St. Louis on the Air

Latest Episodes:

How one local woman became an ironworker — and is encouraging others to start construction careers Jan 06, 2023

Show notes

Aurora Bihler is a union ironworker in St. Louis. She’s working to bring more women and minorities into the skilled labor force as director of the “Building Union Diversity” program, which has graduated some 300 students since its founding in 2014. Bihler discusses her path to the skilled trades, and AFL-CIO Missouri president Jake Hummel provides insight into the ongoing labor shortage.

Missouri legislators look to legalize sports betting and change ballot petitions in 2023 Jan 06, 2023

Show notes

Statehouse reporter Sarah Kellogg discusses the first week of the 2023 Missouri legislative session and what lawmakers are hoping to focus on in the months ahead.

Illinois’ highest court halted the law to abolish cash bail in the state. What’s next? Jan 06, 2023

Show notes

Just before the start of the new year, the Supreme Court of Illinois halted the implementation of a law that would eliminate the practice of cash bail statewide — hours before the bill was set to take effect. Sarah Staudt of the Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts and Alexa Van Brunt of the MacArthur Justice Center discuss the future of the law and how the justice-impacted and their families will be affected in the meantime.

NPR’s Brian Mann was injured covering the war in Ukraine. He wants to go back Jan 05, 2023

Show notes

NPR correspondent Brian Mann was involved in a violent car crash while covering the war in Ukraine last year. The driver of his military vehicle lost control while trying to evade Russian surveillance. Mann broke his leg but expects to make a full recovery. He also wants to go back to cover the conflict and to talk more with the Ukrainian people. Last month, STLPR’s Rod Milam talked with Mann about his experiences covering the war. The conversation was part of STLPR’s participation in the American Homefront Project. This episode includes much of that conversation.

To better serve the community, Metro Trans Umbrella Group forges needs assessment Jan 04, 2023

Show notes

As the Metro Trans Umbrella Group approaches their tenth anniversary, they embark on a multi-year plan to develop and implement a community needs assessment for the greater St. Louis region. Interim executive director Michaela Joy Kraemer explains how a community needs assessment will improve their work, and talks about the other social issues the organization plans to address in the coming year.

Kevin Johnson sought faith before his execution. He found Rev. Darryl Gray Jan 04, 2023

Show notes

Missouri gave Rev. Darryl Gray unprecedented access to death row inmate Kevin Johnson. Gray served as his spiritual advisor, even holding Johnson’s shoulder as the lethal injection was administered on November 29. Gray discusses his observations from this unusual connection, what he learned from Johnson’s faith, and what it means to find yourself within a system that you believe should be abolished.

School is in session with teacher and advice columnist Kem Smith Jan 03, 2023

Show notes

Educators today face a myriad of challenges that have affected teacher recruitment and retention. Ferguson-Florissant School District language arts teacher Kem Smith has responded by sharing advice to fellow educators — from how to accurately and appropriately teach U.S. history to how the pandemic has affected the ways students learn and teachers teach with her column, ‘After the Bell.’

Menya Rui's ramen comes from scratch — and years of love Jan 03, 2023

Show notes

Steven Pursley discusses his experience reconnecting with his roots in Japan, what he learned about the different types of ramen during his time there, and what it’s been like to launch Menya Rui in St. Louis over the past year.

A tribute to St. Louisans who passed away in 2022 Dec 23, 2022

Show notes

In 2022, we said goodbye to a number of remarkable people who lived and worked in the St. Louis region. In this episode, we honor those we lost this year by listening back to conversations with them or by hearing from those who knew them well.

'Neuro Blooms' shines a light on neurodiversity Dec 22, 2022

Show notes

“Neuro Blooms,” a community art exhibition on Cherokee St. in St. Louis brings visibility and awareness to neurodiversity. Artists Con Christeson and Bonita “Bo” Owen share how the project helps break stigma and invites people to talk more openly about mental health.

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