St. Louis on the Air

Latest Episodes:

Advocates drop opposition to Jefferson Bank merger after First Mid inks a community benefits agreement Jan 18, 2022

Show notes

Community advocates had publicly opposed First Mid Bank & Trust’s plans to purchase St. Louis-based Jefferson Bank. Now they’ve dropped their opposition after reaching a community benefits agreement with First Mid that includes the opening of two new bank branches to serve low-to-moderate-income and minority communities.

Missouri bill would peel back the Sunshine Law, make open records more costly Jan 14, 2022

Show notes

Missouri’s current Sunshine Law says citizens cannot be charged for any records review done by government attorneys, but a bill being prioritized by Gov. Mike Parson could change that. Advocates explain how it would affect access to records in Missouri.

Crawford County’s refusal to prosecute a Black man’s killer has activists pushing for federal review Jan 14, 2022

Show notes

Justin King, 28, was killed by a neighbor in Bourbon, Missouri. The county prosecutor says the shooting was self-defense under Missouri law, but civil rights activists say that’s not the full story.

Missouri legislators ring in 2022 with map drama, wage issue — and some lingering tensions Jan 14, 2022

Show notes

St. Louis Public Radio statehouse reporter Sarah Kellogg discusses what the Missouri legislature has been working on in its first two weeks this year, and what’s to come this session.

Ike, Tina and the vibrant East St. Louis music world that shaped them Jan 13, 2022

Show notes

Ike and Tina Turner were transplants who met in St. Louis and became a powerhouse duo. NYU professor Maureen Mahon discusses how the clubs of 1950s East St. Louis brought them together and inspired their sound.

Cortez Bufford police shooting sees new forensic analysis Jan 13, 2022

Show notes

Investigative journalist Alison Flowers discusses her forensic analysis of lighting conditions during a 2019 police shooting, which she believes demonstrates that a St. Louis police officer could not have been telling the truth about acting in self-defense.

Bettie Mae Fikes sees the civil rights struggle continue from 1960s Selma Jan 13, 2022

Show notes

Known as the “Voice of Selma,” Bettie Mae Fikes describes what got her involved in the civil rights movement, the violence she witnessed and her thoughts on voting rights legislation now pending in Congress.

Jennings schools fight to stay ahead of omicron surge — and stay in person Jan 12, 2022

Show notes

Jennings School Superintendent Paula Knight finds herself in a constant struggle to maintain what’s best for her students and staff. Despite the odds, her district has managed to stay in-person during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For SLU prof Rachel Greenwald Smith, compromise is not a virtue Jan 12, 2022

Show notes

The St. Louis University professor discusses her provocative new book of essays “On Compromise: Art, Politics, and the Fate of an American Ideal,” how she handles strange bedfellows and how her free-wheeling childhood left her wanting more.

Cars dominate a key St. Louis transit hub — but a different Grand Boulevard is possible Jan 11, 2022

Show notes

Midtown St. Louis is seeing big developments. But the Grand MetroLink Station functions as a car-centric “doughnut hole” in its center. Kim Cella of Citizens for Modern Transit and traffic engineer Chris Beard discuss the problems — and a new report urging improvements.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected