St. Louis on the Air

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Nicole Galloway Discusses Ongoing St. Louis Audit Dec 11, 2019

Show notes

St. Louis has the highest sales tax rates in the state of Missouri. Some parts of the city see rates as high as 11.679%. But the revenue doesn’t all go to the government. The areas with the highest tax rates may be as small as a few blocks — with extra taxes incurred by special taxing districts that operate largely without oversight from City Hall. Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway took on the city’s poor oversight of these districts in an audit last month. She also criticized the city for the lack of a comprehensive economic development plan to govern their formation. In this segment, Galloway talks with Sarah Fenske about what she learned, how the city responded to her findings and what comes next in her ongoing comprehensive audit of city operations.

Wash U's Dr. Joshua Swamidass Builds Bridge Between Science And Creation Myths In New Book Dec 10, 2019

Show notes

Bring up Adam and Eve in contemporary conversation, and you’ll likely be met with either total skepticism or deep confidence, depending on one’s audience. Diametrically opposed views of the biblical origin story come with the territory of ongoing cultural battles between creationists and evolutionists and the typical right and left. But Washington University’s Dr. S. Joshua Swamidass, who describes himself as “a scientist in the Church and a Christian in science,” is hoping to shift the conversation. In his forthcoming book “The Genealogical Adam and Eve: The Surprising Science of Universal Ancestry,” he hopes to reach secular and religious readers alike. “What if the traditional account is somehow true, with the origins of Adam and Eve taking place alongside evolution?” he asks.

Raised in St. Louis, 4 Circus Harmony Alums Now Tour The World With Cirque Du Soleil Dec 10, 2019

Show notes

Jessica Hentoff is quick to insist that the primary focus of Circus Harmony, the St. Louis-based organization she heads up, isn’t to turn kids into top-notch circus professionals. And yet the program has a track record of doing just that — even as it changes lives in other ways, too. This fall, a total of four Circus Harmony alumni are touring with Cirque du Soleil, the largest circus company in the world. They include St. Louis natives Melvin Diggs, Sidney ‘Iking’ Bateman, Terrance ‘T-Roc’ Robinson and Chauncey Kroner. Hentoff couldn’t be more proud of them — and just returned from travels to Vancouver and Chicago this past weekend where she watched them perform. In this segment, Hentoff talks with host Sarah Fenske will talk with Hentoff about the success the program and its participants have seen. The conversation also includes comments from Bateman and Diggs.

Sauce Magazine Names Its Picks For St. Louis' Best New Restaurants Of 2019 Dec 09, 2019

Show notes

As the end of the year approaches, our partners at Sauce Magazine join "St. Louis on the Air" to reflect on the best new local restaurants serving up deliciousness in 2019.

SLU Professor Argues Generational Labels Like ‘Boomer’ And ‘Millennial’ Are Misguided Dec 09, 2019

Show notes

While “the cyclical nature of generational denigration is embedded in our history,” generational labels like “Baby Boomer” and “Millennial” are artificial and wrong, says St. Louis University associate professor Cort Rudolph. Rudolph recently wrote about the topic in his campus editorial “OK Boomer Not OK, Nor Backed by Research.” In this discussion, Sarah Fenske talks with Rudolph about use of the recent phrase “OK Boomer” and what the research tells us about whether there are major differences between the Silent Generation, baby boomers, Generation X, millennials and the most recent category, Generation Z. Paul Taylor, author of “The Next America” and former vice president of the Pew Research Center, also joins the conversation.

Attorney Mark Pedroli Discusses Lawsuit Related to Airport Working Group's Many Closed Meetings Dec 09, 2019

Show notes

A lawsuit filed Friday aims to open closed-door meetings and obtain documents held by a city working group considering leasing St. Louis Lambert International Airport. The plaintiffs allege members of the Airport Advisory Working Group knowingly violated the Missouri Sunshine Act in eight instances. Host Sarah Fenske talks with Mark Pedroli, founder of the Sunshine and Government Accountability Project.

How The Mississippi River Shaped St. Louis Dec 06, 2019

Show notes

The Mississippi River has been integral to life in the St. Louis region for hundreds of years — from Native Americans who occupied areas in and around Cahokia Mounds to the later arrival of European settlers. In this segment, Sarah Fenske talks with Andrew Wanko, public historian for the Missouri Historical Society and author of the new book, “Great River City: How the Mississippi Shaped St. Louis.” Also joining the conversation is David Lobbig, curator of environmental life at the Missouri Historical Society. He is the content lead on the Missouri History Museum’s newest exhibit “Mighty Mississippi,” which opened November 23.

Remembering Longtime Urban League Leader James H. Buford, 75 Dec 06, 2019

Show notes

The late James Buford had a philosophy for effecting change — one he put into practice for 28 years as CEO of the area’s Urban League. We'll hear from moments during his appearances on "St. Louis on the Air" and hear from those who worked closely with him.

Schupp Jumps Into Missouri 2nd Congressional District Race Against Wagner Dec 06, 2019

Show notes

For voters in some St. Louis suburbs, the 2020 ballot just potentially got a lot more interesting. State Senator Jill Schupp announced that she will challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner for Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District, which covers most of St. Louis County, part of St. Charles County and even a bit of Jefferson County. The district favors Republicans. But Schupp is expected to mount a formidable challenge. In this segment, Sarah Fenske talks with political correspondent Jason Rosenbaum about Schupp’s announcement.

What You Need To Know As 2020 Affordable Care Act Deadline Approaches Dec 05, 2019

Show notes

The deadline to enroll in a health care plan via the Affordable Care Act marketplace is Dec. 15. Are plans more or less affordable than in previous years? What should people be aware of while searching for plans outside of the ACA marketplace? In this conversation, Sarah Fenske puts these questions to Timothy McBride of Washington University in St. Louis. In addition to talking about the health and future of the ACA marketplace, McBride, the co-director of the Center for Health Economics and Policy, also discusses what Medicaid expansion could look like in Missouri.

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