St. Louis on the Air

Regional live theater venues are struggling to attract audiences back to the theater since COVID-19 restrictions shut down productions for nearly two years. STL Fringe Fest have weathered the storm and this year’s festival features 42 acts and organizers are seeing an uptick in sales. In this episode, Matthew Kerns, president and artistic director of St. Lou Fringe, joins Lindy Drew of Humans of St. Louis and burlesque performer Sara Howard aka Dizzy Tunt to talk about what audiences can expect in this years STL Fringe Fest.

International superstar Beyoncé will be in St. Louis on August 21 for the Renaissance tour at the Dome in Downtown. Local members of the “BeyHive” are buzzing about Queen Bey’s arrival as viral videos of her past performances are shared across the web. DJ Nico Marie will host a Beyoncé-themed party with fellow DJ Makeda Kravitz at Sophie’s Artist Lounge prior to Renaissance’s arrival.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is at the center of a landmark dispute over how the federal government can interact with social media platforms. In Missouri v. Biden, the state contends an appeals court should keep in place a lower court’s injunction that restricts federal employees from trying to get social media companies to take down content. STLPR political correspondent Jason Rosenbaum talks with Bailey.

The St. Louis Art Museum's new exhibition, “The Culture,” honors the 50th anniversary of hip-hop and how it influenced art, including how it shaped fashion styles. Exhibit curator Hannah Klemm and former curatorial research fellow Rikki Byrd discuss the exhibit with a focus on aesthetics and how fashion is central in hip-hop culture.

With his first brick-and-mortar restaurant, St. Louis chef Juwan Rice wants to invite diners into an intimate space — one that has the feel of a private dinner party. Rated Test Kitchen’s seven-course menu will change on a monthly basis, it will be experimental (crystal-clear bread, anyone?) and guests are invited to share their feedback on each course. Rice hopes to provide a space where both locals and tourists will flock to in downtown St. Louis.

The Vincentians will dedicate a new mission house on Lafayette near the intersection of I-44 and Grand Blvd. in St. Louis this Saturday. The Catholic community arrived in St. Louis in 1818 and is refocusing its efforts on the city. Named after St. Vincent de Paul, Vincentians are known for their work serving poor people and marginalized communities. The Rev. Patrick McDevitt discusses the new mission house and how he hopes its presence will help the community and recruit more Catholic clergy.

Delmar Main Street aims to counter the effects of the “Delmar Divide.” The organization focuses on the business corridor between Skinker Blvd. and Taylor Ave., and they are the host of the Black Business Expo being held August 26 at Delmar Blvd. and Hamilton Ave. West End resident and Delmar Main Street Vice President Lisa Potts shares what folks can expect at the expo and how “buying Black” helps communities across the region. Marcus Howard, founder and CEO of GreaterHealth Pharmacy and Wellness, also joins the discussion.

At the STL8 Amazon warehouse in St. Peters, workers say their bodies are being broken by a management system that monitors their actions down to the second. Amazon warehouse employee Wendy Taylor is one of 14 workers who submitted a federal complaint to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) earlier this month. She describes what it’s like to be injured on the job, and the pressure to package thousands of items while being monitored by Amazon.

Residents of Missouri nursing homes average just three hours, each day, of care. Nursing homes across the state are also facing serious shortages in staffing. Three guests, including a local CNA working to improve worker pay and professional advancement, discuss what needs to be done to change the situation.

Brooklyn, Illinois was the first Black town to be incorporated, but its rich history is at risk of being lost. Roberta Rogers, former president of the Historical Society of Brooklyn, and Quinn Adamowski of Landmarks Illinois talk about the town’s history and efforts to support its continued existence.