The Gateway

Millions of immigrants apply for asylum in the United States every year, which protects them from deportation. But judges in a Missouri immigration court deny the majority of asylum claims they consider. A story of the obstacles facing asylum seekers from The Midwest Newsroom.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to weaken protection of majority-minority districts could lead to Missouri Republicans dismantling the St. Louis-based 1st Congressional District. But while some GOP officials are supportive of that move, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum reports that another Missouri redistricting gambit carries significant risk for Republicans.

Juan Baltazar is one of five people who died during last year’s May 16 tornado. He was known in the St. Louis community for his warm personality – and his wood-roasted corn. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Andrea Henderson reports, Baltazar’s loved ones say his untimely death has been difficult for the family to grasp.

Contractors are slated to demolish hundreds of homes damaged or destroyed by the May 2025 tornado in the coming months. Residents are in for a dusty summer, and experts say neighbors should take precautions to keep their lungs healthy. STLPR's Sarah Fentem reports.

A 29-year-old Florissant man who came to the U.S. when he was four years old is now being deported to Mexico. ICE agents detained Victor López Delara after a traffic stop earlier this year. Now his fiancee and two children are preparing to follow him back to Mexico.

St. Louis Public Radio’s Chad Davis spoke with López Delara by phone from the Ste. Genevieve County Jail

The Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri says a routine immigration appointment upended his family’s life for a year.

Reverend Deon Johnson shares how a separation following the appointment affected their children, how Johnson navigated it as an immigrant himself, and why he’s choosing to share his story.

The Mississippi River is lined with decades-old levees that sit right on the river bank. But some researchers say those levees are doing a poor job of preventing floods — especially as climate change makes historic flooding events more common and more severe. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Katie Grawitch reports, a new setback levee system near Spanish Lake is one of many getting a makeover that will help it guard against flooding.

One year after the tornado that devastated parts of the St. Louis Region, especially north St. Louis, survivors of the storm and people remembering loved ones talk about moving forward. STLPR's Lacretia Wimbley joins a family on their first trip to a garden named in honor of one of the tornado's victims. Plus: Takeaways from the 2026 Missouri Legislative Session

Black homeowners are considering their paths forward after the May 16 tornado, and for many, those plans don't include another home. STLPR looks into how that could impact generations to come. Plus, we look into what the City needs to do to prepare for another storm.

Nearly a year ago, an EF3 tornado tore through neighborhoods and homes in St. Louis. Roofs are still tarped. Windows still boarded. Many families are still displaced and waiting for aid. St. Louis Public Radio’s “Meet Me” project invited residents to an open mic to share their stories of that day — and every day since. =