While the Missouri House spent its final week of session working on and passing legislation, the Missouri Senate spent that same week in a record breaking filibuster that later dissolved into dysfunction. What legislation made it across the finish line - and what will have to wait until next year? St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg breaks down the end of the 2024 Missouri legislative session.
Almost 10 years after the police shooting of Michael Brown Jr., questions remain around police reform at the federal and local levels. Civil rights attorney Bakari Sellers says national police reform is dead, and people must vote to start over. St. Louis Public Radio's Andrea Henderson recently spoke with Sellers while he was in town promoting his new book on national politics about ways to implement police reform.
Illinois’ state veterinarian says the latest strain of bird flu that’s shown up in some dairy cattle across the United States doesn’t appear to be a threat to the country’s milk supply. But, Mark Ernst says, it's important to "remain vigilant." We'll hear how veterinarians and agriculture leaders are working to keep H5N1 from spreading.
It’s been nearly three months since the shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade. While the event itself has largely faded from the headlines, recovery remains a daily presence in the lives of the 24 people who were shot and survived. Several still carry the bullets from that day, and are grappling with their wounds, both physically and emotionally. Peggy Lowe reports that medical guidelines aren’t exactly clear about what to do with the bullets.
Six-time Grammy winner David Sanborn has died at the age of 78. He grew up in Kirkwood and built a career playing with giants of many different musical styles. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin spoke with Sanborn in February about the key to his eclectic output.
The Missouri Legislature is set to adjourn on Friday. While lawmakers passed the state budget last week, there are a few big issues that still could come up in the final days. St. Louis Public Radio’s Brian Moline spoke with Statehouse reporter Sarah Kellogg about what has to happen in the final week of the 2024 Missouri Legislative session.
When the pandemic hit in the spring of 2020, a lot of life was put on hold – even those once in a lifetime moments, like high school graduation. Four years later, many members of that year’s senior class are finally experiencing a traditional commencement ceremony, graduating college. St. Louis Public Radio’s Abby Llorico spoke with two St. Louis area students graduating this weekend about how the legacy of the class of 2024 is one of revamped traditions and resilience.
For years, boosters of St. Louis’ technology sector have argued the region needs to double the number of jobs here, but a new report shows fewer openings than in years past. It's prompting some to look to startups as a solution. STLPR's Eric Schmid digs into some of the barriers keeping more startups from flourishing in the St. Louis region.
Missouri is one of the big battleground states over reproductive rights, where abortion is almost entirely illegal. One group that has recently given a significant amount of money to keep it illegal here is Catholic bishops. The Catholic church is strongly opposed to all abortion, but a majority of the faithful in Missouri don’t see it that way. A recent study shows many parishioners don't agree with their church's leadership on the issue, finding six out of 10 Catholics support abortion rights. Reporter Katia Riddle came to Missouri to talk to some of them.
St. Louis Cardinals fans who watch the games on Comcast X-finity were thrown a curveball last week when the Bally Sports Midwest channel disappeared from their TV service. Comcast and Diamond Sports Group couldn’t come to an agreement to keep Bally Sports Midwest and eleven other regional sports channels on the cable tv provider by the May first deadline.
St. Louis Public Radio’s Brian Moline spoke with Evan Drellich, senior writer for The Athletic about this dispute and how it’s indicative of larger issues for Major League Baseball’s television rights.
Pitcher Adam Wainwright retired last year after an impressive 18-year career with the Cardinals. His final season had multiple milestones. Two weeks after securing his landmark 200th win, he performed three original songs after a game at Busch Stadium. It was a preview of his new country album, “Hey Y’all.” St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin asked Wainwright what it was like to perform for Cardinals fans, not with a ball and a glove, but a microphone and guitar.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey opened a tip line last year to get information about care of transgender people that could be considered abusive or illegal. St. Louis On The Air Producer Danny Wicentowski submitted a sunshine request for what was sent in during the first 48 hours it was open. He spoke with Elaine Cha about what he found: that most of the input was in favor of transgender care and critical of Bailey.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker wants state employees to have access to medication to help them lose weight. But the price tag, and how it was passed, has lawmakers and taxpayers outraged. Dave McKinney has more on the plan to cover injectable weight-loss drugs like Ozempic on the tax-payer dime.
Since 1952, Schwan’s has gone door to door delivering frozen food. Its yellow trucks, ice cream treats and customer service won the company a dedicated customer base. But recently, Schwan’s changed its name and stopped deliveries in most states. Harvest Public Media’s Elizabeth Rembert explores the company’s legacy and future.
The work of Colombian artist Delcy Morelos makes connections between political bloodshed and degradation of the natural environment, particularly in places where conflict over the land has left a legacy of blood. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin reports on a rare solo exhibition of the artist’s work now on view at Pulitzer Arts Foundation.
St. Louis has the highest rate of syphilis infections in the state. Cases of congenital syphilis among newborn babies are rising, too. St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Fentem speaks with Suzanne Alexander of the St. Louis Department of Health about how local officials hope to reduce the infection's spread.
If backers of an abortion rights initiative turn in enough signatures by May 5, Missourians could be voting to end the state’s ban on the procedure in November. While polling shows some GOP support for the measure, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum reports that it’s up for debate whether the ballot item hurts Republican electoral prospects.
An article published this month in a national publication put St. Louis in the spotlight—with a dark warning: beware the doom loop. It points to empty office buildings and shuttered restaurants, calling Downtown a “Real Estate Nightmare.” People are talking about it, but what's the conversation missing? Abby Llorico and Economic Development Reporter Eric Schmid discuss the response from the local business community.
NPR National Political correspondent Sarah McCammon recently released "The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church." It is part memoir and part exploration into the role Evangelicals play in politics. In a conversation with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, McCammon first talked about how her book connected with a wide audience — including people who didn’t grow up Evangelical like her.
A large number of Missourians and Illinoisans say college is still worth it. That’s according to a new report from the Strada Education Foundation. The State Opportunity Index calculates a positive return on investment score for each state.
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