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During the special legislative session this week, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson called for lawmakers to allow the state's attorney general to intervene in local homicide cases. In this interview, St. Louis Public Radio reporter Rachel Lippmann discusses the governor’s attempts to solve St. Louis’ crime problem. She also talks about the work of the federal agents who have been handling homicide cases in St. Louis for a few years and how Operation LeGend fits into that effort.

Michael Kinch is as eager as anyone for a COVID-19 vaccine. But the Washington University professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics is also worried about the potential implications of rushing through development and U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, especially with so much political pressure in the mix.

The Mark Twain National Forest is deploying a herd of goats to eat non-native plants. It's a natural and cheap alternative to using herbicides and mowing.

Many COVID-19 patients report both physical and psychological problems after leaving the hospital. Their experience is referred to as “post intensive care syndrome.” Now a new University of Missouri-St. Louis psychosocial rehabilitation group aims to help adults aged 50 and older as they deal with the syndrome and the overall recovery process. In this episode, we learn about why such a group is necessary from clinical geropsychologist Ann Steffen, a professor of psychological sciences at UMSL.

This November, the Missouri legislature is asking voters statewide to consider a constitutional amendment to repeal the one they approved two years ago. Clean Missouri's campaign manager explains the arguments against repeal.

Outlets that spur creativity can help draw people out of the mental staleness brought upon by recurring daily routines. Music is Brianna Brown’s saving grace. Her stage name is Be.Be, and the R&B and soul singer wants to spread awareness about music’s impact on mental health.

More than 60,000 people in Missouri who have served time in prison are unable to vote because they are on probation or parole. Tracy Stanton with EX-incarcerated People Organizing-MO, or EXPO-MO, is working to change that.

We re-connect with our friends at Sauce Magazine to hear about what new food and drink establishments to check out in the area. Joining the conversation are Meera Nagarajan and Heather Hughes Huff, art director and managing editor, respectively.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch education reporter Blythe Bernhard put the school re-opening situation in stark terms in a story last week: “No public school in St. Louis city or county will open five days a week to all students this fall,” she wrote. “No private school is likely to open 100% online.” In this interview, Bernhard talks about why some private schools are seeing rising enrollment for the fall semester and why private institutions are offering more in-person learning than their public counterparts.

A year ago, high school student Dakota Warren could often be found in the backyard of biologist Patty Parker, catching birds in an effort to get blood samples. When she wasn’t in Parker’s yard, she was busy in Parker’s lab at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, conducting DNA research with those samples. This summer, Warren planned to return to Parker’s lab, but then the pandemic hit. And like most people with any plans for 2020, Parker and her teenage interns had to rethink theirs.

Black therapists have been in high demand since the killing of George Floyd. They offer a space for Black people to feel heard and valued. Many patients are using sessions to discuss police brutality, racial trauma, and other anxieties.

A rise in confirmed COVID-19 cases has postponed St. Louis Symphony Orchestra's season again. However, that hasn’t stopped the musicians from continuing to serenade community members. SLSO musicians are traveling to different neighborhoods to play music for residents during the pandemic. These aren’t anything like a regular Powell Hall performance — there aren’t any fancy clothes, balcony seats or rehearsals involved. Just musical connection.

Missouri 1st Congressional District nominee Cori Bush has been a protest leader, a single mom, a pastor and a nurse. Now she’s likely headed to Washington D.C. In this episode, Bush joins host Sarah Fenske to talk about her goals for office and what she sees as the biggest challenges ahead.

Some are against wearing masks during the pandemic. Doctors and public health experts insist face coverings could slow the spread of coronavirus by keeping it from traveling out of a person's mouth.

Both the Crime Bill signed by Missouri Governor Parson in July and the crime-focused special session now underway in Jefferson City could lead to longer sentences for Missouri defendants. Two experts share concerns about the state's "tough on crime" direction.

America's entertainment industry has St. Louis to thank for the creativity fueling some of the most wildly popular shows out there these days. And that includes the Smith sisters: Mariah, Rachel Colleen and Lauren Ashley Smith. On top of other pursuits, the three of them have now combined forces to host their new SiriusXM initiative "Smith Sisters Live,” a six-week pop culture show. They join host Sarah Fenske to talk about how their St. Louis roots have impacted their outlooks on life and career paths.

Farms have been slow to use solar power because of start-up costs and other issues. But the technology appears to be catching on with more farmers in Missouri thanks to a USDA grant program.

After easily winning in a challenge for re-election on Tuesday night, St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura Jones chose to reflect on one of the unmistakable themes of the 2020 Missouri primary: Black women prevailing in bruising, and often, personal elections. For Jones, Tuesday was about “a wave of Black girl magic that’s hit Missouri.” She pointed to Democratic wins by St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, Lt. Gov. nominee Alissa Canady and, of course, 1st Congressional District nominee Cori Bush. St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum, Jaclyn Driscoll and Rachel Lippmann break down Tuesday's pivotal primary election.

Tuesday’s primary election in Missouri saw many incumbents hold onto their seats — and one major upset. St. Louis Public Radio correspondent Jason Rosenbaum discusses Cori Bush’s remarkable victory over incumbent U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay, as well as the passage of Missouri Amendment 2, which makes Missouri the 38th state to expand Medicaid.

We check in with Tony Simokaitis, scoreboard director for the St. Louis Cardinals. His job is to create that faux-crowd energy in an empty ballpark — if the team ever gets back on the field. Seven Cardinals players and six staff members tested positive for the coronavirus. Sports writer Derrick Goold gives us the latest on that.