St. Louis on the Air

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The Gentle Barn closure left heartbreak behind in Missouri. Then animals started dying Mar 06, 2025

Show notes

The 2017 slaughterhouse escape of six steers turned "The St. Louis Six" into animal rescue celebrities and inspired an expansion of the California-based nonprofit Gentle Barn to Missouri. Eight years later, the sanctuary’s abrupt closure this past October has left its former volunteers and staff feeling abandoned. An investigation by St. Louis on the Air producer Danny Wicentowski goes inside the final days of the sanctuary's existence and the aftermath of its closure. The investigation confirms the deaths of five former residents of Missouri's Gentle Barn in the just four months since its closure. Gentle Barn co-founder Ellie Laks defends the decision to close and addresses the recent animal deaths at the nonprofit’s Tennessee sanctuary.

What do looming federal job cuts mean for the St. Louis area’s economy? Mar 05, 2025

Show notes

The broader St. Louis economy would not necessarily be left in turmoil if the Trump administration cuts some of the nearly 26,000 federal employees in the region, but there could be negative trickle-down effects. STLPR Metro East reporter Will Bauer and interim managing editor Jonathan Ahl discuss their reporting on this topic.

To its St. Louis creator, Unicorn Fart Dust isn’t just a crypto token — it’s a community Mar 05, 2025

Show notes

When Ron Branstetter created the memecoin Unicorn Fart Dust, he knew he’d learn from the cryptocurrency experiment. He didn’t know that he was building a space for tens of thousands of people to support, connect and learn from one another across the globe. Branstetter discusses the highs and lows of memecoin creation, shares what he’s learned about crypto, and reflects on why the token has amassed a loyal following of “dusters.”

Mayor Jones, Alderwoman Spencer advance for rematch of 2021 St. Louis mayoral race Mar 05, 2025

Show notes

The 2025 race for St. Louis mayor is officially a rematch. Mayor Tishaura Jones and 8th Ward Alderwoman Cara Spencer were the top two vote-getters in Tuesday’s St. Louis primary and now will compete head-to-head in the April 8 general election. STLPR reporter Rachel Lippmann discusses the results of the Tuesday primary and sets the stage for the general election.

After losing its community garden, Ujima finds ways to grow Mar 04, 2025

Show notes

Ujima wants to change how St. Louis eats and grows. The nonprofit, which operates urban farms in north St. Louis’ Fairground and Hyde Park neighborhoods, offers apprenticeships to teens to grow produce and learn to work the land. But Ujima is facing significant change this season: Its community garden was abruptly closed down last summer after SLPS evicted several nonprofits, including Ujima, from the Clay Community Education Center. The nonprofit’s founder, Nick Speed, discusses Ujima’s plans for 2025, preparing for the next teen cohort of the group’s "Sunflower Institute," and how it’s adjusting from the loss of its community garden.

Operation Food Search knows the reality of food insecurity — and it is facing it head on Mar 04, 2025

Show notes

Operation Food Search invested $10 million to renovate its headquarters in Overland to better distribute fresh meat and produce, and frozen food, last year. Now that its facility updates are done, the organization can continue its mission to feed those who have fewer means to obtain fresh and nutritious food. President and CEO Kristen Wild shares how the upgrades and additions will directly impact the region’s food pantries and reach individuals in 25 counties in Missouri and Illinois.

WashU engineers make microwave-size bird flu detector amid outbreak Mar 04, 2025

Show notes

The researchers say their device could keep farmers from having to cull their flocks when they detect the contagious virus, which has affected more than 5 million birds in Missouri since 2022. STLPR health reporter Sarah Fentem shares how the device works and the latest on how avian influenza is affecting the St. Louis region.

New season of ‘The Amazing Race’ features father-son lumberjack duo from St. Louis Mar 03, 2025

Show notes

Season 37 of the CBS original reality show “The Amazing Race” premieres March 5 at 8:30 pm central. Jeff Bailey Sr. and Jeff Bailey Jr. are one of 14 teams competing for $1M — and they’re representing St. Louis at the same time. The pair, known as Pops and Jeff on the show, share how their careers as lumberjacks — and the sensibility that comes with being born and raised in St. Louis — prepared them to compete on one of the longest running reality shows in the U.S.

Here’s what St. Louis restaurants opened and closed in February 2025 Mar 03, 2025

Show notes

The fine dining restaurant Tony’s, in Clayton, closed in February as did Mom’s Deli in southwest St. Louis. STLPR’s Jessica Rogen and Abby Llorico discuss notable closures of St. Louis area restaurants — and openings. Restaurant openings in February included four new spots at Energizer Park, Good Strangers on Cherokee Street and Side Project Pizza in Maplewood.

A preview of St. Louis’ primary election on Tuesday Mar 03, 2025

Show notes

Ahead of the April 8 general election, St. Louis voters will go to the polls Tuesday for the primary election. There are four candidates for St. Louis mayor: Tishaura Jones, Cara Spencer, Michael Butler and Andrew Jones. Comptroller and two aldermanic races are also on the ballot. The top two finishers under the city’s approval voting system will go on to the general election. STLPR reporter Rachel Lippmann discusses.

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