St. Louis on the Air

Many sanctioned fireworks shows are canceled this summer due to the pandemic, but people continue to set off everything from firecrackers to Roman candles in backyards and streets throughout the region. The number of calls to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department about illegal fireworks has quadrupled from the same time last year. This episode features various perspectives on fireworks including enthusiasts, the mildly annoyed and pet owners. We also hear from the St. Louis Fire Department about the dangers of using fireworks.

Author J. Courtney Sullivan joins host Sarah Fenske for a discussion of her new book, "Friends and Strangers," which explores privilege and the "hollowing out" of America through the lives of two women: journalist Elisabeth and her babysitter Sam.

The pandemic has led to an increased demand for food delivery services, like DoorDash and Postmates. In March, Chipotle Mexican Grill announced they would expand their delivery services by partnering with Uber Eats. But for local eateries, the price of working with a third party delivery service can be steep. In this episode, local restaurateurs share their experience working with third party delivery services, as well as how they are approaching the re-opening of their facilities.

With protests against police brutality and attention to systemic racism sweeping the nation in 2020, there’s renewed urgency surrounding the efforts of the American Civil Liberties Union. The organization is also celebrating 100 years of existence, both at the national level and in Missouri — and a crew at Washington University Libraries has recently dug deep into records of that century’s worth of history. In this episode, host Sarah Fenske talks about the past and present of the ACLU with Curator Of Local History Miranda Rectenwald and Luz María Henríquez, executive director of the ACLU of Missouri.

On Monday, the St. Louis Board of Aldermen gave initial approval to a plan that would put airport privatization before voters. The citywide vote would come this fall, with a big push to lease the airport to a private vendor by next July. So why now? And who stands to benefit? In this episode of the talk show, St. Louis Public Radio's Corinne Ruff joins host Sarah Fenske to talk about the idea Mayor Lyda Krewson once rejected is now on the fast-track. Listeners weigh in during the conversation as well.

More often than not, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is associated with tracking drug cartels and arresting traffickers. But the law enforcement agency also ensures physicians and pharmacists are following the law with regards to prescriptions, a role that has become even more critical as well as more challenging in recent months. And in the DEA’s St. Louis Division, the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted more focus on community outreach, particularly as the opioid crisis continues to ravage the country. Earlier this month, the St. Louis County Department of Health reported a 47% increase in opioid-related deaths among Black men in 2019. This spring, the division launched the website With You STL in an effort to help connect community members with critical resources for prevention, treatment and recovery. In this conversation, Special Agent in Charge Bill Callahan and Inez Davis, the division’s diversion program manager, talk with host Sarah Fenske. Representatives from local treatment and prevention organizations offer their perspectives as well.

Portland Place residents Mark and Patricia McCloskey came outside their million-dollar home in St. Louis Sunday evening and brandished guns at protesters who were making their way to protest in front of Mayor Lyda Krewson’s house. Did the McCloskey’s illegally brandish their weapons? Does the castle doctrine come into play? How does Portland Place being a private street affect the rights of its residents — and demonstrators passing through? Host Sarah Fenske talks with our Legal Roundtable panelists about those issues and more.

"St. Louis on the Air" hears from residents sharing their fondest memories of Nelly's "Country Grammar" and what they admire most about Nelly’s success and representation of the region.

As an assistant professor of health management and policy at St. Louis University, Michael Rozier is used to thinking a lot about matters of public health — and finding plenty of reasons for hope. But last week, with COVID-19 case numbers in the U.S. suggesting any end to the pandemic is still a long way off, he took to Twitter to offer some less-than-optimistic predictions. In this episode, Rozier joins host Sarah Fenske for a look at how and why people are — and in other cases aren’t — working to change key social norms during an ongoing pandemic. Rozier, who is also a Jesuit priest, emphasizes that this crisis is still solvable. The conversation also includes comments from acclaimed restaurateur Gerard Craft and St. Louis-based rideshare driver Bob Ell.

Twenty years ago, a record release on June 27 changed the course of St. Louis’ presence in the hip-hop world and overall cultural identity. Cornell Haynes Jr., a.k.a. Nelly, debuted his first solo album, “Country Grammar,” bringing national attention to St. Louis’ distinct accent and steez. The album rose to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and is in a rare class of hip-hop albums to be awarded a diamond certification, having sold more than 10 million copies. Host Sarah Fenske revisits that moment with Vango Jones. Jones is a St. Louis native, and he recently wrote an in-depth piece for the St. Louis American about how “Country Grammar” helped shape St. Louis pride in many aspects, from sports to fashion. Residents also share their fondest memories and what they admire most about Nelly’s success and representation of the region.