St. Louis on the Air

Tennis is a game that begins, literally, at “love.” But the sport hasn’t always welcomed all players. In 1945 in St.Louis, Sumner High School teacher and tennis coach Richard Hudlin decided to do something about the segregation of tennis in the city’s courts and tournaments. He sued to desegregate the recreational and sports facilities — and he won. A skilled tennis player in his own right, Hudlin also coached tennis legends Arthur Ashe and Althea Gibson, both of whom broke color barriers in tennis in the United States and abroad. Missouri Historical Society’s Cicely Hunter and Amanda Clark share what we know of Hudlin’s early days, his relationship with Arthur Ashe and his impact on the tennis world.

The James Beard Awards annually recognize the best of America’s dining scene. Chef Alex Henry of El Molino del Sureste is a 2026 semifinalist for Best Chef: Midwest. The honor brings national attention to the Yucatecan cuisine he and his co-owner, and brother, Jeff Henry bring to St. Louis. In this episode, they talk about the significance of this milestone, their culinary philosophies and the journey – including many childhood summers in Yucatán – that brought them to this point.

Missouri Republicans gathered in Springfield this past weekend for Lincoln Days, the biggest gathering of the year for the state party. STLPR’s Jason Rosenbaum spent the weekend talking with GOP officials, consultants and activists – and found that the party is weighing how a bad national environment could affect key ballot initiatives and competitive state legislative races. Listen to Rosenbaum’s reporting on “The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air.”

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker unveiled the final budget address of his second term, proposing a $56 billion plan that largely maintains the status quo while navigating federal funding cuts and rising costs. The budget includes targeted tax increases on social media companies and modest growth for education and pensions. STLPR Metro East reporter Will Bauer breaks down the speech and Pritzker’s priorities.

As he tries to become the next St. Charles County executive, former state Sen. Bill Eigel is defending his fundraising strategies that inspired Republican House members to advance legislation curtailing recurring campaign contributions. Eigel joins “The Politically Speaking Hour on St. Louis on the Air.”

In “Climate Change in Concert,” delicate violin strings mirror the buzzing of cicadas take the place of data analysis. The performance at Washington University will transform environmental science into sound on Feb. 24. Composer Christopher Stark collaborated with violinist Clara Kim and Dan Giammar, the director of WashU’s Center for the Environment, to create a work that invites audiences to feel the rhythms and disruptions of a dynamic climate. We also explore the role of creativity in environmental research and why artists, alongside scientists, are essential in shaping solutions.

For 60 years, the Gateway Arch has defined St. Louis’s skyline — a 630-foot engineering marvel and the city’s most recognizable symbol. An exhibit at the Old Courthouse, “Hey, There’s the Arch!,” explores how the monument became woven into the region’s identity, from branding and ballcaps to personal memories. STLPR morning newscaster and host of The Gateway podcast, Abby Llorico, talks about the Arch’s evolving meaning and its deep connection to the community.

Inside the Missouri History Museum’s “Mill Creek: Black Metropolis” exhibit, a once-thriving Black neighborhood erased by urban renewal comes back into focus. That’s where STLPR race, culture and identity reporter Andrea Henderson talked with Lyah LeFlore-Ituen, the new director of the Missouri Historical Society’s African American History Initiative. They discussed why Mill Creek’s story — and Black history more broadly — is foundational to St. Louis.

Scientists are beginning to decode how floral scents attract specific pollinators. Mónica Carlsen of the Missouri Botanical Garden is taking her research of anthuriums, a common household plant known for their wide leaves and protruding spike, from the Climatron and will soon travel to Colombia to capture plant scents in the wild, aiming to better understand the “invisible language” between plants and pollinators. We also hear from Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum curator Nezka Pfeifer about the museum’s latest exhibit “Smelling the Bouquet: Plants and Scents in the Garden.”

Around 70 lawsuits against the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department are facing delays and confusion amid a year-long legal battle between lawyers for the state and city: The battle is over which entity is financially responsible to pay millions of dollars in settlements reached by judges and juries in lawsuits over police abuses. St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist Tony Messenger shares insights from his reporting about the situation, which he calls a “legal morass.” Arch City Defenders attorney Maureen Hanlon, who represented the family of a 63-year-old man police killed in a SWAT raid in 2017, shares her experience from the middle of this legal confusion. Messenger and Hanlon discuss the current situation’s roots, the history of local control of the SLMPD, and why judges are looking to lawmakers for lasting solutions.

Lifelong friends Nathan Colombo and Maxwell Senteney have co-produced hundreds of Tiny Desk Contest entry videos for musicians across southern Illinois and St. Louis. In 2024, they launched Tiny Desk Crashers with a goal to make sure the musical talent of southern Illinois is recognized — and impossible to ignore.

A major voice in the St. Louis blues and jazz community has left the stage. Longtime singer Marsha Evans died last week at 75. Musicians, family and friends pay tribute by recognizing her contributions to the local music scene and her collaboration with artists including Fontella Bass, Oliver Sain and Gus Thornton. They also discuss her music being sampled by Atlanta rapper and Migos member Quavo and her work as a mentor to young people.

It’s been nine months since an EF3 tornado ripped a 23-mile path through the area, with most of the damage concentrated in north St. Louis. Many residents say they’re still waiting for help — and some have given up on getting relief from city assistance programs altogether. STLPR economic development reporter Kavahn Mansouri talks about his reporting on this topic.

We listen back to our 2023 conversation about “Black St. Louis,” a book that explores the life of Black people, from the founding of the city to the start of the 21st century. Through colorful imagery and detailed documentation, co-authors Calvin Riley and NiNi Harris tell the stories of enslaved people, night-club owners, soldiers and everyday Black St. Louisans.

Missouri's mental health jail backlog is worsening. Over 500 people are currently waiting for court-ordered mental health services that would allow their criminal cases to move forward. Three years ago, the waitlist numbered around 200. Many have not been convicted of a crime but still languish in jails for months or even years. Missouri Independent Reporter Steph Quinn shares her insights from her reporting and a recent legislative hearing on the “crisis” of Missouri’s mental health backlog. Annie Legomsky, director of client advocacy for the Missouri public defender’s office, takes us behind the scenes of the ongoing struggle to address the mental health backlog.

St. Louis is packed with punk bands in every genre under that umbrella. Organizer of 314 Punk Weekend and lead singer of Wes Hoffman & Friends Wes Hoffman joins music show originator Miya Norfleet to discuss their picks for the hottest new and new-”ish” releases from St. Louis artists on this month’s new music roundup. Check out our new music roundup playlist.

Antoine White doesn’t shy away from his roots in St. Louis’ streets. Known as T-Dubb-O on stage and in his community, the St. Louis native has cultivated a reputation for lyricism as a battle rapper and recording artist. His music and advocacy work flow through his latest album, “Sets on the Wall.” He takes us behind the scenes of his songs, “No Treaty,” “Turbulence,” and “Stand Tall,” as well as the origins of his company Audacity Music Group.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe wants voters to decide whether or not to phase out the state income tax. How will that affect your financial situation — and funding for state services? Two tax experts answer those questions and discuss how the elimination of state income tax has played out in other states.

Many often associate frostbite with outdoor sports and mountain climbers with blackened fingers and faces. But advocates in St. Louis say the issue is also commonly seen in people closer to ground level — people experiencing homelessness or who otherwise lack a stable place to stay in freezing temperatures. STLPR reporter Sarah Fentem shares insights from her recent reporting on the suffering and challenges facing homeless people during the recent streak of bitter cold. We also hear from Kevin Roberts, a resident of an encampment who lost two toes to frostbite last winter; and Dr. Josh Fernelius, a volunteer with Street Med STL, who shares his experience treating frostbite among St. Louis’ homeless population.

For professional wrestling fans, the theme music that ushers a grappler into the ring is almost as memorable as a finishing move or signature pose. But Florissant resident Paul Morad has taken the recollection of pro wrestling entrance music to a new level: He was recently recognized as the Guinness world record holder for identifying the most WWE entrance songs in 60 seconds. Morad sits down with STLPR reporter (and admitted wrestling fan) Jason Rosenbaum to explore the meaning behind wrestling’s greatest hits. For the special “main event,” Rosenbaum offers Morad the chance to demonstrate his prodigious talent for recall.