St. Louis on the Air

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Air Force Veteran Sheila McGlown Is Still Fighting For Others As A Cancer Patient Nov 11, 2019

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In 2009, when Sheila McGlown began battling metastatic breast cancer at the age of 43, she was already a skilled fighter. She’d spent 25 years in the U.S. Air Force, a background she says gave her strength as well as a sense of defiance that would serve her well amid new challenges. Ten years later, McGlown is still undergoing cancer treatment — and still focused on the service to others that she cherished during her military career. The Swansea, Illinois, resident has found a new passion for advocacy around the inclusion of women of color in clinical trials. Meanwhile, she’s also 16 months into a clinical trial participation herself. In this episode of the talk show, in light of Veterans Day, McGlown joins Sarah Fenske to discuss her ongoing journey.

Meg Cabot, Ridley Pearson On DC Comics' Line Of Superhero-Based Graphic Novels Aimed At Young Readers Nov 11, 2019

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Parents and educators often look for various ways to engage kids in reading. While traditional novels are seen as the “ideal,” graphic novels can be just as effective. Similar to comic books, graphic novels tend to be in a longer format, and the narrative is largely self-contained. With the combination of text and pictures, graphic novels have complex plots, characters and conflicts. DC Comics recently introduced a line of superhero-based graphic novels aimed at middle-grade readers — kids between the ages of 8 and 12. Host Sarah Fenske talks with authors Ridley Pearson and Meg Cabot ahead of their St. Louis County Library appearance.

Privatization Critics Hope To Make Their Case At Public Forum Nov 11, 2019

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For months on end, consultants with an interest in privatizing St. Louis Lambert International Airport have billed tens of thousands of dollars while working to craft language underpinning an airport lease. Their chief antagonists have been working just as long — only they’re doing it without any hope of a payday. Calling themselves STL Not for Sale, the group of gadflies has been a familiar presence at public forums. They want to force a public vote on a deal that Mayor Lyda Krewson prefers to leave to the Board of Aldermen. In this segment, host Sarah Fenske talks with Josie Grillas and Chris Ottolino of STL Not for Sale about their efforts and the “town hall” they’re hosting on Nov. 14.

EHOC's New Intramarket Report Shows Rising St. Louis Rents Nov 08, 2019

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St. Louis’ relatively low cost of living is an oft-touted point of pride for the region. But a newly released report by the Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing and Opportunity Council, or EHOC, suggests that life in the Gateway City isn’t so affordable for everyone — especially when it comes to paying rent. Compiled by the organization’s community engagement specialist, the report aims to fill an information gap when it comes to understanding local rent costs. And one of the key takeaways from Glenn Burleigh’s ZIP-code-level analysis is that perceptions of gentrification are rooted in reality: Across the city of St. Louis, rents are rising faster than in the metropolitan region as a whole, and twice as fast in the central corridor and south St. Louis. In this episode, Burleigh joins host Sarah Fenske to discuss the implications of EHOC’s recent findings as well as related topics.

St. Louis International Film Festival Docs Zoom In On True Crime, Stadium Financing, More Nov 08, 2019

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The 28th St. Louis International Film Festival returns this week to offer local moviegoers the chance to view international films, documentaries, American indies and shorts over the course of 11 days. Host Sarah Fenske talks with Cinema St. Louis artistic director Chris Clark about some of this year’s highlights. Also joining the discussion are two film directors whose works take a look at issues pertaining to the region, albeit vastly different ones.

Hospital Staff Face Growing Problem Of Violent Patients Nov 07, 2019

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Nurses say that the threat of violence is increasingly part of their jobs, and both hospitals and college instructors are finding ways to help them maintain safety in the face of that danger. This troubling landscape is the focus of a new piece by "5 On Your Side" KSDK reporter Jenna Barnes.

‘Chicago,’ ‘Sweeney Todd’ And ‘On Your Feet!’ To Star In 2020 Muny Season Nov 07, 2019

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Host Sarah Fenske talks with Mike Isaacson, artistic director and executive producer of the Muny. In addition to the 2020 season, they touch on the Muny’s $100 million capital campaign and recent renovations, as well as local and national musical theater trends.

ArchCity Defenders Celebrates 10 Years Of Advocacy, Growth Nov 07, 2019

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Ten years ago, a trio of recent law school graduates formed a nonprofit law firm. They called it ArchCity Defenders. And they had a novel idea: wraparound services, not just legal representation, for the people who needed it most. As Michael-John Voss explains it, he and his co-founders, Thomas Harvey and John McAnnar, were inspired by the Jesuit tradition at St. Louis University School of Law. After taking classes in public interest law, they found themselves working on projects representing those too poor to afford lawyers. “We saw the fact that the existing entities that were supposed to serve the indigent population were overburdened and overworked,” he say. “And there was no communication between the civil and criminal organizations that are supposed to serve this population. We thought, ‘There’s got to be a better way to do this.’” In this episdoe, he and ArchCity Executive Director Blake Strode talk with host Sarah Fenske.

New Book Highlights The Lesser-Known Accomplishments Of Michelangelo In His 80s Nov 06, 2019

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Most people are knowledgeable about the early accomplishments of Michelangelo, like his work on the Sistine Chapel ceiling in his 30s. But the artist and architect worked well into his 80s, at a time when the average life expectancy was about 40 to 45 years. The latter part of Michelangelo’s career is the focus of a new book by Washington University Art History Professor William Wallace. It’s titled “Michelangelo, God's Architect: The Story of His Final Years and Greatest Masterpiece.”

Pianos For People's New Director To Carry On Founder's Mission Nov 06, 2019

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Last month, Tom Townsend died at 60, just two weeks after being diagnosed with a rare, aggressive form of cancer. It was a devastating blow. Just one year before, Townsend had survived being shot in an attempted carjacking. And he was a much-loved figure in St. Louis. One big reason for that was the organization he founded: Pianos for People. A retired advertising executive, Townsend had devoted what would prove the final seven years of his life to helping underprivileged students access both free pianos and free lessons in playing them. But Pianos for People continues its work. And in this episode, we meet its new director and hear from some young pianists, too.

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