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STL on the Air 📻

John Goodman loves live theater and St. Louis. He's coming home to support both

4 months 1 week ago
John Goodman has worked in Hollywood for nearly 50 years, but he’s always kept St. Louis close to his heart. The Affton native will be in town on Dec.17 for the Repertory Theater of St. Louis' “Rally for The Rep.” The benefit show’s proceeds will help the theater raise $2.5M to make up for its current budget shortfall. In this episode, Goodman reflects on the power of theater performance, his career highlights, and how growing up in St. Louis has informed many of his movie and television roles over the years.

How a St. Louis double Dutch club jumps for joy, friendship and community

4 months 1 week ago
Ki Chapman was searching for a way to get active and found her way back to a favorite childhood pastime — jumping double Dutch. Since discovering the 40+ Double Dutch Club, she’s become the captain of the St. Louis chapter double Dutch is more than just a game. For Chapman, it’s shown her new ways to give back to her community and connected her with jumpers across the country.

A report found St. Louis is one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly cities. But another found it’s one of the worst

4 months 1 week ago
In October, the City of St. Louis made two national rankings for LBGTQ+ friendliness, but each list told a different story. One list named it among the most friendly to the queer community. The other list named St. Louis as one of the most unfriendly. We explore what’s behind that discrepancy with panelists Avi Ivaturi, peer support organizer at St. Louis Queer Support Helpline; Midwest Rainbow Research Institute Executive Director Inoru Morris; and Nick Dunne, LGBTQIA+ and Arts Liaison for the City of St. Louis.

Isaiah Maxi found nature in Missouri parks — and made more than 100 new friends

4 months 1 week ago
Isaiah Maxi has been hiking all over Missouri’s state parks — and he's not doing it alone. He documents his journeys on his Facebook group, “The Journey to 100 Hiking Friends,” charting his connections across the state. We talked with him in March when he was about one-third of the way to his goal. This past weekend, he accomplished (and surpassed) his mission by meeting 113 new friends — and a total of six dogs.

Israel-Hamas war hits close to home for St. Louis’ Jewish Community

4 months 1 week ago
Hamas' October 7 attack and the ongoing war in Israel is impacting St. Louis' Jewish community in different ways. Galit Lev-Harir was in Israel on October 7. She experienced the aftermath of Hamas’ campaign of massacres and kidnapping, and says supporting Israel has never been more important. Hineni founder Tasha Kaminsky and others have joined their voices with Palestinians in demanding a ceasefire, and an end to Israel's military response.

Missouri auditor stands firm on his abortion ballot cost fight with the attorney general

4 months 1 week ago
Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick recently got into a high-profile dispute with fellow Republican statewide — Attorney General Andrew Bailey. It was over a fiscal note the auditor’s office wrote about several initiative petitions that would legalize abortion. The Missouri Supreme Court sided with Fitzpatrick. In this excerpt of the Politically Speaking podcast with STLPR’s Sarah Kellogg and Jason Rosenbaum, Fitzpatrick defends his actions, reflects on one year in office and more.

Research on women’s health has stalled for decades. A WashU bioengineer wants that to change

4 months 1 week ago
Research on women’s health has been underfunded for decades. As central as it is to human life, the reproductive process is especially poorly understood by scientists. Washington University bioengineer Michelle Oyen argues that it’s critical for scientists to study women’s health, and she hopes her research will contribute to improved maternal and fetal health outcomes.

Nostalgia reigns supreme in new edition of ‘Lost Treasures of St. Louis’

4 months 2 weeks ago
There are about 415 St. Louis area restaurants, entertainment venues, stores and more highlighted in the second edition of “Lost Treasures of St. Louis.” Among other gone-but-not-forgotten entries, the coffee table book features the Floating McDonalds, St. Louis Arena and Famous-Barr. Stories about the Millennium Hotel, Casa Gallardo, and the Admiral are also shared. Co-author Cameron Collins — and listeners — share their memories.

Father-son duo combines love, life lessons and soul in ‘Duets With Dad’ stage show

4 months 2 weeks ago
Brian Owens and his father, Thomas, became internet darlings 10 years ago with a YouTube video of them performing a rendition of “A Change is Gonna Come.” That video has gained more than 107 million views and landed them on the Today Show in June. Now, the Owenses are hitting the stage as a supporting act for jazz sensation Samara Joy. Brian and Thomas Owens preview their “Duets With Dad” show and upcoming album set to release on Father’s Day 2024.

Madison County program helps students with disabilities build skills for work — and life

4 months 2 weeks ago
In Madison County, Illinois, an apprenticeship program helps students with disabilities build skills for work – and life – after they graduate. The program has shown success, and now leaders hope their model gets implemented elsewhere. The coordinator of the program at Collinsville High School, a parent whose son went through the program, and STLPR reporter Will Bauer join the show.

How conflicting state and federal laws on gender-affirming care puts ‘hospitals in a bind’

4 months 2 weeks ago
A new lawsuit against the University of Missouri claims the university’s healthcare system violated disability law by refusing to provide certain gender-affirming care to two transgender boys. Attorneys Nicole Gorovsky, Patti Williams and Arindam Kar discuss this case in this November 2023 edition of the Legal Roundtable. They also tackle other legal questions, including whether the city of St. Louis owes compensation to a man it accidentally held in jail for eight months after the charges against him were dropped.

Innocent St. Louis man flagged as ‘wanted’ sues Chesterfield police

4 months 2 weeks ago
The “wanted” policy in the St. Louis region allows police to make an arrest without a warrant or knowledge about the person they're arresting. Tim Reinhardt experienced that first-hand, and is now suing the Chesterfield Police Department. Reinhardt’s attorney, Jack Waldron, calls the wanted system a “substitute for doing police work.” Maureen Hanlon of ArchCity Defenders provides an update on what changed a year after a federal appeals court found the wanted policy legal but “fraught with the risk of violating the Constitution.”

Arch Grants’ investment in startups makes way for new tech to debut in St. Louis

4 months 2 weeks ago
This year alone Arch Grants has awarded over $1.8 million to local startups and small businesses. Since 2012, the organization has backed and mentored hundreds of companies to attract and retain promising businesses — and to breathe new life into St. Louis’ economy. Arch Grants Executive Director Gabe Angieri and 2023 Arch Grants recipient Pierre Paul, the CEO and founder of We Hear You, share how these investments can benefit the entire region.

With legal victory, Missouri abortion rights supporters gear up for legalization effort

4 months 3 weeks ago
Abortion rights supporters scored a legal victory last week when the Missouri Supreme Court declined to take up cases regarding ballot summaries and costs for initiative petitions that would put making abortion legal in front of Missouri voters. STLPR Politics Correspondent Jason Rosenbaum discusses recent developments and a timeline for when voters may be able to cast a ballot on this issue.

Listen to highlights from StoryCorps’ St. Louis visit — and learn how to record your own stories

4 months 3 weeks ago
StoryCorps’ Great Thanksgiving Listen encourages people to talk and listen to one another over the holiday break. These conversations can be between any two people and they help build an oral history of what life is like today. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jonathan Ahl and Miya Norfleet shared some of the conversations recorded in the StoryCorps’ Airstream trailer this fall in St. Louis.