St. Louis on the Air

While the practice of declawing cats is currently outlawed in the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County, the Missouri legislature is considering a proposal to nullify these ordinances to make the practice available statewide. Dr. Amanda Gruber of the St. Louis Cat Clinic discusses how declawing affects the health and wellbeing of cats — and why she has never performed the procedure.

Nearly half of all children in Missouri ages 5 and under live in child care deserts. And in places with child care centers, providers struggle to adequately staff their facilities. Families and providers report that the current system is not working — and that it often forces them into tough, life-altering decisions.

VineBrook Homes owns thousands of single-family rental properties, located in mostly Black and brown neighborhoods, throughout the Midwest. Over 2,400 of those houses are in the St. Louis region. Reporter Kavahn Mansouri discusses a Midwest Newsroom investigation of VineBrook that includes complaints of unresolved maintenance issues, unfounded evictions, aggressive rent collection tactics, poor cu...

A new study that analyzed 156 cases of children in St. Louis injured by guns found that more than 70% of cases involved victims “shot outdoors by an unknown shooter, the motivation of which was unknown.” The study’s lead author Dr. Mary Beth Bernardin discusses why scientists need to better understand why and how children are shot. Dr. Lindsay Clukies, an emergency medicine physician at St. Louis...

In the final week of the Missouri legislative session, lawmakers could pass a bill that would return control of the St. Louis Police Department to the state. The state controlled the police department for 152 years until, in 2013, the city regained control. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas knows state control well. His city is the only in Missouri that’s under state control, and he shares what a st...

It was just last Thursday that St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner announced she will resign June 1. But that’s not good enough for Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who is seeking her immediate removal. STLPR politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum discusses Bailey’s actions as well as the person who Gov. Mike Parson might choose to replace Gardner.

A star high school football player in St. Louis, Damion Baker’s life was cut short in an unsolved shooting in August 2022. Before his death, Damion had made plans to launch a nonprofit that would teach young people job skills. That dream is now a reality in the form of the D-Bake Foundation. The foundation’s founder, An'namarie Baker, discusses her son’s life, his mission, and how pre-apprenticesh...

Friction between the House and Senate has delayed some major policy priorities until the final days of the Missouri legislative session, including two anti-trans rights bills and a bill that would make it harder to amend the state constitution through the initiative petition process. STLPR reporter Sarah Kellogg shares how the last week of the session may shake out.

A federal investigation found that Missouri hospitals violated federal law by denying a woman an emergency abortion when her water broke at 17 weeks. Mylissa Farmer shares what happened when doctors refused to provide an abortion, even though she was told her life was in danger and that the fetus was no longer viable — when Missouri law superseded her need for emergency healthcare. Also, National...

The St. Louis Cardinals are not having a good season: they reign supreme at the bottom of the NL standings. But the team made an announcement earlier this week that was a reminder of better times. Third baseman and St. Louis native David Freese will be inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame this summer. In this encore, St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Benjamin Hochman talks about the remarkable 20...

Sixty percent of North American songbirds, 40% of the continent’s waterfowl and many species of shorebirds will migrate through St. Louis in the next few weeks. Regional Audubon Conservation Science Manager Tara Hohman shares tips for bird-watching this spring, the threats facing many bird species traveling through the area and what people can do to help revitalize bird habitat in the region.

Facing a move by the Missouri attorney general to oust her, a contempt of court charge and increasing public and legislative pressure, Gardner announced Thursday that she will resign effective June 1. STLPR correspondent Jason Rosenbaum breaks down the story and what happens next.

Cinema St. Louis Artistic Director Chris Clark gives a preview of this year's QFest and reflects on the role of an LGBTQ film festival in Missouri at a time when trans rights are under attack in the state.

Missouri’s teacher shortage has been a problem for many years. Now, education advocates report that teachers are leaving the field at an unprecedented rate, while the rate of college graduates obtaining teachers’ certificates also plummets. Advocates discuss the state of Missouri’s teacher shortage and what needs to happen in order for more people, especially those of more diverse backgrounds, to...

Three educators report facing anti-trans discrimination at Kirkwood School District. They say they are considering leaving Missouri in order to continue teaching. STLPR education reporter Kate Grumke joins with the details on this story.

Maplewood has agreed to pay a $3.25 million settlement to potentially thousands of people jailed and fined by its system of predatory court fees and police. We'll talk to ArchCity Defender attorney Nathaniel Carroll about the impact of the city's practices, why he calls it a “debtors’ prison,” and what this settlement means for the similar lawsuits the firm is leading against other municipalities...

Historian John C. McManus’ latest book opens with Gen. Douglas MacArthur aboard the USS Boise plunging through the deep blue waters of the South China Sea in January 1945. The Missouri S&T professor’s book, “To the End of the Earth: The US Army and the Downfall of Japan, 1945,” completes his trilogy that focuses on the U.S. Army during the Pacific War.

Typically, bands and music groups make stars of the lead singer: the “front man” and spokesperson who gets all the eyes and attention. Most fans don't consider the team of people working behind the scenes to make the music radio-ready — especially those who produce, mix, and master the audio. Music producers are integral to the music-making process. In this encore episode, producer Miya Norfleet e...

The Jazz St. Louis Board of Directors is coming to the defense of its president and CEO, Victor Goines. A story in the Riverfront Times last week detailed issues that some Jazz St. Louis staff and supporters have had with the organization’s new leader including alleged bullying. Public scrutiny of Goines’ leadership started after St. Louis artist Cbabi Bayoc posted on Instagram an account of how G...

A judge has begun the process to hold St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner and her deputy, Chris Desilets, in "indirect criminal contempt” because he missed a trial and a hearing this week related to an armed robbery case. Attorneys Sarah Swatosh, Bill Freivogel and Arindam Kar discuss that case and other legal issues.

Living in St. Louis means having some knowledge of the city’s remarkable claims to fame. Gateway Arch National Park, St. Louis’ signature accent, the infamous, vertically sliced St. Louis bagel and being the site of the 1904 World’s Fair. The Missouri History Museum looks to tell the complete history of the fair by revamping their exhibit on the fair to prominently feature perspectives and interpr...

Founded in 2012, STL Youth Jobs seeks to prepare a new generation of workers with soft-skills, like how to perform well in a job interview, and hard skills, like knowing safety regulations of specific industries. Since the first group of “job seekers,” the organization has gone from finding employment for 200 area youth in 2013 — to 800 in 2019.

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones delivered her second annual State of the City address on Tuesday night. In this one-on-one conversation with Mayor Jones, she outlines her priorities that include addressing public safety and spending American Rescue Plan Act funds. She’s also not backing down on her criticism of Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner.

Missouri is on the brink of becoming the first state to implement sweeping restrictions on gender-affirming care for adults. Trans people and providers are raising alarm over new rules issued by Attorney General Andrew Bailey. The rules require trans people prove their gender identity is not being influenced by other people or by a “social contagion" — which trans people say is an impossible stand...

Not only have public restrooms never been truly public, they’ve disappeared from America’s major metro areas, says historian Bryant Simon. We explore the rise and fall of America’s public restroom campaign and meet the woman behind the “Bathrooms In St. Louis” Instagram page.