Precision agriculture has promised to revolutionize farming since the mid-1990s. The idea is to give growers more granular data about their operations and new technology to put that information to use. Some of this has come to pass: farmers have more sophisticated equipment and hard data on how their operations perform. But St. Louis Public Radio’s Eric Schmid reports, some of the loftiest promises of precision ag are still out of reach. This reporting is in conjunction with Harvest Public Media, a collaboration of public media newsrooms in the Midwest and Great Plains - including St. Louis Public Radio.

The right haircut can be hard for anyone to find. Some St. Louis hairdressers understand a good haircut is especially important for transgender clients. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Lauren Brennecke reports, these stylists and barbers are moving toward gender-free terminology and using in-depth consultations.

One of the centerpieces for free public gathering in downtown St. Louis is back open after eight months of renovations. Citygarden, the three-acre sculpture park stretching along the Gateway Mall, is again offering a greener and more peaceful environment than the busy streets and city sidewalks it sits among. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin reports, an opening day party at Citygarden offered a view of the amenity as a colorful hub for city residents and visitors.

A recent report showed child abuse investigators missed warning signs parents were taking fentanyl before their children overdosed. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum explains, the report is prompting sharp questions about why Missouri’s Children’s Division isn’t using a process to steer parents into rehabilitation programs.

Missouri’s Department of Conservation has a new director. Jason Sumners, a former deputy director of the department, is taking the reins from Sara Parker Pauley who stepped down after 30 years. St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg spoke with Sumners about how conservation work has changed over the years and his goals for the department.

Staffing at the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department dropped by about a third since 2014. There’s a backlog of DNA samples linked to homicides, and the homicide squad grappled for resources as murders in the city spiked. Our investigation with APM Reports and The Marshall Project has found that one reason police failed to solve more than 1,000 homicides in the city over the last 10 years is a lack of resources. Tom Scheck with APM Reports, spent a lot of time digging into the finances of the SLMPD’s homicide squad. He spoke to St. Louis Public Radio's Rachel Lippmann about the findings.

We’ve been reporting this week on the difficulty the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department had with solving homicides between 2014 and 2023. Reporting by St. Louis Public Radio, APM Reports and the Marshall Project found that the department kept detectives in the unit even after a supervisor claimed they repeatedly failed to perform basic investigative tasks. St. Louis Public Radio’s Rachel Lippmann has more of the investigation’s finding.

This week, we’re taking a look at how the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department handles homicide investigations. An investigation by St. Louis Public Radio, APM Reports, and The Marshall Project found there were roughly 1,000 unsolved homicides involving Black victims over the last 10 years. Tom Scheck takes us to a stretch of road in north St. Louis where Black families rarely see justice.

There were more than 1,900 murders in St. Louis between 2014 and 2023, and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has failed to solve more than 1,000 of them. That means thousands of family members and friends do not have answers from police about the violent death of their loved ones. Rachel Lippmann has the story, part of an investigation into the city’s homicide clearance rates by St. Louis Public Radio, APM Reports and the Marshall Project.

Researchers at University of Missouri St. Louis are listening to cicadas with the help of area residents to better understand where the bugs that have emerged this summer are, and where they aren't.

So far, 2024 is one of Missouri’s most active tornado seasons on record. The St. Louis region has been especially stormy, which means meteorologists at the local National Weather Service are busy. St. Louis Public Radio’s Kate Grumke spoke with Ben Herzog, the Science and Operations Manager at the National Weather Service St. Louis. They talked about what goes into tornado warnings and how they are changing.

Dr. Suzanne Saueressig was known for transforming veterinary medicine in the St. Louis region. She helped stabilize a struggling Humane Society of Missouri clinic in the 1950s and 60s despite resistance from her colleagues in a then heavily male dominated field. St. Louis Public Radio’s Marissanne Lewis-Thompson spoke with Andy Primm at the Missouri History Museum about Saueressig and how she became the state’s first practicing female veterinarian.

Having a baby is expensive. But the growing cost of medical debt related to giving birth is becoming one of the largest part of those bills. KFF Health News has the story of one Illinois family and the medical bills that piled up after their daughter was born.

Organizers of a night of LGBTQ solidarity in Chesterfield on Saturday are touting it as a first-of-its kind event. The Gay-la will feature music, dancing, and many of St. Louis’s top drag performers. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin spoke with Greg Coleman, who will host as drag queen Karma T. Cassidy, about what drew him to drag, why nights like this matter, and how he hopes to get the audience on their feet outside the venue, too.

A new study at Washington University is examining how yearly vaccines for COVID-19 affect someone’s ability to fight the virus. So far, the data suggest people who receive repeated COVID-19 vaccines don’t lose their ability to fight the virus. WashU infectious disease specialist Dr. Michael Diamond talked to St. Louis On The Air Host Elaine Cha about his research.

Researchers have spent the past two years on the Mississippi River between Hamilton, Illinois, and Keokuk, Iowa, studying whether underwater acoustic systems will deter invasive carp. Halfway through the study, the results are promising. Reporter Eleanor Lindenmayer spoke with the two lead scientists about how it works and why it matters.

It’s spring, and most of us have rolled out the lawn mower at least a few times by now. But in the United States, there’s an ongoing debate over the traditional turfgrass yard. Harvest Public Media contributor Teresa Homsi explains how lawns became the default in American communities - and how a push for more environmentally-conscious options could change the landscape of our neighborhoods.

While the Missouri House spent its final week of session working on and passing legislation, the Missouri Senate spent that same week in a record breaking filibuster that later dissolved into dysfunction. What legislation made it across the finish line - and what will have to wait until next year? St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg breaks down the end of the 2024 Missouri legislative session.

Almost 10 years after the police shooting of Michael Brown Jr., questions remain around police reform at the federal and local levels. Civil rights attorney Bakari Sellers says national police reform is dead, and people must vote to start over. St. Louis Public Radio's Andrea Henderson recently spoke with Sellers while he was in town promoting his new book on national politics about ways to implement police reform.

Illinois’ state veterinarian says the latest strain of bird flu that’s shown up in some dairy cattle across the United States doesn’t appear to be a threat to the country’s milk supply. But, Mark Ernst says, it's important to "remain vigilant." We'll hear how veterinarians and agriculture leaders are working to keep H5N1 from spreading.

It’s been nearly three months since the shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade. While the event itself has largely faded from the headlines, recovery remains a daily presence in the lives of the 24 people who were shot and survived. Several still carry the bullets from that day, and are grappling with their wounds, both physically and emotionally. Peggy Lowe reports that medical guidelines aren’t exactly clear about what to do with the bullets.

Six-time Grammy winner David Sanborn has died at the age of 78. He grew up in Kirkwood and built a career playing with giants of many different musical styles. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin spoke with Sanborn in February about the key to his eclectic output.

The Missouri Legislature is set to adjourn on Friday. While lawmakers passed the state budget last week, there are a few big issues that still could come up in the final days. St. Louis Public Radio’s Brian Moline spoke with Statehouse reporter Sarah Kellogg about what has to happen in the final week of the 2024 Missouri Legislative session.

When the pandemic hit in the spring of 2020, a lot of life was put on hold – even those once in a lifetime moments, like high school graduation. Four years later, many members of that year’s senior class are finally experiencing a traditional commencement ceremony, graduating college. St. Louis Public Radio’s Abby Llorico spoke with two St. Louis area students graduating this weekend about how the legacy of the class of 2024 is one of revamped traditions and resilience.

For years, boosters of St. Louis’ technology sector have argued the region needs to double the number of jobs here, but a new report shows fewer openings than in years past. It's prompting some to look to startups as a solution. STLPR's Eric Schmid digs into some of the barriers keeping more startups from flourishing in the St. Louis region.

Missouri is one of the big battleground states over reproductive rights, where abortion is almost entirely illegal. One group that has recently given a significant amount of money to keep it illegal here is Catholic bishops. The Catholic church is strongly opposed to all abortion, but a majority of the faithful in Missouri don’t see it that way. A recent study shows many parishioners don't agree with their church's leadership on the issue, finding six out of 10 Catholics support abortion rights. Reporter Katia Riddle came to Missouri to talk to some of them.

St. Louis Cardinals fans who watch the games on Comcast X-finity were thrown a curveball last week when the Bally Sports Midwest channel disappeared from their TV service. Comcast and Diamond Sports Group couldn’t come to an agreement to keep Bally Sports Midwest and eleven other regional sports channels on the cable tv provider by the May first deadline. St. Louis Public Radio’s Brian Moline spoke with Evan Drellich, senior writer for The Athletic about this dispute and how it’s indicative of larger issues for Major League Baseball’s television rights.

Pitcher Adam Wainwright retired last year after an impressive 18-year career with the Cardinals. His final season had multiple milestones. Two weeks after securing his landmark 200th win, he performed three original songs after a game at Busch Stadium. It was a preview of his new country album, “Hey Y’all.” St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin asked Wainwright what it was like to perform for Cardinals fans, not with a ball and a glove, but a microphone and guitar.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey opened a tip line last year to get information about care of transgender people that could be considered abusive or illegal. St. Louis On The Air Producer Danny Wicentowski submitted a sunshine request for what was sent in during the first 48 hours it was open. He spoke with Elaine Cha about what he found: that most of the input was in favor of transgender care and critical of Bailey.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker wants state employees to have access to medication to help them lose weight. But the price tag, and how it was passed, has lawmakers and taxpayers outraged. Dave McKinney has more on the plan to cover injectable weight-loss drugs like Ozempic on the tax-payer dime.

Since 1952, Schwan’s has gone door to door delivering frozen food. Its yellow trucks, ice cream treats and customer service won the company a dedicated customer base. But recently, Schwan’s changed its name and stopped deliveries in most states. Harvest Public Media’s Elizabeth Rembert explores the company’s legacy and future.

The work of Colombian artist Delcy Morelos makes connections between political bloodshed and degradation of the natural environment, particularly in places where conflict over the land has left a legacy of blood. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin reports on a rare solo exhibition of the artist’s work now on view at Pulitzer Arts Foundation.

St. Louis has the highest rate of syphilis infections in the state. Cases of congenital syphilis among newborn babies are rising, too. St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Fentem speaks with Suzanne Alexander of the St. Louis Department of Health about how local officials hope to reduce the infection's spread.

If backers of an abortion rights initiative turn in enough signatures by May 5, Missourians could be voting to end the state’s ban on the procedure in November. While polling shows some GOP support for the measure, St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum reports that it’s up for debate whether the ballot item hurts Republican electoral prospects.

An article published this month in a national publication put St. Louis in the spotlight—with a dark warning: beware the doom loop. It points to empty office buildings and shuttered restaurants, calling Downtown a “Real Estate Nightmare.” People are talking about it, but what's the conversation missing? Abby Llorico and Economic Development Reporter Eric Schmid discuss the response from the local business community.

NPR National Political correspondent Sarah McCammon recently released "The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church." It is part memoir and part exploration into the role Evangelicals play in politics. In a conversation with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum, McCammon first talked about how her book connected with a wide audience — including people who didn’t grow up Evangelical like her.

A large number of Missourians and Illinoisans say college is still worth it. That’s according to a new report from the Strada Education Foundation. The State Opportunity Index calculates a positive return on investment score for each state.

An ancient farming practice is getting a new life. Biochar is gaining traction as a regenerative agriculture practice that could help improve soil and sink carbon. Efforts are underway to introduce more farmers to biochar.

Ferguson Police Chief Troy Doyle says one of his first goals as head of the department was to convince officers that the federal consent decree they’re under is a good thing. He is also focused on recruitment of officers and improving community relations.

A U-S Supreme Court decision last year stripped most federal protections from wetlands. That’s made cooperation between federal, state and local conservation groups more important than ever. A nature preserve along the Illinois River may serve as a template of how to move forward.

Last year was the deadliest, on record, for people walking in St. Louis County. The data reinforces a reputation that St. Louis is not the safest place to walk or bike. The St. Louis-based nonprofit Trailnet recently released a report that presents key findings about STL’s traffic violence during 2023.

Over the last two decades, the number of newspapers in the U.S. has dropped by nearly a third. Rural areas have been especially impacted. But newspapers are experimenting with different strategies in an effort to keep local news alive.

Last fall, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency appointed a federal coordinator to oversee the response to Cahokia Heights’ ongoing sewer and water issues. The inaugural coordinator is EPA scientist Beth Murphy. She’ll leave the position at the end of the month.

A team of behavioral health clinicians is working to bridge the gap in local policing by helping meet the mental and emotional needs in St. Louis. They’re known in St. Louis as the Purple Shirts.

Over the last month, Muslims across the world have observed the holy month of Ramadan with fasting, gatherings for meals, community prayer, and intentional giving. And yesterday marked Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of Ramadan. We hear from with a range of St. Louis area Muslims about the way they’ve experienced Ramadan this year:

Some property equity firms buy lots of single family homes and rent them out. Ohio based VineBrook Homes is one of the larger companies. Many of its renters claim VineBrook neglects its properties and renters which the firm denies. Now it faces another problem–and is selling hundreds of properties in order to pay off a huge debt.

Thousands of people yesterday poured into towns, stadiums, fields and even an airplane across Missouri and Illinois to watch the solar eclipse. Totality lasted about 4 minutes but left an emotional impression on many watchers.

Farmers often rely on herbicides to keep weeds out of their fields. But a startup company in the Midwest has developed a high-tech way to cut weeds down, by using robots.

The once dominant Missouri fur industry has been declining due to shifting attitudes around the use of fur and increased trade tariffs. But the enduring market is adapting.

Mike Mills sold over 60 million albums as bassist and songwriter with R.E.M., which emerged from the college-rock scene of the 1980’s to become one of the world’s most successful bands. Now he’s blending genres with his concerto for orchestra and rock band. Mills and violinist Robert McDuffie will perform it Friday with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, in a program that also includes orchestral interpretations of R.E.M. songs.

The fur industry has a long history in the state of Missouri, and while it looks different now – it’s still around. Rebecca Smith recently went to the annual Missouri fur auction and brings us this look at fur trapping’s role in the community and in conservation.

The average age of farmers in the U.S. continues to rise, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new “Census of Ag.” It’s now nearly 60 years old. But there’s also an increase in the number of new farmers. and student membership in the agriculture organization FFA is at an all-time high.

Gray foxes are found from Central America to Canada. But their numbers are shrinking in parts of the Midwest. Researchers in several states including Illinois are working to find out what’s behind the decline of the gray fox.

This time a month ago Kansas City was still coming to grips with a Super Bowl victory celebration turned upside down in an instant by a mass shooting. Shocking as it was, shootings of the same basic type happen almost twice a day in the United States.

The FDA recently approved two cell-based gene therapy treatments for the blood disorder. Doctors and advocates believe the therapy could bring relief to the nearly 2,000 St. Louisans living with the disease. However, many are questioning the accessibility, their costs and risks.

The St. Louis Cardinals start their 2024 season tomorrow afternoon in Los Angeles against the Dodgers. Last year, the redbirds had their first losing season since 2007. There are tempered expectations that this year will be better.

Beauty school has made its way to incarcerated women at the St. Louis County Justice Center. The aim is to address recidivism with hot tools and clippers.

The 2024 Missouri Legislative Session resumes today after a week away from the Capitol. With only roughly two months left in the end of session, GOP priorities include passing a resolution that if later approved by voters, would make it harder to amend the state’s constitution as well as measures on education and crime.

Damon Davis has worked in many art forms, including sculpture, painting and film. His latest work is a multi-genre opera inspired by Afrofuturism.

In the early 1900s many race massacres where white mobs attacked and killed Black people across the country, including in East St. Louis and Tulsa, Oklahoma. The oldest known survivor of the Tulsa massacre spoke about it at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Answers to the main question about the Clayton campus' planned 2025 closure and reaction from students with an uncertain future.

Two wildfires consumed more than 1,000 acres of the Mark Twain National Forest in late February. Firefighters contained the burns, but the unseasonably warm and windy conditions that let them spread quickly underscore the importance of the forest service's plans to set some fires on purpose.

It’s illegal to fight roosters in the U.S. yet raising game fowl is a big business. There have been recent efforts in some states to lower the penalties for cockfighting. Animal rights activists call foul, while breeders say they’re simply protecting their right to raise chickens.

St. Louis has roughly 20-thousand vacant properties spread across the city. And responding to this challenge will require a fair amount of cash and investment.

One month ago today, Kansas City was shaken when the Chiefs Super Bowl celebration turned into a mass shooting. Since then, people around the country have donated millions to aid the victims. Now, the community needs to figure out the landscape of need.

Kahlil Robert Irving makes sculptures at his spacious studio in South St. Louis that he exhibits around the world. His latest show, an innovative mix of ceramics and digital collage, is at the Kemper Art Museum.

The GOP candidates for Madison County board chairman, Kurt Prenzler and Chris Slusser, used to be allies — but are now bitter rivals. Since no Democrat is running, whoever wins the primary will be the chairman.

Farms across the Midwest use biosolids—a type of byproduct from wastewater treatment plants—to fertilize their land. But toxic chemical could be contaminating that fertilizer, along with millions of acres of farmland.

In the GOP primary race to represent southern Illinois in Congress, incumbent Mike Bost is being challenged by Darren Bailey. The two Republicans have tried to differentiate themselves — despite having similar policy positions. How are they different and what are their priorities for the 12th congressional district?

St. Louis’ major league soccer team has started its second season as the newest member of the league. But this summer, the team will not be playing in the U.S. Open Cup. The decision by MLS has angered the supporters groups that have been called the backbone of the fan base.

One of the most contentious topics for members of Congress right now is whether the United States should continue giving military support and money to Ukraine. It’s an issue that’s divided candidates in Missouri’s U.S. Senate contest — as well as GOP members of Missouri’s House delegation.

The Francis Howell School District made national headlines when it canceled its Black History and Black Literature courses. After protests from teachers and students, the board agreed to reinstate it, only it was, in the board’s words, a politically neutral curriculum. A new version will be before the board later this month.

Parts of the Midwest including Missouri lack reliable data on Hispanic maternal mortality rates. A new investigation shows that while an accurate count is challenging, it may also cause underserved populations to miss out on health care resources.

Women now make up a majority of veterinarians in the United States. But they still face skepticism and even discrimination in rural areas where there’s a shortage of veterinarians.

Abortion rights activists in Missouri are feeling a surge of momentum around a ballot measure legalizing the procedure. But foes of abortion rights are fighting the effort — both inside and outside of the state legislature.

Most Illinois teachers feel parents and administrators support the state’s efforts to teach students about racially inclusive history. That’s according to a new University of Illinois survey of teachers.

Lincoln University students and alumni are still grieving the death of a beloved administrator. Antoinette “Bonnie” Candia-Bailey died by suicide in January. Her passing has brought awareness to the Black mental health crisis.

The sixth-generation family run A.E. Schmidt company hasn't changed much in 150years. The oldest American manufacturer of billiards tables is carving history into every pool table at a factory in south St. Louis.

Many Asian people in the area say they miss spending the holiday with family back home, but they try to keep the traditions alive in St. Louis. And, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra will perform a musical melding of Radiohead and Brahms.

Not everyone is sold on Gov. JB Pritzker's plan, which would put more money toward education while caring for the influx of migrants. Plus, Jazz St. Louis will honor Kirkwood-raised musician David Sanborn with its first lifetime achievement award.

For thirty years, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra IN UNISON Chorus has brought singers from churches across the St. Louis area to perform songs arranged and composed by Black artists. For singers, the music tells the history of Black America.

Missouri Republicans are bracing for a crowded primary season — and some sharp divisions over the party’s future. While some GOP leaders want to see unity ahead of the general election cycle, feisty intraparty battles may be part of the new normal in GOP-dominated Missouri.

The launch of the revamped federal student aid form, known as FAFSA, was supposed to make getting help paying for college easier. But for many students from immigrant families, it’s shut them out. They’re all U.S. citizens but their parents are not. The issue may jeopardize their ability to afford college.

A new proposal before Illinois lawmakers would allow terminally ill people to end their own lives with medication.

The St. Louis branch of Missouri’s Children’s Division has struggled for months with a massive backlog of unfinished abuse and neglect cases. But last year, officials said increased hiring put the agency on a track to eliminate the backlog by September of this year.

More than a third of Illinois students don’t have basic reading skills by the fourth grade. As parents and teachers are trying to figure out why kids are struggling, some experts say a popular teaching strategy isn’t working.

Local opposition to wind and solar energy projects is on the rise. But now local governments in some states including Illinois are being told their ability to say no to wind and solar farms is limited.

Modern day cannabis products now dwarf the weed of yester-year when it comes to strength. That spike in potency may be leaving new consumers behind, but industry newcomers are looking to corner the market on low strength weed.

In far southern Illinois, conservative congressman Mike Bost faces a serious challenge in the March 19th primary from a fellow Republican who says his voting record isn’t good enough – even though Bost was in line with former President Donald Trump 94% of the time.

St. Louis created the city’s Office of New Americans in October to help streamline resources for immigrant and refugee families. Gilberto Pinela, the office’s director, talks about its goals and how the office is prioritizing new arrivals.

Before last February, St. Louisans needed to travel to the Metro East to buy recreational marijuana. In the year since Missouri legalized it, there has been an affect Metro East dispensaries and communities.

Lawmakers have supported pipelines to sequester CO2 or distribute hydrogen power across the Midwest. Farmers and landowners are resistant to the projects.

Herman Mellville’s 1851 novel Moby-Dick is one of the most-adapted books in American literature. Repertory Theatre of St. Louis is presenting a theatrical adaptation that borrows some of its moves from the circus.

A new Missouri Historical Society collection is highlighting the life of a prominent Black St. Louis physician. Dr. John H. Gladney was the first Black ear, nose, and throat specialist in the city.

Despite a drop in crime rates and homicides the last four years, St. Louis area community members feel public safety officials shouldn’t be hasty to take credit. They still see a disconnect between police and the public.

Chris Koos is the mayor of Normal, Illinois, and the newest member of Amtrak's board of directors. He wants to see the passenger rail service increase ridership to above pre-pandemic levels, including on the Chicago to St. Louis route.

A 140 year-old crematorium in south St. Louis is now home to a new alternative to traditional burial practices. It's one of the few places in the region that offers “water cremation.”

A federal program is sending the pricey machines to rural and low-income districts. While they have some downsides, they are being embraced by the schools, drivers and students.

Mike Parson is outlining goals for this year while looking back on his six years in office. The Republican delivered his final State of the State address this week.

Legal recreational marijuana is grown at 51 cultivation facilities approved by the state. Another eight are waiting for Missouri to sign off on their ability to compete.

The state’s Child Care Assistance Program workers want higher pay and retirement benefits. The initiative provides affordable services for low-income families throughout Illinois.

Republican Jason Smith wants to move colleagues toward future bipartisan collaboration with a bill that increases the child tax credit. It also provides incentives for business development and low-income housing.

Students are working on ideas for cities that solve problems and meet the needs of modern society. It's part of a national competition that challenges sixth through eighth graders to design a city of the future.

The president of Lincoln University, a historically black college in Jefferson City, is under suspension while an investigation is underway into his conduct. John Mosely was the subject of an email from the school’s former vice president of student affairs, Antoinette Candia-Bailey, sent hours before she died by suicide.

A group will begin gathering signatures for an initiative petition to strike down the state’s ban on most abortions. It needs roughly 171,000 signatures to put the measure on the August or November ballot.

The St. Elizabeth Republican hasn’t been shy about expressing his disdain about high-profile infighting within the party but says the decision to leave Congress after 16 years is based on a desire to stop working.

The National Weather Service says the frigid temperatures over the past few days have broken a temperature record from the late 1800s. Forecasters say a warm-up is expected over the next couple of days before the temperatures drop again over the weekend.

The National Weather Service says an Arctic air mass is moving in. It will bring windchill values around 15 below on Sunday and Monday. The St. Louis region is not expected to receive much snow in the winter blast.

School board members plan to replace the courses with a "politically neutral" curriculum. Many students opposing the decision say the classes helped them learn about long-ignored histories and their identities.

Democratic Congressman Mike Quigley was at the U.S. Capitol Building during the insurrection. He wonders how it might impact this year's Presidential election.

The method to preserve food is gaining popularity. People with extra time and money are returning to the age-old tradition as a hobby.

The CommUNITY Arts Bus provides tuition and transportation scholarships to children in the St. Louis area from low-income families. Some are as young as 3.

Andrew Bailey is entering his second year in the office. He is facing a challenge by Will Scharf in the August Republican Primary. The general election could feature a race against Democrat Elad Gross.

It’s been nearly three months since members of the Shah family were at a trunk-or-treat event at North Kirkwood Middle School when prosecutors say a former St. Louis County Police officer fired shots while surrounded by children.

As of November, the U.S. imported $20 billion more in agricultural products than it exported. That is trending toward the largest calendar year deficit in nearly a century.

Missouri lawmakers convene tomorrow for the new legislative session. Some are concerned election year posturing will hinder progress.

St. Norbert Parish in Florissant offers mass in Swahili and French. Advocates say the services allow African immigrants to establish friendships and discuss immigration issues.

St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum reflects on the region's top political stories over the past year.

Many are already investing in nature-based solutions, such as removing pavement, building marshes and making room for rivers to flow. Now, St. Louis is looking to learn from Missouri neighbors about what it can do with the River Des Peres.

Advocates in Illinois say merit scholarships mainly benefit white, wealthy students and make it harder for low-income students to afford college.

A housing shortage and a competitive market are causing increasing rental costs in the Midwest. That comes as research from realtors throughout the country shows national rental prices dropped by nearly 2.5 percent in the past six months.

The push started with parents in local school districts and eventually led to state legislatures. One school librarian says her colleagues are leaving the profession because it has become too painful.

The head of the U.S. Census Bureau says data can save lives. He delivered that message during a keynote address at the 2023 Minority Health Conference in Illinois.

The reporting program restricts who can have a gun. Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly says the tool is stopping major tragedies before they happen.

It first opened in 1924 and was shuttered in the 1980s. A local commission is attempting to restore the venue to its former glory.

The mini music district on South Broadway on the southern edge of downtown St. Louis has seen some ownership changes and new clubs. That may be the recipe for an expanded music destination.

St. Louis-area residents who live near sites contaminated with radioactive waste are looking for a new path forward after an effort to secure compensation for life-long health issues did not end up in final defense legislation.

A nonprofit was formed this year to run the innovation district. It's designed to help develop resources for a company looking to grow into a world-class venture.

Low-income families needing safety-net services have become collateral damage in the bureaucratic scramble to determine whether tens of millions of people still qualify for Medicaid after a pandemic-era freeze on disenrollment ended.

A weeklong summit is examining collaborative crime prevention. The discussions come as St. Louis points to a drop in homicides.

Illinois is routinely on lists of the most corrupt states in the country. How does that ongoing legacy of corruption affect the government and erode voters' trust?

More than 100 billion pounds of food goes to waste every year in America—in kitchens, at grocery stores, and on farms. Now a federally-funded program is connecting local farmers and food pantries in an effort to cut down on that food waste. But funding for the program depends on Congress and what gets included in the next farm bill.

Illinois has devoted $25 million in federal COVID funding to the program. The money runs out next year.

Strong resistance to explaining climate change has convinced some meteorologists and climatologists in the Midwest to leave the profession.

DeJuan Strickland has self-published two comic books, hoping that young, Black superheroes would inspire a greater interest in science, technology, engineering, and math.

The initiative allows seniors to attend school in the morning and work in the afternoon. The goal is for students to pick up workplace skills to transition into adulthood and possibly a job after graduation.

The East St. Louis native is playing with genre expectations in his first holiday film, "Candy Cane Lane." It's Hudlin's first time working with Eddie Murphy since directing "Boomerang" in 1992.

The initiative provides $12,500 in forgivable home loans to benefits-eligible employees. The program has a long history in some St. Louis neighborhoods and has the city’s support.

Many families are deciding which pie to cook for the holiday. Food historians say pumpkin pie is associated with American culture. Sweet potato pie is a significant part of African American soul food culture.

The St. Louis Reparations Commission is preparing a race-based harm report for Mayor Tishaura Jones. Robin Rue Simmons got Black residents in Evanston, Illinois, the country’s first reparations payout and is closely monitoring St. Louis’ push.

Washington University, St. Louis University, the Saint Louis Zoo, and other local institutions are bringing children into Forest Park to show them wildlife can thrive in urban areas.

Many in the trans community are conflicted between their identities and faith within Christian denominations. That includes a trans man in Illinois searching for a church he can call home.

Council members discussed a measure opposing the International Institute’s efforts to bring Latin Americans to the region. The resolution opposes "the importation of illegal immigrants," though institute leaders said people helped by the program are in the country legally.

Council members will weigh a resolution condemning the International Institute’s efforts. The resolution opposes "the importation of illegal immigrants." Institute leaders say they are helping people in the country legally.

The President says workers at the northern Illinois plant will be treated fairly under a new contract. The parent company of Chrysler is planning to resume production after a pause earlier this year.

The St. Louis County Democrat is facing an unexpected primary race from St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell and drawing criticism from St. Louis’ Jewish community.

Many smaller, often rural, schools are improving cooperation to address lower enrollment. It allows districts to provide options that are offered at larger schools.

TWA had one of its largest hubs at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. Two authors with in-depth access to the company's archives in St. Louis have detailed the airline's history, which includes ties to Charles Lindbergh, Howard Hughes and Carl Icahn.

Thousands of competitors at the American Royal Livestock Show in Kansas City each year show their best livestock. The competition includes children as young as 7.

The region’s urban core has struggled since the pandemic, with many companies relocating offices away from downtown. Urban centers with more diverse economic sectors have been more resilient.

The Hazelwood School District has sharply increased its rate of investigating student residency, deploying a team of employees who can use intrusive tactics.

Military medical providers have a unique way of practicing medicine. They serve alongside patients every day. That can lead to specific challenges at many operations, including Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.

Intimaa AbuHelou is worried her relatives will not survive the Israel-Hamas war, which she says is more devastating than previous conflicts.

Fans have dressed up and traveled to the Delmar Loop for decades to see showings of the movie at the historic venue. Many came this year to protest a decision to stop showing the 1975 classic.

Many of the nonprofit station’s listeners are missing several former on-air voices following long-running disputes with management.

Most of the large public demonstrations in the St. Louis area since the violence erupted have been in support of Palestinians bombarded during Israel’s attacks on Hamas targets in heavily populated areas in Gaza. Public responses from elected officials have been largely supportive of Israel and critical of Hamas.

The International Institute of St. Louis is partnering with unions and philanthropic leaders to resettle hundreds of migrants from Chicago. The goal is to bolster the city’s workforce and stem its population decline.

Many students at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School are reluctant to speak about the shooting one year ago today. Alumni are trying to help by producing art that reflects their attempt to handle the grief.

Many in the Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience community feel written out of the narrative of last year’s deadly shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts. The schools share a building.

State legislators refused to consider any gun restrictions during the 2023 session despite pleas from students affected by the shooting. The St. Louis Board of Alderman has tried to fill the gaps.

A nonpartisan education policy organization's report shows the educator shortage in Illinois is better than in other Midwestern states. It also suggests keeping teachers in Illinois improved during the COVID-19 outbreak.

In the last three decades, thousands of volunteers, many in the Midwest, have helped tag butterflies to gather more information about their journey to Mexico.

Black animators from the region are breaking into the industry by creating content focusing on diverse stories about and by people of color and the LGBTQ community.

Three companies are proposing pipelines to carry CO2 from ethanol plants in the Midwest. The projects would go through farmland and past small towns, leaving rural first responders worried about safety.

They use their own bikes while adult "bus drivers" lead and tail the group. Organizers want to continue the initiative in the spring and expand it to upper elementary students.

The organization has been teaching the Spanish art form for decades. The group's founder says it's a way for people to learn about Hispanic culture and history.

St. Louis Actors’ Studio is presenting the local debut of Liza Birkenmeier’s play “Dr. Ride’s American Beach House.” It takes place on a St. Louis rooftop, as women question their own identities after learning astronaut Sally Ride was gay.

The University of Missouri - St. Louis is celebrating its 60th anniversary with five new fanfares. They are short pieces with big goals.

Every two years, the wing that runs Scott Air Force Base — the 375th — gets a new leader. Colonel John Poole has now been that leader for 81 days. St. Louis Public Radio’s Will Bauer sat down with Colonel Poole and asked him about what his wing does on a day-to-day basis. (Rod Milam hosting for Wayne Pratt)

Federal borrowers are paying off student loans after a more than three-year reprieve. Many in the region say they face an uncertain future with the payment pause lifted.

Two groups have separate ideas on an abortion access measure that could go on the Missouri ballot in next year's election cycle.

Officials have moved dozens of people from the homeless camp, but many wonder where they will go. Mayor Tishaura Jones says the city navigated a complex situation while addressing a growing public safety hazard.

Several people who are homeless are still outside St. Louis City Hall despite an attempt to remove them from the area. The city's effort came hours after Board of Aldermen members announced plans for a so-called Unhoused Bill of Rights.

Community composting is popping up in cities across the country. It keeps waste out of landfills and returns nutrients to the soil. It can also save municipalities money on landfill fees. Yet not all cities are welcoming the operations.

Amanzi Umoye has danced from coast to coast, finding a new sense of home within folk dancing. Umoye's story is part of our weeklong exploration of the concept of home with help from NPR's Next Generation Radio Project.

A historic St. Louis church-turned-skatepark caught on fire in June, leaving a shell of a building and charred rubble. Skateboarders no longer have a physical home, but the heart of the community remains.

Auralie Wilde says she finds comfort and freedom in her performances and her body. Wilde's story is part of our weeklong exploration of the concept of home with help from NPR's Next Generation Radio Project.

Management has parted ways with several volunteer DJs. Others have quit in protest. They say leaders are creating a vision for the radio station that does not serve the community.

The operator of Izumi says the food connects him with his heritage and childhood. His story is part of our weeklong exploration of the concept of home with help from NPR's Next Generation Radio Project.

The transportation sector accounts for nearly 30% of the greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. Barge shipping could help reduce that number.

Many political observers don't believe Republican U.S. Senator Josh Hawley is in danger of losing next year's election. Several Democratic challengers beg to differ. Some in that party worry about whether a competitive primary is a blessing or a waste of resources.

The sweeping federal program funded by taxpayers softens the blow when natural disasters destroy crops. The multi-billion dollar initiative is up for renewal this year.

Illinois is the first state without cash bail. The new system took effect yesterday. Illinois has been preparing for two years to take money out of pretrial decisions on detainment and release.

Craft brewing is a male-dominated industry, but efforts are underway to make it more diverse. In St. Louis, some women have broken through to become head brewers and want beer to be more welcoming to all.

Missouri is part of an emerging extreme heat belt that could deliver more scorching days within 30 years. So far, there’s no unified plan to make dwellings safe in the dangerously high temperatures.

The museum and the Baltimore Art Museum have partnered on an exhibition about hip-hop culture and music. The attraction includes work from eight St. Louis artists.

Most people in the St. Louis area pronounce the name of the small Metro East village of Sauget incorrectly. It's one of many French names St. Louisans may botch.

Lawmakers gather tomorrow in Jefferson City to consider overturning this year's vetoes by Gov. Mike Parson. That includes his removal of more than $500 million from the state budget.

The county is one of the only local health departments that operates its own clinics. They comprise 40 percent of the organization's budget. Officials want the federal government to approve a status that would add millions of dollars to the annual budget.

This weekend's festival in Grand Center will highlight the region's contributions to the genre. DJ G. Wiz will lead the tribute. He has showcased hip-hop over the years through documentaries for generations of fans.

The aerospace company is seeking close to $155M in tax incentives for a new manufacturing facility next to Lambert International Airport. It expects to create nearly 500 high-paying jobs with the project. The request comes a few weeks after the St. Louis County Council voted against freezing property taxes for seniors.

Former workers at Missouri's Children's Division say the department is not properly investigating abuse allegations because of the backlog. They also say there is a shortage of investigators.

The Indian population is now the St. Louis region's fastest-growing immigrant group, surpassing the area's Mexican population. The U.S. Census Bureau says there were roughly 18,000 people from India in the region in 2021, up from around 11,000 a decade earlier.

Salmonella is one of the most pervasive foodborne bacteria in the country. Researchers in Missouri are working on how to detect the pathogen in the chicken supply chain.

A year ago, Mayor Tishaura Jones signed legislation that strengthened civilian oversight of police and corrections facilities. But there's evidence that the system is not working as intended. (Rod Milam hosting for Wayne Pratt)

The rare lemon cuckoo bumblebee bee was recently spotted in a Belleville garden by an amateur citizen scientist. The bee’s population has been on the decline, but this recent sighting could mean good news for rare bee species and bumblebees in the region.

During the past two legislative sessions, the Missouri House of Representatives has passed bills legalizing sports betting in the state. However, its continued failure to advance in the Senate could lead to the issue being decided by voters instead. (Brian Moline in for Wayne Pratt)

The city of Belleville made history last week: The mayor nominated and the city council approved the first female fire chief by a 15 to 1 margin. (Rod Milam in for Wayne Pratt)

The Evolution Festival will feature headliners the Black Keys and Brandi Carlisle, plus a focus on local barbecue. Producers are counting on a strong first year in the hopes of creating a signature event in St. Louis.

The National Weather Service says the triple-digit temperatures could end this weekend. Residents, businesses, and schools are coping with the weather that has brought near-record heat index values.

Many are holding indoor recess, providing bottled water on bus routes, and making sure teachers and staff can recognize heat-related distress. The first week for many school districts coincides with a heat index that could reach 119.

A former newspaper reporter in the southwest part of the state wants to make sure no one forgets about the lynchings in Pierce City, which has a population of roughly 1,200. The town had a sizeable Black population, but that changed more than 100 years ago.

The expanding population of the federally protected bird is becoming a big nuisance for producers.

Two major groups are no longer working with the club as sexual misconduct allegations are increasing calls for change across the chess world.

The duo was one of the most successful St. Louis-based national rock acts. The group has released its first album since 2016 following a move to Brooklyn.

Lawmakers and advocates supporting the proposal say children need an attorney to understand their constitutional rights. Some law enforcement groups oppose the plan, saying all individuals are entitled to counsel at their request.

J.B. Pritzker has put the brakes on the state building new nuclear power plants. A nuclear power expert says it’s a missed opportunity.

Climate change is one factor that will influence future tick behavior. Some experts believe ticks will move further north while their populations decline in areas that become too warm.

Those who staff the call centers say the work can be challenging and rewarding. The largest Illinois center is in Bloomington.

The lake didn’t become what it is today naturally. It was the brainchild of two Kansas City businessmen. One ended up in prison for taking advantage of unsuspecting people.

Cherokee Street Theater's Suki Peters has crafted a version of Shakespeare's “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” It reimagines the 500-year-old comedy as a sitcom and is being performed this month in 24 public parks.

Costs have reached record levels because of several factors including high crop prices, increasing interest rates, and more expensive transportation costs. Those prices might not trickle down to consumers, but they affect farmers.

Some Midwest farmers want to provide Americans with better-tasting, sustainable shrimp. The industry struggled during the pandemic, but farmers remain hopeful it will come back stronger than ever.

New grass at the home of the Cardinals and a high-tech approach at the pitch for the city's Major League Soccer team are helping to keep the fields in shape during the sweltering St. Louis summer.

Jay Nixon was having a busy political retirement as a law firm partner and hiking trails around the world. Then, he decided to become a key figure in a national political group considering if it should field a third-party presidential ticket.

A federal report places a spotlight on Indian Boarding School policies that took Native children from their parents in the 1800s. More than 50 were sent to St. Mary's School for Boys near Chicago. Several of them died at the school.

The state just passed the new Native American history bill. It calls for all Illinois K-12 students will be required to learn about Indigenous history, tribal sovereignty, genocide, and more starting in the 2024-25 school year.

A Missouri Department of Conservation study shows many tick diseases are in the state, including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme disease. Officials say ways to avoid the illnesses include wearing light-colored clothes, long pants, and avoiding shaded areas along the edge of forests.

As Missouri Republicans mull over whether to put a measure on next year’s ballot making it harder to amend the state constitution, at least one other state with similar political characteristics will soon vote on the idea.

The St. Louis Art Museum's first exhibition of contemporary and modern works by Native Americans involves elements of Indigenous culture. It runs through early September.

A winter freeze and summer drought have put the southern Illinois peach crop in jeopardy. At least one farmer says it’s the worst loss since 2007.

Hospital leaders say plans by the St. Louis and Kansas City-based systems will make treatment and innovation easier. But there are studies showing such mergers, on average, do not result in lower prices.

Transgender people are complaining about gender discrimination within some housing shelters in St. Louis and St. Louis County. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Andrea Henderson reports, transgender people and housing advocates say shelter staff aren’t complying with updated federal housing policies and are denying people shelter because of their gender identity.

St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin introduces us to three filmmakers whose works will be featured at the STL Filmmakers Showcase

Two years after the Madison County state's attorney created a task force to curb crime by Missouri residents, the number of Missourians convicted of felonies in the Metro East county continues to grow.

Jules Perkovic is one of 75 artists from around the world participating in the Big Balloon Build. They are creating a larger than life world out of more than 100,000 biodegradable balloons in four days before opening to the public for a charity event.

The department’s clearance rates have improved in recent years, but more than 750 murders in the city since 2017 remain unresolved. Those numbers are from data provided by the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department as part of an open records lawsuit settlement.

Aomawa Shields' fascination with the stars started with the 1986 film "SpaceCamp." Shields' new book details her unconventional path to becoming a leading scientist in her field.

The berries are native to the Midwest and many believe they have medicinal properties. Demand increased in the years leading up to the pandemic, which has resulted in an increase in growers, and an oversupply.

The last place St. Louis Cardinals open the second-half of a frustrating season tomorrow at Busch Stadium against Washington. They are more than 11 games behind division leading Cincinnati and have their lowest winning percentage at the All-Star break since 1990.

The shortage of nurses, especially in rural areas, stretched many providers to their limits during the pandemic. A Certified Nursing Assistant in Boss, Missouri, about 2 hours southwest of St. Louis, says many CNAs are leaving because of low pay and little support from management.

A new state law will expand Medicaid coverage for new moms to a full-year after giving birth. Currently, those benefits last only 60 days.

The federal Inflation Reduction Act made uncapped tax credits available for capturing emissions, including CO2, to reduce the worst impacts of climate change.

The festival centering on the music and culture of the Black, queer community enters its fourth year this weekend, when it takes over the Big Top in Grand Center.

Advocates say unhoused people are among the most vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. Cooling centers can help, but a 2017 Centers for Disease Control study shows some aren't aware of that option, or can't get to them.

Congress expanded work requirements for food assistance during the debt ceiling negotiations, a move that would normally happen in the Farm Bill. Shortly before that, the state of Kansas made similar changes.

Fixing pinball machines is a specialized skill. Some in the St. Louis region are teaching a younger generation the rare art of pinball repair.

City leaders are looking for ways to protect young people from rising gun violence. The Giffords Center for Violence Intervention is suggesting several options like improving health and education resources along with increasing employment opportunities.

After the flood of 2019, communities along the Mississippi River started pouring more resources into projects to restore wetlands habitat. The initiatives in the St. Louis region help with seasonal and flash flooding, which have become more frequent.

A massive public art exhibition includes works from sculptors, filmmakers and sound artists. The pieces engage with social issues in the neighborhoods where organizers place the art.

The Catholic Church's teachings oppose abortion. Many in the faith don't believe Roe versus Wade should have been overturned. That includes Catholic abortion doulas, who describe themselves as the faithful majority.

Honey bees can gather in inconvenient places. That's usually when beekeepers come in for the tricky job of moving the insects without harming them.

Thousands of patients seeking an abortion have been going to clinics in the Metro East since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade one year ago. Planned Parenthood officials have increased staff at the Fairview Heights clinic to keep up with increased patient loads.

The education and supplemental nutrition program is for pregnant and postpartum people as well as children up to age five. Recent revisions include the addition of more than 700 items to the approved food list.

Joplin earned the nickname king of ragtime, but his work in opera is lesser known. He never finished “Treemonisha.” Now, a composer has written a new adaptation of the opera.

The federal government plans to distribute $1.5 billion to cities and states to establish and maintain urban canopies. Trees provide more green space for residents...and help cities adapt to extreme weather events and rising temperatures.

Each year, a group of young members of the Cherokee Tribes gets on bikes to retrace the steps of their ancestors who were forced to march the Trail of Tears. The group is currently traveling through southern Missouri. We’ll hear from three of this year's participants, Kenzie Snell, Nelson Lambert and Faith Springwater.

GOP lawmakers want to make it more difficult to amend Missouri's Constitution. But an ideologically diverse coalition could be ready to kill any proposal.

Greenwood Cemetery is in the St. Louis County community of Hillsdale. It was established in 1874 and is believed to be one of the oldest historically Black cemeteries in the region.

Lisa Holder White has been on the state's high court for about a year. She wants to show young people of all races that they can achieve goals by working hard, believing in themselves and helping others.

The ancient fish has survived mass extinctions and multiple ice ages. But human engineering and climate change could be the challenges is can't survive, and may be a harbinger for other species.

Officials answered questions last night about testing at the school. It closed after results from a private firm showed dangerous levels of radioactive material. Further testing by the Army Corps indicated the school was safe.

A report from the Missouri Attorney General's Office shows police stopped Black drivers at higher rates than their share of Missouri's population for the 23rd consecutive year.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker legalized pot nearly four years ago saying hundreds of thousands of people will have a chance at a better life, jobs, housing and real opportunity. Is the law living up to those claims?

Therapy for children in the state is not always coordinated in a timely and affordable fashion. It's one reason why the new Illinois budget includes $250 million for early childhood education.

A growing legal movement to grant natural entities like rivers and forests legal rights is having a moment in the U.S., as environmentalists set their sights on the Mississippi River.

Last year’s race attracted more than 100,000 people for the weekend, including 60,000 for Sunday’s main event. Organizers at World Wide Technology Raceway in the Metro East want to build on that momentum.

The city's new top prosecutor says failure is not an option, but rebuilding the office will be a very difficult task. Gore says a high-performing circuit attorney's office is necessary for a viable criminal justice system.

Libraries could lose funding if they don’t follow the new regulations including a ban on what the state describes as “age-inappropriate” displays in children’s areas.

The Defense Department wants more small businesses in its contracting ranks. But the process can be cumbersome and frustrating for some employers seeking opportunities with the military.

A new exhibit at the St. Louis Public Library Central location features Prom Magazine. It highlighted St. Louis high school life from the 40s to the 70s.

The global music icon who launched her career in St. Louis died yesterday. She became the queen of rock 'n' roll. Fans gathered at Turner's star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame yesterday to pay their respects.

A new documentary about the baseball legend and St. Louis native is hitting local movie screens this month. It focuses on career highlights and the hall-of-famer's life off the field.

The United Nations has declared 2023 the International Year of Millets. The highly resilient and cost-friendly grains could be the next crop for U.S. farmers in the midst of climate change.

Salsich was a fan of the show for years, and dreamed of bringing his mix of bluegrass, rock and country to the show where singers compete for a record deal.

The national historic site recently became the nation’s 424th national park. The Illinois community made history in 1836 as the first plat and town legally registered by a formerly enslaved couple.

After repeated calls by residents for relief from sewage and rainwater flooding, repairs to the Metro Eat city’s faulty system could start in a few months, but not finish until 2026.

She had planned to step down June 1, but decided to resign yesterday. Governor Mike Parson says he’ll announce a replacement this week.

The expiration of the federal declaration after three years marks a new phase where the virus has not gone away, but is less dangerous to the general public.

Infighting and contention derailed many points of the GOP-dominated agenda in the just-completed 2023 session in Jefferson City.

The Army wants to add new robotic equipment to its arsenal. Soldiers at the military base this week are working with two prototypes that could help save lives.

A staffing crisis in the Circuit Attorney’s Office has serious implications throughout the criminal justice system. Many reports indicate there are fewer than 10 assistant circuit attorneys handling serious criminal cases.

The largest residential property owner in St. Louis is dealing with complaints ranging from unresolved maintenance issues and unfounded evictions to aggressive rent collection tactics.

The St. Louis native who started his career as a background dancer for Janet Jackson, Usher, Beyonce, and Justin Bieber returns to his hometown for a show tomorrow.

Transgender health, foreign ownership of farmland, and the threshold for constitutional amendments are some of the major legislation Missouri lawmakers could address as they head into the last week of the regular legislative session.

Facing a move by the Missouri attorney general to oust her, a contempt of court charge, and increasing public pressure, the city's top prosecutor has decided to step down.

Most of the children struggle with depression and anxiety from language barriers and migration to a new country. They learn about African dance and drumming every week to help them gain confidence.

The region has bet on growing its geospatial, advanced manufacturing and tech industries to position the area for the future. The transition depends on a skilled workforce to fill open positions.

Congress renews the measure about every five years. But with the $31 trillion debt ceiling crisis looming, agriculture policy experts say cost will drive farm bill 2023 policy discussions.

Some indigenous people in Illinois say education about Native American history is incomplete, and possibly inaccurate. A bill at the Illinois state capitol wants to change that.

Three openly transgender educators in the school district say discrimination has forced them to leave their jobs.

Roughly three-quarters of the all-female ensemble’s repertoire in a typical season comes from women composers. The group teams with the St. Louis Philharmonic Orchestra this week to perform “The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci.”

The emergency regulations begin Thursday. Some providers have already warned patients they cannot continue providing care under the new restrictions.

As Illinois’ legal pot industry and the demand for educated workers grow, schools and companies are collaborating on marijuana classes.

Missouri Republicans have spent months working to curtail gender affirming care for minors. They’ve portrayed the issue as a way to protect children. Now, Andrew Bailey is substantially restricting hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgeries for adults.

The autonomous delivery droids look like a microwave on six wheels. Many consider them a cut oddity and a sign of things to come.

The proposed state budget again includes funding for public libraries. It also no longer prevents spending on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The Senate Appropriations Committee made those changes yesterday.

The shooting of Ralph Yarl in Kansas City is bringing more attention to laws allowing someone to use deadly force if they feel threatened in their home. Saint Louis University Law School professor Anders Walker discusses whether they apply in this case.

Today is the first hearing in the effort by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey to remove the top prosecutor in St. Louis. He says Gardner is mismanaging the office. She says neglect of duty has not been proven.

Three companies want to capture carbon dioxide from Midwestern ethanol plants, transport it by pipeline and store it underground. Many claim it’s essential to the industry’s survival. Environmentalists and farmers argue the pipelines are not a real solution for climate change.

A book from St. Louis-based author Stephanie Bearce has a familiar subject for many in the region: Stan Musial. She follows his journey from Pennsylvania coal country to becoming one of the most beloved Cardinals of all-time.

Providers in the St. Louis region are having trouble finding enough workers. Low pay is taking a toll on child care centers and parents.

A new book by Abraham Josephine Riesman focuses on the professional wrestling promoter’s rise to power and touches on how St. Louis had a key role in building the WWE.

Nine months after a court appointed monitor made the claims, there is no evidence the corrections department investigated the allegations.

The soccer standout and Olivette-native is a key figure in an equal-pay agreement between the national women's team and the U.S. Soccer Federation. She discusses the fight for the same pay as male players in advance of tomorrow's exhibition match in St. Louis against Ireland.

Lawmakers in Jefferson City are again determining how much money should go to education. Items now reaching a head in the legislature include teacher pay and how to handle race and LGBTQ issues.

The Republican secretary of state will take on Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and potentially state Sen. Bill Eigel and others in next year’s gubernatorial primary.

Reductions to the St. Louis area’s bus service for people with disabilities begin Monday. Roughly 250 people in parts of St. Louis County who use Call-A-Ride will have to find other options.

The treatment for young people is under attack from state legislators in Jefferson City. Critics and lawmakers say clinics are providing the care too freely. Patients and clinicians say transitioning is a complicated long-term process that varies among individuals.

Taxing recreational marijuana is one of the issues before voters in several parts of Missouri tomorrow. There are more than 40 marijuana sales tax proposals in the state's municipal elections.

Education officials say families are struggling to afford food. Many signs point to hungry children falling through the cracks. Some state lawmakers are proposing the return of universal free lunch.

The Cards begin another baseball campaign today. This year comes with rule changes, and the potential for the team's longtime TV broadcaster to give up the telecasts.

Representatives debated late into the night yesterday before giving first round approval to a state budget. The package is about $2 billion less than the proposal from Governor Mike Parson.

Rural areas are losing stores to consolidation but some residents have come up with innovative solutions.

Officials at the military base need to comply with Pentagon directives to convert all non-tactical vehicles to electric. They are contracting with a local utility to help reach the goal.

For nearly a century, the St. Louis American has been a trusted news source for Black St. Louisans. Rudolph Clay, an African-American Studies and Urban Studies Librarian at Washington University in St. Louis, talks about the paper's impact as it celebrates its 95th anniversary.

Increasingly restrictive abortion laws in many states have sent women traveling, in search of procedures and pills they can no longer legally get at home. A volunteer pilot organization is helping.

Lawmakers and the Attorney General in Missouri are stepping up their efforts to restrict rights if transgender children. Like many other states, Missouri is seeking action to reduce the ability of trans minors to get gender affirming care and to participate in sports. (Rod Milam in for Wayne Pratt.)

The Missouri Senate debated a few bills throughout the night that would place new restrictions on transgender youth in Missouri. Democrats filibustered the legislation into the morning, but after a short recess the senate gave first round approval to the bills.

This year’s Missouri legislative session has been moving bills faster than in previous years. Lawmakers quickly passed the supplemental budget which included pay raises for state workers and have moved forward on extending maternal Medicaid care, foreign ownership of farmland, parental bill of rights, state control of the St. Louis police department and creating a special prosecutor in St. Louis. Still to come are bills targeting transgender people.

The first U.S. solo exhibition by Faye HeavyShield invokes the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, and the Mississippian mound building culture. She is a member of the Blackfoot Confederacy from the Kanai Nation in Alberta.

Proposals affecting transgender Missourians have moved to the top of the Republican agenda in Jefferson City.

Three works debut this week in an initiative to bring new voices to American opera. The effort focuses on artists excluded from predominantly white opera institutions in the past.

Legislation is being proposed at the federal and state level to restrict foreign ownership of farmland, especially by China. The scrutiny comes after a Midwestern project was scuttled by military concerns and the flight of a Chinese spy balloon across the U.S.

The Illinois State Police says homicides in East St. Louis are roughly 30% over the last four years. The mayor wants that trend to continue.

The St. Louis Battlehawks return to the Dome this weekend. They were off to a great start in 2020 when the pandemic shut down the XFL. Fans are hoping to pick up where the enthusiasm left off before the outbreak.

Rural residents can be miles away from doctors and grocery stores. That forces many without cars to move closer to essential services.

Gentleman Jim Gates was the first St. Louis DJ to play rap music on the radio. He included "Rapper’s Delight" on East St. Louis station WESL. Gates says the record was a watershed moment for the genre across the region.

The Jefferson College student started writing her debut album when a music teacher suggested it could be a way to work through her grief over the death of her twin sister.

The Jefferson College student started writing her debut album when a music teacher suggested it could be a way to work through her grief over the death of her twin sister.

After studying satellite images, researchers have found the use of cover crops on Midwestern farmland has quadrupled over the past decade. But the crops that can help prevent erosion and give farmers an additional revenue source are still on less than 10% of farms.

After years of preparation, St. Louis's Major League Soccer team is set for its home debut. Soccer enthusiasts are hoping this is the start of a long-lasting era of professional sports in the city.

The district has been under fire after cutting some diversity programs. Black students want the initiatives restored so they can better navigate mostly white schools.

Native Americans in the region want more people to know about their heritage. Some have launched efforts to rediscover the area's indigenous identity.

The circuit attorney in St. Louis is facing the biggest crisis of her six years as the elected city prosecutor. That's after a man who repeatedly violated house arrest seriously injured a teenager in a car crash. Gardner is also facing an effort to oust her from office.

The first chief from outside the St. Louis department is outlining his goals. They include addressing violent crime to make the city "a better place than where we've been in the past."

Calling it a critical moment for the state and the people of St. Louis, Andrew Bailey is moving to oust the city’s circuit attorney.

Andrew Bailey says he will try to force St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner out of office if she does not step down.

Those who receive Medicaid benefits during pregnancy would be able to keep them for one after birth. The program can only begin after nearly 5,000 other people are kicked off Medicaid.

In a little over a year, local prosecutors have twice used a new Missouri law to free innocent men who served decades in prison. Both received no compensation from the state for the years they lost. Lawmakers are now discussing a change to the law.

Some former Illinois lawmakers lost their jobs amid corruption allegations, but they are keeping state pensions. That includes indicted former House Speaker Michael Madigan and his close contacts who are awaiting trial.

The Center for American Progress says nearly 60% of families living in rural areas throughout the country do not have access to childcare. That leaves parents scrambling with friends and family, or driving miles to the nearest daycare.

Some political observers feel Missouri is so Republican that primaries for key offices are inevitable. Others are concerned that nasty party contests could make general elections more difficult.

Supporters burst into joyous cheers after a judge announced Johnson should walk out of the downtown St. Louis courthouse a free man.

Two big proposals to develop St. Louis' riverfront have gained a lot of attention. One is near the Chain of Rocks bridge and the other near Soulard. The biggest challenge may not be governmental approval or financing, but the river itself.

More than a quarter of a million people are in the low-cost insurance program, but some are concerned what will happen when the federal COVID-19 public health emergency ends and patients are not automatically re-enrolled.

When it comes to music, it’s often the lead singer who receives the most attention. Those who record, mix, and master the hits many of us might sing in the car, on a jog, or in the shower take center stage in this special episode. St. Louis on the Air Producer Miya Norfleet brings us the beats and the story behind a St. Louis music competition.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis this weekend will become just the third company to perform the play by Dominique Morisseau. It presents the parallel stories of an enslaved woman who becomes a spy for the Union army during the Civil War, and a current-day professor at a private university battling systemic racism.

Hugh Ferriss was a highly regarded architect and his distinct moody nighttime illustrations of skyscrapers and suspension bridges inspired the backdrops of many fictional worlds. Andrew Wanko of the Missouri Historical Society examines how St. Louis inspired the work.

The Hazelwood Central High School graduate has developed a name for himself by releasing singles over the last few years. His debut album is part of a record deal with a top hit-maker.

Groundskeepers at a cemetery in St. Clair County have built an area just for children. Many of those resting in Baby Land were victims of gun violence.

Next time you go to your kitchen, check the labels on your food. You might find a small statement or symbol that says “bioengineered.” A year ago, the U.S. began to mandate that food manufacturers, importers and retailers make that disclosure if a food or substantial ingredient has been genetically modified. Rod Milam hosts for Wayne Pratt.

The next superintendent of St. Louis Public Schools, Keisha Scarlett, says she wants to celebrate victories that are happening in the district. ALSO Missouri’s Department of Health will start approving recreational marijuana licenses today. What does that mean for Illinois sales? Rod Milam hosting for Wayne Pratt.

Some Black doulas and midwives in the region are seeing more requests for help. Birth workers say Black women seek out their services because many have dealt with medical abuse or discrimination.

Graves is outlining his goals as he becomes chairman of the powerful committee. He will have to find bipartisan consensus in a divided house.

Goldie Taylor faced many obstacles while growing up in East St. Louis and St. Ann, but followed a thirst for learning to a successful career as a writer. She describes the journey in her memoir, "The Love You Save."

The Environmental Protection Agency recently released new rules regarding the Waters of the United States that decides which bodies of water fall under federal protection. But a case the U-S Supreme Court is expected to rule on soon throws those rules into question… and could mean less protection for wetlands.

Old film footage of indigenous dancers inspired composer James Lee III's "Visions of Cahokia," premiering this weekend at Powell Hall. The piece references Cahokia Mounds, the historic site of one of the largest Native American settlements in North America, in what is now Collinsville.

The United Nations says five conditions need to be met for actions to be considered reparations. But many of the requirements can be relative according to past wrongs and how those affected feel after a reparation attempt.

The East St. Louis instructor is expanding opportunities for local jazz musicians with a new organization. Build a Yes foundation aims to better promote acts while also providing opportunities to record music and new places to perform.

Gov. Mike Parson's goals include investments in infrastructure, education, and state workers. The plans received general bipartisan support after being outlined in the State of the State address.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Consumer Price Index shows the cost of eggs has jumped more than any other food in the last couple of years. A dwindling supply is a key reason for the increase.

A lawsuit filed yesterday claims the ban and other laws restricting the procedure violate religious freedom.

Gov. Mike Parson wants to use the state’s general revenue surpluses for major transportation and capital improvement projects.

In-person classes have resumed at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis, but administrators say students, staff and their families likely need more time to address the trauma from last year's deadly shooting.

Officials at the Gateway Arch National Park say a recently renovated museum is giving students a much broader story of the country’s history.

A square-cut, thin-crust pie topped with Provel cheese is the result of decades of St. Louis ingenuity. But it elicits debate throughout the country.

The Republican U.S. Rep. from a small Missouri town is now one of the most powerful members of Congress as the new chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. It makes key funding and operations decisions.

Dr. Kanika Cunningham started her new job this month. She previously served as a public health officer in the department and as a primary care physician at a community health clinic.

Thousands of Missouri residents are dealing with long COVID. They can't work, and that is adding to the state's labor shortage.

Legislation in states including Missouri and Nebraska are paving the way for large livestock operations. Some rural residents worry about the potential pollution and decreased quality of life.

The American military is providing weapons, supplies and humanitarian aid as the European country fights off the Russian invasion. Those shipments are coordinated by the U.S. Transportation Command headquarters at the military center in the Metro East.

The death sentence was carried out this week at the state prison in Bonne Terre. We spoke with a reporter who was a media observer at the execution.

The ongoing fight over Missouri's near-total abortion ban, legalizing sports betting and making it more difficult to pass ballot issues are some of the top issues this year in Jefferson City. The 2023 session starts today.

The state is taking a different approach to teaching children how to read. A new law calls on educators to use research-backed methods that have been gaining in popularity.

The extreme winter weather is causing delays and cancellations at St. Louis Lambert International Airport. The conditions are also affecting people who are planning to hit the roads for the holiday.

Arts organizations still coped with diminishing audiences this year as the pandemic continued. Many leaders say they are not waiting for things to return how they were before the outbreak.

The Republican's retirement marks the end of an era in Missouri politics. He's been known as a consensus builder with Democrats.

The Pentagon is spending close to $2 billion on the north St. Louis project for the lesser-known member of the intelligence community, which largely deals with mapping and satellite imagery.

The forest encompasses more than 1.5 million acres in 29 southern Missouri counties. Dawn Laybolt is the new manager of the sprawling woodlands, and plans to balance the forest's diverse needs while preparing it for climate change.

Johnson was convicted of murder in 1995. He has maintained his innocence. A hearing is underway in St. Louis that will determine if Johnson was wrongfully prosecuted.

For the first time in its 214-year history, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department has a chief from outside its ranks. Robert Tracy is leaving a similar job in Wilmington, Delaware to become the top officer in St. Louis.

Two young refugees who resettled in St. Louis are releasing their debut album this week. Some songs are based on folk tunes from their homeland and others feature beats familiar from musical styles throughout Africa.

A witness testified yesterday that Lamar Johnson did not kill Marcus Boyd in 1994. Johnson has maintained his innocence and is trying to clear his name after roughly 30 years behind bars.

As Midwesterners become more familiar with the extreme wind events, scientists are grappling with how to gather more information about the storms.

Gospel Music Hall of Fame in Missouri Founder Monica R. Butler will emcee a one-day music festival this weekend. She says St. Louis has a rich gospel history that has shaped the genre around the globe.

The base houses the U.S. Transportation Command which moves equipment and people around the world. Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost leads the command, which has moved close to 195 million pounds of supplies to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia.

The three will spend between three and nearly four years in federal prison for their roles in a case involving development incentives.

A public forum tonight will give city residents their first chance to hear from the remaining hopefuls to be the next police chief. The process is coming to an end after officials relaunched the search earlier this year.

Populations have bounced back after many states put the animal on protected species lists. Now, bobcats are hunted in nearly every state, and some conservationists are pushing back.

A little known St. Louis city ordinance permits judges to banish people from certain neighborhoods. But the actions can keep people who are homeless or mentally ill from accessing people and services they need.

St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Marissanne Lewis-Thompson discuss the now-approved deal to split up money from a settlement over the departure of the now Los Angeles Rams.

St. Louis Public Radio's Jason Rosenbaum and Marissanne Lewis-Thompson discuss the now-approved deal to split up money from a settlement over the departure of the now Los Angeles Rams.

The new leader of Cherokee Street's Luminary gallery says the nonprofit can do more to boost St. Louis artists and become a community hub.

The dry conditions that wreaked havoc over the Great Plains and Midwest this year may be a dress rehearsal for the future, as scientists are predicting more severe droughts more often due to climate change.

From deadly wildfires to choking dust storms to decimated crop harvests, this year’s drought has left its mark in the Midwest and recovering won't be easy.

Illnesses including RSV and the flu have swamped hospitals in the St. Louis region. Health systems are also suffering from worker shortages after many employees left during the pandemic.

St. Louis County, the city and the Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority are still figuring out how to spend hundreds of millions of dollars awarded after the football team moved back to Los Angeles. The authority's board recently passed a resolution calling for the money to go into an unspecified long-term use fund.

The $500 billion spending plan is one of the biggest issues the incoming Congress will have to address. It covers dozens of areas, each with lobbyists and interest groups vying for their positions.

The Missouri House of Representatives will still have a Republican supermajority during the upcoming session. However, Democrats point to a few possible reasons why they were able to flip three seats this past election cycle.

Many Americans are contending with high inflation and haywire housing costs and military members and their families are no exception. Their quest for suitable housing has become more complicated.

Schmitt heads to Washington, D.C., as Missouri’s newest U.S. Senator. His fellow Republicans may be in the minority but many people have high expectations for the St. Louis County native.

Many Midwest cities have an abundance of vacant land. Urban farmers often have a difficult time acquiring it, either from private landowners or city-run land banks.

Neighborhood associations are going to court to take back rundown homes, especially in north St. Louis. Many businesses bought vacant homes during the 2008 financial crisis and left them abandoned.

This a day to honor veterans for their sacrifice. Like Memorial Day, it also stirs emotions for people whose loved ones have been designated as missing in action.

The Corps of Engineers says results from a preliminary analysis show the school is safe for students and staff. Some parents and environmental activists doubt that information following a private report showing dangerous radiation levels.

Missouri voters picked a new U.S. Senator and backed recreational marijuana. Voters in St. Louis made a historic selection to lead the Board of Aldermen. People who cast ballots in Illinois decided to keep the status quo in the Governor’s office. Those are some of the key results from yesterday’s midterm elections.

Making sure members of the military can vote has been an ongoing issue for more than 100 years. Most are away from home or overseas in combat areas. Technology and federal laws are closing the gap in accessibility.

It's becoming more difficult to find a Democrat in public office in the northern Missouri district. That's a change from about 20 years ago, when conservatives in the area also described themselves as Democrats.

The St. Louis County Executive race features incumbent Sam Page and Democrat turned Republican Mark Mantovani. In Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District, the incumbent says the economy is the top issue, while the challenger is focusing on abortion rights.

Republican Eric Schmitt is the favorite over Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine in next week’s U.S. Senate contest to replace the retiring Roy Blunt. Some are predicting a landslide for Schmitt because the state is now so red.

There are five statewide issues on the November ballot. The proposal on legalizing recreational marijuana could make the biggest impact. Others include how the state treasurer invests money and making the National Guard a separate state department.

Two members of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, Jack Coatar and Megan Green, are facing off one week from today in the election to replace Lewis Reed as board president. Coatar is a more traditional Democrat while Green is part of the progressive group on the board.

Funeral services for Central Visual and Performing Arts High School teacher Jean Kuczka are being held Monday at the St. Louis Cathedral Basilica. And a performance of Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven" on this Halloween.

A shooting on Monday at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School left a teacher and a student dead and seven others injured. We’ll take stock of the week’s events and get the latest info. Rod Milam in for Wayne Pratt today.

The 18th district was Missouri's most competitive state Senate race in 2006. Now, it's not on the radar of either political party. We examine why the northeast Missouri district has transformed from ultra-competitive to ultra-Republican.

Central Visual and Performing Arts High School and Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience are off for the rest of the week so students and staff can receive counseling. They will return to class next week with virtual learning.

Hundreds gathered at a candlelight vigil last night at Tower Grove Park to remember the victims. Seven others were injured in yesterday's shooting. Police say they are all stable.

Pumpkin patches, corn mazes and hay rides aren't just fun fall festivities -- they are part of a growing agricultural tourism effort, and an increasingly important way for some farmers to make a living.

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley and U.S. Rep. Cori Bush want the federal government to complete an immediate cleanup of the school in Florissant following a report of radioactive contamination on the property.

Original cast members of the 1989 show "Some Of My Best Friends Are..." will reunite tonight for one show at the Missouri History Museum. They describe the satirical revue as the first piece of explicitly LGBTQ theater ever performed in the state.

A St. Louis Public Radio/Midwest Newsroom investigation finds the Department of Natural Resources knew about groundwater contamination in Springfield, Missouri since the late 1990s. Residents weren’t notified until 2018.

Abortion providers in the Metro East say the Supreme Court's June ruling that overturned the landmark Roe Vs. Wade decision has forced many patients from out-of-state to visit their clinics.

The Griot Museum of Black History is gearing up for a permanent exhibit that pays tribute to Black women that shaped the St. Louis region.

A colorful exhibition of textile sculpture at the Craft Alliance in St. Louis is fun to look at, but reflects some of the tensions of life as a trans person.

A very private family has commissioned the new structure that is very noticeable in the historic cemetery, and also packed with symbolism.

Farm equipment manufacturers are on track to put autonomous tractors into fields by the end of the decade. The new technology holds a lot of promise but is also receiving mixed reactions from farmers.

Farmers in many parts of the Midwest are dealing with heavier rainfall. Some install drainage tiles and trenches to handle the water, but that can lead to soil erosion and flooding downstream.

A California law will impose stricter rules on raising hogs in that state before they are sold. Pork producers in the Midwest say it could cost them millions, leading to a lawsuit. The high court will hear arguments in the case tomorrow.

A California law will impose stricter rules on raising hogs in that state before they are sold. Pork producers in the Midwest say it could cost them millions, leading to a lawsuit. The high court will hear arguments in the case tomorrow.

Henry Elementary teacher Peggy Plesia decided to try something different this year: a new wall of ukuleles. They’re pretty easy to learn, sound good, and help students quickly master pop songs.

It’s been 14 years since Missouri has had a functional governor-appointed commission assigned to address issues facing Hispanic and Latino residents. The population has increased by more than 40% in that time.

St. Louis vocalist Laka has never stood onstage and played a character. Now she’ll play a few every night. All are Black women who spent some of their lives in St. Louis or East St. Louis and achieved great success.

The organization says the decision follows an increase in patients traveling to Illinois from states that prohibit the procedure after this summer's U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade

SNAP-Ed, the USDA funded program designed to help teach beneficiaries learn how to make the most of their food budgets are paid barely above minimum wage in the Midwest, which makes those employees eligible for the benefits, or forces them to take second jobs.

Shalon Gates has been homeschooling her four kids off and on for over a decade in Ferguson. Academically, all of her kids are thriving in her classroom. But some of her kids are ready to close this chapter for good. In this final episode of Doin' It Our Way, we’ll explore the challenges of homeschooling kids with different social needs.

Several parts of the region have been dealing with devastating flooding for years. That includes the West Alton area, where the Audubon Center at Riverlands was hit hard in 2019.

Many in the St. Louis region are still recovering from July's record rain. That includes Alvin Cooper, who is pleading for help. His story is part of an intensive reporting project from St. Louis Public Radio and NPR's Next Generation Radio.

July's record rain forced many residents from their homes. It was more complicated for a St. Ann resident because of his limited mobility. He shares his story with St. Louis Public Radio and NPR's Next Generation Radio project.

St. Louis Foodscaper Matt Lebon runs an edible landscaping business where he introduces the community to the many benefits of growing native plants. He believes understanding biodiversity is vital as the world adapts to changing weather patterns.

Changes in the weather are convincing many farmers to revise their approach. That includes an urban farmer who is adapting by growing crops that are culturally important to his community.

For Miquilaue Young, homeschooling her 7 kids was always part of her plan. More than a decade into her homeschooling journey, the kids are fully immersed in their tailor-made school experience. It’s something Miquilaue wishes she had. In this episode from Doin’ It Our Way, we’ll explore how they’re able to pull it off their way.

The Corps must curate artifacts discovered during its work. It uses that responsibility to train veterans. In the St. Louis office, 7 veterans come in for 5 months at a time to receive job experience.

A new law criminalizing books in Missouri schools will have the biggest effect on libraries already targeted by some parents. In one local high school, police responded twice last year to calls about books. That librarian is speaking out.

The declaration allows millions of children to receive health coverage through federal programs, without going through the usual hurdles. That will change once the emergency ends.

Several area districts were hoping the driver shortage would only last a couple of weeks. But many routes are still not running more than a month into the new academic year.

Church leaders are gathering input on the potential closure and consolidation of its 178 parishes. The archdiocese is dealing with a shortage of priests and churches at only 25% capacity

New from St. Louis Public Radio: For years, Black parents have talked about how traditional schools have failed their kids in the classroom. Now, a growing number of Black families are leaving those schools behind to take a chance on themselves. Doin’ It Our Way explores why some St. Louis area families chose to homeschool, how they are able to do it, and what that experience has been like for their kids. Hosted by Marissanne Lewis-Thompson.

The best-selling St. Louis author says "They Knew: How a Culture of Conspiracy Keeps America Complacent" examines the country's relationship with conspiracies and how people should be skeptical of authority figures.

Lawmakers have gathered in Jefferson City for the beginning of the annual veto session and a special session that is supposed to be centered around tax cuts and credits. However, not all of the bills introduced on the first day are related to taxes.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says vet clinics in non-urban areas have been declining since World War II. Lower pay and debt from medical school are some of the reasons why it’s tough to attract vets to rural settings.

Blue-green algae blooms are increasing with rising water temperatures and fertilizer runoff. They can make people sick and kill pets. Private and volunteer efforts in some states are helping to fill the testing gap.

Political strategist Lis Smith helped popularize a communications strategy in which candidates accept every media opportunity. Her new book examines those principles and how they helped Claire McCaskill’s first Senate campaign in 2006.

The driving force in jazz music over the last decade is one of the artists performing this weekend at the Music at the Intersection festival. It will be the tenor sax player's first appearance in St. Louis since playing keyboards for soul legend Chaka Khan a few years ago.

St. Louis residents who received $500 to help make ends meet during the pandemic most often spent the money on food and utilities. The city has released a preliminary analysis of the program.

The theater will perform The African Company Presents Richard III, a historical play based on a Black theater in New York City sabotaged by a white venue in the 1820s. Director Ron Himes says the play remains relevant 200 years after the real-life events.

This weekend's festival in St. Louis will highlight musical greats from the city, including Albert King and Tina Turner.

Mental health workers in Missouri say there are potential problems with a new emergency helpline, including whether there are enough workers to absorb an increase in calls. The 988 service launched in July.

This year's celebration of music will resemble other big festivals after being limited in 2021 because of the pandemic. Organizers say the overall event is part of a strategy to raise the city's profile in the industry.

A recent poll shows respondents don’t like the new reality for abortion access in Missouri following the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. But many may not be prepared to punish politicians who support the high court’s ruling.

The pandemic and lack of affordable housing are leading to an increase in homelessness in the St. Louis region. Advocates say the increase will likely continue once a Missouri law making living on state-owned property illegal takes effect on January 1.

It's been decades since the last lead mine closed in southeast Missouri, but the region is still dealing with their impact. Now a company wants to bring a new kind of mining -- for silica -- to the region.

Invasive carp receive most of the attention, but officials say many other unwanted species could cause problems for the Mississippi River.

Researchers from George Mason University, the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Florida State University will spend the next 18 months talking to corrections officers and people in the jail as part of the process known as Plan, Do, Study Act.

Sex workers in Missouri are mobilizing to help members of their community access out-of-state abortions.

Missouri lawmakers will return to Jefferson City on Sept. 6 for a special legislative session centered on taxes. Governor Mike Parson wants a permanent income tax cut and to create agriculture tax programs.

Increasing commodity prices and a global food shortage are driving up the cost of farmland. Young farmers are trying to keep up so they can grow their businesses.

The festival in St. Louis features an inventive staging of the play “The Rose Tattoo.” Actors, circus performers, and goats are part of the production at the Big Top in Grand Center.

Two women who held significant power in a small north St. Louis County city are accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past six years.

Army National Guard troops had until June 30 to get COVID-19 vaccinations. About 10% haven't received their shots. A handful of states are challenging the vaccine mandate.

Missouri residents may have heard ghoulish tales of “Doc Annie” Smith, a physician who performed illegal abortions in the early 1900s. Today, the truth about her work has largely disappeared.

The University of Missouri is promoting the idea of cattle grazing in forests instead of pastures. Researchers say it’s better for the cattle and the environment.

Confusion surrounds a federal program allowing people fleeing war-torn Ukraine to temporarily stay in the U.S. They don't qualify for the benefits other refugees receive, making it difficult for sponsors in the St. Louis area to help.

St. Louis musician Tre-G has advocated for Black, queer artists with the Werqfest festival and his own work. Now he is directing a touring production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” based on his music, with a six-member cast of Black women.

St. Louis Public Schools officials are planning a national search for a new superintendent. Kelvin Adams will retire in December after leading the district for more than a decade.

The new Major League Soccer team in St. Louis doesn't play its first match until next year. But City SC is already reaching out to all areas of the city to establish a strong community presence.

Many Missouri school districts will be in class only four days a week this academic year. A professor who studies rural schools in the state says the condensed schedule is a reflection of the teacher shortage, which is now a crisis.

The overturning of Roe versus Wade is forcing a Memphis-based abortion provider to expand into rural southern Illinois. CHOICES will soon build a clinic in Carbondale, which will make the town the closest place with abortion access for millions of residents in the Midwest and South.

Black women entrepreneurs in the St. Louis region are part of a national trend of opening more businesses. Nationally, the University of California, Santa Cruz reports a roughly 30% increase in the number of Black-owned businesses since before the pandemic. The researchers say women are a big reason for the increase.

Missouri’s Attorney General emerged victorious in a crowded Republican primary for the U.S. Senate. The win secured a prime position for Eric Schmitt to succeed outgoing Sen. Roy Blunt in the fall.

Governor Mike Parson has spoken with St. Louis area lawmakers and regional emergency management officials about damage assessments after last week's record rain. Federal Emergency Management officials could have their estimates ready this week.

Grassroots homeless service providers face challenging hurdles when trying to access St. Louis’ millions in American Rescue Plan funds. Some gave up after seeing the requirements.

Two days after a record-breaking rainfall, another storm hit St. Louis, causing more flooding throughout the metro area.

St. Louis is coordinating with organizations including the Red Cross and United Way to help people who need help following this week’s massive downpour. That comes as meteorologists and researchers assess the record rain.

St. Louis broke the record yesterday for the most rain in a single day leading to flash flooding throughout the region. One person died in the high water and many more are wondering how they will recover.

There is an effort to restore links between Native Americans and foods unique to their culture. Centuries of colonization disrupted that connection leading to food insecurity and health disparities.

Lead paint is regularly found in products more than 40 years old. They are not regulated, and many buyers don’t know about the neurotoxin's dangers.

Jay Greenberg is the new head of the FBI’s St. Louis office in May. He arrives about a year after Missouri severely limited the ability of local law enforcement to work with his agents on gun crimes.

21 Republicans are vying for the party's nomination to replace Roy Blunt in the US Senate. But one candidate is taking up a lot of the oxygen in the race.

The 2nd Congressional District in Missouri became more Republican due to redistricting. But the democrats looking to unseat Ann Wagner are not conceding it yet, or any time in the next decade.

In August, St. Louis voters will decide on a $160 million bond measure for upgrades at the city's schools...but that's only a portion of what its schools need to fix their buildings.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says he is not running for president in 2024. But recent stops in New Hampshire and Florida are fueling speculation he may end up in the race.

A documentary by St. Louis filmmaker Joseph Puleo tells the story of thousands of Bosnians who built a new community in the city after fleeing civil war. A surplus of affordable housing in the 1990s made St. Louis a good destination for Bosnians looking for a new home.

Dylan Triplett is ready to release his debut album. The record is a reflection of his life’s journey and is inspired by performers like Ray Charles along with some local professional musicians.

There's no way of knowing how many LGBTQ farmers there are in the U.S. The USDA doesn't include sexual orientation or gender identity in its Census of Agriculture. But many are making a difference in rural communities.

Missouri is one of the only states that regularly monitors wastewater for new coronavirus variants. They show up in sewage as more people get sick.

The U.S. Space Force says enlisted members will no longer take an annual physical fitness test. Instead, they’ll wear rings tracking vital signs including heart rate and sleep performance.

Recently retired. Lt. Col. Rochelle Jones is sharing what she encountered while rising through the ranks as a Black woman. That includes racism in the department and police relations with minorities in St. Louis.

Missouri lawmakers are waiting for a special session to cut the state's income tax. Governor Mike Parson called for it after signing 37 pieces of legislation from this year's regular session in Jefferson City.

A recent ranking of state health system performance places Missouri 47th. It also shows all states struggled with the pandemic.

A preliminary report from Forward Through Ferguson focuses on the inefficiencies and fragmentation of St. Louis County’s 911 system. Some of the findings include low dispatcher staffing levels and outdated technology.

Future recorded deeds in Missouri will not be able to include restrictions related to a person’s race, color, religion, or national origin. It’s one of several bills signed yesterday by Governor Mike Parson.

A new exhibition at the St. Louis Art Museum is from the personal collection of Ted and Maryanne Ellison Simmons. They focus on socially relevant works dealing with topics including civil rights, the Vietnam War and the AIDS crisis.

The American Rescue Plan promised $4 billion in debt relief to “socially disadvantaged farmers.” But a swarm of lawsuits from banks and white farmers alleging discrimination has put the aid on hold.

The Phelps County Clerk wanted to take anyone with a court-ordered guardian off the voting rolls. She relented, but people with disabilities and their advocates concerned about the future are fighting back.

Missouri has banned abortions in the state, except in cases where health is severely threatened. But activists on both sides say their work is far from over.

Anti-abortion advocates in Missouri are praising a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the landmark 1973 ruling that legalized abortions across the country.

As theater companies try to keep performing in a time of high community spread of the coronavirus, leaders of small organizations say they are much more vulnerable to cancelations they can't afford.

U.S. Senate candidate Eric Greitens says his recent controversial ad is supposed to be 'humorous." The move might backfire if voters aren't up to the glorification of violence.

Missouri is expected to receive $250 million from the federal government to remove lead pipes. But many water utilities aren't sure about the location of those pipes. They've never been required to have a thorough inventory, except in a crisis.

The winner of the Republican primary in Illinois' new 15th Congressional district will likely win the general election. The contest between incumbents Mary Miller and Rodney Davis will again test the power of former president Donald Trump’s endorsement.

Universities, coaches, and individuals associated with an athletic department would be able to identify or assist student-athletes with seeking compensation opportunities under a law signed by Governor Mike Parson.

An elections bill that includes voter photo ID is on Missouri Governor Mike Parson's desk. The legislation also includes new rules for election authorities, leading some to wonder how to enforce the regulations.

Fort Leonard Wood has one of the highest suicide rates among military bases in the country. Officials have started a suicide prevention program to address the issue.

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Service had 84 young people in its care last year kept in a juvenile detention center. That’s after a judge ordered their release. In some cases, young people were wrongfully imprisoned for months.

Jobs in agriculture don’t just take place on the farm. Plant science and ag companies in the Midwest are looking for people in science, technology, engineering and math careers to fill positions that may not fit the traditional image of agriculture.

The Negro Leagues Baseball Grave Marker Project and the Descendants of the St. Louis University Enslaved will unveil the gravestone Monday for St. Louis baseball star Sylvester Chauvin. He played for the St. Louis Black Stockings in the 1800s.

The past eight years have been the hottest ever recorded, based on global data that stretches to 1880. Frustrated with the slow pace of progress among their parents’ generation, some young Missourians are taking action.

Lewis Reed is leaving the board following calls for his resignation from colleagues. It marks a changing of the guard. Reed has held elected office for more than 20 years.

Supporters of crossbreeding cattle and buffalo say the industry has experienced setbacks over the years. Producers in the midwest think they now have the right breed to make a dent in the specialty meat market.

St. Louis native and opera singer Adrienne Danrich leads tomorrow’s “Music as the Message” program at the Grandel in Grand Center. It’s a celebration of Black musical artistry across genres. Area musicians, poets and opera singers will perform work by Chuck Berry, Otis Redding, Maya Angelou and others.

A grand jury indictment accuses Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed, former Alderman John Collins-Muhammad and Alderman Jeffrey Boyd, of taking payments in return for supporting development deals.

Opera Theatre of St. Louis presents a world premiere adaptation of Oliver Sacks’ book “Awakenings,” about his promising but ultimately unsuccessful treatments for patients with “sleeping sickness.” Two longtime friends place Sacks’ story in the context of his life as a closeted gay man, something Sacks only disclosed in his memoir shortly before his 2015 death.

As schools look for creative solutions to help students learn English, one local district is testing a method that’s popular in other parts of the country. Teachers and district administrators say the approach is boosting confidence and test scores.

The lead industry spent years using racial bias to divert public attention away from the dangers of the toxin. It also minimized the impact of mounting evidence indicating lead was poisoning children. Author and professor Gerald Markowitz co-wrote “Deceit and Denial: The Deadly Politics of Industrial Pollution," which describes attempts by the lead industry to deceive Americans.

The growth of wind farms has created a new challenge for the industry: what to do with massive turbine blades once they reach their 25-year expiration date? A company in Louisiana, Missouri is trying to solve the problem through recycling.

The Missouri legislature has passed the Essential Caregivers Bill. It would allow two visitors to act as caregivers for people in hospitals, hospice, and nursing homes. The Missouri Hospital Association says it’s an important step in ensuring residents are not isolated during emergencies like a pandemic.

The opioid crisis is still described by many as a secret hidden in plain sight. A recent project at a community college in Illinois tried to bring that secret into the light.

Some companies are looking to install pipelines to move carbon dioxide emissions long distances so they can be sequestered. But farmers are leery after dealing with other pipelines the cut across their land.

For years, thousands of patients have come to Illinois for abortions as surrounding states restrict the procedure. If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe Vs. Wade, the Metro East could see tens of thousands of new patients a year.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that 5 to 11-year-olds who got their second dose of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine at least five months ago receive a booster shot. The announcement comes as the U.S. passes the 1 million dead marker, and cases are climbing across the country, including in St Louis.

As the climate heats up, farmers will need to find a new crop that can handle extreme temperatures. Some farmers believe a grain called kernza could revolutionize farming.

Officials first reached a deal on $210 million in upgrades in 2019. But the pandemic prompted city officials to delay the approval of their share of the bonds needed to fund the expansion.

Composer-vocalist Annika Socolofsky will present reimagined lullabies with seven members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra this week at the Pulitzer Art Foundation. She turns folk melodies into “feminist rager-lullabies” that convey messages she describes as full of beauty, passion and rage.

Republican infighting in the Missouri Senate often got in the way of passing bills, including many of the majority party’s priorities.

Republican infighting in the Missouri Senate often got in the way of passing bills, including many of the majority party’s priorities.

When the coronavirus pandemic made indoor gatherings unsafe, many arts organizations in St. Louis took programming online. Some have found that the new practices work better than expected, and are keeping them in place even as they return to in-person events.

Climate change continues to show different vulnerabilities in communities across the St. Louis region. But solutions for some places need to be different because of wealth inequality.

A redrawn congressional map could be in for a rough reception today in the Missouri Senate. A committee is holding a hearing on a version the House passed on Monday.

Missouri is on the verge of making abortion illegal in almost any instance except a medical emergency. The culmination of years of conservative activism is raising questions about whether it will strengthen the Republican grip on state politics.

Illinois is sitting on a pile of extra money from the federal government but is not using it to help address gun violence, which the governor has declared a public health crisis.

Missouri scientists are tracking lake sturgeon populations in the Mississippi River, as part of an ongoing effort to prevent the extinction of the endangered fish species. The team implanted radio transmitters into wild sturgeon this spring, so they could track movement in the river ecosystem.

The newest branch of the U.S. military is a sign of what military leaders consider to be the future of war. Several people are going through training for the Space Force.

Congressional candidates throughout Missouri are not sure about the areas they could eventually be representing. Lawmakers still haven’t approved a congressional map. Whether the legislature breaks the months-long impasse could have big consequences for the impending election cycle.

The agriculture industry is a big contributor to greenhouse gasses, and a new program is trying to get farmers to be part of the solution without telling them it's about climate change.

The Mehlville school district recently announced it is adding Eid as an official holiday in the 2022-2023 school year. It might be the first district in Missouri to do so. Officials say about 20% have missed school on Eid in years past.

The historic Black cemetery has fallen into disrepair after years of neglect and improper maintenance. Efforts are underway to bring awareness and funding to bring the land near St. Louis Lambert International Airport back to its former glory.

Nicole Miller’s commissioned, site-specific installation “A Sound, a Signal, the Circus” incorporates interviews with St. Louisans about the Black experience in America. It incorporates audio and video recordings along with laser animations.

There is concern among many Missouri Republicans about the possibility former Governor Eric Grietens will win the state's soon-to-be-open Senate seat and gain a major platform to promote his views. He is among 21 members of the GOP running for the spot being vacated by Senator Roy Blunt.

Pork producers are feeling threatened by attempts to change how they raise pigs. So they have made a surprising move to reduce the money they automatically give to the industry’s fund for marketing, education, and research.

Anonymous pages dedicated to posting pictures of students in embarrassing situations have quickly spread in popularity at high schools across the country. Some consider the posts lighthearted jokes. But other students say the online images are an invasion of privacy.

The last performance of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus under Amy Kaiser's direction is May 1. She is retiring after 27 years. Kaiser came to St. Louis after a career as a freelance conductor in New York City.

School districts, parents, and lawmakers are pushing to ban books. Several are by Black or LGBTQ authors. Many St. Louis-area students say they are determined to read banned materials to better understand Black history.

Engineers at St. Louis University and members of the St. Louis Blues Blind Hockey Club are working on improving the puck for visually impaired players. It’s a deceptively complicated engineering problem.

More than 22 million chickens, turkeys, and other birds have died or had to be destroyed as the highly-contagious bird flu spreads in several states, including Missouri and Illinois. Most of the affected flocks are commercial, but backyard flocks aren’t any less susceptible.

Many students are behind in their learning following remote classes during the pandemic. Parents are more interested in how to support their children’s education at home. A St. Louis-area expert shares some advice on ways to learn outside the classroom.

Kohn’s Kosher Meats is vital to the Orthodox Jewish community. The business is also beloved by the larger Jewish community for its authenticity and odd charm. But owner Lenny Kohn is ready to move on.

A Ukrainian couple who lived in that country since 1983 fled after the Russians invaded this year. The two are now living with their son in St. Charles. They spent four days traveling to the Hungary border and another four to get to Germany and catch a flight out of Europe.

The former Missouri secretary of state and daughter of the late Gov. Mel Carnahan is in charge of an agency that oversees federal buildings and handles big-ticket federal contracts. The General Service Administration will play a role in executing a federal infrastructure law that will pump billions of dollars into Missouri.

A pilot program at the Missouri Eastern Correctional Center is training incarcerated men to code, as they prepare for their release. The first group to participate in the program graduated last month.

A 2021 study finds Missouri has some of the highest rates of elevated blood lead levels in children. The research is part of an investigation into lead and its impact on Midwest children by the Midwest Newsroom and the Missouri Independent.

Dancers are returning to studios, classes and clubs after the pandemic prevented many events. Health experts say dancing can be safe if people are vaccinated and take other precautions.

The Cardinals are marking opening day by honoring one of the franchise's landmark seasons. It's the 40th anniversary of the 1982 World Series championship.

Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist Diane Reeves is back on the road after taking the longest break of her career during the pandemic. She performs this week at The Sheldon Concert Hall with a renewed desire to collaborate with musicians from different backgrounds.

Opioid overdoses in Missouri a decade ago were fueled ago by prescription pills and largely affected rural, mostly-white communities. The crisis has entered a new phase in the last few years, dominated by fentanyl in urban areas.

A federal study shows only 6% of industrial hemp growers in the U.S. are Black. A couple in Missouri is hoping to help change that by creating the state’s first Black-owned hemp processing site.

At candidate forums and on social media, debates over highly politicized issues, such as masking and how race, history, and LGBTQ issues are taught in schools, are at the center of some local school board races.

Authorities in St. Louis have bragged about lower murder rates. An investigation by ProPublica and APM Reports finds the department has achieved lower numbers by redefining what it considers murder.

Parents of medically vulnerable students are worried their children are no longer as protected against coronavirus as school face-covering requirements disappear. A Metro East family wants to make sure its child is kept safe.

Dozens of young refugees from Afghanistan gather on Saturdays to play soccer. It gives them an opportunity to be kids as they resettle in a new land.

Collegiate mining teams from as far away as England and Australia came to Rolla over the weekend to compete in mining events like hand-mucking, Swede sawing, and gold panning. The event featured mining techniques used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The St. Louis Blues have launched an after-school program to give more children a chance to learn the sport while increasing diversity in hockey. North City Blues is a partnership with KIPP Schools and Friendly Temple.

Members of the military move to a new base every few years. Some in the service are not re-enlisting because they don’t want to constantly uproot their families. The Department of Defense is considering whether the moving policy is still a good idea.

As part of Women’s History Month, we reflect on several influential women over the years in St. Louis. They include an educator who ran a riverboat school for formerly enslaved people and a union organizer who advocated for better working conditions.

The pandemic is leading some local districts to increase outreach efforts to families who speak languages other than English at home.

Missouri lawmakers return to the State Capitol today following a one-week break. Only one bill has become law so far this session as operations in the Senate have been at a near-standstill.

Band together has brought LGBTQ musicians and allies together in St. Louis since 1997. What started as an excuse to march in a pride parade has grown much larger.

Music fans will again gather in Grand Center this fall when the Music at the Intersection festival returns for a second year, with national headliners like Erykah Badu, Gary Clark Jr, and plenty of room for local acts. Organizers say the young festival is here to stay.

WBEZ's Dave McKinney investigates the financial holdings of Ken Griffin, Illinois' wealthiest person and the financier of a challenger to Gov. JB Pritzker.

Nonprofits and advocates in Missouri to enroll working to enroll people in Medicaid when they’re released from prison in order to keep them from coming back.

Sanctions against Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine has meant less fertilizer on the market for farmers, which means higher prices and concerned farmers.

A new Pulitzer Art Foundation exhibition focuses on audience participation. The show encourages people to pick up, fold or wrap some of the artwork around themselves.

The Missouri House is sending a measure to the Senate that could move millions of dollars from public schools in St. Louis and Kansas City to charter schools. A fiscal analysis indicates schools in the St. Louis district could lose more than $18-million.

Some Missouri residents say they are putting off health care needs because the state has been slow to approve Medicaid applications. The governor's office expected roughly 275-thousand people to gain coverage in the first year of Medicaid expansion. Only about 60-thousand have signed up so far.

Midwestern lakes are a hotbed of toxic algae blooms, largely caused by agricultural runoff. Without regular testing, visitors to lakes in many states have no idea what they're getting into.

Workers at a small business in Missouri are from Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus. All are working together while closely monitoring the war involving their home countries.

Legal advocates are going to court to seek benefits for Missourians who they say are being illegally shut out by a protracted application process.

Former Illinois House Speaker and ex-Democratic Party boss Michael Madigan has been indicted in federal court for racketeering. The indictment cites alleged bribery schemes.

The contract for deed or rent-to-own option is marketed as a way for people who can’t get a conventional mortgage to own a home. But more often than not, buyers do not end up as homeowners.

St. Louis is an old city and houses from the 1880s fill entire neighborhoods. The Missouri Historical Society can help homeowners who are curious about the history of their property.

Missouri officials are planning an official end to the COVID-19 pandemic as a public health crisis in mid-March. They will shift to treating the coronavirus similar to the flu. Scientists say it’s too soon to declare an end to the outbreak.

U.S. Senators from Missouri and Illinois want the U.S. to go beyond the sanctions against Russia already announced by President Joe Biden. Their comments follow Russia’s decision to invade neighboring Ukraine in what U.S. defense officials describe as the largest European conventional military attack since World War II.

For much of the last decade, the FarFetched music label in St. Louis united rap, electronic, R&B and experimental musicians to create a vibrant collective that still influences the local scene today.

For enslaved people in western Missouri, the muddy Missouri River was all that separated them from Kansas, and freedom. Many waited until winter and went through the ice in what became known as slave stampedes.

A new company has acquired 10 minor league baseball teams, including the top minor league squad in the Cardinals system. Those purchases are in the shadow of collective bargaining in the big leagues, which has put spring training on hold.

Missouri is among the last states to distribute federal education funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. Education leaders are urging state lawmakers to appropriate the money before a March 24 deadline.

Missouri's seven state-run veterans homes are so short on workers they are running at 50% capacity. Low pay, difficult work, and COVID issues are at the heart of the shortage. Meanwhile, many veterans are on a waiting list and the state is losing out on VA reimbursement money.

Across much of the U.S., winter is not as cold as it used to be. The four warmest Januaries on record have all occurred since 2016. In Missouri, winters are about four degrees warmer on average than in 1970 — and farmers are starting to feel the effects.

Illinois does not have safety regulations for warehouses like the Amazon facility hit by a tornado late last year in the Metro East. That means workers in surrounding buildings, and in the Amazon operation, once it’s rebuilt, won’t be any safer during the next major storm.

The soldiers who used deception to defeat Hitler in World War II have finally received the Congressional Gold Medal — nearly 80 years after they served in what’s become known as the “Ghost Army.”

Rung For Women is trying a new strategy. It is using personal coaches to help women climb the economic ladder. The initiative comes as U.S. Census numbers show women consistently earn less than men and the gap widens over time.

St. Louis blues and soul great Denise Thimes returns to the theatrical stage in the Metro Theater Company's production for young audiences. It is the first time the 2018 musical, based on a popular children's book, will be performed in St. Louis.

Some in the St. Louis area are sticking to at-home workouts as the omicron variant of the coronavirus spreads. But others say going to a gym is to break a sweat is worthwhile, even during a pandemic.

A New Missouri House map could lead to more competitive elections. That’s the assessment of a University of Missouri Political Science professor. The revised House map has received unanimous support in Jefferson City.

The current Wentzville School District superintendent will shift to the same job with the Rockwood district in July. Curtis Cain’s move comes as Rockwood parents push back on COVID-19 protocols and the district copes with contentious debates over race and equity.

Gene Dobbs Bradford is leaving Jazz St. Louis this week after leading the organization for more than two decades. He helped bring internationally-renowned jazz acts to the city. Bradford is joining the Savannah Music Festival.

A new docuseries focuses on how Black comedians got their shot at Hollywood's famed Comedy Store. Comedian and St. Louis native Guy Torry founded Phat Tuesdays after moving to Los Angeles in the early 90s because many club owners wouldn't give Black comedians a chance to perform.

More low-income Missourians are now eligible to receive public health insurance following the expansion of Medicaid. That includes people leaving prison.

New St. Louis County Police Chief Kenneth Gregory says his appointment is probably one of the biggest changes ever in the department. The county's first Black police chief moves into the job as officials are dealing with ongoing racial issues and discrimination lawsuits.

Many school districts are dealing with a teacher shortage by luring substitutes with higher pay and easing requirements. An Illinois Association of Regional Superintendents survey shows 96% of responding districts have a "substitute teacher shortage problem."

Veterans suffering from certain medical conditions became eligible for “presumptive” VA disability benefits last year. But their claims are adding to the agency’s huge backlog.

After three attempts to qualify for the Olympics, St. Louis-area native and speedskater Ian Quinn is competing for Team USA in Beijing. He is focusing on possibly winning a medal and the pandemic.

Some rural Missouri counties have COVID-19 vaccination rates as low as 12 percent. That is fueling some of the largest coronavirus outbreaks in the country. Political beliefs and a distrust of government are some reasons why people are not getting the shots.

The pandemic has exacerbated the growing gap between people with extreme wealth and those struggling to make ends meet. What does wealth inequality mean and what does it look like in St. Louis?

The director of African American Studies at St. Louis University says the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s calls for economic equality and workers’ rights have been diluted around the famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Christopher Tinson discusses why politicians ignore King’s call for economic rights.

A shortage of MetroBus drivers has prompted the suspension of six routes and changes to dozens of others. As a result, riders are waiting longer at bus stops in the often bitter cold or missing work when buses don’t show up.

Coyotes have become fixtures of American life, from the biggest cities to the open range. The number of coyotes in Kansas has nearly tripled since the 1980s and they're unwelcome around ranches, farms and homes. One response is to hunt them, but the canine still finds ways to survive. Listener note: This story includes the sound of gunfire and depictions of hunting animals.

Workers at the Endangered Wolf Center in Eureka are working to educate people about the animals. The operation includes some American Red Wolves, which are the most endangered in the world.

The new president and CEO of one of the oldest arts organizations in St. Louis want to make sure the Muny is welcoming to people of all backgrounds. Kwofe Coleman is the first Black person to lead the 103-year-old theater in Forest Park.

There are many projects governments create to help rural areas. But there are dozens of definitions of rural. That means tiny communities far from urban areas can be left out of initiatives like grant programs.

Missouri service providers are working long hours and consolidating services as they grapple with a shortage of workers during the pandemic.