Cultural institutions and family homes among ‘Most Enhanced’ renovation projects of 2025 ^30.9%

STLPR - By Danny Wicentowski - 6/9/2026, 4:06 PM

Indoctrination 16.4% - Optimism Bias 15.4% - In-Group Bias 13.7%

A former gas station-turned-piano cafe, a “shotgun”-style brick home and a senior-living facility in East St. Louis are among the buildings being recognized this year for their redevelopment, improvement and preservation. These qualities are evaluated by the Landmarks Association of St. Louis. Last month, the nonprofit announced the... more

Aided by a ‘Clown Boss,’ Circus Flora’s 40th season goes back to high school ^14.9%

STLPR - By Danny Wicentowski - 6/5/2026, 1:13 PM

Optimism Bias 22% - Attempt to Sell a Product or Service 20.4% - Status Quo Bias 15.4%

Now in its 40th season, Circus Flora is taking its audiences on a journey back to high school with its “Flying High” show. The show, which opened Thursday, features a variety of acts across “classrooms” of acrobats, aerialists, clowns and more — including many of the acts that have made the circus a mainstay in St. Louis for generations.... more

The legal decisions shaping the future of Missouri elections and local police ^13.7%

STLPR - By Danny Wicentowski - 5/29/2026, 1:20 PM

Framing Effect 25.6% - Recency Bias 13.2% - Availability Heuristic 13%

An unusually fast verdict this month from the Missouri Supreme Court has set the stage for voters to use a U.S. House map in August that could soon be challenged — and reversed — by a public referendum. On May 12, just hours after hearing oral arguments over the use of the new congressional map, the court delivered unanimous decisions in... more

In Catholic St. Louis, a nun is building support for parents with transgender children ^16.5%

STLPR - By Danny Wicentowski - 5/22/2026, 10:00 AM

Appeal to Emotion 16.9% - Indoctrination 11.1% - Anecdotal 10.4%

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet is one of the oldest religious institutions in St. Louis. For more than a century, the nuns have lived, prayed and worked inside an imposing brick motherhouse in the city’s south side, not far from the banks of the Mississippi River. On a recent Friday evening, a lawn sign with a rainbow background... more

A researcher explores ‘musical daydreams’ and a song’s power to move us ^15.2%

STLPR - By Danny Wicentowski - 5/6/2026, 4:00 AM

Music has the power to conjure memory and emotion. For researcher Elizabeth Margulis, the essence of this musical experience comes down to a feeling of transportation. “You might find yourself listening to a song, and it feels like your attention has drifted slightly,” the St. Louis native and Princeton University professor said. “Maybe... more

Festus residents opposed a data center. Their effort became national news ^0%

STLPR - By Danny Wicentowski - 4/24/2026, 2:22 PM

Negativity Bias 30.9% - Attempt to Sell a Product or Service 17.6% - Anecdotal 13.7%

The debate over a data center project in Festus took a dramatic turn earlier this month when residents voted out every city council member seeking reelection who had approved the project. The electoral message became national news, with Politico describing it as “the latest example of growing public backlash against cities agreeing to... more

Budget cuts leave fate of Missouri’s overdose reversal program uncertain ^15%

STLPR - By Danny Wicentowski - 4/22/2026, 4:20 PM

Framing Effect 19.9% - Loss Aversion 14.6% - Negativity Bias 12.8%

Missouri is on the brink of changing how it funds and provides naloxone to first responders. The program is credited for reducing overdoses, but it faces a potential budget cut of $8 million, more than 50% of the state's overall funding. On this episode of “St. Louis on the Air,” University of Missouri-St. Louis professor Rachel Winograd... more

A plan to turn MLK Drive in St. Louis into a ‘cultural corridor’ unveils its next ambitious steps ^37.7%

STLPR - By Danny Wicentowski - 3/20/2026, 9:53 AM

On a recent weekday, Jerry Beaven took a break from renovating a storefront on Dr. Martin Luther King Drive. Nearby, a massive Tina Turner mural looked down at the street that Beaven wants to see one day transformed into a bustling hub of activity. This street is in the heart of the MLK Cultural Boulevard Project. The plan would... more

A judge and politician sought secrecy through the courts. Their plans have gone awry ^76.8%

STLPR - By Danny Wicentowski - 12/19/2025, 8:51 PM

The Legal Roundtable takes up cases involving secrecy, lawsuits and discipline. A Missouri legislator facing accusations of assault. A St. Charles judge hauled before a disciplinary panel to explain why he dressed up as Elvis Presley. In both instances, the public figures at the center of these separate cases sought secrecy to keep their... more