St. Louis on the Air

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Is St. Charles County becoming more hospitable for Missouri Democrats? Apr 17, 2026

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Republicans have dominated St. Charles County elections for two decades. But recent municipal elections are giving Democrats some hope that they can gain ground in the fast-growing part of the St. Louis region. The Politically Speaking Hour talks with voters and political activists about why things could be changing in St. Charles County.

Ahead of State of the City speech, residents share hopes and concerns for St. Louis Apr 17, 2026

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St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer delivers her State of the City speech Friday evening. The address comes at a moment of pressure and uncertainty for the city. On the eve of the speech, St. Louis Public Radio’s Rachel Lippmann and Lara Hamdan reached out to city residents about how they feel St. Louis is doing. Some said they were happy with the city’s trajectory, while many other people said St. Louis isn’t working for them.

Check out these new releases from St. Louis musicians on the MATI lineup Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

In three months, MATI will return to Grand Center for a weekend of music, food and community. July 17-19 won’t just bring the humidity and heat — the festival, formerly known as Music at the Intersection, features a lineup packed with artists who call St. Louis home. On this month’s new music roundup, Larry Morris, the director of programs and partnerships for the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, joins “St. Louis on the Air” producer Miya Norfleet to discuss the latest music from some of the musicians representing St. Louis.

Singer Skylar Townsend found her voice with help from friends in the St. Louis country scene Apr 16, 2026

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Country music artist Skylar Finan has been a fan of the genre her entire life. Though she started off as a shy performer, her friends in the scene saw her talent and encouraged her to get on stage. That encouragement eventually led her to create her debut album “Hit the Ground Runnin’” under the name Skylar Townsend. Townsend talks about her love for ‘90s country music stars like Reba McEntire and The Chicks, how the community helped her find her confidence, and how her album’s recording began with singing in a water heater closet.

Kratom faces a legal reckoning in Missouri. A drug abuse specialist watches with concern Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

The state of Missouri is suing a Missouri-based manufacturer of the 7-OH variety of kratom. Derived from plants, kratom is drawing increased scrutiny and concern. The products are widely sold in gas stations in St. Louis and across the state. We talk with PreventEd Executive Director Jenny Armbruster about kratom, the difference between kratom and 7-OH, why people are becoming addicted, and what educators and advocates are hearing about the substance from users.

East St. Louis' Reginald Petty reflects on his life's work after top Illinois honor Apr 15, 2026

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At a ceremony at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville on Saturday, Gov. JB Pritzker awarded the Order of Lincoln — Illinois’ highest civilian honor — to five recipients, including East St. Louis civil rights activist and historian Reginald Petty. In conversation with STLPR Metro East reporter Will Bauer, the 90-year-old reflects on his work during the Civil Rights Movement and his ongoing efforts to preserve East St. Louis’ history.

Spring nesting season can be safe for Canada Geese and people. Here’s how Apr 15, 2026

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It’s nesting season for Canada geese, and these protective parents are back to lay eggs, incubate and protect them in urban hotspots — from park pathways to office courtyard planters. During this time, their defensive, territorial behavior can lead to goose-human conflicts. Nancy Schnell, GeesePeace St. Louis founder, talks about how we can share outdoor spaces safely with these native birds during the peak of their nesting season.

Largest respite home in St. Louis will help homeless people discharged from hospitals Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

The largest medical respite center in St. Louis will open its doors later this month. The Three Steps Home represents a major step for the groups supporting the city's homeless population. Three Steps Home CEO Sonia Deal talks about why homeless people often fall through cracks of existing medical care and how a respite center can help people recover from living on the streets. She also discusses how the nonprofit was recently aided by the Mennonite Disaster Service, and why she thinks homelessness as “a culmination of different things, whether it be a man-made disaster or an actual disaster, such as the tornado.”

Inventor of self-watering, biodegradable, 3D-printed plant pots grows her business in St. Louis Apr 14, 2026

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Through a combination of engineering know-how, imagination and dedication to problem-solving, St. Louisan Kay Wells invented the Posie Pot: a 3-D printed, biodegradable and recyclable self-watering plant pot that’s in stores across the region and online for customers across the country. Wells talks about going from idea to prototype to product, support she’s received through major grants and fellowships, and her commitment to keeping Posie Pots’ production rooted here in St. Louis.

Forest Park habitat restoration efforts are a biodiversity win Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

New research out of St. Louis shows that removing invasive plant species and planting native ones have gone a long way toward boosting bird populations in Forest Park. Lead study author Stella Uiterwaal is particularly excited to see the populations of native bird species on the rise.

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