Archive for February 2021

In St. Louis, there are many stories about how environmental racism impacts everyday people and their health, housing, and daily lives. So in this season, we’ll use the Washington University Interdisciplinary Environmental Law Clinic’s 2019 report on Environmental Racism in St. Louis to guide us through conversations about the top environmental issues facing the most vulnerable communities in St. Louis. In this episode, we look back at how St. Louis’ history of systemic racism has impacted the living environments of low-income and Black residents, how the report featured stories of everyday people, and what type of environment the report’s recommendations could create for the next generation.

The Environmental Racism in St. Louis Report was prepared in partnership with Action St. Louis, ArchCity Defenders, Dutchtown South Community Corporation, and Sierra Club.

State Rep. Jo Doll of Webster Groves is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the freshman Democratic lawmaker talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about her first few weeks in office.

Doll represents Missouri’s 83rd District, which takes in portions of Richmond Heights, Webster Groves, Brentwood, Maplewood and St. Louis. In addition to being a state lawmaker, Doll is a member of the Webster Groves Board of Education.

Here’s what Doll talked about on the show:

• Her early impressions of the Missouri House, especially with the session being truncated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Some of the complexities of fully reopening schools, which she’s had firsthand experience with as a member of the Webster Groves school board.
• How the state should distribute COVID-19 vaccines.
• Her opposition to a wide-ranging education bill, which includes an expansion of charter schools.

Doll is a physical therapist with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Washington University. After Gina Mitten departed the Missouri House due to term limits, Doll squared off against Tyler Merkel in the Democratic primary — which was the main contest in the heavily Democratic district.

Doll won by roughly 23 percentage points and easily defeated Libertarian Andrew Bolin in the November general election.

Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: @jrosenbaum

Follow Jo Doll on Twitter: @doll_jo

State Rep. Bill Hardwick is the latest guest on Politically Speaking, where the Waynesville Republican talked with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum and Jonathan Ahl about his approach to being a newly elected member of the Missouri House.

Hardwick represents Missouri’s 122nd District, which takes in Fort Leonard Wood and other portions of Pulaski County. He was first elected in November, succeeding Steve Lynch, who was term limited.

Here’s what Hardwick talked about on the show:

• The interplay between the state and federal government in advocating for Fort Leonard Wood. Hardwick led combat patrols for the Army during the Iraq War.
• The balance between effectively advocating for a particular legislative district and pushing for policies that benefit the entire state — and how building relationships in Jefferson City is a key to being effective over a period of time.
• His support for the Second Amendment Preservation Act, which among other things states that Missouri police departments cannot enforce federal gun laws. They would under this measure be able to enforce state gun laws.

Hardwick is an attorney who was the city prosecutor for St. Robert, Missouri, and also worked in private practice.

Hardwick is currently a lieutenant colonel in the Missouri National Guard.

Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: @jrosenbaum

Follow Jonathan Ahl on Twitter: @jonathanahl

In this episode, we introduce you to two Black artists who teamed up to heal and educate their community through an urban farm in predominantly Black North St. Louis City. They share their vision for building an education garden with accessible raised beds, and growing flowers and healing herbs alongside chickens and bees. Then we learn about how they encountered a major obstacle that put their dreams on hold…

In this episode, we introduce you to two Black artists who teamed up to heal and educate their community through an urban farm in predominantly Black North St. Louis City. They share their vision for building an education garden with accessible raised beds, and growing flowers and healing herbs alongside chickens and bees. Then we learn about how they encountered a major obstacle that put their dreams on hold…