The Gateway

A St. Louis grocery store is challenging more residents to ditch excessive waste. This comes as the city pulled the plug on its alley recycling program earlier this year. St. Louis Public Radio’s Marissanne Lewis-Thompson reports on how Local Harvest Grocery is helping its customers reduce waste one plastic container at a time.

The U.S. produces more than a third of the world’s corn, and most of that grain comes from a swath of the central U.S. called the corn belt. St. Louis Public Radio’s Kate Grumke reports some Midwestern farmers are planting a new variety of corn that might be an improvement over what’s in fields now.

Gov. Mike Kehoe announced that members of the National Guard will assist with administrative, clerical, and logistical duties at Missouri’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facilities. The GOP chief executive says this will free up ICE personnel to pursue immigration enforcement efforts. Plus, a report on hurdles rural communities are now facing in getting connected to the internet.

Cancer treatments and screenings are lowering the disparity rates, but some doctors say the most effective way to reduce it is to start talking about the disease. Dr. Arnold Bullock is a urologist and surgeon at Washington University. He spoke with St. Louis Public Radio’s Andrea Henderson about prostate cancer disparities among Black men and how screenings can save lives.

Residents of a Central Illinois town recently couldn't use their tap water because of harmful algal blooms in city reservoirs. The problem threatens water systems in other parts of the Midwest, too. Harvest Public Media’s Jim Meadows reports.

Friday marks the reopening of Powell Hall after a two-year, $140-million dollar renovation and expansion. The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra will mark the occasion with three concerts this weekend. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin reports, a recent sneak preview offered a taste of the changes.

Theatergoers have an opportunity this weekend to see something that doesn’t happen often on professional stages in St. Louis: an all-Latino cast and director presenting a show about life in a Spanish-speaking community. STLPR's Jeremy Goodwin speaks with the crew behind "Carmela, Full of Wishes."

This month, St. Louis launched a three-week cleanup blitz to clear debris from May’s deadly tornado. Our reporters have been tracking the progress, questioning both city leaders and the debris removal crews. STLPR's Andrea Henderson and Kavahn Mansouri are on the ground.

Nate Hayward started as the new commissioner of the St. Louis Division of Corrections on September 16. He says he plans to update the jail’s use of force policies and increase transparency at the facility, using his 32 years of experience at the St. Louis County Jail. St. Louis Public Radio’s Lacretia Wimbley spoke with Hayward about his plans for the troubled city jail.

Three years after a St. Louis County man says he was attacked, and an attempted carjacking sent his vehicle crashing through the Hazelwood Police Department – he is the one going to trial. St. Louis Public Radio’s Danny Wicentowski shares his investigation into the night it all happened, the possible retaliation at play, and what happens next in the case.

It’s probably never been an easier time to find new music by big-name artists. (Just tune into any other popular podcast to hear Taylor Swift talk about her new album.) But that same tactic may not work for local artists. St. Louis Public Radio’s Chad Davis on how to find St. Louis musicians.

The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees will vote on the 2026 fiscal year budget Thursday morning. The proposal for Edwardsville’s campus marks the first balanced budget since 2017. That follows a 10 million dollar deficit last year. St. Louis Public Radio’s Will Bauer sat down with Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Chancellor James Minor to discuss the school’s improved financial picture.

Lorraine Hansberry’s 1959 play “A Raisin in the Sun” is a landmark of American theater. It had three hit Broadway runs with its story about the struggles of a Black family in mid-century Chicago. Less well-known is the musical adaptation, called simply: “Raisin.” The Black Rep is performing the seldom-seen show through Sunday. As St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin reports, “Raisin” depicts racist systems that still impact life in St. Louis today.

Sports betting was legalized in Missouri last November, but it won’t be active until December 1 due to licensing and regulation requirements. St. Louis Public Radio’s Olivia Mizelle reports that some mental health advocates are concerned about the impact its impending availability will have on gambling addiction in the state.

Two conversations with STLPR reporters to better understand this moment in our region: Jason Rosenbaum on the conclusion of Missouri’s contentious special session on redistricting and making it harder to pass some constitutional amendments, and Chad Davis reports on where things stand ten years after the Ferguson Commission Report release.

Keyboard maestro John Medeski has played with dozens of bands, including John Medeski’s Mad Skillet, which plays its only U.S. show of the year Saturday at the Music at the Intersection Festival. St. Louis Public Radio’s Jeremy Goodwin shares this conversation.

Almost four months after a tornado ripped through north St. Louis, demolition crews are bringing down what’s left of many damaged homes. The Midwest Newsroom's Holly Edgell reports that more homeowners are applying for demolition permits and deciding whether to stay or leave the city.

Many incarcerated people say they’re working to better themselves while they do time. But, there are barriers to that… some of which are more than skin deep. Lauren Frost takes us to Canton, Illinois where an inmate has an idea for a program that could help people in custody to start fresh.

The northside of St. Louis looks like a wasteland following the May 16th tornado, and residents say they fear it will remain this way if the government doesn’t provide the resources to rebuild. Some say the money they received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency wasn’t enough, and others simply want the city to put its money where its mouth is. St. Louis Public Radio’s Lacretia Wimbley reports that while city leaders agree that things should be moving faster, they say they’re doing the best they can to disperse limited resources.

Lawmakers return to Jefferson City this week to consider Republican proposals to change the state’s congressional map and limit voters’ ability to pass laws. Democrats are calling those efforts illegal and racist. We’ll get a preview from STLPR’s Jason Rosenbaum. Plus, actress Tina Lifford credits her longevity towards prioritizing her mental wellness. STLPR's Marissanne Lewis-Thompson spoke with the Illinois native ahead of her appearance this week at the Own Your Now Wellness Experience in St. Louis about her career, mental health, and how she became an actress.