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Preparations Underway For Reopening St. Louis Schools In The Fall Jul 14, 2020

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Health and education leaders in St. Louis County and the city recently released a set of guidelines for schools to use as they decide how to conduct in-person learning in the fall. The list includes things like staggered lunch times, protocols for health screenings upon entry, and guidance on mask usage for students and teachers. In this episode, we talk with Superintendent Art McCoy of the Jennings School District to get his perspective on reopening. We also hear from several parents, including a mother who started the organization, Bridge 2 Hope – St. Louis, in order to elevate parent voices in conversations about education, particularly in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

How Educators Are Rethinking History Curriculum Jul 13, 2020

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As the Black Lives Matter movement draws attention around the world to long-entrenched racial injustices of the present day, the past looms large as well. Reckoning with United States history seems critical to any contemporary progress on everything from housing disparities to mass incarceration. Guest host Rachel Lippmann hosts a conversation with educators and historians focused on rethinking the teaching of history. The show will delve into how curriculums have evolved in the past — and still need to change going forward.

How Guidelines Surrounding International Students In Age Of Coronavirus Could Affect Colleges Jul 10, 2020

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Earlier this week, the Trump administration said that it planned to enforce a rule that international students must take in-person classes to be in the country on student visas. That’s even though COVID-19 has many universities adjusting plans for the fall semester. Some are going online-only. Others plan to only partially reopen their campuses. And up to 1 million students could be affected. Joining host Sarah Fenske to talk about what this decision means for students enrolled in local colleges, and for those colleges, is Jim Hacking. He is an attorney who specializes in immigration law. Also joining the conversation was Mark Kamimura-Jiménez. He is the Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion at Washington University in St. Louis. The segment includes comments from Victor Butinier, an international PhD student at Washington University that would have to go back to France if classes go entirely online.

Analyzing The Four Democratic Candidates Running For St. Louis County Executive Jul 10, 2020

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Host Sarah Fenske talks with STLPR reporter Jason Rosenbaum about the four Democratic candidates vying to be St. Louis County Executive: Sam Page, Jake Zimmerman, Mark Mantovani and Jamie Tolliver. During the interview, we hear highlights from the candidates' appearances on the Politically Speaking podcast.

Wallow, Grieve And Dance With CaveofswordS Latest Record Jul 09, 2020

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St. Louis band CaveofSwords promises that its new album is quote “Good Music to Feel Bad to.” That’s a great title, and the songs deliver. Two of its members join host Sarah Fenske to discuss the band’s inspiration and perspiration. In the words of the band, these are “Songs to quote wallow and grieve with your friends, but also dance to." All proceeds from digital sales of "Good Music to Feel Bad to" for the summer of 2020 will go to Arch City Defenders & Action STL.

St. Louis' Hill Neighborhood Is Focus Of New Documentary ‘America’s Last Little Italy’ Jul 09, 2020

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For a long time, 27-year-old St. Louis native Joseph Puleo mostly associated the city’s iconic Hill neighborhood with a wealth of delicious Italian food and colorful fire hydrants. That changed a couple years ago when a conversation with a fellow Italian American, Rio Vitale, prompted Puleo to begin what would become his first feature-length film. “He was concerned we were losing stories that need to be told,” Puleo says. Within five days of Vitale’s suggestion that he dig into the history of the Hill, Puleo was in longtime residents’ homes. Many dozens of interviews and months of film editing later, “America’s Last Little Italy: The Hill” is making its debut at the 20th Annual — and first virtual — Whitaker St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase. The documentary is one of 15 film programs that will be available for streaming July 10 to 19. Listen as host Sarah Fenske talks with Puleo and with Chris Clark, artistic director for Cinema St. Louis.

What ‘Defund The Police’ Could Look Like In A City Known For Violent Crime Jul 08, 2020

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Defunding police departments is a major goal for many Black Lives Matter protesters. But for others, it’s a scary idea — and that’s true for many St. Louis residents. In this episode, we explore what it means to defund the police in a city that struggles with high rates of violent crime. Criminologist Richard Rosenfeld joins the discussion, as well as California-based reporter Abené Clayton. Clayton talks about what’s behind a big drop in violent crime in Oakland and what St. Louis can learn from the West Coast city’s experience.

Pandemic Delay Led To More Opportunities For North Sarah Food Hub Jul 08, 2020

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Gibron Jones had big plans for an industrial kitchen in north St. Louis. The kitchen was located in the city’s Vandeventer neighborhood, just a bit north of Delmar. And his plan was to open a food production incubation space there — the North Sarah Food Hub. He wanted to help St. Louisans start food-based businesses — and bring healthier options to their neighbors. Jones got his city permits finalized in March. Then COVID-19 shut the city down. He found himself making a very unusual pivot. He joins Sarah Fenske to describe what happened — and what comes next for this innovative food hub.

Protesting When Marching Isn't A Safe Option Jul 07, 2020

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Zulyema Tang-Martinez wanted to join the protests sweeping the U.S. this year. She has a long record of activism dating back to her days as a student at Berkeley in the 1960s and 70s. But the University of Missouri-St. Louis biology professor emeritus is now 75. She has health conditions. How could she join in without taking unnecessary risks? The solution for Tang-Martinez was a car caravan — and on June 20, it found big success. She joins host Sarah Fenske to to talk about that protest, and marching for justice when you probably shouldn’t be marching at all.

Nicholas Phillips of St. Louis Magazine Talks Kim Gardner Jul 07, 2020

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Loathed by many police officers but beloved by progressive supporters, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner is arguably the city's most controversial elected official. Journalist Nicholas Phillips explains what he learned about her in a deep dig for St. Louis Magazine, and what the statistics tell us about her performance as city prosecutor.

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