St. Louis On The Air

Journalist Jesse Bogan of the Marshall Project reports on the case of Megan Jolly, a 52-year-old woman who has been jailed at the St. Charles County Justice Center for nearly two years. Jolly is among more than 500 Missouri defendants deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial and are waiting for a state-mandated treatment to restore competency. The backlog has surged since 2013, leaving many in limbo. Bogan discusses why the Missouri Department of Mental Health is “continually at absolute bed capacity for competency restoration”. He also gives further details on Jolly and other defendants awaiting psychiatric treatment.

In the 1930s, the St. Louis sky was frequently darkened with coal smoke so dense that it could block out the sun for days at a time. Many cities in the country faced some form of this problem, but none of them solved it until 1941 — when St. Louis showed off its clear, blue skies. Journalist Bob Wyss, author of “Black Gold: The Rise, Reign and Fall of American Coal,” takes us inside St. Louis’ fight against coal. Joining the talk is local historian Andrew Theising to share insight on the role of Raymond Tucker, who became a key opponent of coal in the years before he became the city’s mayor. Theising is the author of the 2024 book, "Mid-Mod Mayor: How Raymond Tucker Shaped St. Louis."

As the federal government shutdown continues, people in the St. Louis region are stepping up to get food into people’s homes. Yet even with strong community support, local organizations can only fill a fraction of the gap left by suspended federal aid. Operation Food Search CEO Kristen Wild shares how she and her partners have prepared for an influx of clients seeking their help and what she wants more people to understand about food insecurity in the region.

American politics is littered with trends, coincidences, and dare we say … curses? Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg discuss those that seem to plague Missouri politics, including the curse of the Missouri House Speaker’s office, the Missouri Democrats 41.7% curse, why a woman has never won the Missouri governorship, and more.

When Missouri Republicans made a bid to redraw the state’s congressional lines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, many of them didn’t expect the logistical nightmare that has ensued. The map is being challenged by lawsuits and a petition to bring it to a statewide vote. That effort is making headway — and it’s looking increasingly likely that enough signatures will be gathered. Jason Rosenbaum speaks with Missouri lawmakers and activists about how this unexpectedly complex redistricting plan might shake out on “The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air.”

Witchcraft is where former St. Louis County councilwoman Kelli Dunaway found empowerment. Soon after stepping down as councilwoman in 2024, she launched Legal Witchcraft. The new venture combines her experiences as an attorney and witch to provide personal development counseling through tarot card readings, moon phase classes and shadow work. Dunaway shares how she found witchcraft before leaving her position as a lawmaker, and how she helps people find magic and power in their own lives.

In September, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided a St. Peters restaurant and arrested more than a dozen workers.They have now spent weeks detained and awaiting deportation. Attorney Jim Hacking, who represents ten of the workers, discusses the lead-up to the raid, the legal process so far, and why authorities are detaining people even though they have pending asylum cases and work authorizations.

We revisit our May conversation with Mary Lacanlale, an ethnomusicologist at California State University, about the role of the Philippine Constabulary Band at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. Lacanlale’s great-grandfather, Pedro B. Navarro was a key member of the band during the monthslong event. Lacanlale’s book, “Instruments of Empire,” detailed the experiences of the band members. They were among hundreds of Filipinos who took part in the World’s Fair, though many were put on display for attendees to demonstrate the “savage” culture of the Philippines. Lacanlale also shares a new story from Pedro Navarro’s time in St. Louis — involving an incident when the lights went out in the middle of a performance.

Día de Muertos traditions can be seen as macabre, but in actuality, Day of the Dead observances are joyous celebrations of life. The practice of remembering loved ones after they have passed is also one that resonates with people everywhere. In this episode, we learn about the rich history of Día de Muertos from historian and Latinos en Axión STL podcast host Leticia Seitz and actress Carmen García. STLPR Engagement Producer Paola Rodriguez also describes the first digital ofrenda, which launches Friday, October 31.

People with low- to moderate-incomes have less access to credit because they either don’t have a credit score or their score is lower than average. Research shows that such individuals tend to use credit with higher borrowing costs, like payday loans, that increase the likelihood of debt, delinquency and bankruptcy. Liz Deichmann of the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank discusses her research on the credit barrier and what can be done about it. We also hear from two women who struggled with their own credit and were able to get help from local resources.

Missouri is one of several states where state officials are working quickly to redraw voting maps to benefit the Trump administration and congressional Republicans before the next election. Those efforts have hit multiple legal obstacles in the Show Me State, including lawsuits and a looming referendum. How these legal battles end could decide the political future of Missouri, and even the country. Erica Slater, Nannette Baker and Michael Wolff analyze those possibilities for this month’s Legal Roundtable. The panel also dives into the latest developments in a lawsuit against Bayer, a new lawsuit from a victim of the 2022 CVPA school shooting against BJC Healthcare, and more.

Sixty years ago, a construction crew added the final section to the very top of the Gateway Arch. In recognition of its 60th anniversary, we talk with two local historians about the monument’s place in American history, its influence on international architecture and labor movements, and why the Arch is still considered a modern engineering marvel today. We also explore what existed on the riverfront before the monument was constructed.

In January, streets across St. Louis were covered with ice and snow — as much as 10 inches in some places — and the ice remained on the roadways for weeks. Frustrated residents complained that the response from the City of St. Louis was inadequate.This week, Mayor Cara Spencer announced newly updated plans for snow removal. STLPR’s Jason Rosenbaum talks about those plans, which include more snow clearing vehicles, thousands of additional pounds of salt and updated street clearing protocols.

The monumental work of artist Anselm Kiefer presents visitors at the St. Louis Art Museum with six 30-foot-tall paintings and dozens of other works in a new exhibit, “Becoming Sea.” The German-born artist is renowned for his massive paintings, which use different textures to create vast landscapes. Museum director Min Jung Kim discusses the exhibit, Keifer’s 60-year career and learn about how Keifer was inspired by St. Louis and the Mississippi River. “Becoming the Sea,” runs Oct. 17 - Jan. 25.

Accomplished journalist Marty Baron will speak at the Gateway Journalism Review’s 14th First Amendment Celebration on Nov. 2 on “The Case for Worry...and for Optimism.” Baron served as editor of the Boston Globe during its Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the Catholic priest sex abuse scandals and later as executive editor of the Washington Post when Amazon owner Jeff Bezos became its owner. Baron speaks with producer Olivia Mizelle about the state of journalism and how the industry has evolved over his decades-long career. He also shares his thoughts on the current state of First Amendment protections, journalism’s role in democracy and how the industry can move forward during uncertain times.

Landmarks Illinois awards nine landmarks statewide with its Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award. Among this year's winners are the Old Millstadt Water Tower in Millstadt and the Edison Avenue Arts Lofts in Granite City — two projects that showcase the importance of community buy-in when it comes to historic preservation.

Jessica Hicklin co-founded Unlocked Labs while serving what she thought would be a life sentence in Potosi Correctional Center. She taught herself how to code using the prison’s library books, and when she was released in January 2022, the company grew from there. Unlocked Labs provides secure software on computers for detainees to access educational content. It is available in state prisons in five states across the country, and the St. Louis City Justice Center is the first jail to receive the service. Bretton Delaria from the Office of Violence Prevention, which collaborated with Unlocked Labs and the CJC on this rollout, joins Hicklin on the show to discuss the company’s current efforts and goals for the future.

Jonathan Pulphus was a sophomore at St. Louis University in 2014 when Michael Brown, Jr. was fatally shot by a police officer. He says his participation in the Ferguson Uprising was central to his education. In his new book, “With My People,” Pulphus shares the lessons he learned as a young community organizer, reflects on what makes student activism distinctly powerful, and provides a blueprint for grassroots organizing.

Economists in the U.S. are sounding the alarm on what they call a “she-cession” – a term started during the COVID-19 pandemic to describe the steep decline in the number of women in the workforce. Since then, that decrease has continued with more women leaving the workforce than entering it. In St. Louis, Rung for Women trains women in professions with greater chances of upward mobility. Chief Program Officer Katie Gallen and former cohort participant Sarah May share how the holistic approach to career training helps employees, employers and the city’s economy.

Time Magazine recently named University City native Dara Eskridge as one of the world’s most influential rising stars. As the CEO of Invest STL, she leads community-building efforts where she and her team put money directly into the hands of residents to create the neighborhoods they want for themselves. Eskridge shares the intentionality behind Invest STL’s programming, how her childhood inspires her mission and how Invest STL’s tornado response reflects the work they’ve committed to since 2022.