The Gateway

This morning, two very different deep dives on stories with a lot of legs: STLPR's Brian Munoz talks to Missouri's Attorney General about the latest on the St. Louis sheriff saga, and Kate Grumke goes exploring for native tarantulas.

A horror film isn't a horror film without blood curdling screams, werewolves howling, or zombies munching on human flesh. They sound scarier than they actually are. St. Louis Public Radio's Marissanne Lewis-Thompson shows us how those spooky sounds are brought to life through the invisible world of foley art.

Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri has a new foster care director. Herman Thomas Junior has over 20 years of experience serving vulnerable youth and families and most recently spent a decade at the Family Juvenile Court of St. Louis. Thomas sat down with St. Louis Public Radio's Lacretia Wimbley to discuss how the May 16th tornado impacted foster families and why kids are staying in the system longer than they should.

Missouri Republicans passed a new congressional map last month that seeks to maximize GOP representation in Congress. But as St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum reports, a looming referendum could derail those plans – even if voters approve the new lines in 2026.

It takes a lot more than a steady stream of sugar to keep a business going for more than a century — though the sweet stuff is the specialty at the General Candy Co. in Tower Grove South.

We now have a little more insight into why the superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools was fired without cause last week: STLPR's Hiba Ahmed reports. Plus, St. Louis on the Air producer Olivia Mizelle speaks with legendary editor Marty Baron ahead of his visit to St. Louis on the state of journalism, and why the free press and democracy go hand-in-hand.

A former worker in the St. Louis sheriff's office is suing Sheriff Alfred Montgomery, alleging she was slandered and fired for testifying in the Missouri attorney general's lawsuit against him: STLPR's Chad Davis has the latest development. Plus, Dara Eskridge recently got a big surprise, when The CEO of Invest STL was named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential Rising Stars. Eskridge spoke with St. Louis on the Air host Elaine Cha about her organization's work to help rebuild north St. Louis.

It is peak pumpkin season. From pumpkin spice lattes to pumpkin pies… the obsession with this orange gourd is enormous…almost as big as the pumpkins raised by a passionate group of Midwestern growers. Harvest Public Media contributor Peter Medlin has their story.

Drones are among a suite of tools used in what's known as precision agriculture — a type of farming that uses technology to more precisely plant crops and treat them for pests and weeds — ultimately using fewer environmentally harmful chemicals and saving farmers money.

Drones are among a suite of tools used in what's known as precision agriculture — a type of farming that uses technology to more precisely plant crops and treat them for pests and weeds — ultimately using fewer environmentally harmful chemicals and saving farmers money.

As large data centers move into the St. Louis region, they will require huge amounts of electricity. Experts say this dynamic is fundamentally changing the electric utility landscape in the U.S. STLPR's Kate Grumke speaks with Harvard Law School's Ari Peskoe about it.

It's been a little over a month since Gov. Mike Kehoe appointed Catherine Hanaway to be Missouri's attorney general, replacing Andrew Baily, who left to work for the FBI. The Republican officeholder is laying out her priorities around fighting crime – and defending the state's abortion laws.

Chuck Berry famously sung for Beethoven to roll over and make way for rock and roll. But coming up on the 100th anniversary of his birth, the SLSO will pay tribute to the St. Louis musical icon in a pair of concerts this weekend. STLPR's Jeremy Goodwin talks to some of the rockers who will be playing with the orchestra.

St. Charles recently put a one-year moratorium on data centers after getting community pushback on a one-billion-dollar proposal. St. Louis residents are expressing their concerns about a data center proposed for the Armory building in Midtown. St. Louis Public Radio's Kavahn Mansouri spoke with Oliver Roberts, co-director of the A-I Collaborative at Washington University, about what residents and policymakers should look for in data center projects.

The Trump administration is promising billions in a bailout for farmers, but will it really solve their economic woes? Harvest Public Media reports.

Missouri has joined over 30 states in banning or limiting the use of cell phones in schools this year. St. Louis Public Radio's Hiba Ahmad worked with student journalists at Rockwood Summit High School to learn how one school has been navigating the transition.

St. Louis Sheriff Alfred Montgomery has been indicted on five new federal felony charges related to his order to handcuff then-acting Jail Commissioner Tammy Ross. STLPR's Chad Davis has the latest. Plus, a conversation with St. Louis native John O'Leary about “Soul On Fire,” the new movie about his life.

It's been a little over two weeks since President Donald Trump promoted a highly disputed link between Tylenol use during pregnancy and autism. And reaction remains strong. As St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum reports, the area's autistic community contends the GOP president is rolling back progress that helped people with the neurological disorder better integrate into society.

Drive down south Jefferson Avenue in St. Louis and you'll notice the vacant St. Alexius Hospital, just south of Cherokee Street. Neighbors say the property has gone downhill quickly in the three years since it closed. St. Louis Public Radio's Sarah Fentem reports – people living in the Gravois Park neighborhood want someone to take action and clean up the former medical campus.

The word "agrivoltaics" is a combination of the terms agriculture and photovoltaic and it refers to farming and producing energy simultaneously. Jana Rose Schleis reports how the technology is being deployed across the Midwest.

Alfred Montgomery became St. Louis sheriff in January, touting ambitions to make things better. But his tenure has been plagued with conflicts over spending, transporting detainees for medical care and a removal effort from the Missouri Attorney General. Montgomery sat down with St. Louis Public Radio's Brian Munoz to explain himself.

A St. Louis grocery store is challenging more residents to ditch excessive waste. This comes as the city pulled the plug on its alley recycling program earlier this year. St. Louis Public Radio's Marissanne Lewis-Thompson reports on how Local Harvest Grocery is helping its customers reduce waste one plastic container at a time.

The U.S. produces more than a third of the world's corn, and most of that grain comes from a swath of the central U.S. called the corn belt. St. Louis Public Radio's Kate Grumke reports some Midwestern farmers are planting a new variety of corn that might be an improvement over what's in fields now.

Gov. Mike Kehoe announced that members of the National Guard will assist with administrative, clerical, and logistical duties at Missouri's Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facilities. The GOP chief executive says this will free up ICE personnel to pursue immigration enforcement efforts. Plus, a report on hurdles rural communities are now facing in getting connected to the internet.

Cancer treatments and screenings are lowering the disparity rates, but some doctors say the most effective way to reduce it is to start talking about the disease. Dr. Arnold Bullock is a urologist and surgeon at Washington University. He spoke with St. Louis Public Radio's Andrea Henderson about prostate cancer disparities among Black men and how screenings can save lives.

Residents of a Central Illinois town recently couldn't use their tap water because of harmful algal blooms in city reservoirs. The problem threatens water systems in other parts of the Midwest, too. Harvest Public Media's Jim Meadows reports.

Friday marks the reopening of Powell Hall after a two-year, $140-million dollar renovation and expansion. The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra will mark the occasion with three concerts this weekend. As St. Louis Public Radio's Jeremy Goodwin reports, a recent sneak preview offered a taste of the changes.

Theatergoers have an opportunity this weekend to see something that doesn't happen often on professional stages in St. Louis: an all-Latino cast and director presenting a show about life in a Spanish-speaking community. STLPR's Jeremy Goodwin speaks with the crew behind "Carmela, Full of Wishes."

This month, St. Louis launched a three-week cleanup blitz to clear debris from May's deadly tornado. Our reporters have been tracking the progress, questioning both city leaders and the debris removal crews. STLPR's Andrea Henderson and Kavahn Mansouri are on the ground.

Nate Hayward started as the new commissioner of the St. Louis Division of Corrections on September 16. He says he plans to update the jail's use of force policies and increase transparency at the facility, using his 32 years of experience at the St. Louis County Jail. St. Louis Public Radio's Lacretia Wimbley spoke with Hayward about his plans for the troubled city jail.

Three years after a St. Louis County man says he was attacked, and an attempted carjacking sent his vehicle crashing through the Hazelwood Police Department – he is the one going to trial. St. Louis Public Radio's Danny Wicentowski shares his investigation into the night it all happened, the possible retaliation at play, and what happens next in the case.

It's probably never been an easier time to find new music by big-name artists. (Just tune into any other popular podcast to hear Taylor Swift talk about her new album.) But that same tactic may not work for local artists. St. Louis Public Radio's Chad Davis on how to find St. Louis musicians.

The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees will vote on the 2026 fiscal year budget Thursday morning. The proposal for Edwardsville's campus marks the first balanced budget since 2017. That follows a 10 million dollar deficit last year. St. Louis Public Radio's Will Bauer sat down with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chancellor James Minor to discuss the school's improved financial picture.

Lorraine Hansberry's 1959 play “A Raisin in the Sun” is a landmark of American theater. It had three hit Broadway runs with its story about the struggles of a Black family in mid-century Chicago. Less well-known is the musical adaptation, called simply: “Raisin.” The Black Rep is performing the seldom-seen show through Sunday. As St. Louis Public Radio's Jeremy Goodwin reports, “Raisin” depicts racist systems that still impact life in St. Louis today.

Sports betting was legalized in Missouri last November, but it won't be active until December 1 due to licensing and regulation requirements. St. Louis Public Radio's Olivia Mizelle reports that some mental health advocates are concerned about the impact its impending availability will have on gambling addiction in the state.

Two conversations with STLPR reporters to better understand this moment in our region: Jason Rosenbaum on the conclusion of Missouri's contentious special session on redistricting and making it harder to pass some constitutional amendments, and Chad Davis reports on where things stand ten years after the Ferguson Commission Report release.

Keyboard maestro John Medeski has played with dozens of bands, including John Medeski's Mad Skillet, which plays its only U.S. show of the year Saturday at the Music at the Intersection Festival. St. Louis Public Radio's Jeremy Goodwin shares this conversation.

Almost four months after a tornado ripped through north St. Louis, demolition crews are bringing down what's left of many damaged homes. The Midwest Newsroom's Holly Edgell reports that more homeowners are applying for demolition permits and deciding whether to stay or leave the city.

Many incarcerated people say they're working to better themselves while they do time. But, there are barriers to that… some of which are more than skin deep. Lauren Frost takes us to Canton, Illinois where an inmate has an idea for a program that could help people in custody to start fresh.

The northside of St. Louis looks like a wasteland following the May 16th tornado, and residents say they fear it will remain this way if the government doesn't provide the resources to rebuild. Some say the money they received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency wasn't enough, and others simply want the city to put its money where its mouth is. St. Louis Public Radio's Lacretia Wimbley reports that while city leaders agree that things should be moving faster, they say they're doing the best they can to disperse limited resources.

Lawmakers return to Jefferson City this week to consider Republican proposals to change the state's congressional map and limit voters' ability to pass laws. Democrats are calling those efforts illegal and racist. We'll get a preview from STLPR's Jason Rosenbaum. Plus, actress Tina Lifford credits her longevity towards prioritizing her mental wellness. STLPR's Marissanne Lewis-Thompson spoke with the Illinois native ahead of her appearance this week at the Own Your Now Wellness Experience in St. Louis about her career, mental health, and how she became an actress.

As private companies like Illinois American Water expand their footprint in the Metro East, some communities are left with a decision: spend millions to upgrade municipal water systems or sell to a corporation that can afford the upkeep. St. Louis Public Radio's Will Bauer explores the tough question posed to southwest Illinois towns.

St. Louis community members are still helping clean up debris from the May tornado. Some have spent tens of thousands on dumpsters for north St. Louis neighborhoods, where city clean-up lags behind. St. Louis Public Radio's Andrea Henderson spoke with people who've committed many months and dollars on the effort.

A group of activists is offering assistance to ICE detainees during their stay at a Ste. Genevieve jail. Volunteers with “Abide in Love” say it's a form of protest, and a way to provide comfort to immigrants facing possible deportation. Organizer Susan Johnson discusses why she formed the group with St. Louis Public Radio's Ulaa Kuziez.

As President Trump threatens a federal deployment to Chicago to combat crime, the former leader of Illinois' National Guard is admonishing that prospect. St. Louis Public Radio's Will Bauer speaks with former Adjutant General of Illinois and Democratic Congressman Bill Enyart.