St. Louis on the Air

When the coronavirus pandemic forced St. Louis courts to close, there were about 150 eviction cases in the works. Since then, the St. Louis Sheriff's Department says phones have been ringing off the hook with requests from landlords whose tenants have failed to pay rent. In this episode, Sarah Fenske talks with Sheriff Vernon Betts about how his office is preparing for a surge in evictions once the courts fully reopen. Several housing advocates also join the discussion to contextualize the broader housing crisis they foresee if hundreds of St. Louisans end up being evicted in the months ahead.

Host Sarah Fenske explores the 13th annual QFest, presented by Cinema St. Louis. The film festival showcases contemporary gay cinema, spotlights the lives of LGBTQ people and celebrates queer culture. Joining the discussion is Chris Clark, Cinema St. Louis' artistic director and QFest organizer, to talk through what this year's festival has to offer. Also joining the discussion is local director Dan Steadman, who’s participating in QFest for the first time and has two short films on the lineup.

Earlier this year, the federal government intercepted an unusual find: egg cases holding what could become hundreds of black market praying mantises. Host Sarah Fenske explores how those egg cases ended up at the Missouri Botanical Garden —and what happened when they hatched.

The author of the “The Immortals of Tehran” is an Iranian translator and writer. He was born in Tehran. But for the past four years, he’s lived here in St. Louis, where he's a PhD student at Washington University. He discusses his new book, and time in the Midwest, with host Sarah Fenske.

A drug developed in St. Louis is beginning human trials with the idea of helping those most at risk of dying from COVID-19. ATI-450 was originally developed by Confluence Discovery Technologies in 2013 as a treatment for autoimmune diseases, particularly rheumatoid arthritis. Confluence co-founder Joe Monahan discusses with host Sarah Fenske how it might now also help with the new coronavirus -- and what it will take to bring it to market.

Nearly 90% of the Crime Victim Center’s cases deal with domestic violence, and according to the nonprofit’s executive director Marti Kelly, there is currently an increase in such cases in the St. Louis region. She believes this is due to recent stay-at-home orders. In this episode, Sarah Fenske talks with Kelly about the organization's work, and domestic violence survivor Alexis shares how the Crime Victim Center helped her and her son in the courtroom.

The city of St. Louis approved a $5.7 million contract last week to outfit its police officers with body cameras. City officials said some cops could be wearing cameras within a month. But the policies surrounding the cameras remain unclear. The spokesman for the city’s police union argued in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that any changes to equipment need the union’s approval. The city counselor disagrees, saying the power rests solely on Chief John Hayden. And with the union spokesman (a controversial figure in his own right) claiming he has “no confidence” in Hayden, the details could become a flashpoint. Public Safety Director Jimmie Edwards joins host Sarah Fenske to discuss the body cameras and the devilish details that could keep the police union and transparency advocates at loggerheads in their implementation.

Juneteenth, sometimes called Freedom Day or Jubilee Day, is one of the oldest celebrations practiced in the United States. And it has taken on added significance during periods of the country’s history where the push to end racial inequities has been in the spotlight. Local Juneteenth parade organizer Carla "Coffee" Wright and Calvin Riley Jr, director of the George B. Vashon Museum, join host Sarah Fenske to talk about the holiday's origins and commemoration of it.

In recent weeks, many St. Louis institutions have begun to reopen after months of coronavirus-mandated closures. City Museum General Manager Rick Erwin discussed the difficulties of adapting a free-for-all playland to the age of COVID-19. Reps from the St. Louis Science Center and Magic House also shared their thoughts.

Thursday marks 100 years since the inception of St. Louis Lambert International Airport. On June 18, 1920, Major Albert Bond Lambert and the Missouri Aeronautical Society leased 170 acres of farmland in north St. Louis County to serve as an airfield for St. Louis. Today it is the oldest continuously operating commercial airport in the U.S. Daniel Rust is the author of “The Aerial Crossroads of America: St. Louis Lambert Airport and Flying Across America: The Airline Passenger Experience.” He joins host Sarah Fenske to delve deeper into St. Louis Lambert International Airport’s 100 years and its impact in the region.