St. Louis on the Air

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Incremental or game changing? What it would mean for St. Louis city to rejoin the county Apr 03, 2026

Show notes

Roughly three weeks ago, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page caused a stir throughout the region when he broached the subject of bringing St. Louis and St. Louis County back together. To gain a deeper understanding, we talk with Jefferson County attorney Joseph Blanner, who was Gov. Mike Parson’s appointee to the Board of Freeholders in 2019, about the renewed attention around St. Louis city reentering the St. Louis County as a municipality.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri to receive 2026 St. Louis Literary Award Apr 02, 2026

Show notes

Jhumpa Lahiri, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning short story collection “Interpreter of Maladies,” grew up in a Bengali immigrant family in New England and fell in love with literature at a young age. That early passion led her to writing. In this episode, Lahiri talks about the trajectory of her career, including her decision to move to Rome in 2012. She also discusses how translation continues to shape her work in the classroom and on the page. Lahiri will accept the 2026 St. Louis Literary Award, presented annually by St. Louis University, at a ceremony at the Sheldon Concert Hall on April 8.

Wasps get a bad rap. Here’s why the misunderstood insect is a vital part of the ecosystem Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

With springtime comes insects emerging from their winter dormancy. That includes the often-feared wasp, which plays an important role in the predation of garden pests and pollination of plants. Entomologist Tad Yankoski of the Missouri Botanical Garden makes the case for appreciating wasps and shares advice on how to humanely evict them from our homes. He also shares insight on other insects we’re seeing a lot of lately, including ticks, ladybugs, bees and stink bugs.

Learn how to catch Tiny Desk contest judges’ attention with St. Louis’ own Bobby Carter Apr 01, 2026

Show notes

St. Louis native Bobby Carter is at the helm of two Tiny Desk entities: the Tiny Desk contest and Tiny Desk concerts. He shares tips and an insider’s view of what makes for a great contest entry, how Tiny Desk concerts have been shaped by audience feedback, and what he’s looking forward to when he visits his hometown May 1 to celebrate St. Louis Public Radio at the “Hear the Future” annual celebration.

Why a blast furnace restarting has ignited hope for Granite City Works Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

This weekend, for the first time in two years, the Granite City Works activated a blast furnace. STLPR Metro East Reporter Will Bauer shares what this means for the mill's employees and why he called this “the latest chapter in a story of uncertainty.” We also hear from Craig McKey, president of United Steelworkers Local 1899, who believes the mill’s activation will help its hundreds of employees stay working if, in 2027, the mill loses its federal protections.

Don’t call it a comeback: Many St. Louis restaurants reopened in March Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

The STLPR food crew convenes to discuss what’s new in the dining scene, including the return of Uncle Bill’s Pancake House, Vincent Van Doughnut and Truck Norris Twisted Eats. They also discuss their favorite patios for outdoor dining and the St. Louis chefs and restaurants named as James Beard Award nominees.

Missouri’s new congressional map takes effect as legal battles continue Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

Missouri’s new congressional map, drawn in 2025 and aimed at giving Republicans an additional seat, is now in effect after a Cole County judge’s ruling. The decision comes amid ongoing legal challenges, questions about precedent and a looming referendum that would let voters weigh in this November. STLPR politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum breaks down what this ruling means for Democrats and Republicans, including the potential impact on key races including the Kansas City-based 5th District, which is currently held by Democratic Representative Emanuel Cleaver.

Tracking Missouri black bears brings conservationists to mothers’ dens Mar 30, 2026

Show notes

A century ago, Missouri's black bear population was believed to be nearly wiped out. Today, the state’s population of bears is around 1,000. The revival of Missouri's bears is the result of years of dedicated work. These animals have been carefully monitored and tracked — and sometimes, that’s meant going into the den of a new mama bear to scoop out her cubs for a quick checkup. In this episode, we get to know Nate Bowersock of the Missouri Department of Conservation. He talks about the work he and his colleagues undertake each year to document Missouri's bear population, and why the state’s management plan includes limited hunting.

New initiative gives $100K to St. Louis youth programs — and bucks philanthropy’s status quo Mar 30, 2026

Show notes

In 2025, the Deaconess Foundation partnered with St. Louis nonprofit Vision for Children at Risk to launch the NextGen Grantmaking Initiative. The approach reimagines philanthropy by placing decision-making power in the hands of young people. Led by VCR’s Youth Advisory Council, the initiative awarded a total of $100,000 to five local programs dedicated to community-building, housing, mental health services, and substance use intervention for young people. Alicia Selmon, a Harris Stowe State University junior, describes how she and fellow VCR Youth Advisory Council peers approached the grantmaking process. Rob Donnelly, founder and executive director of Opportunity House — one of the initiative’s awardees — speaks to how NextGen Grantmakers has impacted his organization's work providing long-term housing and mental health support to queer young people ages 17-24.

How a single word changed the legal battle over Missouri’s congressional maps Mar 27, 2026

Show notes

A single word can make or break a legal argument. That happened recently in the Missouri Supreme Court, where debate over the meaning of the word “when” led to a major ruling on Missouri’s congressional map. On this March edition of the Legal Roundtable, our panel of expert attorneys unpacks the ruling — and what the word “when” really means in the eyes of the law. They also discuss the unusual case of a journalist arrested for recording portions of a trial, a crime bill that could make it easier for courts to charge juveniles as adults, a new lawsuit filed by the former superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools, and more.

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