The Gateway

In the immediate aftermath of the May 16 tornado, volunteer groups and nonprofits stepped into the gap left by city leadership.

Nearly a year later, the same groups are still picking up the pieces. St. Louis Public Radio’s Hiba Ahmad has been following one group’s story of recovery in north St. Louis.

The EF3 tornado that ripped through north St. Louis one year ago exposed the city’s long history of neglect in the area, which to many people is the driving factor of the city’s slow response. St. Louis Public Radio’s Andrea Henderson reports many north St. Louis families are worried that long-term displacement will increase vacancies and create population loss.

Since last year's deadly tornado, residents in the impact zone say frustratingly little progress has been made. While St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer has repeatedly blamed chaos at the federal level, St. Louis Public Radio’s Kate Grumke and Kavahn Mansouri have been working to understand what happened at the local level.

The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra's IN UNISON chorus this weekend debuts a commission from composer Nathalie Joachim inspired by family dynamics.

The iconic highway Route 66 is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The so-called “Mother Road” went through large stretches of Illinois and Missouri on its two-thousand-mile trek from Chicago to Los Angeles. Historian Andrew Wanko from the Missouri Historical Society recently spoke with St. Louis on the Air host Elaine Cha about the legacy of Route 66 and its origins in Springfield, Missouri.

Community supported agriculture, or C-S-A boxes, first gained popularity in the 90s. It’s a way for people to support their local farmers… by paying upfront for produce that’s delivered throughout the summer. But today’s food system caters to both convenience and choice. As Harvest Public Media’s Hope Kirwan reports, that’s put pressure on CSA farmers to offer people more buying options.

Research has shown that stable employment after incarceration dramatically reduces the likelihood of someone reoffending. Rebecca Smith brings us the story of one new program that’s helping inmates gain valuable and employable skills, as licensed tattoo artists.

Alarm Will Sound has staked out a unique space within the field of new music, sometimes called contemporary classical. A 25th anniversary concert on Tuesday at the Grandel will feature music that reflects many of the artistic twists and turns Alarm Will Sound has taken.

Illinois continues to see high demand for new data centers, increasing the strain on the state’s utility grid. State lawmakers are considering legislation to rein in new data center proposals.

With recovery from the May 16 tornado stalling, there is growing demand to direct the full 250 million dollars in Rams settlement funds to the hardest-hit areas of St. Louis. STLPR’s Rachel Lippmann breaks down the idea. Plus, Stella Blues bar is poised to reopen, two years after a devastating fire: STLPR's Jessica Rogen introduces us to the group of staff determined to give it back to the community.