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International Institute works to welcome Latino immigrants, despite criticism from St. Charles County Nov 15, 2023

Show notes

The International Institute of St. Louis recently launched an effort to attract Latin American immigrants to the region. Their plans have garnered criticism from St. Charles County officials this week. Karlos Ramirez, vice president of the institute's Latino Outreach Program, talks about how immigrants can boost the city’s population and contribute to its workforce. International Institute President and CEO Arrey Obenson discusses how the St. Charles proposal hurts their efforts at creating a welcoming region.

New film follows Black St. Louisans who’ve run a marathon in every U.S. state and all 7 continents Nov 14, 2023

Show notes

The marathon hat trick is a goal that some committed distance runners aim for but few have achieved. To accomplish this feat runners must complete 100 marathons, a marathon in all 50 U.S. states, and a marathon on all seven continents. Fewer than 60 runners have completed the marathon hat trick and only three of them are Black. Two of those three are from St. Louis: Tony Reed and Lisa Davis. A documentary, “We Are Distance Runners: The Marathon Hat Trick,” is about their story and it screens Wednesday evening as part of the St. Louis International Film Festival.

Missouri has a mixed record on fighting lung cancer, report finds Nov 14, 2023

Show notes

Missouri shows little progress in cutting rates of new cancer cases, according to the latest American Lung Association report. The ALA also found the state ranked fourth in the nation for lung cancer patients receiving no treatment after diagnosis. Kavahn Mansouri, investigative reporter with the NPR Midwest Newsroom, and Laura Turner, advocacy director for the American Lung Association in Missouri, dig into these statistics and other takeaways from the report.

Cinema St. Louis' International Film Festival to offer more Black American stories Nov 14, 2023

Show notes

In marathon running, the hat trick entails three accomplishments: doing at least 100 races… running in each of the U.S.’s 50 states… and completing a marathon on all 7 continents — which means marathoning in Antarctica. Among the fewer-than-60 runners worldwide who’ve achieved that feat, only 3 are Black. And two of those three are St. Louis natives. They’re also alumni of the same grade school – a decade apart, but the very same building! Lisa Davis and Tony Reed are the focus of the documentary, “We Are Distance Runners: The Marathon Hat Trick,” which screens at the Alamo Drafthouse as part of the St. Louis International Film Festival

Efforts to restore Belleville’s most historically significant house pick up steam Nov 13, 2023

Show notes

In 1833, Gustave Koerner fled his homeland of Germany and came to the United States. He settled in Belleville, Illinois and became an attorney, served on the Illinois Supreme Court and was lieutenant governor. He was also a confidant of Abraham Lincoln. The 170 year old home where Koerner lived still stands and there are renewed efforts to restore and preserve it. In an interview recorded on location, producer Alex Heuer talks with two people behind the effort.

In 1973, a fire in St. Louis changed American history — by destroying it Nov 10, 2023

Show notes

On July 12, 1973, a fire in the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis destroyed 80% of U.S. Army records between 1912 and 1960. It was one of the largest destructions of federal records in the history of the county. To explore the legacy of the fire, producer Danny Wicentowski goes searching for his grandfather’s records, which were burned in the fire. He also talks to firefighter Captain David Dubowski, archives specialist Eric Kilgore, and Jessie Kratz, historian of the National Archives.

How a St. Louis sound healer fosters community and healing within the LGBTQ+ community Nov 09, 2023

Show notes

St. Louis sound healer Aria Thome knows how devastating it is to experience rejection from a traditional faith community. She was raised Roman Catholic and worked as a choir director in the Catholic Church for many years. When she came out as transgender, she lost her job, her community and some family members. By offering a series of free, monthly sound healing and breathwork sessions for those who have experienced religious trauma, Thome hopes to help people heal and build a supportive, welcoming community for people of all backgrounds.

U.S. Rep. Cori Bush’s Israel criticism draws attention and a primary challenge Nov 08, 2023

Show notes

St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell last week dropped his bid for U.S. Senate to challenge U.S. Rep. Cori Bush in the upcoming Democratic primary for Missouri’s 1st Congressional District. He said he’s entering the race, in part, because of Bush’s comments that are critical of Israel. STLPR Political Correspondent Jason Rosenbaum talks with Bell, and later we get analysis from Jason and hear from Rep. Bush.

Nikki Giovanni wants St. Louis to know she loves you, and that you’re great Nov 08, 2023

Show notes

Nikki Giovanni has challenged and inspired people of all ages as an acclaimed poet, writer, and activist. Her life, lived with insistent fidelity to who she is as a Black American woman, reflects insights and wit that reach across the miles she’s traveled and the experiences she’s been through. She’s coming back to St. Louis on November 9 to deliver the keynote address for the 2023 St. Louis Racial Equity Summit.

Urban flower farms bloom in St. Louis Nov 07, 2023

Show notes

More than 400 flower farmers converge in St. Louis this week for the first-ever Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers conference, which is focused on urban flower farming. Miranda Duschack and Mimo Davis of Urban Buds, a flower farm located in Dutchtown, discuss the booming (and blooming) world of urban flower farming.

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