St. Louis on the Air

The Rev. C.T. Vivian was a confidant of Martin Luther King Jr. and a man who played a pivotal role in desegregating lunch counters, buses and beaches. In this encore presentation of our March 2021 conversation with him, co-author Steve Fiffer discusses Vivian's legacy and his early years in Boonville, Missouri, and Macomb, Illinois.

Abolitionist newspaper editor Elijah Lovejoy became the first American journalist slain for his work when he was murdered by a pro-slavery mob in 1837 Alton. In this encore presentation of an April 2021 conversation, we talk with journalist Ken Ellingwood about Lovejoy's life and times.

Illinois begins winding down its eviction moratorium on Aug. 1. Bob Palmer, policy director for Housing Action Illinois, shares resources residents can tap into for financial and housing assistance.

The Missouri Explorers program was crafted to celebrate the Show Me State's bicentennial — and encourages residents and tourists alike to travel by offering a series of challenges. Karen Meirink of Explore St. Louis shares some highlights.

Matt Meacham of Illinois Humanities delves into two exhibitions currently touring the state: the Smithsonian's “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” and the “Illinois Freedom Project.”

Tennessee Williams lived in St. Louis longer than anywhere else -- and the city exerted a powerful hold on his imagination. Washington University professor Henry I. Schvey discusses that sometimes toxic relationship and his new book about Williams, "Blue Song"

St. Louis on the Air checks in with representatives from the Factory in Chesterfield and Maryland Heights' St. Louis Music Park — and local musician and talent booker John Henry shares his sense of what this means for the region's music scene.

Naomi Shihab Nye went to Central Elementary School in Ferguson and Wash U is welcoming her with with a virtual homecoming on Saturday.

Benjamin Hochman, sports columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, shares his take on the Cardinals run in the MLB season so far and whether the team may decide to trade players before the deadline on July 30.

Missouri drivers will soon have to start paying a higher gas tax. It’s been called an overdue increase needed to repair crumbling roads and bridges. But others think it's an unfair tax on the population.

Harman Moseley has seen plenty of evolution in the film exhibition industry since he got his start in it in August 1977. But he calls the onslaught of streaming services and a global pandemic, combined, a paradigm shift.

Biogen’s new Alzheimer's drug is controversial — but it’s still in demand.

St. Louis-based filmmakers joined St. Louis on the Air to talk about their newest film "Liberty", which was shot in in south St. Louis and Troy, Illinois.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker's latest clean energy plan would phase out coal-burning plants by 2035. Environmentalists are optimistic, but some city leaders are skeptical.

The new documentary "Rural Children in Crisis: Access to Missouri Oral Care" highlights disparities in dental care for children in rural Missouri — and what needs to be done to prevent young kids from experiencing tooth decay.

Guest host Rod Milam explores an exhibit at the Missouri Botanical Garden called "Grafting the Grape: American Grapevine Rootstock in Missouri and the World."

Guest host Rod Milam talks with Isabelle Heidbreder, the executive director of Alliance Française de St. Louis in advance of Bastille Day.

Communications specialist Brianne Zwiener with the Jefferson County Health Department delves into how the county is navigating the pandemic.

Stray Rescue's director of operations, Andrea Wilkey, shares some advice for pandemic pet owners to prevent their return to area shelters.

On June 12, Larry Giles passed away at the age of 73, after a struggle with leukemia. He was known as decent, honest and tough. On top of that, Giles was, as the St. Louis Post-Dispatch recently put it, “the man who saved St. Louis.” In this episode, STLPR's Shula Neuman talks with two of his friends and colleagues.

St. Louis Public Radio's Jonathan Ahl talks with Emma Klues of Great Rivers Greenway and Trailnet's Kevin Hahn about some of their favorite trails. Listeners share their suggestions, too.

The brainchild of Walter Parks and his wife, Margo, the July 16 event just behind their backyard promises both traditional and modern interpretations of 17th- and 18th-century European music and dance. A wide range of artists are adding their talents to the bill.

Of the 24 people who participated in a phase 2 clinical trial involving nitrous oxide breathing treatments, 17 saw improvements. In this episode, we hear from one of them and also talk to co-investigator Dr. Charles Conway of Washington University.

New research: Male dragonflies are adapting to hotter temperatures by developing less colorful wings but that may make it difficult for them to mate.

Attorney Kevin Carnie Jr. of the Simon Law Firm discusses Lombardo v. City of St. Louis. The U.S. Supreme Court revived the lawsuit against the St. Louis Police, forcing the 8th circuit to take another look at the legal standard for excessive force.