunities came knocking. With that success, Devine formed the Opera Bell Band, a music and comedy group that embraces silly humor, catchy lyrics and, most recently, plant science. Their latest album “A Salute to Corn” was commissioned by Missouri Botanical Garden. Devine and his bandmate and wife, Kristina DeYong, share their creative process, the close relationships among the bandmates and the science behind their “corny” music.

St. Louis artists flex their genre-blending muscles for this month's new music round up. Pajmon Porshahidy, also known as Umami, joined producer Miya Norfleet and host Elaine Cha to talk about their local favorites for the month including the sounds of punk band Holofoil, R&B artist Rachel Bouzier, and more. Check out our new music roundup playlist.

Gen Z's love affair with thrifting is real. We dive into the appeal of one-of-a-kind finds and the growing movement toward eco-friendly, secondhand style with the founders of the monthly vintage clothing market Drop Soda Vintage Market and a sustainability specialist at WashU.

Eight-time Grammy Award winner Jon Batiste can't be defined by one genre. The musician blends jazz, blues, gospel, soul, R&B and funk and more. Ahead of opening MATI — formerly known as Music at the Intersection — at the Fabulous Fox Theatre, Batiste joined STLPR arts and culture senior reporter Jeremy D. Goodwin for a conversation about his upcoming albums and his wide-ranging musical career.

The City of St. Louis implemented a targeted downtown juvenile curfew in effect now through Labor Day, adding a new layer to the city's existing citywide restrictions. But do curfews actually work to curb violence? With Marvin Teer, Director of the Office of Violence Prevention, Ashley Wilkinson, Clinical Site Supervisor for Provident Behavioral Health, and Kenya Brumfield-Young, St. Louis University professor and criminologist, we discuss what the research says about their effectiveness, the psychology behind teen risk-taking, the city's decision and guidance for parents.

With recent warm temperatures, humidity, and high rainfall, mosquitoes are thriving in St. Louis. And these insects don't just cause itchy, annoying bites; they can also carry diseases like West Nile. To evaluate the effectiveness of various anti-mosquito tactics — from natural remedies to yard fogging — we talk with environmentalist Jean Ponzi of the Missouri Botanical Garden and Missouri Extension urban entomologist Emily Althoff.

In 2016, acclaimed Black American author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates entered the field of comic books with "Black Panther #1." It met with both fanfare and critique. In a new book, Howard Rambsy II argues that Coates' take on the superhero story raised the profile and understanding of comics as an art form and affected opportunity for other Black writers. Rambsy, a literature professor at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, also talks about the ways Coates' work illuminated the challenges of "attaining" representation in the comic book field.

Missourians will decide the fate of Amendment 4, which requires constitutional amendments put on the ballot through the initiative petition process to pass in eight out of eight congressional districts. We hear from both sides of the debate on the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air. Missouri Farm Bureau President Garrett Hawkins argues the pro side of Amendment 4, while Missourians for Fair Taxation's Scott Charton explains why it should fail.

Missourians will be deciding on a lot of high-stakes ballot initiatives on Aug. 4. Some of them are attracting passionate debate – and spurring high-dollar ad campaigns. That's not what's happening with Amendment 1. Thus far, there's no organized opposition for the reauthorization of a one-tenth of one percent sales tax that funds soil and water conservation projects and Missouri's state parks. Missouri Parks Association executive director Kendra Varns Wallis joins the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air to make the case to pass Amendment 1.

St. Charles County Republicans are engaged in their most competitive GOP primary for county executive in years. On this episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, we explore why the contest between incumbent Steve Ehlmann, former state Sen. Bill Eigel, and former Lake Saint Louis Mayor Jason Law are provoking questions about whether the county's future growth is sustainable.

Gabe Moskoff fell in love with hip-hop as a teen in Madison, WI and dreamt of going to college on the East Coast where his favorite hip-hop acts are from. He ended up in St. Louis instead to study at Washington University, and his response to an email and access to WashU's student radio station led to Moskoff becoming Trackstar the DJ:a member of the acclaimed group Run the Jewels who has toured across the world, and worked with Wu Tang Clan, Rage Against the Machine, and Dave Chappelle. Trackstar is bringing local and national DJs to MATI for his Trackstar and Friends set at Sophie's Artist Lounge, and joining Killer Mike at the Big Top on Saturday, July 18.

For decades, Kirkwood's municipal electric department was so successful that it generated millions in profits while funding other government services. Then, a revelation came last fall: the department was in the hole for more than $15 million. Will there be any repercussions for the two highly paid public servants responsible for managing and overseeing the department's spending? Where did the massive deficit come from in the first place? Investigative journalist Mike Fitzgerald and Kirkwood resident Jack Cancila discuss the case and what may be uncovered by an independent forensic audit.

Technology has made a lot of things better and more convenient — but somewhere along the way, it's also made some parts of everyday life a little less satisfying. In this episode, Washington University professor Ian Bogost discusses his new book, “The Small Stuff: How to Lead a More Gratifying Life.” Bogost argues modern technology has stripped away many of the small, everyday experiences that once brought us joy. Rather than advocating for a return to the past, he encourages us to pay closer attention to simple moments that can still bring gratification and a greater sense of connection to the world around us.

There's no single way to succeed in the restaurant industry. In June, St. Louisans said goodbye to several beloved eateries — including O'Fashion Donuts — even as they fell in love with fresh concepts like Chico Bueno in the Grove. This month, STLPR's Jessica Rogen and Abby Llorico talk about the latest openings and closings in the region's food and dining scenes, their favorite new dishes and how some restaurants have found their way back from closure.

Loryn Nalic, chef and co-owner of Balkan Treat Box in St. Louis brought home the Best Chef: Midwest honor at the 2026 James Beard Awards. This recognition marks the first time in nearly a decade that a St. Louis-area chef has won one of the U.S. culinary world's highest honors. Nalic reflects on the achievement, what it's taken to get to this point, the importance of preserving cultural traditions, and balancing creativity and innovation in cooking.

On July 11, WerQfest returns to the Grove Business District to celebrate Black queer music and culture in St. Louis. The event's 2026 theme is “Express Yourself,” a spirit that has animated every WerQfest since its debut in 2020. The event was created to give St. Louisans who identify as Black and queer an opportunity to be their authentic selves, fostering community with music, resources, and showcasing the city's talented residents. WerQfest co-founder Tre G and performer Volume Speaks discuss how WerQfest has evolved since its premiere and why this year focuses on women and femme artists.

On Sunday, July 12, the Missouri History Museum will close its “Mill Creek: Black Metropolis” exhibit, which looks back at the history and community members' lived experiences of Mill Creek Valley: a neighborhood home to nearly 20,000 people that was erased in 1959 as part of St. Louis' push for urban renewal. In this encore presentation from 2025, we hear from Vivian Gibson, memoirist of “The Last Children of Mill Creek," and Malaika Horne Wells, author of "Mother Wit.” The women share their memories of Mill Creek Valley, and their work to collect oral histories from other former residents for the museum' exhibit. The conversation includes a special preview of the documentary "Remembering Mill Creek: When We Were There."

Fried chicken ranks among the top five most popular foods in the U.S., beating out apple pie and even outranking hot dogs. This coming Monday is National Fried Chicken Day, dedicated to all things chicken. In this encore presentation, we revisit a conversation with Adrian Miller, the “Soul Food Scholar” and author of the James Beard Award-winning book “Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time.” He shares his insights into the history of fried chicken, where it got its start, the stigma associated with it and the ways the crispy and crunchy dish is celebrated today.

A new storytelling initiative called 250Connect is collecting conversations between American strangers in honor of the country's founding. In St. Louis and cities and across the country, participants will be paired for recorded conversations that will eventually be housed in the Library of Congress. Nearly 10,000 people have already registered ahead of the project's July 7 start, said StoryCorps founder Dave Isay. In this episode, Isay explains why stories shared between strangers are so powerful, even in moments of national tension and alienation.

On June 9, three immigrants from Collinsville, including two teenagers, were detained by ICE after a traffic stop in central Illinois. The immigrants, who were in the country without legal status, were on their way to work when they were stopped just outside of Morrisonville in Christian County. A new trove of records obtained by St. Louis Public Radio reveals the minute-by-minute breakdown of the traffic stop and sheds light on conversations among local law enforcement. STLPR visuals editor Brian Munoz discusses his reporting.

St. Louis writer Devin O'Shea's debut book "The Veiled Prophet: Secret Societies, White Supremacy, and the Struggle for St. Louis" takes readers inside the mysteries of the Veiled Prophet Society, a group that's maintained influence over St. Louis institutions since its founding in 1878. Today, the group lives on as VP St. Louis. Its leaders are behind the non-profit Celebrate Saint Louis and “America's Birthday Parade,” an event that is returning to St. Louis this weekend after taking last year off. In conversation with STLPR's Danny Wicentowski, O'Shea traces the Veiled Prophet's origins, members, rituals and controversies, and builds a case for why St. Louis would be better off without it.

For many parents in Illinois, time is running out to get the specialized help they need for their young children with developmental disabilities. They are waiting to get their kids into a state program called Early Intervention, which is open only to kids under the age of three. An investigation from the Illinois Answers Project found that Illinois pays providers less than other states, including Missouri, which leads to stalled access and reliance on telehealth appointments. The reporters interviewed therapists and identified dozens of Illinois families who have waited as long as 17 months for care. Reporter Meredith Newman talks about the challenges facing the program, what drew her to the investigation, and the impact on families waiting for specialized services.

The United States and Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday will go head-to-head in a FIFA World Cup Round of 32 knockout game. And, for many in St. Louis, it means cheering on two countries they can call home. Elvir Kafedzic, founder of the St. Louis Dragons youth soccer club, and his 11-year-old daughter, Emina Kafedzic, a participant in the program, discuss the July 1 match as soccer players and fans and as Bosnian Americans.