St. Louis on the Air

As Ramadan nears its end and Eid draws closer, a co-founder of the sustainability committee at the Daar Ul-Islam mosque talks about how sustainability practices in Islam are especially important during Ramadan.

Spring is here and gardeners are ready to get back to their yards, porches and balconies to bring life back to their dwellings. Many are hesitant to get started because of the unpredictable weather and a steadily changing climate. But the Kemper Center of Home Gardening at Missouri Botanical Garden is here to help.

For 25 years, musicians of all levels have gathered for the annual St. Louis Tionól — not just to perform traditional Irish music, but to bask in the companionship of fellow performers and attendees. As festival co-founder Mike Mullins puts it, “The heart of Irish music is a social event.”

There’s a new parent at the World Bird Sanctuary. His name is Murphy. He’s a bald eagle. In March, he began to attract attention when he was spotted incubating a rock in his enclosure. Murphy’s fixation on fatherhood went viral, but his story didn’t end there. Last week, the sanctuary introduced Murphy to an orphaned baby eaglet. World Bird Sanctuary executive director Roger Holloway discusses the incredible story of Murphy, the bird’s unusual journey into parenthood, and what comes next for the now internet-famous pair.

Did pandemic policies that reduced jail populations lead to an increase in violent crime? Two new reports say “no.” Criminologist and professor Beth Huebner and the Freedom Community Center’s Mike Milton discuss the data, and provide an update on how local courts are returning to their pre-pandemic policies — and throwing more people in jail before trial.

First impressions can tell you a lot about a person. The first few words out of a person’s mouth can give you an idea of where somewhere has come from and where they’ve been. Comedian Tru Wag, born Brandon Wagner, is so proud to be from St. Louis that he began making skits and “accent challenges” celebrating his accent on Tik Tok and Instagram, where he has amassed a combined 208,000 followers.

Looking for a new comic book to read? The Wizard’s Wagon has you covered. Owner and comic manager Jon “Fleet” Norfleet knows every book on the shelves cover-to-cover. He thumbs through up to 70 releases every week, with titles ranging from popular comic book properties to new series from Eisner Award-winning comic book writers and artists.

English writer Neil Gaiman has a lot of credits and awards to his name. They include the Newbery and Carnegie Medals for the young adult novel “The Graveyard Book.” He’s also written “Coraline,” “Neverwhere,” “The Ocean at the End of the Lane,” “American Gods,” “Stardust,” and “The Sandman." Gaiman adds to his list of accolades the 2023 St. Louis Literary Award and joins the show ahead of the ceremony.

Abraham Josephine Riesman, the author of “Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America,” recounts how the WWE went through an aggressive expansion in the 1980s, including in St. Louis.

Wildlife “baby season” is underway! Though they may look small and helpless, most baby animals should be left alone — even if they look lost. Wildlife Rescue Center executive director Kim Rutledge discusses how to avoid causing an “accidental abduction” of a baby animal.