St. Louis on the Air

Missouri lawmakers are closing in on the end of one of the state’s most contentious special sessions in recent memory. At stake: a Republican-backed redrawing of the state’s congressional districts that would transform Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s Kansas City-area district into one that’s GOP-leaning — and a push to make it harder for citizens to amend the state constitution through the initiative petition process. STLPR politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum discusses the latest developments in the Missouri Senate, how Democrats are responding and what these changes could mean for the state’s political future.

St. Louis native Keyon Harrold loves coming home, and Music at the Intersection is bringing him back this weekend. Harrold is the only artist to perform at every Music at the Intersection festival since its inauguration in 2021. The Grammy-nominated jazz trumpeter and composer discusses his love for St. Louis and how Music at the Intersection has evolved since its inception.

Opera Theatre of St. Louis' incoming artistic director is taking audiences on a journey into the music of legendary French singer Edith Piaf. Although Patricia Racette is known for her work on stage as an opera soprano, her one-woman show "Patricia Sings Piaf" focuses on interpretations of Piaf music and celebrating the career of a performer who attained stardom at the height of World War 2. Racette discusses the October 9 show, her favorite Piaf songs, and her vision as the new artistic director for Opera Theatre of St. Louis.

Protesters gathered at the Missouri Capitol on Wednesday as lawmakers aim to push through redrawing the state’s congressional districts during a special session called by Gov. Mike Kehoe. The move would eliminate the Democratic-leaning 5th District in the Kansas City area. STLPR politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum joins us from Jefferson City to break down what’s happening on the ground, why the redistricting fight is contentious and what comes next as the Senate prepares to vote on the proposed map later this week.

A proposal to build a 440-acre data center in St. Charles sparked intense backlash from residents worried about property values, water contamination, energy costs and a lack of transparency. After growing pressure, the developer withdrew its application — and the St. Charles City Council responded with a one-year ban on new data center proposals. STLPR reporters Kate Grumke and Kavahn Mansouri discuss what happened and how their reporting uncovered that the project may have ties to Google.

St. Louis–based nonprofit Meds & Food for Kids has treated more than one million malnourished children in Haiti and has gained recognition for its sustainable and locally driven solutions to hunger. Ahead of the organization’s September 18 event at the Courses at Forest Park, we speak with Ambassador Ertharin Cousin, former Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme, and Meds & Food for Kids CEO Chris Greene about the urgent fight against hunger, the global challenge of malnutrition, and how MFK’s innovative model is making an impact.

The August edition of our new restaurant round-up covers spots in St. Louis, the Metro East, and Rolla: places that serve curries of the Indian, Himalayan, and Thai varieties; Instagram-worthy sandwiches; street-style Peruvian kebabs; and Palestinian beef and lamb burgers. The discussion includes local recommendations for delicious dumplings, and a case is made for dropping “underrated” to describe St. Louis’ food scene.

St. Louis is the sixth most dangerous city in the U.S. for fall migratory birds. Many species of birds are drawn to the light of the region’s urban areas, where their chances of colliding with a building increase. Longtime birder Matt Schamberger and St. Louis Audubon Society conservationist Matt Barton discuss ways to support migratory birds along their journey. They also share tips for unique species to look out for this fall migration season and the best spots for bird watching in the region.

Rosemary Woodruff Leary, a St. Louis native, was best known during her life as the wife of Harvard psychologist and LSD evangelist Timothy Leary. But a new book highlights Rosemary’s unsung role in that movement. Author Susannah Cahalan’s “The Acid Queen: The Psychedelic Life and Counterculture Rebellion of Rosemary Woodruff Leary," uses diaries and Rosemary’s own writing to explore how she guided the public persona and mythmaking of Timothy Leary — including how Rosemary helped him escape prison to become international fugitives. Cahalan argues that Rosemary was so much more than a side character, but “a pioneer whose unacknowledged sacrifice helped safeguard an underground movement.”

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe isn’t just calling lawmakers back to Jefferson City to redraw the state’s congressional lines. He’s also urging lawmakers to make monumental changes to Missouri’s initiative petition system. Kehoe’s proposal would drastically raise the bar for some proposed constitutional amendments to be enacted. The idea has received strong support from Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, a Republican. Hoskins responds to points raised by the plan’s detractors and explains why he feels the proposal will fare well at the ballot box.