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STLPR's Jaclyn Driscoll, MO House Speaker Elijah Haahr and Senate Minority Leader Gina Walsh Preview Legislative Session Jan 08, 2020

Show notes

Wednesday kicked off the new legislative session for the Missouri House and Senate. That means a whole host of lawmakers vying to get their bills passed. And it could mean changes to how they govern -- and how we live our lives. Joining host Sarah Fenske for this conversation from Jefferson City is St. Louis Public Radio reporter Jaclyn Driscoll. Also participating in the discussion are Missouri Speaker of the House Elijah Haahr and Senate Minority Leader Gina Walsh.

St. Louis Aquarium’s Thousands Of Fish Have Had Nearly 100,000 Human Visitors In Just 2 Weeks Jan 07, 2020

Show notes

The St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station opened with a big splash on Christmas Day. Thousands of area residents have been streaming through its gates in the two weeks since, and aquarium staff have had to turn some families away due to sell-out crowds. For executive director Tami Brown, that and frustration with long lines have been the only downsides of an otherwise successful launch of the new downtown destination. Many visitors have expressed excitement about their experiences, staff have been enthusiastic about their interactions with visitors and animals alike, and the many marine species who now call the aquarium home seem to be adapting well. In this segment, Brown joins host Sarah Fenske for a deeper dive into the new activity at Union Station. Also joining the conversation is St. Louis Aquarium curator Aaron Sprowl, who discusses the wide-ranging creatures and their transition to a new space. The podcast also includes an audio tour of the aquarium, first impressions from children and adults alike, and plenty of questions from listeners who call into the show.

St. Louis City, County Libraries Are Now Officially Fine-Free Jan 07, 2020

Show notes

Two of the largest library systems in the St. Louis region are axing fines for overdue library materials. St. Louis County Library and St. Louis Public Library join a trend of major metropolitan library districts across the U.S.— including Kansas City, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Chicago — that have eliminated fines for their users in an effort to increase access and equity within the communities they serve. Kristen Sorth of SLCL and Waller McGuire of SLPL join host Sarah Fenske for a conversation about the significance of this change, and two listeners share their stories as well.

New Local Food And Drink Spots To Try This January Jan 06, 2020

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Host Sarah Fenske talks with our partners from Sauce Magazine about the latest additions to the St. Louis region’s food and beverage community to check out this January.

MLS Project Didn’t Get Missouri’s Approval For Tax Credits In 2019, But What About 2020? Jan 06, 2020

Show notes

Host Sarah Fenske gets the latest on the Major League Soccer stadium being planned for St. Louis from St. Louis Business Journal reporter Jacob Kirn.

Troubling Practices Surround Civil Asset Forfeiture In Missouri Jan 06, 2020

Show notes

Picture this. You’re driving on the highway when you get pulled over. The police rifle through your car. And then they help themselves to any cash they find, pushing you to sign a waiver that relinquishes your rights to it. They say if you don’t sign, you could be looking at years in prison. It might sound crazy, but it's actually a longstanding process throughout the country. And, as journalist Bill Freivogel discovered, it’s alive and well in Missouri. Local police agencies routinely seize large amounts of cash without ever charging suspects. They then use that money to build new headquarters, or buy military equipment or in one case, even a margarita maker. It’s called asset forfeiture. Freivogel has been covering the issue in depth over the past year in a series called Taken reported in conjunction with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. He joins host Sarah Fenske in this segment to talk about it.

Recreational Marijuana Sales In Illinois Top $3 Million On New Year’s Day Jan 03, 2020

Show notes

The biggest party in town on New Year’s Day may well have been outside Illinois Supply & Provisions. Metro area residents stood in line for hours outside the Collinsville, Illinois shop with the goal of purchasing legal marijuana products, as Illinois just became the 11th state to legalize cannabis for recreational use. St. Louis Public Radio reporter Eric Schmid was at the shop on New Year's Day, and he joins host Sarah Fenske to discuss what people should know about buying and consuming Illinois’ recreational marijuana in 2020 and beyond.

Andy Magee Returns To St. Louis After Visiting All 419 National Parks In 2019 Jan 03, 2020

Show notes

A year ago this week, Andy Magee set out on a 365-day quest to visit every single location within the U.S. National Park System. Now, after having spent the holidays exploring various parks in Hawaii, the local artist and co-owner of Cioci’s Picture Mart in Kirkwood has brought his long journey to a close. On New Year's Eve, he checked the final site off of his to-visit list: the Gateway Arch. In this conversation, he looks back on some of the biggest highlights and lessons from his trip.

Black Officers Union Discusses Criticism Of County PD’s Approach To Diversity, Inclusion Jan 03, 2020

Show notes

In mid-December, St. Louis County Executive Sam Page touted his police department’s promotion of Lt. Keith Wildhaber as a key step toward thoughtful change within the department. But the Ethical Society of Police (ESOP), which represents many black officers in the St. Louis region, soon put out a statement saying it was “extremely disappointed” with Lt. Wildhaber’s promotion. In this interview, Sarah Fenske talks with the president of ESOP, St. Louis police Sgt. Heather Taylor, about ESOP's take on Wildhaber's promotion.

Affordable Housing Trust Funds And Their Effectiveness In The St. Louis Region Jan 02, 2020

Show notes

Last month, the St. Louis County Council voted 4-3 for Councilwoman Lisa Clancy’s bill to establish a trust fund aimed at creating more affordable housing. In this segment, Sarah Fenske talks with Clancy about her proposal, as well as the major developments on housing affordability in the St. Louis region over the past few years. Gary Newcomer, director of operations for the Community Builders Network of Metro St. Louis, also joins the conversation.

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