St. Louis on the Air

More than 1,000 Flock cameras and automated license plate readers are spread across the St. Louis area. We dig into how police departments are using the cameras and the reaction of community members to their use — and, at times, misuse. We also explore the broader implications of surveillance technology, what to know about your rights, and privacy protection in the digital age.

The murder trial of Lindsay Clancy has driven curiosity about postpartum psychosis, a rare mental health condition that can put parents and children at risk for violence and suicide. Dr. Mary Kimmel, a perinatal and reproductive psychiatrist and researcher at WashU Medicine, shares what families should know about the condition and other signs of mental distress. She also dispels misconceptions about the “baby blues,” and the biological, psychological and social factors that can affect the postpartum period.

Metal and scrap thieves are at work in St. Louis, frustrating residents and public officials. St. Louis Magazine reporter Ryan Krull recently investigated a recycling company in south St. Louis, where the steady stream of scrap is raising concerns that people are being incentivized to scavenge the neighborhood for parts. Krull discusses his reporting on St. Louis’ illegal scrap trade, including his attempt to go undercover selling his own scrap. His effort led to an unexpected revelation and even more questions.

Missouri voters will get a chance to weigh in on the state’s new congressional map after the Missouri Supreme Court ruled unanimously that a referendum challenging the map belongs on the November ballot. The ruling also means the congressional districts drawn in 2022 — including a district that has been held by U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver — will remain in effect for the November election. In this episode of “The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air,” we hear from People Not Politicians executive director Richard von Glahn, Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins and STLPR statehouse and politics reporter Sarah Kellogg.

August was a rough month for area restaurants, with several longtime favorites shuttering their doors. But not all is lost. The beloved Asian fusion spot, Lona’s Lil Eats, opened up a second location in Kirkwood. The Grove got a new Italian restaurant. And many locally owned bakeries and cafes opened last month, including Uhuru Bakery & Cafe in north St. Louis. STLPR’s Jessica Rogen and Abby Llorico join Elaine Cha to discuss the latest in the St. Louis region food scene.

There’s something growing in East St. Louis. In greenhouses and hydroponic farms, the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Food, Agriculture and Nutrition Innovation Center is bringing scientists, researchers and students together. In this episode, we meet two people pushing the boundaries of plant science in East St. Louis. Vertigreens founder Tova Feinberg shares her experiences growing lettuce in hydroponic farms stacked to the ceiling in shipping containers. Then we meet plant scientist Antonio Brazelton, who has spent years growing and studying different heirloom varieties of collard greens at the JJK FAN Center.

Reporting about literacy rates typically centers on children and the concerning trend of students not reading at their grade level. Linda Mitchell believes the best way to help students have higher literacy is to get the entire family involved. Her nonprofit Metro East Literacy Project offers bags of books for kids and their parents to foster a “culture of reading” within their households. She shares what it took to get Metro East Literacy Project started and the stories from families that have grown to appreciate reading by way of her organization.

The American red wolf is one of the world’s most endangered mammals, with fewer than 40 remaining in the wild and found only in northeastern North Carolina. This spring, three pups born at the St. Louis Zoo were transported there at about a week old and placed with a wild wolf family — a first for the zoo and a rare opportunity to add genetic diversity to the critically endangered population. STLPR’s Brian Munoz talks with Regina Mossotti, the St. Louis Zoo’s vice president of animal care and program director for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ American Red Wolf SAFE program, about the effort and how she came to specialize in wolves.

The traumatic experience of being shot is often just the beginning of the challenges facing those with bullet-related injuries. Keisha Blanchard was shot in the back by an unidentified person in January 2024. In this encore episode, Keisha tells the story of what happened next and the painful, confusing experience of being told by a physician that, “We are not in the business of removing bullets.” Along with Keisha, we hear from trauma surgeon and Bullet Related Injury Clinic founder, Dr. LJ Punch, and Licensed Professional Counselor Tammy Kuykendoll.

The Midwest has a reputation for greater affordability relative to the cost of living on the East and West coasts, but there’s no doubt that it’s gotten more expensive to live anywhere in the U.S. In its ongoing reporting series, “Costly,” the Midwest Newsroom takes a closer look at what residents of Midwestern states, including Missouri, are facing with inflation and debt — and how financial woes are impacting more families and their futures. Managing editor Holly Edgell shares what she and her reporters have learned from Missourians figuring out ways to make ends meet.