the delmar loop | Nikola Tesla was one of the greatest visionaries in human history, a creative genius who helped to shape the electrical age, power the modern world and imagine a future far beyond his time. Nikola Tesla “Light It Up” is a high-impact, contemporary rock opera that brings the life of the inventor to the stage through a driving rock score and cinematic storytelling. The world premiere takes place at 7:30 p.m. June 20 at Delmar Hall. Featuring 13 original songs performed by a full live rock band, the production journeys through the defining chapters of Tesla’s life—inventions, innovation, obsession and his ultimate legacy. The stage production is highlighted with nonstop multimedia videos that will draw the audience in and provide an immersive experience. Written exclusively for the production, songs such as “I Am the Original Wizard of OZ,” “Dinner at Delmonico’s,” Colorado Cosmic Cowboy,” and the anthemic “Light It Up” blend historical moments with emotional depth, presenting Tesla not only as a towering intellect but as a deeply human figure ahead of his time. Bold, immersive and accessible to audiences across cultures, Nikola Tesla “Light It Up” is a globally scalable rock opera that fuses musical live concert energy and timeless relevance—created to captivate, inspire, entertain and ignite audiences around the world. The rock opera was created and produced by St. Louisans Mark Rodgers and John Rodgers. Take your journey further at teslalightitup.com, where there is a brief trailer for the production as well as several songs to enjoy.
ladue
Is the cat dead, alive or both? Maybe it’s vampirism. Or it could have something to do with quantum physics. Award-winning physicist and author Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein will have something to say about that darn cat, and much more, when she discusses and signs her latest book, The Edge of Space Time: Particles, Poetry and the Cosmic Dream Boogie, on April 24 at the Clark Branch of our county library. Prescod-Weinstein will be in conversation with Danielle Lee, associate professor of biological sciences at SIU-Edwardsville. In her debut, The Disordered Cosmos, the esteemed cosmologist and particle physicist shared her abiding sense of wonder at the cosmos, while imagining a world without the entrenched injustice that plagues her field. Now, in The Edge of Space-Time, she embraces that cosmic wonder, inviting readers to spend time at the edge of what we know about space-time—and ourselves. Guided by her conviction that in order for humanity to go forward we must know our cosmic past and drawing on poetry and popular culture, Prescod-Weinstein renders accessible some of the most abstract concepts of theoretical physics to tell fascinating stories about the history and fundamental nature of our universe. Here we meet the quantum cat that is both dead and alive, learn the difference between dark matter and dark energy, explore the inner workings of black holes and investigate the possibility of a unified theory of quantum gravity, following her out to the far reaches of the cosmic event horizon and down to the tiniest neutrino. Through Prescod-Weinstein’s clear-eyed and unique perspective, The Edge of Space-Time argues that physics is an essential way for everyone to look at the universe and presents a compelling case that “the edge” is a powerful vantage point from which to see the big picture. Prescod-Weinstein is an associate professor of physics and astronomy at the University of New Hampshire and conducts theoretical physics research on dark matter, the early universe and neutron stars, while also researching Black feminist science studies. Her first book won the 2021 Los Angeles Times Book Prize in Science and Technology.
the metro
You’ll still be able to pull up a chair to a video gambling machine in a bar or convenience store throughout the state, but as of April 10 they were rendered inoperable under penalty of law. Torch Electronics of Wildwood is estimated to have more than 6,000 consoles installed in Missouri. Legislation is snaking its way through Jefferson City to put the kibosh on the measure, as proprietors were making plenty of money from the machines. But the feds in both the eastern and western districts of Missouri, plus State Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, were not amused. They’re still not. Torch et al. has claimed the machines exist in a ‘gray area’ between legal riverboat casino gambling and any video game that’s ‘for amusement only.’ “Torch’s agreement to proactively halt these operations signals clearly that there has never been a gray market,” Hanaway said in a news release. “While this is a tremendous step forward for Missouri, our office will continue to investigate and seek enforcement action against other operators, manufacturers and retail stores facilitating this illegal activity.” The machines are untaxed and unregulated. In a perfect world, inveterate gamblers and schools statewide both would do well if anyone with extra money to wager would just stick with the Missouri lottery.
notable neighbors
town and country
Many of us remember the Jan. 29, 2025, nighttime air disaster at Washington’s Reagan National Airport (DCA), where an Army helicopter collided with a passenger jet, resulting in 67 fatalities. Hamaad Raza has Flight 5342 on his mind daily, because his wife, Asra Hussain Raza, was among the passengers. Asra was 26. They had been married just shy of three years. She was returning home to D.C. from Wichita, Kansas, where she had been on business. A group soon formed to advocate for stricter safety standards while the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) conducted its investigation. Hamaad was at first reluctant to become too involved with the advocacy group, Families of Flight 5342, because he couldn’t see the point: Nothing would bring Asra back. But entreaties from officials including Sean Duffy, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, were persuasive. “We’re going to need your help,” Duffy told the family group. “We understand that something is broken and will have to lean on you to help fix it.” Missouri Rep. Bob Onder, who’d flown out of DCA that morning, was instrumental in getting a condolence resolution through the House. Also a private pilot, Onder has been among congressional members insisting that NTSB recommendations be incorporated into any legislation that enumerates changes to be made ensuring all U.S. airspace is safe for both commercial traffic and military and emergency aircraft. While a measure passed 100-0 in the Senate, it has stalled in the House. Hamaad grew up in Town and Country, where his parents, Dr. Hashim and Asma Raza, continue to provide solid support and stay deeply involved. They have all channeled their grief into advocacy, staying in touch with our congressional delegation and members of various transportation committees and subcommittees. When he’s not at work or communicating with legislators and other federal officials, he’s shuttled between D.C. and St. Louis. Coincidentally, Hamaad was in the gate area of a flight when he overheard Onder in conversation and introduced himself. In short, he has been all in with the aviation safety effort since early last year. “It’s my way of making sure her loss was not in vain,” he says. Hamaad notes that the chair of the House transportation committee, Sam Graves, also a Missouri Republican and private pilot, has voted against the measure for his own set of reasons. Still, the Raza family has not slowed their efforts. “It wouldn’t take a lot of earth-shattering technology to fix this,” says Hamaad in frustration. “It’s GPS-based. But known safety gaps are allowed to remain, right now.” The families are continuing to work with other committee members as the measure moves through the amendment process. “One of our must-haves is ADS-B In,” Hamaad emphasizes. ADS-B is the FAA’s satellite-based replacement for radar that lets aircraft continuously broadcast precise position data. ADS-B Out lets others see you—but you don’t see them unless you also have ADS-B In. It would have allowed the copter pilot enough time to avoid the jet, which was on final approach, landing gear engaged. “That’s an analogy, for me. My life was on final approach. I could see all these things in front of me,” says Hamaad. But they were all gone in an instant. Hamaad will continue to be one of the ‘squeaky wheels’ with his family and Flight 5342 families, along with continued pressure on Capitol Hill. Bottom line: If you want something to change, stay informed, call Washington—and keep calling: “It matters.”
