The Gateway

Agriculture replaced nearly all of the original prairie in the Midwest, but a growing number of farmers are incorporating strips of prairie into their row-crop fields. These colorful corridors help with soil and water quality, and wildlife. Harvest Public Media’s Rachel Cramer reports on the efforts to expand the use of prairie strips.

Missouri is among states that have deployed National Guard troops and law enforcement agents to the US-Mexico border as part of Operation Lone Star. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott launched the operation in 2021, saying the Biden administration was not doing enough to keep undocumented immigrants and illegal drugs out of the country.

Journalist Kallie Cox tells Managing Editor Holly Edgell it's being described as an effort of "political theatre."

Most agricultural crops like corn, wheat or barley are replanted into the ground every single year.

It’s a lot of work, and hard on the soil where they're grown. Perennial crops, like Kernza, can stay on the land for several years, offering environmental benefits. But there’s not that much of it being grown right now. St. Louis Public Radio’s Eric Schmid reports on how researchers hope to change that with more consumer products made with Kernza, like beer.

Over the last two weeks, school officials and law enforcement have been bombarded with threats of violence against schools in the St. Louis region. St. Louis Public Radio’s Brian Moline spoke with reporter Lacretia Wimbley about the toll these threats are taking on students, teachers and law enforcement.

Politically minded comedian Sarah Silverman debuts her new stand-up show tonight at the Stifel Theatre. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin speaks with Silverman about her comedy.

One year ago today, Illinois got rid of cash bail under new legislation called the SAFE-T Act. Now, if the state or county want to keep someone in jail, prosecutors have to convince a judge that the accused criminal should remain detained at a pre-trial hearing. St. Louis Public Radio’s Will Bauer sat down with Chief Judge Andrew Gleeson at the St. Clair County Courthouse to see how the new system has worked so far.

IVF patients in Missouri fear a state law that says life begins at conception could put the procedure at risk. But a local attorney says laws protect the procedure, for now. St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Fentem speaks to fertility lawyer Tim Schlesinger.

Sam Altman is the co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. He’s also a St. Louis native. Altman was back in his hometown Friday, the day after the launch of the newest model of ChatGPT. He started his day at his alma mater, John Burroughs School in Ladue, talking to students and teachers. Later he sat down to talk with St. Louis on the Air host Elaine Cha.

There’s a fruit that grows throughout nearly half of the U.S. that most people have never tried. It’s called the paw paw. While the fruit trees are native to much of the Midwest and East Coast, you won’t find them in many grocery stores. St. Louis Public Radio’s Kate Grumke reports on the push to popularize the elusive paw paw.

With plenty of great barbecue restaurants around the St. Louis area, James Beard award winning chef Gerard Craft knew it didn’t make sense to compete--so instead, he’s charting a different path with the new Niche Food Group restaurant, Expat BBQ, opening today at City Foundry.