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Businesses throughout Missouri continue to reopen. In Rolla, some owners say they will bounce back from the pandemic, while others are concerned about new restrictions. Also, businesses in the Metro East still have to wait before they can allow customers to return.

As day cares set to reopen in the coming weeks, host Sarah Fenske explores how some centers will navigate the ever-so-changing guidelines. Joining are a provider that has remained open to provide care for children of health care and essential workers, and a provider that is set to reopen soon.

As a nine-year-old, John O’Leary nearly died. He was playing in his garage in St. Louis when he accidentally set off an explosion. He was left with third-degree burns covering his entire body — and even had to have his fingers amputated. O’Leary recounted the story of his near-death and ultimate survival in his book “On Fire,” which became a national bestseller. And now he’s back with another book: “In Awe: Rediscover Your Childlike Wonder to Unleash Inspiration, Meaning, and Joy.” In this interview, O’Leary explains his thesis: that we start life with all the right tools for happiness, only to have childlike senses such as “wonder” and “expectancy” drilled out of us. He talks about how to reclaim these tools, and how to rediscover our belief that anything is possible.

More St. Louis region workers are feeling the financial impact of the pandemic. BJC Healthcare says about 10 percent of its staff could be furloughed for roughly 8 weeks. The University of Missouri-St. Louis has announced salary reductions as it reacts to the coronavirus. Also, the pandemic is reviving the popularity of the drive-in movie.

A masked violinist has been making music while strolling the streets of Alton. There are rumors that she's a ghost from the Mississippi River and that she hasn’t been seen since the 1918 influenza. She calls herself the Fiddle Assassin, and says her only enemy is the coronavirus. In this episode, Sarah Fenske talks with the violinist about what it's been like to play for the empty streets of Alton during the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 260,000 Missourians filed claims showing they were unemployed as of May 2. To Jeff Mazur, the executive director of the tech training nonprofit LaunchCode, the numbers are a wakeup call for workforce training programs, which he believes have failed to keep up with the realities of the modern workplace. Mazur and state Senator Brian Williams (D-Ferguson) will discuss some of the challenges likely to face St. Louis-area workers once the pandemic ends — and what it will take to meet them where they’re at in a changing world.

In addition to caring for their patients, nurses are often the glue that holds families together during a crisis. That level of care can sometimes lead to compassion fatigue, according to Cindy Lefton, a registered nurse and vice president of organizational consulting at Psychological Associates. As the coronavirus pandemic takes a toll on healthcare workers in the region, Lefton talks with host Sarah Fenske about the importance of nurse recognition and appreciation, as well as some practical ways nurses can stave off burnout and compassion fatigue

Many stores and restaurants in the region are reporting brisk business after reopening following the coronavirus-related shutdown. Also, for many African Americans, the outbreak is a reminder of the health and economic disparities in the St. Louis area.

Before COVID-19 spread throughout the St. Louis region, many graduating college seniors had their eyes set on internships and prospective careers. Then the pandemic led many businesses to rescind offers or turn applicants away. Now, many young adults are facing a newly uncertain job market full of unexpected challenges and trends. Host Sarah Fenske talks with John Link, Webster’s director of career services, and hears from local grads about how they’re figuring out next steps.

After nearly eight weeks of coronavirus-related stay-at-home orders, St. Louis County officially begins to reopen on Monday, May 18 — with a few caveats. Some businesses, like gyms, swimming pools and bars that do not serve food, remain closed. But businesses such as restaurants and hair salons will open at limited capacity. St. Louis County Executive Sam Page said reduced capacities, masks and barriers between customers and employees will be “our new normal.” Dr. Page talks with host Sarah Fenske about the reasoning behind certain restrictions and his expectations for this next phase.

Our dear board member and friend, Floyd Wight, passed away April 26, 2020 at his home in the Southwest Garden neighborhood. He will be missed as a fierce advocate of City living and attracting investment into our neighborhoods. He was a leader, gentle and kind. Floyd believed in our TGNCDC/neighborhood redevelopment work to the core as it was an extension of his passion; helping people and neighborhoods thrive. We all have fond memories of Floyd, who was never shy to voice his opinion, and he will be greatly missed by all who were lucky enough to have him in their lives. His impact will never be forgotten and his legacy will live on in our work. Below is a photo of Floyd receiving the Community Builders Award for Excellence in Resident Leadership. Here is his obituary with more information: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/stltoday/obituary.aspx?n=floyd-k-wright&pid=196092639 

Please keep Floyd's loved ones in your thoughts and prayers.

Many non-essential businesses in the area can reopen today. They have been shut down for weeks because of the coronavirus. Also, the just-completed Missouri legislative session will be remembered for how it was affected by the pandemic.

Monday’s show (May 18) will include a focus on the unique challenges this coronavirus pandemic presents for college students. Graduating seniors are closing one chapter of life this spring and beginning a new one, during one of the most uncertain periods in all of our lifetimes. And as we look toward that segment next week, a project aimed at college students has caught our attention this week. On social media, a Zoom-style video making the rounds featured the music department at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. It’s their very own version of Carole King’s timeless song, “You’ve Got A Friend.” Instrumental and choral faculty alike lent their voices to different lines of the song. They also played violins and cellos and, in a few cases, shared some visual antics. Take a listen and hear the masterminds behind the project describe how they brought it all together as a gift for their students.

Host Sarah Fenske talks with NASA engineer Dajae Williams, a St. Louis Native, on how she’s using hip hop to make math and science more accessible to young people.

In 2018, voters approved the Clean Missouri constitutional amendment that included state redistricting and ethics changes. Now the Missouri House is backing an initiative to repeal the effort. In this interview, host Sarah Fenske talks with St. Louis Public Radio correspondent Jason Rosenbaum about his reporting on the ballot initiative aimed at repealing the Clean Missouri redistricting system.

St. Louis Fire Department employees are working on the front lines during the coronavirus pandemic. Captain Garon Mosby talks with host Sarah Fenske about the ongoing COVID-19 toll and some of the challenges the department faces as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. Also included are pre-recorded comments from Laura Keller, executive director of the St. Louis Fire Department Foundation, who herself battled COVID-19.

Most schools have been forced to shift to online teaching during the pandemic. But many students in Missouri do not have a strong enough internet connection to learn from home. Also, Illinois is forming a task force to examine how students can safely return to colleges and universities in the fall.

The local Muslim community are halfway through observing the holy month of Ramadan. But this year, they've had to navigate it differently in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. With mosques closed, and social distancing recommended by city and county officials, many are having to observe the occasion without their friends and family. Joining host Sarah Fenske to talk about the changes are Dr. Mahrukh Khan and Donnell "Malik" Sims. They share how they're observing Ramadan while they treating and caring for patients infected with COVID-19 in underserved areas.

Back in March, the University of Missouri-St. Louis put out a university-wide call, asking those with 3D printers to print face masks in light of COVID-19. Glen Anderson, an associate professor at UMSL, sought to answer that call. After some research, Anderson soon found out that printing masks with these particular machines just wasn't feasible. Instead, he continued brainstorming and turned to manufacturing surgical mask ear savers. Host Sarah Fenske talks with Anderson about his grassroots operation aimed at making critical workers just a little more comfortable. The conversation also includes comments from two local respiratory therapists who are using the devices.

Musician Pokey LaFarge’s concerts scheduled for this weekend at Off Broadway are on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic. Leaving St. Louis for LA in 2018, LaFarge has gone through a self-described “fall from grace.” He’s now out with his eighth studio album and producer Alex Heuer talked with him.