St. Louis on the Air

American politics is littered with trends, coincidences, and dare we say … curses? Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg discuss those that seem to plague Missouri politics, including the curse of the Missouri House Speaker’s office, the Missouri Democrats 41.7% curse, why a woman has never won the Missouri governorship, and more.

When Missouri Republicans made a bid to redraw the state’s congressional lines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, many of them didn’t expect the logistical nightmare that has ensued. The map is being challenged by lawsuits and a petition to bring it to a statewide vote. That effort is making headway — and it’s looking increasingly likely that enough signatures will be gathered. Jason Rosenbaum s...

Witchcraft is where former St. Louis County councilwoman Kelli Dunaway found empowerment. Soon after stepping down as councilwoman in 2024, she launched Legal Witchcraft. The new venture combines her experiences as an attorney and witch to provide personal development counseling through tarot card readings, moon phase classes and shadow work. Dunaway shares how she found witchcraft before leaving...

In September, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided a St. Peters restaurant and arrested more than a dozen workers. They have now spent weeks detained and awaiting deportation. Attorney Jim Hacking, who represents ten of the workers, discusses the lead-up to the raid, the legal process so far, and why authorities are detaining people even though they have pending asylum cases and work...

We revisit our May conversation with Mary Lacanlale, an ethnomusicologist at California State University, about the role of the Philippine Constabulary Band at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. Lacanlale’s great-grandfather, Pedro B. Navarro was a key member of the band during the monthslong event. Lacanlale’s book, “Instruments of Empire,” detailed the experiences of the band members. They were...

Día de Muertos traditions can be seen as macabre, but in actuality, Day of the Dead observances are joyous celebrations of life. The practice of remembering loved ones after they have passed is also one that resonates with people everywhere. In this episode, we learn about the rich history of Día de Muertos from historian and Latinos en Axión STL podcast host Leticia Seitz and actress Carmen Garcí...

People with low- to moderate-incomes have less access to credit because they either don’t have a credit score or their score is lower than average. Research shows that such individuals tend to use credit with higher borrowing costs, like payday loans, that increase the likelihood of debt, delinquency and bankruptcy. Liz Deichmann of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank discusses her research on the...

Missouri is one of several states where state officials are working quickly to redraw voting maps to benefit the Trump administration and congressional Republicans before the next election. Those efforts have hit multiple legal obstacles in the Show Me State, including lawsuits and a looming referendum. How these legal battles end could decide the political future of Missouri, and even the country...

Sixty years ago, a construction crew added the final section to the very top of the Gateway Arch. In recognition of its 60th anniversary, we talk with two local historians about the monument’s place in American history, its influence on international architecture and labor movements, and why the Arch is still considered a modern engineering marvel today. We also explore what existed on the riverfr...

In January, streets across St. Louis were covered with ice and snow — as much as 10 inches in some places — and the ice remained on the roadways for weeks. Frustrated residents complained that the response from the City of St. Louis was inadequate. This week, Mayor Cara Spencer announced newly updated plans for snow removal. STLPR’s Jason Rosenbaum talks about those plans, which include more snow...

The monumental work of artist Anselm Kiefer presents visitors at the St. Louis Art Museum with six 30-foot-tall paintings and dozens of other works in a new exhibit, “Becoming Sea.” The German-born artist is renowned for his massive paintings, which use different textures to create vast landscapes. Museum director Min Jung Kim discusses the exhibit, Keifer’s 60-year career and learn about how Keif...

Accomplished journalist Marty Baron will speak at the Gateway Journalism Review’s 14th First Amendment Celebration on Nov. 2 on “The Case for Worry...and for Optimism.” Baron served as editor of the Boston Globe during its Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the Catholic priest sex abuse scandals and later as executive editor of the Washington Post when Amazon owner Jeff Bezos became its owner. Bar...

Landmarks Illinois awards nine landmarks statewide with its Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award. Among this year's winners are the Old Millstadt Water Tower in Millstadt and the Edison Avenue Arts Lofts in Granite City — two projects that showcase the importance of community buy-in when it comes to historic preservation.

Jessica Hicklin co-founded Unlocked Labs while serving what she thought would be a life sentence in Potosi Correctional Center. She taught herself how to code using the prison’s library books, and when she was released in January 2022, the company grew from there. Unlocked Labs provides secure software on computers for detainees to access educational content. It is available in state prisons in fi...

Jonathan Pulphus was a sophomore at St. Louis University in 2014 when Michael Brown, Jr. was fatally shot by a police officer. He says his participation in the Ferguson Uprising was central to his education. In his new book, “With My People,” Pulphus shares the lessons he learned as a young community organizer, reflects on what makes student activism distinctly powerful, and provides a blueprint f...

Economists in the U.S. are sounding the alarm on what they call a “she-cession” – a term started during the COVID-19 pandemic to describe the steep decline in the number of women in the workforce. Since then, that decrease has continued with more women leaving the workforce than entering it. In St. Louis, Rung for Women trains women in professions with greater chances of upward mobility. Chief Pro...

Time Magazine recently named University City native Dara Eskridge as one of the world’s most influential rising stars. As the CEO of Invest STL, she leads community-building efforts where she and her team put money directly into the hands of residents to create the neighborhoods they want for themselves. Eskridge shares the intentionality behind Invest STL’s programming, how her childhood inspires...

St. Louis Magazine editor Nick Phillips spent three days kayaking across the state of Missouri in the MR340, the world’s longest nonstop paddling race. He crossed the finish line after nearly 74 hours. Writing about the experience in St. Louis Magazine, Nick describes the journey as a "sweaty, maddening hell.” Along with Phillips, MR340 race director Steve Schnarr discusses the race’s history and...

As officials in Missouri and St. Louis try to attract data center proposals, advocates and academics are raising the alarm about the effects such centers may have on utilities. Energy policy expert Ari Peskoe shares how the data center boom is changing the utility landscape, why everyday consumers may be left footing the bill for big tech’s use of electricity, and what regulators and lawmakers can...

The St. Louis Public Schools Board of Education voted Friday to fire Superintendent Millicent Borishade without cause during a closed session. Borishade served in the role for just over a year and previously served as deputy superintendent and Chief of Schools. STLPR education reporter Hiba Ahmad shares what we know so far about what happened, and what’s next, for the school district.

Just over a month into her new role as Missouri’s attorney general, Catherine Hanaway is outlining her priorities — focusing on fighting crime and defending the state’s abortion laws. A former Missouri House speaker, U.S. attorney and chair of Husch Blackwell, Hanaway discusses her agenda and the case to remove St. Louis Sheriff Alfred Montgomery.

Missouri’s Republican and Democratic elected officials have been underwhelmed by the federal response to the May 16 tornado in St. Louis. And at least one member of Missouri’s congressional delegation, Republican U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, said the problems he sees this year aren’t new – and should prompt lawmakers to overhaul the disaster response agency. The Tarkio Republican talks about his bipartis...

There are a multitude of stories waiting to be discovered at the historic, 175 year old Bellefontaine Cemetery and Arboretum. The annual event “Voices at Bellefontaine” brings new life to the stories of those buried and memorialized there. In collaboration with theatre company Hawthorne Players, Bellefontaine puts on the outdoor theatrical experience throughout the cemetery grounds. Cemetery chron...

The story of the Lemp beer dynasty still holds sway in St. Louis, but it’s the tragedies, suicides — and a supposedly haunted mansion — that have made the family name infamous. But there is so much more to the Lemp family than tragedy. A new book, “Adam Lemp and Western Brewery,” has uncovered records that give us a better picture of what it took to build that beer dynasty, and provides new hints...

Missouri passed legislation earlier this year that requires school districts to adopt a cellphone policy that limits usage during the school day. STLPR education reporter Hiba Ahmad and two student journalists from Rockwood Summit High School discuss how the school and its students have adapted to the policy so far.