St. Louis on the Air

Tre’von Griffith and his husband founded WerQfest in 2020 as a passion project. Their dream was to create a festival that centers Black queer art, entertainment and community — a grand display of representation in a way they had not seen before. July 12 will be WerQfest’s sixth year, and the production team now fully realize how important their work has been to the St. Louis region. Griffith and WerQfest producer and performer Deion Golliday share their reflections of the festival’s legacy so far, their experiences creating music as Black queer men and what’s in store for this year.

People report that they’re seeing more lightning bugs now than in years past, but the long-term health of the species is at risk from light pollution, pesticides and habitat loss. We talk about the preservation of fireflies and other insects with entomologists Tad Yankoski of the Missouri Botanical Garden Butterfly House and Emily Althoff of MU Extension.

After months of tumult at the St. Louis County Pet Adoption Center, the shelter received its state-issued license to operate last week. County Public Health Director Dr. Kanika Cunningham talks about her vision for the shelter moving forward, and volunteers share why they are hopeful that there are brighter days ahead for the center and its inhabitants.

After World War I, artists in France treated cars as a new kind of canvas — transforming machines into works of high art and fashion. An original exhibition at the St. Louis Art Museum, “Roaring,” explores that influence through more than 160 items and 12 vintage cars. The museum says the exhibit is its most popular since 2018. It recently expanded its hours in the leadup to its closing July 27. “Roaring” curator Genevieve Cortinovis shares her insight into the exhibit’s creation and the convergence of high fashion and beautiful cars.

Back in 1972, Lee Hendrix started a job as a deckhand on a towboat on the Mississippi River. It was the start of a more than 50-year career traversing America’s waterways. Hendrix, a St. Louis native, would later pilot towboats and passenger ships — and work for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Hendrix discusses his 2024 memoir as well as new writing on the effects of tariffs on the barge industry and the history of the Chain of Rocks.

Missouri's parole system governs the lives of some 52,000 people, more than twice the number locked up in the state’s prisons. But its rules haven’t been updated since 2017, and those who work inside the system say the process is often confusing, complicated and broken. Under an executive order signed by Governor Mike Kehoe early this year, a special working group has been meeting to address its problems. We meet three of the group's members to learn about the parole system, the people inside it, and the most pressing problems in need of solutions.

Fried chicken is among the top five most popular foods in the U.S., according to recent YouGov data. With National Fried Chicken Day on the horizon, we discuss some regional favorite restaurants, preparations and flavors.

The Missouri Department of Corrections recently asked people to stop donating quilting supplies. The rush of donations followed the hit Netflix documentary, "The Quilters," which follows a special program in a Missouri maximum security prison, two hours southwest of St. Louis, where the inmates create quilts for foster children waiting for adoption. We'll talk with the filmmaker Jenifer McShane about the film, quilts, prisons and second chances

Why doesn't St. Louis have its own hot dog, like the iconic Chicago dog? That question was on restauranter Steve Ewing's mind when he created a March-madness style bracket and asked St. Louisans to choose the hot dog that best represented their city. Then, in 2022, the Board of Aldermen declared the competition's winner the Official Hot Dog of St. Louis. In this encore presentation, Ewing shares how to make a St. Louis hot dog and the inspiration behind its ingredients.

Ten years ago, multidisciplinary artist Brock Seals was inspired to produce an event that gives emerging artists an opportunity to showcase their work, and to connect with fellow artists as well as potential fans and patrons. The annual showcase has become a space for up-and-coming artists to cut their teeth in a professional creative environment. Seals is joined by “Art, Mimosas and Pancakes” music director Julian Keaton to discuss what’s in store for this year’s event and ways they’ve grown as professionals over the years.