U.S. Congressman William Lacy Clay Jr. (D-St. Louis) is issuing a dire warning when it comes to President Donald Trump’s actions regarding Iran. “If we don’t reign in this president’s recklessness, we will commit young men and women to a war zone in the Middle East, and the results will be a catastrophe,” he says in this episode of the talk show. “I’ve seen this before,” he continues. “And apparently no one in this president’s family has ever served in the military or ever gone to war, so it probably doesn’t faze him. He doesn’t realize what the damage will be to Americans in a war zone. It’s so cavalier.” In his conversation with host Sarah Fenske, Clay also has harsh words for the city of St. Louis’ aborted exploration of airport privatization. Months before Mayor Lyda Krewson pulled the plug on the costly effort, Clay had called for a public vote on any deal to lease St. Louis Lambert International Airport.
Thousands of Missouri residents have received medical cannabis cards, and dispensaries are gearing up to begin sales of the product later this year, likely in the spring. Physicians have the ability to prescribe medical marijuana to patients via the state’s certification form, although they are not obligated to do so. Sarah Fenske talks with two physicians, who are also sisters, to get a sense of how they are preparing for implementation of this new law, and why they react differently when patients request their signatures on a medical marijuana certification form.
Ashland Elementary School is surrounded by some of the worst gun violence in St. Louis. Students bring the toxic stress and trauma of crime into the classroom. The school has become a safe space in the community that includes the Penrose and O'Fallon neighborhoods.
St. Louis Police Chief John Hayden says his crime-fighting strategy in north St. Louis, known as “Hayden’s Rectangle,” is working to curb violence in the city. In this interview, he talks with Sarah Fenske about this strategy, as well as the recent spate of violence on New Year’s Eve, the biggest impediments to officer recruitment and his goals for the coming months.
For those interested in learning more about East St. Louis’ rich cultural legacy, a new “music and history walk” is one route to consider. Treasure Shields Redmond, daughter of East St. Louis Poet Laureate Eugene Redmond, is organizing opportunities for hipsters, jazz nerds and genuinely curious minds alike. Host Sarah Fenske talks with Shields Redmond how opportunities like the Historic Jazz & Poetry Excursion is showing the world a different East St. Louis than what you might see on the evening news.
Missouri has collected more than 2,000 applications for medical marijuana business licenses - but who will bank those businesses? Many are not willing to take on the risk for something that is illegal at the federal level. St. Louis Public Radio reporter Corinne Ruff talks with Sarah Fenske about her exploration into the challenges facing banks hoping to get involved in this new industry.
Mental health first aid is gaining popularity throughout the United States. Like traditional first aid, it teaches people how to recognize problems and help people having a crisis. Local courses aim to help people understand mental health issues and offer empathy and care, not judgment and stigma.
This weekend, the Black Rep premieres its production of playwright August Wilson’s “Two Trains Running,” which tells the story of regulars at a Pittsburgh diner grappling with the civil rights movement, eminent domain and the threat of an urban renewal program that will change their neighborhood. In this segment, Sarah Fenske talks about the production with the Black Rep’s founder, Ron Himes, as well as the director for the Black Rep’s production of “Two Trains Running,” Ed Smith.
Host Sarah Fenske discusses the Excel Center and its vision for 2020. The program is an alternative tuition-free high school that helps adults over the age of 21 earn their high school diplomas. Joining the discussion is Jadee Lauer, St. Louis Excel Center director, and Victor Tenn, a recent graduate of the program.
Wednesday kicked off the new legislative session for the Missouri House and Senate. That means a whole host of lawmakers vying to get their bills passed. And it could mean changes to how they govern -- and how we live our lives. Joining host Sarah Fenske for this conversation from Jefferson City is St. Louis Public Radio reporter Jaclyn Driscoll. Also participating in the discussion are Missouri Speaker of the House Elijah Haahr and Senate Minority Leader Gina Walsh.
Missouri has collected more than 2,000 applications for medical marijuana business licenses - but who will bank those businesses? Many are not willing to take on the risk for something that is illegal at the federal level.
It's just before sunset in Forest Park, a nature haven in the City of of St. Louis. A man in a parka, toting backpack full of recording equipment, strides into a wooded copse he knows well. He listens, waiting, but not for too long. An owl calls.
Mark H.X. Glenshaw has made this kind of trek most days since December 2005. His habits of observation are a personal passion, and a source of inspiration to many who join his Owl Prowls.
The Owl Man of Forest Park shares recent stories of Charles, a male Great Horned Owl he has been observing now for 14 years, and of Charles mates Sarah, Samantha, Olivia and now Danielle. He gives park owls these names, but that's his romantic nod to the Great Horned Owls he loves. His citizen science is meticulous, passionate, persistent and generously shared. You can join him!
Music: Abdiel, performed live at KDHX by Dave Black
The St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station opened with a big splash on Christmas Day. Thousands of area residents have been streaming through its gates in the two weeks since, and aquarium staff have had to turn some families away due to sell-out crowds. For executive director Tami Brown, that and frustration with long lines have been the only downsides of an otherwise successful launch of the new downtown destination. Many visitors have expressed excitement about their experiences, staff have been enthusiastic about their interactions with visitors and animals alike, and the many marine species who now call the aquarium home seem to be adapting well. In this segment, Brown joins host Sarah Fenske for a deeper dive into the new activity at Union Station. Also joining the conversation is St. Louis Aquarium curator Aaron Sprowl, who discusses the wide-ranging creatures and their transition to a new space. The podcast also includes an audio tour of the aquarium, first impressions from children and adults alike, and plenty of questions from listeners who call into the show.
Two of the largest library systems in the St. Louis region are axing fines for overdue library materials. St. Louis County Library and St. Louis Public Library join a trend of major metropolitan library districts across the U.S.— including Kansas City, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City and Chicago — that have eliminated fines for their users in an effort to increase access and equity within the communities they serve. Kristen Sorth of SLCL and Waller McGuire of SLPL join host Sarah Fenske for a conversation about the significance of this change, and two listeners share their stories as well.
Ten years ago today, a disgruntled ABB Power employee walked into the St. Louis business and killed three coworkers and wounded five more before killing himself. We look back on how that day changed many lives.
On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio's Julie O'Donoghue, Jaclyn Driscoll and Jason Rosenbaum take a look at the big issues Missouri lawmakers may take on during the 2020 session.
Some of the topics could include overhauling a recently-enacted change to Missouri state legislative redistricting, as well as measures to curb gun violence and expand gambling.
Host Sarah Fenske talks with our partners from Sauce Magazine about the latest additions to the St. Louis region’s food and beverage community to check out this January.
Picture this. You’re driving on the highway when you get pulled over. The police rifle through your car. And then they help themselves to any cash they find, pushing you to sign a waiver that relinquishes your rights to it. They say if you don’t sign, you could be looking at years in prison. It might sound crazy, but it's actually a longstanding process throughout the country. And, as journalist Bill Freivogel discovered, it’s alive and well in Missouri. Local police agencies routinely seize large amounts of cash without ever charging suspects. They then use that money to build new headquarters, or buy military equipment or in one case, even a margarita maker. It’s called asset forfeiture. Freivogel has been covering the issue in depth over the past year in a series called Taken reported in conjunction with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. He joins host Sarah Fenske in this segment to talk about it.
Business owners of color have historically faced barriers in access to affordable loans. It's another hurdle for owners, but some have been able to run their businesses with the odds stacked against them.
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