St. Louis on the Air

In the new book “Play Harder: The Triumph of Black Baseball in America,” Washington University professor Gerald Early traces the powerful impact of Black Americans on the game from the post-Civil War era to today. Written in collaboration with the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the book highlights pivotal figures, defining moments, and the lasting influence of Black players.

The 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis highlighted the nation's triumphs but it also reveled in public exploitation of indigenous Filipinos, who were put on display to demonstrate the "savagery" of other cultures. In addition to the 47-acre "Philippine Village," the Philippine Constabulary Band was also a popular attraction. Piccolo player Pedro B. Navarro was a key member of the band. His great-granddaughter, Mary Lacanlale, an ethnomusicologist at California State University, shares insights about the band, the exploitation of Filipino people at the World's Fair and her ancestor's experience there. She also reflects on the recent dedication of a memorial to the Philippine Village in Clayton.

Robert Cohen recently retired after a 38-year career, the last 25 years spent at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Cohen was part of a team of Post photographers who won a Pulitzer Prize in 2015 for their work covering the Ferguson protests. Cohen reflects on his famous photo of Edward ‘Skeeda’ Crawford throwing a tear gas canister during the protests, and other moments from his career in journalism.

Essence Anthony’s passion for art started when she was a kid, but she stopped painting as she grew older. She was recently diagnosed with functional neurological disorder, which brought her back to her love of painting. She shares what it’s like to live with the disorder, how she navigates her challenges through a creative outlet and how she uses her art to raise awareness about the disorder.

After losing reelection in April, former St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones says she wants to take a break from politics. It’s the first time in the last 20 years that she hasn’t held elected office. Talking with STLPR’s Rachel Lippmann and Jason Rosenbaum, Jones reflects on her four years as mayor and the state of Black leadership in St. Louis and around the country.

The St. Alphonsus Liguori “Rock” Catholic Church in north St. Louis received $500,000 from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund to restore its 120-year-old stained glass windows. Acting pastor Rev. Rodney Olive and longtime parishioner Monica Huddleston share what that grant funding means for the historic, predominantly Black church that’s endured more than its share of building damage — and why the preservation work is important for the community around the church.

After the Trump administration revoked thousands of student visas, including over 30 in the St. Louis area, some students prepared themselves for possible deportation and loss of their education. Now that the government has restored those visas, St. Louis immigration attorney Jim Hacking shares his insights from the recent whiplash in legal developments — and why lawsuits filed to defend international students aren’t going away.

Linda Lockhart, a longtime St. Louis journalist, with a more than 40-year career died Sunday. She was 72. Lockhart worked at several St. Louis journalism outlets including the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and St. Louis Public Radio. In this episode, we listen back to an interview she did on this show in 2019 reflecting on her career. We also hear from others including her daughter, Rachel Seward, and STLPR afternoon newscaster Marissanne Lewis-Thompson.

In 2024, nearly 60 pedestrians in the city of St. Louis and St. Louis County were killed — the deadliest year on record since Trailnet began issuing its annual Crash Report. We discuss the reasons behind these crashes, the effects of traffic violence on the people who experience it, and the solutions being put in place to make our streets safer for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.

St. Louisan Henry “Mule” Townsend is a legend among blues lovers and music historians. Almost 19 years after his death, Townsend is being inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in Memphis, TN. Music manager and Townsend’s youngest son Alonzo, and Kathy Corley, producer of the documentary film “That’s The Way I Do It” which covers Townsend’s life and music career, share what Townsend’s induction to the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame means for his legacy, for blues music and culture, and for St. Louis.

After the city of Saigon fell to North Vietnamese forces on April 30, 1975, Tram Anh Nguyen’s family was among the first Vietnamese refugees to make their new home in St. Louis. Nguyen talks about producing "The Fall of Saigon: 50 Years Later,” which explores the impact of the war in Vietnam — and its end — on St. Louis-area based refugees, sponsor families and U.S. veterans. The “Five on Your Side” KSDK special airs May 6 and will be available to stream on its 5+ app thereafter.

President Trump’s decision to appoint former Missouri lawyer Ed Martin as U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., sparked surprise, befuddlement and virulent opposition. ProPublica investigative reporter Jeremy Kohler discusses how Martin became a high-profile political figure in the Show Me State — in no small part due to his provocative public statements and pugnacious personality.

President Donald Trump marked his 100th day in office on April 30. St. Louis region residents, politicians and STLPR reporters share how Trump’s actions in office have made a mark on the region so far — including the effects of immigration raids, federal job losses, investment in a St. Louis-based Boeing manufacturing plant, and federal funding cuts to cancer and vaccine research.

In 2021, Frontenac native Tara Mahadevan decided to fill a longtime void in media coverage of St. Louis music, arts and lifestyle created by Black people or people of colour by founding the print magazine Search Party. Mahadevan, a Chicago-based music journalist who maintains strong ties to St. Louis, talks about the scope and focus of Search Party Magazine. She also shares why visual representation of St. Louis’ racial and ethnic diversity was prioritized in the magazine, especially with its second, music-focused issue. The culture-centered third issue of Search Party is in the works for the latter half of 2025.

After performing at various venues for its past two seasons, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is gearing up to return to Powell Hall. The $140 million expansion and renovation will include an education and learning center, rehearsal space and places for the community to gather before and after performances. Music director Stéphane Denève and President and CEO Marie-Hélène Bernard discuss the past two nomadic seasons and how they’re looking forward to returning to Powell Hall in September.

There was no announcement, but the word got out: Grand Bistro had opened. A line of customers snaking down South Grand became a common sight this month, and it harkened back to when its predecessor, Pho Grand, was open in the same location. STLPR’s Jessica Rogen and Abby Llorico discuss April's restaurant openings and closings.

A judge's sentence of five month’s probation in the high-profile case of a former cop who opened fire at a Halloween trunk-or-treat is an example of the challenges judges face every day. “Doing sentencing is the most difficult thing I think that trial judges do,” says former Judge Nannette Baker, who discussed the case on this month’s Legal Roundtable. Along with the controversial sentencing, Baker and attorneys Bill Freivogel and Sarah Swatosh analyze the latest updates on KDHX’s bankruptcy and revelations about interim U.S. Attorney Ed Martin.

After being closed for renovations since 2020, the historic Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis will reopen to the public on Saturday. It’s the final phase of a $380 million decade-long project to enhance the Gateway Arch National Park grounds. The Old Courthouse is famous as the site where Dred and Harriet Scott sued for their freedom in the mid-1800s, a case that ultimately reached the U.S. Supreme Court where slavery was upheld. Jeremy Sweat, superintendent of the Gateway Arch National Park, and Ryan McClure, executive director of the Gateway Arch Park Foundation, join the show — in addition to Lynne Jackson, the great-great-granddaughter of Dred and Harriet Scott, and artist Cbabi Bayoc.

Tina Pamintuan served 3½ years as CEO of St. Louis Public Radio. Now, she’s headed to an NPR member-station in Seattle, Washington. She reflects on her time at STLPR, and the future of public radio nationally.

When Emilio Hernandez and Patrick Lawrence started Occults, they had no intention of building a fanbase. The two best friends of nearly 25 years had a very simple goal — create music that they’ve loved as teens as an outlet during the global lockdowns at the start of the pandemic. Now, they are hitting the road and touring across the country with a stop in St. Louis — their hometown and where their friendship began.