Lara Hamdan
“St. Louis on the Air” ProducerLara Hamdan joined St. Louis Public Radio as the news intern in 2017. A year later, she became a producer for St. Louis on the Air. A St. Louis native, Lara studied journalism and international relations at Webster University. She's fluent in English and Arabic – and in eating falafel sandwiches and veggie burgers. She enjoys discovering new people and gems in the city throughout her work at St. Louis Public Radio.
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How did Missouri celebrate Halloween during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic? We’ll get the scoop from an expert — and explore how Halloween has changed in the last century even beyond the need to contain germs. -
Dr. Ravi Johar, chief medical officer of UnitedHealthcare of Missouri, explains how health officials are getting a handle on what to expect where this flu season — and how that data is driving their decisions.
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A new self-guided tour promoted by the visitors bureau in Quincy highlights 30 of the city’s trove of midcentury modern designs.
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Some Saint Louis University alumni are asking SLU President Fred Pestello to “open a process to rename the Pius XII Memorial Library.” It currently honors a former pope who stands accused of enabling the Nazis.
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St. Louis native Mike Leahy is the portrayer of Clownvis Presley — a character who combines musical parody and comedy. His live cast "Clownvis To The Rescue" show started after his gigs were cancelled due to the pandemic. It now draws a dedicated crowd every Friday and Saturday night at Yaquis on Cherokee Street.
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The Cherokee Virtual Silent Auctions Facebook page is a dedicated place where locals can donate items to raise money for the city's artists, bar and industry workers affected by the pandemic. So far, more than $44,000 has been raised.
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The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis has some big news today: an acclaimed new playwright in residence. She’s a Golden Globe award winner and a two time Emmy nominee. And thanks to a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, she’ll be working in St. Louis for the next three years.
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National politics might dominate the news right now, but Washington University professor Betsy Sinclair says there is a resurgence of political life at the local level — and technology can help with that. She co-founded Magnify Your Voice, a civic engagement app meant to help residents work together to tackle a project in their neighborhood.
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New places continue to open in the St. Louis region — often with extensive safety protocols. And they’re offering new items for local food lovers and ways for patrons to get their favorite dishes. Sauce Magazine featured 10 new restaurants for this month’s Hit List.
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President Trump is far from the first president to face serious illness in office. And it’s not just President Roosevelt or President Wilson who kept the details from the American public. Washington University history professor Peter Kastor puts the president’s bout with COVID-19 in context — and the media’s role in pressing for details or giving the White House a wide zone of privacy.
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Missouri Botanical Garden horticulturist Susie Ratliff has worked at the center's Climatron since 1997. She'll share tidbits about the geodesic dome's iconic history and all the care that goes into its living collection.
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Sonny and Bridgett Lewis’ eatery in Ferguson was just hitting its stride when the pandemic hit. Enter Restaurant: Impossible — with a plan to save this family business during the biggest crisis local restaurants have seen in a century. They joined "St. Louis on the Air" to share how Drake’s Place is faring today, and discuss the many hurdles facing businesses like theirs
