St. Louis on the Air

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New book explains why Missouri and Illinois prairies vanished Jan 26, 2026

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The American prairie once stretched across Missouri and Illinois, a vast grassland teeming with wildlife and rich biodiversity. Today, less than 1% of that prairie remains — disappearing even faster than the Amazon rainforest. In this encore presentation, environmental journalists Dave Hage and Josephine Marcotty discuss how prairies were destroyed, why their loss is one of the world’s greatest ecological disasters, and what it will take to bring it back. Hage and Marcotty are authors of the new book, “Sea of Grass: The Conquest, Ruin and Redemption of Nature on the American Prairie.”

Missouri Sens. Schmitt and Hawley differ on Trump’s demands to seize Greenland Jan 23, 2026

Show notes

President Donald Trump made startling demands to take over Greenland this week. And Missouri’s U.S. Sens. Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt have reacted much differently to the prospects of the United States taking over the Danish island. On the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air, we talk with Washington University and Arizona State University’s Steve Smith about the differing reactions to Trump’s Greenland push.

Republican advocate for phasing out Missouri income tax says plan will spur growth Jan 23, 2026

Show notes

Governor Mike Kehoe’s plan to phase out Missouri’s income tax over five years — and replace much of the revenue with a sales tax on services — has sparked a heated debate. Supporters say it could boost population growth, while critics warn of higher costs and fiscal risks. One of the main proponents of eliminating the income tax is Sen. Ben Brown, a Republican from Washington, Missouri. Brown discusses the proposal on the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air.

Future Missouri House Speaker Alex Riley on keeping the 2026 session on track Jan 23, 2026

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House Majority Leader Alex Riley will become Missouri’s Speaker of the House next year. But before getting to that powerful post, the Springfield Republican will need to help his caucus get through a difficult 2026 session – especially with uncertainty that major bills will get through the Senate. Riley joins the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air to talk about his legislative vision.

How Webster U alum Matt Vogel, the man behind Kermit the Frog, got major ‘street’ cred in the puppet world Jan 22, 2026

Show notes

In 2023 Matt Vogel was in London for the coronation of King Charles III. In the royal box, Vogel also had a very special frog with him: Kermit the Frog. Vogel is the puppeteer behind Kermit, Big Bird, Count von Count and more. The Webster University alum joined “St. Louis on the Air” in May 2023 to talk about his remarkable career before he delivered the commencement speech at his alma mater.

Recent college grads say Trump cuts and AI have made getting a job harder than ever Jan 22, 2026

Show notes

In 2025, college graduates faced a job market flooded with many applicants and significantly fewer jobs. Federal funding cuts, rescinded grant opportunities and the rising use of artificial intelligence in the screening process made landing full-time employment challenging. Some graduates say they felt dehumanized and frustrated by the lack of communication from employers. They share their stories in this episode alongside reporter Daniel Wheaton, who recently reported on this topic for the Midwest Newsroom.

How photojournalist Wiley Price spent 40-plus years making Black St. Louis life his focus Jan 21, 2026

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Photojournalist Wiley Price captured images of St. Louis’ Black community for the St. Louis American, one of the oldest African American weekly papers in the country. After 42 years with the paper, Price retired in December 2025. In this episode, Price talks about his career and experiences behind the camera lens, what he learned while on assignment, and how he came to be as recognizable as the subjects in his photographs.

As Missouri cannabis profits climb, questions about hemp and microbusinesses persist Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

It’s been more than five years since cannabis became legal in Missouri. But rules that govern that multi-billion-dollar industry continue to change, from restrictions on THC content in hemp to protections from predatory contracts in the state’s microbusiness program. To navigate these recent updates, we sit down with journalist Rebecca Rivas, who reports on the cannabis industry for the Missouri Independent. She discusses why Missouri lawmakers have struggled for four years running to regulate hemp, and also breaks down the local impact of President Trump’s December executive order to reschedule marijuana.

Former Landmarks Association director reflects on two decades of preservation work in St. Louis Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

Andrew Weil spent almost 20 years with the Landmarks Association of St. Louis before he resigned as executive director at the end of last year. His long career included projects to protect Sugarloaf Mound and the city’s historic water towers. In his first post-resignation interview, Weil reflects on those cases and other examples of how preservationists have tried, and sometimes failed, to save St. Louis’ physical heritage over the past two decades. In addition to a discussion of the success and setbacks of preservation, Weil also talked about the long pattern of “catastrophic fires” that pose particular danger to the city’s historic churches.

Only days left to see ruin and beauty loom 30 feet high at SLAM Jan 20, 2026

Show notes

The St. Louis Art Museum’s exhibition “Anselm Kiefer: Becoming the Sea” presents visitors with the monumental work of the German-born artist, including six 30-foot-tall paintings. The artist is renowned for using different textures to create vast landscapes. In this encore, museum director Min Jung Kim discusses the installation, Keifer’s 60-year career and how Keifer was inspired by St. Louis and the Mississippi River. The exhibit closes Jan. 25.

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