St. Louis on the Air

Over the course of the last week, more than 93,000 fans made their way to Enterprise Center to see some of the best skaters in the world at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. Not only were national champions crowned, an Olympic team was named that will compete at the Winter Games in Milan next month. STLPR’s Brian Munoz and Alex Heuer talk about their coverage of the championships — and what they meant to St. Louis.

It’s been more than a year since Gov. Mike Kehoe announced that state government veteran Jessica Bax would lead the Missouri Department of Social Services. It’s arguably the most challenging state governmental department in Missouri that oversees Medicaid, benefits like SNAP and TANF and the state’s Children Division. Bax joined “the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air” to talk about the big changes ahead for the state’s Medicaid program – and a plan to help retain investigators looking into allegations of child abuse and neglect.

The Missouri General Assembly is back in session. And it’s an open question whether lawmakers can overcome low expectations, especially with Democrats in the Senate still upset by how the GOP cut off debate during the 2025 session. STLPR’s Sarah Kellogg previews the big issues ahead on the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air.

Abortion access in Missouri is at a crossroads. Although legalized by a public referendum in 2024, abortion services did not storm back in Missouri in 2025. Now, advocates for reproductive rights are preparing for a major trial starting Monday that could determine the future of abortion in the state. Planned Parenthood Great Rivers CEO Margot Riphagen looks back on the year in abortion access, the status of medication abortions in Missouri, and what she and her organization expect from the trial.

Black mothers are dying due to pregnancy-related causes at a higher rate than their white counterparts. Birthing advocates say that more than training is needed to decrease the disparity. Lora Gulley, Elena Jenkins and LaKisha Redditt discuss the effects of centuries of medical racism, childbirth alternatives like doula services and midwifery, and what work can be done to reduce pregnancy- and birth-related deaths.

Suffering, grief and death are inescapable components of human experience. Confronting such hardship, says poet Vincent Casaregola, can be a way to embrace life and find meaning. His new collection “Vital Signs” explores the trauma that stems from illness, injury and violence. In this episode, Casaregola reflects on lessons from pandemics throughout human history, the need for awareness and empathy to address issues like homelessness and gun violence, and how writing about trauma has helped him navigate his own grief.

For a few days in December, the hits to St. Louis’ restaurant and bar scene kept coming. Familiar spots like Wheelhouse, New Society and Rock Star Tacos closed. But there were bright spots, too. New places like Scottish Arms and London Tea Room found new life. STLPR’s Jessica Rogen and Abby Llorico talk about the latest openings and closings in St. Louis’ dining scene.

In Forest Park sits the nation’s largest and oldest outdoor theater venue, The Muny. In its 107 seasons, the theater has produced numerous classics – some of which have received a fresh coat of paint to bring them into the modern era. The updated works include “The Wiz”, “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” and “Meet Me in St. Louis”. Mike Isaacson, The Muny’s executive producer and artistic director, discusses the importance of updating these great American musicals and why the Tony Award-winning theater is the perfect place to play with new concepts for outdated shows.

After Robin Proudie learned that 25 of her ancestors were born into enslavement by St. Louis University Jesuit Catholics, she founded Descendants of St. Louis University Enslaved to ensure institutional accountability and commemoration of the enslaved people who helped build the school. Proudie, now a SLU undergrad, provides an update on the group’s work to secure an official public apology from the university, a permanent monument and cash reparations.

2025 was a historic year for the St. Louis region, with issues like tornado recovery and redistricting dominating the headlines. Those issues, and more, will come to shape the news of 2026. On this special reporter roundtable edition of St. Louis on the Air, three STLPR reporters discuss their biggest stories of 2025 and share their thoughts on their ongoing coverage. Economic Development Reporter Kavahn Mansouri, General Assignment Reporter Lacretia Wimbley and Politics Correspondent Jason Rosenbaum take us inside their biggest stories of the past year, from tornado recovery, data centers, jail deaths, and more.