STL on the Air 📻

With a commanding lead in National League Central, the Cardinals are marching toward the playoffs. Benjamin Hochman, sports columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, discusses the 2022 season so far and where the team might be headed in coming weeks.

With a commanding lead in National League Central, the Cardinals are marching toward the playoffs. Benjamin Hochman, sports columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, discusses the 2022 season so far and where the team might be headed in coming weeks.

A growing St. Louis startup, Decide Technologies, is extensively tied to disinformation websites, including the likes of the Gateway Pundit, which is also based in St. Louis. Reporter Paul Wagman discusses his investigation into Decide, and how the startup's business model is funding and profiting from websites across the "alt right" spectrum.

St. Louis has a police problem. In some of its wealthiest neighborhoods, uniformed police officers, riding in SUVs marked “police,” are being offered bonuses for investigating crimes and arresting criminals. But the offers aren’t coming from their department, but from a private security company called The City’s Finest. That’s just one of the details uncovered in an investigation published in ProPublica this week by St. Louis-based reporter Jeremy Kohler. Kohler joins St. Louis on the Air to discuss his findings, and what the spread of these private security forces says about the state of policing in St. Louis.

After three challenging years, Wildlife Rescue Center in Ballwin, Missouri invites the public to their first open house since 2019. Executive director Kim Rutledge explains how extreme storms, COVID-19, and avian flu impacted the rescue center, and why it is especially important to see the center in action right now.

After years of outcry, new basketball courts are scheduled to make their debut next year in St. Louis’ two largest parks: Forest Park and Tower Grove Park. It’s not easy to find basketball hoops in St. Louis’ parks, and many people think that’s by design — to keep Black youth out of seemingly wealthier neighborhoods. And, in Forest Park, plans to build courts seem stuck in a nine-step process. In this special episode, producer Miya Norfleet talks with St. Louisans and park leadership about how access to basketball courts tells the story of St. Louis’ past and hopes for the future.

“Kia Boyz” are trending on social media, and that trend has hit St. Louis’ streets. Sgt. Tracy Panus of St. Louis County Police Department joins St. Louis on the Air to provide an update on the official response to the rash of thefts targeting Kia and Hyundai cars. She also shares advice on what motorists can do to protect their property.

This summer, St. Louis County tried to obtain a “gag order” against a lawyer suing its animal shelter. That attorney, Mark Pedroli, discusses his lawsuits against the shelter — and why the county sought to silence him. We also hear from Mandy Zatorski, who was fired from her manager position at the shelter in 2020. Zatorski argues that the shelter hasn’t improved since then, and cautions that privatizing the shelter could only cover up the problems instead of solving them.

Next week, St. Louis’ New Jewish Theatre will open the world premiere of “The Bee Play”. The play addresses climate change through the eyes of Carver Washington, a young beekeeper in the Bronx. St. Louis musician and actor Miles Brenton joins St. Louis On The Air to discuss his experience as the first actor to bring Carver Washington to the stage.

“Dangerous Women” is a new exhibit that features two leaders of the labor movement, Fannie Sellins and Mary Harris Jones a.k.a. Mother Jones. The exhibit debuts 103 years after Sellins was killed at a labor strike in Pennsylvania. Mother Jones Heritage Project director Rosemary Feurer joins the show to share the impact St. Louis had on both women.

Shortly before the newest basketball court in St. Louis was finished, the group who built it was raided by the FBI. The African People’s Socialist Party is accused of being linked to a Russian conspiracy to spread disinformation and promote Russian propaganda. The leaders of the party, Chairman Omali Yeshitela and Deputy Chair Ona Zené Yeshitela, respond to the allegations of conspiracy and explain what brought their group to St. Louis in the first place.

As teachers, kids, and parents head back to school, area districts are dealing with teacher and staff shortages. But it’s not all bad news — This is the first school year in which kids of all ages are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Also, thanks to St. Louis voters, the city’s public schools will now have 160 million dollars to spend on building upgrades. Education reporter Kate Grumke talks about what back-to-school looks like this year.

Finding quality Indian food in St. Louis is made easy with the help of Sauce Magazine Executive Editor Meera Nagarajan. Nagarajan gave us the rundown of her favorite Indian spots to find staples like naan and samosas.

Podcast Description: Bobby Bostic’s talents recently drew a crowd to a poetry reading of several works. The prolific writer and poet is serving a 241-year sentence in prison — a shocking punishment that has drawn attention from local and national criminal justice advocates. In November, Bostic will finally leave prison on parole. This episode features reflections from Bostic, and Ronnie Amiyn of the Freedom Community Center shares his own experience understanding the redeeming qualities of art in prison.

In the Metro East city of Cahokia Heights, sewer and stormwater systems are often so full that raw sewage seeps into residents’ yards. The city has experienced chronic flooding for two decades, but on August 3, Illinois announced it would spend $21 million to finally fix the problem. Reacting to the news, we hear from resident Sheila Gladney and researcher José Constantine, an assistant professor of geosciences at Williams College.

STL Fringe Fest spotlights stage acts that are far from the mainstream. In its 11th year, the festival boasts their largest playbill yet with over 40 acts scheduled in venues across St. Louis. St. Lou Fringe president and artistic director Matthew Kerns and comedian Mollie Ambrugey joins St. Louis on the Air to discuss the importance of uplifting local indie artists as audiences and performers return to theaters.

The floodwaters may be gone, but residents in the St. Louis region are still picking up the pieces after historic flooding in late July. In the weeks since, hundreds of flood victims were forced to wait hours at overcrowded aid centers. Now, more help is on the way: This week, teams from FEMA canvassed areas that were hit hard by extreme weather. STLPR reporter Jeremy Goodwin shares his observations from the first day of canvassing, and we hear from two flood victims about their needs as they wait for more resources.

August 15 marks the one year anniversary of Zamzama Safi’s escape from Afghanistan. The former translator for U.S. forces discusses her new life in St. Peters, Missouri, and her continued worry for her family still living in Afghanistan.

People in the St. Louis region are still reeling from the effects of flash flooding last week. In this episode, we hear from those affected. Also, Kayla Reed of Action St. Louis speaks to the lessons learned from the disaster and how best to provide support to those still recovering from flood damage.

For years, residents in University City believed a $190 million development wouldn’t force them to sell their homes through eminent domain. But in June, that’s exactly what developer Larry Chapman requested from the city council. Now, residents like Nichole Angieri are wondering if their homes are next. Bob’s Seafood founder Bob Mepham also joins the show to discuss how the same developer used eminent domain to close his business.