St. Louis on the Air

Years of complaints from tenants has led to multiple lawsuits against the developers behind Lux Living, Asprient Properties and STL CityWide. But federal fraud charges looming over Sid Chakraverty, his brother, Vic Alston, and their accountant, Shijing “Poppy” Cao were abruptly dropped this summer. On this episode of the Legal Roundtable, our panel of expert attorneys discuss the case, which raises questions about the definition of fraud, the unusual personal intervention of U.S. Attorney Thomas Albus, and the role of Brad Bondi, the brother of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. The panel also discusses whether a public referendum could throw a wrench in Missouri Republicans’ efforts to redraw state congressional districts, and more.

Almost half of skilled trade workers are nearing retirement. ConstructReach aims to fill that imminent gap by providing young people with training and skills for careers in construction. CEO and founder Paul Robinson discusses the challenges facing the construction industry, the job landscape for young professionals and the mission of his organization.

John Buckner was lynched in 1894; his body left to hang from a bridge over the Meramec River. More than 130 years later, Buckner’s killing is being memorialized through a new historical marker in Buder Park in St. Louis County. Washington University professors Geoff Ward and David Cunningham discuss the role of public memorials and America’s history of racial violence, why it has taken years to create a marker for Buckner, and what happened after activists faced pushback when they tried to place his marker in Valley Park in 2023.

After years of construction and planning, Friday marked the opening of the new National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency campus in St. Louis. STLPR economic development reporter Kavahn Mansouri was on the scene for the event, along with public officials including U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell and director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. Mansouri shares his takeaways from the grand opening of the $1.7 billion facility, and what happens next as 3,100 federal employees, and the surrounding neighborhoods, adapt to the changes.

Powell Hall, the century-old home of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, has reopened after a two-year, $140 million expansion and renovation. STLPR arts and culture senior reporter Jeremy D. Goodwin talks about the hall’s transformation. Then, newly appointed composer-in-residence Kevin Puts, a St. Louis native and Pulitzer Prize- and Grammy Award-winning composer, discusses the world premiere of his song cycle "House of Tomorrow" and what he’s looking forward to with the orchestra’s opening concert of the 2025-26 season.

St. Louis artist Henry Moyerman transforms small Lego sculptures into monumental works of art. His new exhibit, “Built Over Time,” features large-scale photographs that make his tiny creations appear much larger. Moyerman discusses how a childhood fascination with Lego bricks and photography grew into an art practice — and why scale and perspective are central to his work. The exhibit is on display through October 18 at the St. Louis Artists’ Guild.

Geocaching is a decades-old treasure hunting game that combines outdoor fun and environmental awareness. With over 3 million physical “caches” worldwide — including 10,000 in the state of Missouri, there is no shortage of places to explore. John Layman, vice president of the St. Louis Area Geocaching Association, and Nan Dabler, the group’s treasurer, discuss the importance of respecting the environment as a geocacher and how the game got its start.

After 30 years of annual reports, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that it will no longer provide its Household Food Security Report, citing cost savings on “redundant, costly, politicized, and extraneous studies.” Without data from the annual report, organizations that fight food insecurity will be “flying blind” in their effort to provide resources to children, seniors and others who are vulnerable to hunger. That’s according to Kristen Wild, president and CEO of Operation Food Search, who shares her concerns and hopes in the wake of the USDA’s announcement.

The St. Louis County Library's Tap In Center provides a safe space for people who need assistance with resolving warrants, meeting with an attorney, learning about their case status or applying for a public defender. The center also works to address the underlying challenges that keep people resolving their legal issues. In the five years since its launch, the center has helped more than 3,300 people achieve good standing with the courts. The center’s director and its co-founder share why the program works and how it has expanded its reach in recent years.

Months after a 2024 protest on Washington University’s campus, St. Louis resident Kaitlyn Killgo was arrested, without a warrant, in Eureka. She’s now suing the university and the officers who arrested her. The case involves a controversial system called “wanteds,” which allows Missouri officers to arrest suspects without a warrant — even when those arresting officers have no details about the alleged crime. We talk about the state of Missouri’s “wanteds” system, and how it continues to be used by Missouri police, with Kaitlyn Killgo and Arch City Defenders attorney Maureen Hanlon.