St. Louis On The Air

In a new portrait series displayed at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, St. Louis-based painter, illustrator, and photographer Cristina Fletes-Mach explores the complex challenge of responding to the question: “Where are you from?” She shares where themes of migration and identity have been part of her personal experiences, why maps are incorporated into the portraits, and what makes an international airport — inherently an in-between space — a fitting venue to show this series of paintings.

St. Louisans deeply mourn restaurants lost across the region. Maybe it’s because we have an exceptional restaurant scene supported by a relatively low cost of living and ready access to locally farmed produce. Maybe we’re just a sentimental bunch. Whatever the reason, we reflect on the restaurants we lost this year and trends within the St. Louis food scene. We also share what we’re looking forward to in 2026.

On September 10, 1910, Thomas Scott Baldwin flew over St. Louis, thrilling 200,000 onlookers along the Mississippi River. That moment of early flight — and many others — is at the heart of Edward McPherson’s new book, “Look Out: The Delight and Danger of Taking the Long View.” The Washington University professor writes about aerial photography, long-distance mapping and how seeing from above shapes power, privilege and perspective. The book is rooted in St. Louis, relaying stories about the Mississippian people in present-day Collinsville and the aerial surveillance of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.

A notorious "slave pen" in the heart of St. Louis trafficked thousands of men, women and children in the years before the Civil War. In January, a new plaque will be unveiled near its original location, now a parking garage across from Ballpark Village and Busch Stadium. Kenneth Winn, a former Missouri archivist and author of the plaque’s inscription, shares the history of the slave pen and its owner Bernard Lynch. Also, reporter Rocky Kistner discusses the years-long effort to place the memorial and his own family's experience in acknowledging an ancestor's ownership of enslaved people in St. Louis.

Two time figure skating champion and 2018 Olympic team bronze medalist Bradie Tennell has come to St. Louis to compete in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. An ankle injury in 2023 forced Tennell to take a step back from the sport. She said she used that time to rediscover the joy of figure skating. Now rejuvenated and prepared for the competition, Tennell discusses her figure skating career and her expectations for the upcoming championships.

After more than 40 years in Congress, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s decision not to seek reelection in 2026 has set off a crowded and high-stakes Democratic primary in Illinois. Capitol News Illinois statehouse reporter Brenden Moore joins the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air to talk about the race and the candidates vying to succeed Durbin.

Missouri is currently in the midst of a titanic battle over a map that seeks to transform Congressman Emanuel Cleaver’s 5th Congressional District into a GOP-leaning seat. But depending on what the U.S. Supreme Court does to the Voting Rights Act, there could be another fight in the near future over the traditionally African-American 1st Congressional District in St. Louis. State Rep. LaKeySha Bosley joins the latest episode of the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air to discuss this issue.

In 1968, a St. Louis criminal named Russell Byers found himself in the middle of a conspiracy to kill Martin Luther King. Before his death earlier this year, Byers spoke to St. Louis native and filmmaker Nina Gilden Seavey about the moment he was offered $50,000. He also revealed something he never told the FBI during its official investigations in the 1970s: that he had discussed the bounty before King’s death. Seavey talks about the significance of that timing, details in recently unsealed FBI files, and why she maintains the “Byers Bounty” is a real conspiracy rather than a conspiracy theory.

When “The Wiz” debuted on Broadway over 50 years ago, Dorothy Gale’s journey to self-discovery and community within the land of Oz was told with groove, funk and emotion. Its impact is still felt today — especially in St. Louis, which shares deep connections to the musical. National tour co-producer for “The Wiz” Nicole Hudson, 4theVille President Aaron Williams and artist Hayveyah McGowan discuss the intersection of art, fantasy and theater. They also share how “The Wiz” has served as a vessel for understanding and holding space for joy — particularly Black joy — over the years.

The multimedia art exhibition “To STL With Love” celebrates the deep roots and wide-ranging impact of hip hop culture in St. Louis and beyond. Curator Kristian Blackmon shares her own hip hop love story and how each of the borrowed items in the exhibition — from an Akai MPC2000 sampler and event posters to a Ferguson protest gas mask — reflect the history and ethos of St. Louis hip hop culture since the 1970’s. “To STL With Love” runs through the end of January 2026 at Sophie’s Artist Lounge in Grand Center.

The holiday season is here, and if you’re looking for festive tunes to get in the spirit, you’ve come to the right place! Holiday music enthusiast and STLPR visuals editor Brian Munoz and self-described “Grinch” producer Miya Norfleet share their favorite holiday songs by artists that call St. Louis home — from old standbys to new releases.

As highly intelligent and adaptive animals, raccoons have learned to live alongside humans for many thousands of years. For the raccoons that live in Forest Park, adaptability includes the careful avoidance of crossing the road, despite the availability of food sources on the other side. Dr. Sharon Deem and Stephen Blake discuss their latest research, which sheds new light on the lives of 10 racoons, including a particularly adventurous forager named “Frankie.”

In September 2023, then St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones initiated a Guaranteed Basic Income pilot program that gave $500 direct cash payments to qualifying families across the city. Six months into the program, a lawsuit from members of the Holy Joe Society halted its funding for one month. Despite the pause in payments, researchers and city leaders said the pilot program was successful and provided a public benefit in addition to helping families meet their basic needs. Midwest Newsroom Reporting Fellow Naomi Delkamiller discusses the impact of the GBI pilot program in St. Louis.

St. Louis officials and advocates for homeless people say they are bracing for, and oppose, the Trump administration’s cuts to programs that put people in permanent homes. In November, HUD Secretary Scott Turner called the use of billions of dollars to provide permanent housing a “Biden-era slush fund” that would be replaced by a focus on temporary housing. Local advocates from Gateway Housing First and the director of the city’s Department of Human Services say the change could put hundreds of people in St. Louis at risk of returning to homelessness. In this episode, we also learn how the life of one family was changed through St. Louis’ Continuum of Care program, which allowed them to escape homelessness and move into an apartment of their own.

Longtime St. Louis food writer Matt Sorrell’s new book is a celebration of his favorite restaurants, bars and shops. Among the 80 selections are old standbys like the Hideaway and Crown Candy Kitchen, as well as newer arrivals like Kain Tayo and Balkan Treat Box. The book, “Matt’s St. Louis Food Story,” highlights not just the food, but the atmosphere, history and character that have made each spot memorable.

With the end of 2025 approaching and cold weather keeping us indoors, what better time to dig into some of the best books of the year? Jennifer Alexander of St. Louis County Library and Lauren Brickey of St. Louis Public Library share their top picks.

Many property owners in the EF3 tornado’s path are still locked in fights with their insurance companies more than six months after the storm. STLPR economic development reporter Kavahn Mansouri shares what he and fellow reporter Andrea Henderson found as they followed two households on their journeys for fair payouts — and how they hope to hold insurers accountable.

Missouri’s first day of legal sports betting drew gamblers to both casinos and mobile apps to place their first bets in the state. Questions about revenue and responsible gambling remain. STLPR journalists Olivia Mizelle and Brian Munoz talk about their reporting, which included visits to Horseshoe St. Louis Casino and a DraftKings event that featured Hall of Fame athletes Brett Hull and Isaac Bruce.

Generations of bleary-eyed St. Louisans have flitted into late night diners like moths to lamplight, drawn in by one of our most treasured regional dishes: the slinger — an artful pile of eggs, hash browns, onions, cheese, meat and chile (or gravy). So the city mourned at the beginning of November when one of the last best places to get a slinger — the Buttery on South Grand Boulevard — closed. STLPR’s Jessica Rogen and Abby Llorico talk about the latest restaurant openings and closings in the St. Louis area.

Thirty five years after its signing, the Americans with Disabilities Act has led to changes in schools, work, and public spaces. The stories of St. Louisans with disabilities reveal what that landmark legislation — and disability rights activists' work in St. Louis long before ADA — changed. They also illustrate what remains to be done. Guests Lori Becker, Raven McFadden, and Seyoon Choi talk about their classroom, workplace, and social experiences as children and adults living with a disability in St. Louis.