St. Louis on the Air

About 15 years ago, Jason Cerrano was working for the Pattonville Fire Protection District when he conceptualized a way to make it more efficient for firefighters to put out fires. He wanted to automate how a fire truck selects its water source and pumps water, and allow pump operators to pay attention to other critical firefighting tasks. Cerrano, a graduate of Missouri S&T, discusses how he invented the SAM Control System that more than 120 fire departments employ. We also hear from Chief Hans Mueller of the Freeburg Fire Protection District in Illinois about his department’s use of the technology.

A NASA mission that aims to launch a small satellite into Earth’s orbit in 2029 is named after Arlo Landolt, a renowned astronomer with roots in the Metro East. The goal of the Landolt Space Mission is to help scientists calibrate telescopes to more accurately measure the brightness of stars. We talk with Jennifer Boutte, the daughter of the late Arlo Landolt, about the honor. Peter Plavchan, the principal investigator of the mission, also discusses the mission’s goals.

The young ladies of Incarnate Word Academy’s varsity basketball team have managed to defeat every last one of their opponents for 141 games running. That makes them the national record holder for girls basketball consecutive wins. Guards Nevaeh Caffey and Addi Owen join their coach Dan Rolfes to discuss their schools 5-year winning streak and what the record means to them.

The sound of music took center stage at the St. Louis County Justice Center in Clayton this week. Two St. Louis Symphony Orchestra musicians visited the women’s residence to announce “Melodies of Hope,” a music education program for people incarcerated there. We talk with STLPR Arts and Culture reporter Jeremy Goodwin about his coverage of the new program. We also meet Dustin Politte-Bender, a music therapist overseeing the Maryville University students leading music exercises in the program.

Chicago Bulls player E.J. Liddell talks about his journey from Belleville to becoming a professional basketball player in the NBA. Liddell shares what has helped him in pursuing his dreams. He goes into depth about the community he surrounds himself with and the steps it took for him to become the best version of himself. He also reminisces about life in the Metro East.

The latest snowstorm turned into an icy nightmare has unified people across the region. On this episode of St. Louis on the Air, listeners shared their grievances, hopes on how to make the next bout of winter weather easier on residents and the good they saw in neighbors helping each other out.

The inauguration earlier this week of Mike Kehoe as Missouri’s 58th governor heralded a moment of possibility — like being able to solve problems and work beyond partisan and personal divides. But the sugar high of inauguration day can fade pretty quickly. STLPR politics correspondent Jason Rosenbaum explains why and looks at internal schisms among Republicans.

By her own admission, Melissa Price Smith never aspired to be in public office. But when it was clear in August that Wesley Bell would be departing as prosecutor to serve in Congress, Price Smith’s mindset about vying for an elected position changed. STLPR’s Rachel Lippmann and Jason Rosenbaum talk with Price Smith about her priorities and first days in office on the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air.

Former Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan will soon depart from the agency responsible for managing federal procurement and the government’s real estate holdings. As administrator of the GSA, Carnahan’s mission was to make the federal government work better, faster and cheaper. That work included implementing elements of Biden’s 2021 infrastructure improvement plan and the Inflation Reduction Act — and revamping the country’s border crossings. Carnahan joins the Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air.