St. Louis on the Air

A recent E. coli outbreak at several events in the St. Louis region has left more than a dozen people hospitalized and affected at least 115 others. That follows news of a shigella outbreak in Fairview Heights where nearly a hundred diners were sickened after eating at a LongHorn Steakhouse. We talk about food borne illness and pose your food safety questions to an infectious disease physician, a food safety attorney and a health inspector.

Vernon Betts, Sheriff for the City of St. Louis, will leave office after 8 years on Dec. 31. Betts lost his bid for re-election to Alfred Montgomery in the August primary. Known for his colorful personality (and controversies that have come with it), Betts has always spoken highly about serving St. Louis. STLPR Visuals Editor Brian Munoz sat down with Sheriff Betts, who reflected on his career in the St. Louis Sheriff's Department; his time at the helm, working alongside fellow St. Louis City leadership; and what he has planned next.

A land transfer agreement announced in November 2024 brings the Osage Nation one step closer to reclaiming Sugarloaf Mound — the last remaining Mississippian mound in St. Louis — in its entirety. Osage artist Anita Fields and her son Nokosee Fields created "WayBack," a sculptural and musical installation, at the Sugarloaf Mound site as part of a Counterpublic arts exhibition in 2023. Fields speaks to what this recent agreement means for her as an Indigenous person, Osage citizen and artist. The conversation includes comments from former Osage Nation Principal Chief Jim Gray, under whose leadership the first portion of Sugarloaf Mound was regained in 2009.

In January, Gov. Mike Parson will leave office after 6 ½ years as Missouri’s top executive. Thanks to Republican supermajorities and a flood of federal money, Parson was able to enact significant policies — and make appointments that shaped Missouri politics and the judiciary. STLPR’s Jason Rosenbaum and Sarah Kellogg conducted a wide ranging exit interview with Parson. Later, Jason and Sarah join the show to discuss the interview and Parson’s legacy.

Among Average White Band's hits are "Pick Up the Pieces," the 1974 song that highlights the group's funk and soul sound. The band's final performance is this Friday in St. Louis and ahead of that show, saxophonist Fred Vigdor reflects on his 28-year tenure with the group and its influence on hip-hop culture.

The “Ellington Strayhorn Nutcracker” from Jazz St Louis and St. Louis Dance Theatre will take audiences into the lives of Duke Ellington and LGBTQ composer Billy Strayhorn. Combining the holiday classic with a story set in 1960s St. Louis' Gaslight Square, the production represents “a love letter” to Strayhorn as an “unsung genius, who dared to live authentically in the face of adversity,” said choreographer Kirven Douthit-Boyd. Douthit-Boyd is joined by Jazz St. Louis CEO Victor Goines to discuss the importance of Strayhorn’s legacy, and the enduring significance of Strayhorn and Ellington’s 1960 album “The Nutcracker Suite.”

The GOP-controlled Missouri General Assembly spent recent years focusing on restricting the rights of trans people. That pattern is already repeating for 2025, with multiple pre-filed bills that propose ways to make it harder for trans people to change their gender markers on state-issued IDs. Katy Erker-Lynch, the executive director of the policy and advocacy organization PROMO Missouri, and Shira Berkowitz, senior director of public policy and advocacy at PROMO, discuss the state of Missouri’s anti-trans legislation and why ten advocacy groups are now asking the Department of Revenue to reconsider a controversial policy change made earlier this summer.

Missouri Democrats were fairly bullish that 2024 would be the election cycle where they would finally gain some ground. But not only did Democratic candidates get blown out in statewide contests for governor and the U.S. Senate, the party failed to gain any ground in the Missouri General Assembly. Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Russ Carnahan discusses the disappointing results and how the party intends to move forward.

It’s December: What better time to cozy up and open a great new book? Or perhaps you’re looking for the perfect book to give as a gift this holiday season. Ted Reidy of St. Louis Public Library and Tammy Albohaire of St. Louis County Library share their favorite books released in 2024.

Journalist Steven Thrasher was featured as a speaker at the Missouri History Museum during a commemoration of World Aids Day on December 1. Thrasher's 2022 book, "The Viral Underclass," draws deeply from his reporting in the St. Louis region, and explores the way viruses — from HIV/AIDS to COVID-19 — expose society’s fault lines.