Aggregator

As more people work from home during the COVID-19 outbreak, it's harder than ever to hit your 10,000 step goals. Some have found themselves gaining weight. Author (and self-described "former fat guy") Andy Boyle joins host Sarah Fenske to discuss his new book "Big Problems," which delves into "why we're getting fatter and what you can do to fix it."

Back in January, long before other Americans were suddenly stocking up on groceries and other essentials, Regina Mossotti and her colleagues were already paying close attention to COVID-19 headlines. They decided to order several months’ worth of food — for their wolves, that is. And now, they’re glad they did. Mossotti, a wildlife biologist, is director of animal care and conservation at the Endangered Wolf Center in Eureka, Missouri. While some staff members are now working from home, Mossotti and other animal caregivers are carefully continuing their essential on-site roles, even as they’ve had to temporarily shut down the educational programs so critical to the nonprofit’s revenue. In this segment, Mossotti joins host Sarah Fenske to discuss how the nearly 50-year-old nonprofit is adapting its efforts during this pandemic — and brainstorming alternative funding streams.

Host Sarah Fenske talks with St. Louis Public Radio health reporter Sarah Fentem about the fears emergency room doctors are facing as they’re treating the most seriously ill or injured patients from COVID-19 — a disease that puts them, their co-workers and their families at risk.

The pandemic is expected to peak in St. Louis late this week. Health officials say fewer people will need to be hospitalized than initially thought because social distancing is working. Also, the St. Louis Board of Alderman will meet today through an online platform for its first session since the stay-at-home order went into effect.

On Friday’s “St. Louis on the Air” host Sarah Fenske talks to the newly appointed University of Missouri-St. Louis Chancellor Kristin Sobolik who joins us for a look at how she plans to lead the university in the challenging months ahead.

In this episode of the talk show, local business owner Rob Connoley, who owns Bulrush in Grand Center, joins host Sarah Fenske and talks about his process of applying for a forgivable loan through the U.S. Small Business Administration. Also in the discussion is Joe Roberts, director of Webster University’s Entrepreneurship Program. Roberts talks about challenges people have encountered applying for the loans.

With St. Louis area officials extending stay at home orders either indefinitely or until mid May, the curve seems to be reaching its peak. That’s according to Dr. Alex Garza, the chief medical officer at SSM Health and is the commander of the St. Louis Metropolitan Pandemic Task Force. Garza, who joins host Sarah Fenske on Friday’s “St. Louis on the Air” talks about predictions regarding COVID-19 hospitalizations reaching its peak as early as April 25, but he cautions it’s not over yet.

Missouri's governor is keeping a stay-at-home order in place until May 3. The decision by Mike Parson comes as officials in St. Louis city and county announce an indefinite extension of their stay-at-home guidelines. Also, the outbreak is prompting pregnant women in the region to rethink birth plans.

On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum talks with Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller and Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon about how Missouri elections should proceed amid the COVID-19 crisis. Schoeller, a Republican, and Lennon, a Democrat, have been working on a public policy response together since the coronavirus outbreak came to the state. Their main objective is to make absentee ballots more available to people during a pandemic or emergency.

For most people, the main ingredients of social distancing and self-quarantine include the walls of one’s dwelling, a solid stash of groceries and a comfy couch. But Mike Clark, who’s the founder of Big Muddy Adventures, isn’t like most people. Since the COVID-19 outbreak started to spread throughout the St. Louis area, Clark left the city for an isolated location on the Mississippi River for a purpose — to raise money for the Gateway Resilience Fund. Big Muddy Adventures is encouraging people to pledge $1, $5 or maybe even $10 to the local COVID-19 relief fund for each day Clark stays put.

Many regular transit riders have taken to heart the push to only use buses and trains right now if absolutely necessary. And, as is the case among other rail and bus systems across the country, Metro Transit ridership and service frequency have both decreased significantly. Meanwhile, the transit agency has taken steps to try to protect its workforce, but some bus drivers and other workers would like to see more action. In this episode of the talk show, Bi-State Development CEO and President Taulby Roach joins host Sarah Fenske to provide the latest updates on the current challenges facing transit workers, riders and leaders.

Following the April 9 shakeup when officers woke up tent residents at 14th and Market Street at 4 a.m. and told them to leave, many have received conflicting messages from police since that day on whether they should vacate the premises. On Thursday’s “St. Louis on the Air” host Sarah Fenske joins Alex Cohen, a member of grassroots collective #TentMissionSTL, and talks to him about what’s going on in the tent encampments downtown. During the conversation, Cohen will discuss what #TentMissionSTL is doing to ensure the safety of the homeless population in St. Louis. Chico Williams, who stays in one of the tents downtown, will also join the discussion and give a first-hand account of what he’s experienced during the coronavirus outbreak in the city.

Doctors and other medical workers are on the front lines during the pandemic. Many are worried about getting infected and the safety of their families. Also, elected officials in Missouri continue to talk about extending stay-at-home orders to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Host Sarah Fenske checks in with how doulas have had their practice disrupted due to the coronavirus and their efforts to ensure that their presence remains in hospitals, for the families that wish to have in-person care.

Vivian Gibson's new memoir describes growing up in St. Louis' Mill Creek neighborhood, a black enclave the city razed in 1959 in the name of urban renewal. Gibson discusses her book with host Sarah Fenske and how she became a published author at 71.

Many St. Louis-area residents are having a tough time with mental health issues as they try to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. They are worried about a lack of structure and an uncertain future. Also, St. Louis County's executive wants to establish a special fund of federal money to fight the coronavirus.

On April 8, St. Louis Health Director Dr. Fred Echols brought attention to the fact that, at that point, all 12 people who died of COVID-19 in St. Louis were African American. This echoed what other cities have experienced in treating COVID-19 patients — there are racial disparities in who is more at risk of a COVID-19 diagnosis due to long-standing socioeconomic factors that have disproportionately affected black Americans. In this episode, guests discuss the inequalities brought into stark light by COVID-19. Joining the conversation: Washington University’s Dr. Laurie Punch, who is currently working in Christian Hospital Northeast’s ICU, and Michal Grinstein-Weiss, the director of Washington University’s Social Policy Institute and of the Centene Center for Health Transformation. Grinstein-Weiss recently looked into COVID-19 case counts in ZIP codes across the St. Louis region.

Musicians around the country are having to postpone concerts across various areas in the region due to the COVID-19 outbreak. "St. Louis on the Air" touched base with five area musicians to see how they’re experimenting with reaching audiences in different ways — from dropping new projects while self-isolating to putting on free virtual concerts.

While many are sheltering in place during the COVID-19 outbreak and looking for something to do, some are turning to gardening to pass the time. For National Gardening Day, Missouri Botanical Garden’s Daria Mckelvey joined host Sarah Fenske on Tuesday’s “St. Louis on the Air” to give advice to those wanting to get their start tending to plants.

More than 240-thousand Missouri residents have filed for unemployment benefits since the start of the pandemic. Many are very concerned about whether they'll ever be able to return to their jobs. Also, elected officials in St. Louis County and the city are suggesting an extension of social distancing guidelines and stay-at-home-orders.