St. Louis on the Air

StoryCorps is visiting St. Louis for the first time in nearly a decade. From Sept. 14 - Oct. 20, the nonprofit’s signature Airstream will be in the Public Media Commons just outside STLPR’s studios. In this episode, we talk with Lea Zikmund, director of StoryCorps’ Mobile Tour, and we listen to past, memorable stories with St. Louis ties.

The membership of boards and commissions in Missouri does not reflect the racial, ethnic and gender composition of the state. These boards are important not only for the immediate impact they have on communities; they often serve as a launching pad for individuals seeking public office. UMSL political scientist Anita Manion shares the details of her latest report.

For St. Louis-born artist Aaron Fowler, hip-hop is woven into his art. The influence is evident in his nine-foot long, five-foot tall sculpture “Live Culture Force 1’s” which is now displayed at the St. Louis Art Museum’s “The Culture: Hip-Hop and Contemporary Art the 21st Century” through the end of the year.

Next week, the NFL kicks off its season in Kansas City. Meanwhile, college football started this week. It's a big deal for sports -- and sports gambling. People in Missouri really really want to gamble, but if they want to bet on their favorite teams, they'll have to cross state lines. Missouri lawmakers are getting ready to try, for the third consecutive year, to legalize sports betting. St. Louis Public Radio's Statehouse and Politics Reporter Sarah Kellogg, breaks down the supporters and opponents, where gambling revenue goes, and what might change with the involvement of the state's biggest sports teams, including the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Legal Roundtable dives into local and regional lawsuits and litigation. This month that includes a lawsuit filed by Lt. Col. Michael Sack, a white officer with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. Sack alleges that St. Louis discriminated against him when it hired another white candidate as the new chief of police. This edition of the Legal Roundtable features attorneys Javad Khazaeli, a former prosecutor and founding member with the St. Louis firm Khazaeli Wyrsch; Dave Roland, the director of litigation at the Freedom Center of Missouri; and Susan McGraugh, director of the criminal defense legal clinic at St. Louis University School of Law.

The number of U.S. college students pursuing education degrees has dropped dramatically in the past few decades. The Teach & Lead program at Ritenour High School aims to reverse that trend by providing education training and mentorship to high schoolers. In return, participants are expected to return to their local school district as teachers after college graduation. That’s what happened to Christina Andrade Melly, 2023’s Missouri Teacher of the Year. Andrade Melly grew up in the Ritenour School District, and she shares why she returned to teach English and Language Arts.

The transition to college is filled with complex personal and academic changes. A new Washington University course “Bearprints for Success” aims to guide students through their first few months of college. Tim Bono, a lecturer in psychology studies and assistant dean at the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, talks about how the course prepares students for the inevitable challenges of college life.

University City native and Disney special effects supervisor Marlon West watched protests across the country after the deaths of George Floyd and Brianna Taylor in 2020. West was compelled to “pay tribute” to slain Black Americans and civil rights icons. What started as a four illustration project ended in over forty images and a project titled “Ink Tributes,” many of which are on display at St. Louis University Museum of Art.

St. Louis is known for its philanthropic generosity. But for many Black-led and Black-serving nonprofits in the region, donors generally don’t fund them at the same level as they fund white-led organizations. Why is that? What can be done to close that gap? Tackling those questions are Gladiator Consulting’s Rachel D’Souza, Shelly Williams of Access Academies, and UrbArts founder MK Stallings discuss how funding gaps stymie growth, and how efforts like Giving Black Day can help.

For the fifth day in a row, the St. Louis region is experiencing dangerous heat that is near record-breaking levels. It’s also the first week of school for many students in the region. STLPR senior education reporter Kate Grumke discusses issues with bus transportation and athletics as well as what schools are doing to cope with the heat including early dismissals and virtual learning.