St. Louis on the Air

This week, Missouri Governor Mike Parson joined a growing number of GOP governors in rejecting federal unemployment benefits. Beginning June 12, the state will no longer participate in a half-dozen federal programs designed to aid out-of-work residents during the pandemic, including the $300-per-week supplemental benefits given to unemployed workers.

Two military members share their experience working with FEMA and other agencies to distribute vaccinations at The Dome at America’s Center

Restaurateurs across the region are grappling with staff shortages. Former chef Patrick Tague, who spent about 30 years in the industry, hopes that the demand for workers will lead to a kinder, gentler culture for food service workers, and more jobs with employee benefits like health insurance.

At a time when opinions about critical race theory and inclusive pedagogy are loud and manifold, two experts from Webster University offer a closer look at what critical race theory is — and what to make of the controversy surrounding it.

In late February, Honduran immigrant and longtime Missourian Alex Garcia left the Maplewood church where he'd been living in sanctuary for 1,252 days. He and his wife, Carly, join host Sarah Fenske to discuss their reunited life and remaining challenges ahead.

Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ sold-out 2021 season moves outdoors for the first time. Among its world premieres: A timely comic opera about parenting in a pandemic

We talk with "Hidden Brain" host Shankar Vedantam, His new book is "Useful Delusions: The Power & Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain."

Last year, COVID-19 restrictions put a damper on festivities. But this year, precautions and vaccines helped return a sense of normalcy to the religious traditions. Producer Lara Hamdan checks in with local Muslims to hear how they are observing Ramadan.

The Webster-Kirkwood Times and the Riverfront Times faced an uncertain future last March. As the coronavirus spread across the U.S., management at both newspapers sought to suspend print editions. Journalists from both organizations share how they battled back from the brink.

Aloha Mischeaux, program director of Revival Runway, shares details about the new collaborative group where local models, photographers and designers mentor refugee students interested in the fashion industry.

Rebecca Rivas' new two-part series looks and how and why Ferguson activists gave up trying to reform local police departments and decided instead to take control of them. They’ve found huge political success in the last five years.

Restaurants across the metro continue to reopen and expand their service as diners return to restaurants. There’s just one problem: They can’t find enough good help. St. Louis Magazine’s George Mahe and Tom Schmidt of Salt + Smoke join us to discuss what's going on.

Thirty years ago this summer, an act of random violence stole William Johnson’s eyesight, and the lives of two of his colleagues, during a business trip to Atlanta. Johnson describes what happened — and how he adapted to his new reality in the months and years that followed his return home to St. Louis — in his new memoir.

Chancellor Kristin Sobolik joins host Sarah Fenske to share her vision for the University of Missouri-St. Louis as well as her perspective on some of the biggest challenges currently facing UMSL and higher education as a whole.

Pickleball has seen explosive growth in the St. Louis metro. Certified instructor Mike Chapin explains how he brought the first permanent courts here and why demand shows no signs of lessening.

A proposal introduced by Missouri Republicans — and its roots within a debate raging among teachers, administrators and parents within the Rockwood School District — is the subject of Tony Messenger’s latest column, “Missouri Republicans embrace racism and censorship in trying to ban the 1619 Project.”

STLPR reporter Rachel Lippmann spoke with Chief Mary Barton about her controversial tenure. Hear most of that conversation.

Though racially restrictive covenants have been illegal for more than 70 years, their impact can still be felt today. That’s the focus of a new paper by Colin Gordon in the Journal of Urban History.

In the 1860s, a plan to move the U.S. Capitol from D.C. to St. Louis garnered substantial support. Journalist Livia Gershon gives a crash course in this long-forgotten history.

As a 14-year-old imprisoned in a satellite camp to Auschwitz in 1944, Ben Fainer crafted a bracelet engraved with his name, his ID number and some decorative elements. We explore Fainer's story and how the bracelet made it's way to St. Louis.

Missouri Independent editor-in-chief Jason Hancock explains what’s happening in the Missouri legislature. The discussion delves into various topics, including the decision to not fund Medicaid expansion, COVID-19 liability and vaccine passports.

When migrating songbirds get to a major city like St. Louis, light pollution can cause them to become disoriented or exhausted, and sometimes die. A new effort seeks to address the problem by encouraging businesses and individuals in the Midwest to turn off exterior lights during May and September.

Last month, Mark Fingerhut set out from his home in St. Louis’ Dogtown neighborhood to see how far his feet could take him over the course of 24 hours. And he convinced 20 fellow St. Louisans to do the same, dubbing the adventure the 24 Hours from Home Challenge.

The legal roundtable featuring Mark Smith, Jennifer Joyce and Sarah Swatosh digs into cases including a class-action lawsuit against police treatment of protesters in St. Louis, lawsuits against the city's earning tax, and the resumption of jury trials during the pandemic.

St. Louis composer Jeremy Schonfeld shares how his father's memoir, "Absence of Closure" inspired his "Iron & Coal" rock-opera concert.