grand center | Our PBS affiliate, the Nine Network (KETC-TV, Channel 9) looked like it was headed for hard times in early 2025 when Congress severely cut funding for public television. Things are still rough out there for cultural institutions, but at least the wholesale ‘fat cutting’ from DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) has died down. Our beloved metro PBS station is staying strong through audience donations and the major support of philanthropic efforts. Despite all the gloom and doom emanating from Washington, the Nine Network is planning a $30 million gut-rehab of its HQ, just off Grand Boulevard at 3655 Olive St. The ongoing capital campaign appears to have grown from more than $17 million in committed gifts in late 2025 to $27 million raised by this writing (Aug. 11, 2026). The Taylor family of Enterprise made the lead gift, among other significant commitments from Carolyn Kindle and the William T. Kemper Foundation, plus the Steward and Berges family foundations. The new complex is projected to be up and running by late 2027. The studio and team offices will be housed at two locations offsite until then. In the meantime mail will still go to the Olive Street address, and the switchboard will remain at 314.512.9000.
the metro
You probably couldn’t avoid the TV commercials for Medicare Advantage plans unless you solely enjoy streaming, in which case you’ve probably never had to sit through the spots starring Joe Namath, William Shatner or Jimmie ‘J.J.’ Walker—the 1970s comedic actor known for exclaiming “Dy-No-Mite.” I hardly ever watch TV, except for PBS and reruns of Everybody Loves Raymond. It originally aired from 1996 to 2005 on CBS, but I’d never seen it until just a few years ago when I happened to be spending time with Cate in the TV room. It has aged well, IMHO. Anyhow, I thought the Medicare enrollment window was from October to January, and a special enrollment period ran from Jan. 1 to March 31, but for the last month or so, I have been receiving incessant robocalls on my cellphone about special benefits I haven’t signed up for. The virtual caller only responds to ‘Yes,’ ‘No’ and ‘I don’t know.’ The man or woman usually only gives their first name, sometimes pausing to clear their throat and make it seem like it’s happening in real time. A couple times, I’ve been transferred to a relatively noisy room to hear the pitch from a Missouri Medicare ‘specialist.’ None of them sound like they’re in KC, the StL or any point in between. They’re obviously in New Delhi or Mumbai, despite that one guy’s name was allegedly Travis. I didn’t think so! Why don’t I just block the calls? There’ve been at least 20 every day, all from different numbers in the 314; an occasional call slips in from the 573 area code. Sometimes you get a voicemail that’s nothing but silence. And you can’t call them back! Return calls never go through … you usually get a recording alerting you that “Your call cannot be completed as dialed. Please check the number and dial again.” Wrong. Not likely. Why don’t I just turn off the phone, then? That’s a problem with this ‘Talk of the Towns’ business. Most of the messages I leave are to numbers I don’t recognize or aren’t already in my phone. It very well could be a scam, or at least highly aggressive and potentially unlawful telemarketing. Our land line squawks “Spam risk.” Wish my cellphone did. Oh, well. It’s just a constant annoyance from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nobody gets hurt.
st. louis
Walmart is partnering with Wing, Alphabet/Google’s drone delivery company, in plans to bring drone delivery to the St. Louis area. The superstore has been working with officials in Manchester, Maplewood, St. Charles and Glen Carbon, Illinois, on potential launch sites. The service would allow eligible customers to receive smaller items such as groceries, health products and household goods via drone. But at this point don’t count on a full shopping trip to fly to your door, as the weight limit is from 5 to 8 pounds, according to Walmart. So, a coffeemaker could wing it to your house from a participating store, depending on whether you’re in range—the reported delivery radius is about seven miles from the launch site—but don’t expect a drone to drop off your new washing machine or dryer. A kickoff date for the service has not been announced.
notable neighbors
north st. louis
In Swahili, Uhuru means independence and freedom. And benign neglect is how so many neighborhoods north of the ‘Delmar Divide’ have been treated for generations, by the city and the metro at large. Where there aren’t piles of bricks and splinters of wood from houses torn apart by the May 2025 tornado, there are blocks of now-vacant lots. Stately churches have been abandoned. Restaurants can’t survive in such a ‘food desert.’ But with the help of volunteers, Ona Zené Yeshitela and her husband, Omali Yeshitela, have built a community dedicated to self-determination along several blocks of the West Florissant Avenue corridor: Shamba La Uhuru Freedom Farm, where vegetables are offered to the neighborhood and sweet potatoes are grown for Uhuru’s signature pie. A state-of-the-art outdoor basketball court puts to shame what may remain in broken asphalt lots—backboards with bent and rusted rims, broken chains or no net at all. Located at 3719 W. Florissant Ave., the centerpiece is Uhuru Bakery & Café, a freshly painted and restored gathering place built by and for the African community of North St. Louis. Although the building already was zoned as a restaurant, it took 10 months for the Yeshitelas and their supporters to obtain permits from the city for its revitalization. The Yeshitelas were unable to make our scheduled interview, but in their stead were café manager Maureen Wagener and another volunteer, Ali Hoehne. Up to their elbows in preparation for their festive grand opening Aug. 15, they still graciously served pecan pie with ginger ‘beer’ and Jamaican hibiscus to drink. “This is more than a bakery,” Wagener points out, although Uhuru has delivered pies to Soulard Market for years. “The community does this for the community.” A few blocks away are Uhuru House community center and Akwaaba Hall. Ona says, “We renovated a 9,000-square-foot building to create the Uhuru House community center with a beautiful events venue that is popular for conferences, birthday parties and weddings.” Naysayers were fearful that such a spot would attract the criminal element that hangs around at some gas stations and convenience stores. But this community has had to raise itself up, with little or no help from the city. “They could be doing so much more, but they do nothing,” says Hoehne. Omali emphasizes this. “We can’t wait for the city to bring in water and basic necessities,” he said soon after the tornado. “We must organize and build our own capacity to respond to all assaults on our community—whether natural or man-made disasters.” Economic self-determination is what Uhuru is all about, and the Yeshitelas say the bakery and café will create jobs, develop and nurture culinary skills, and serve as a cultural hub on the devastated north side. Public art is blossoming in the neighborhoods too. A vibrant mural graces a wall adjacent to Vanguard basketball court. Pies can be ordered, and you can find convenient pickup locations, at uhurupies.org.
