This week on Spotlight STL: A groundbreaking company launch in the Cortex Innovation District is being hailed as a glimpse into Missouri’s future. We highlight trailblazing children’s authors who took on a mission to boost representation and inspire young readers. Travel back in time with a Missouri Life segment on the pivotal Battle of Lexington—and the lasting mark it left on the state. Discover Missouri’s first known female artist, whose watercolors captured history as it unfolded. And finally, explore the cutting edge of agriculture with countertop greenhouses that could transform how we grow food—on Earth and in space.

This week on Spotlight STL: Discover the remarkable history of Gaslight Square and how this iconic neighborhood has been reimagined for the modern era. Learn why local teachers headed back to the classroom over summer break—this time, to test hands-on science experiments. Explore the ancient legacy of Native American mounds in St. Louis and the little-known story of their destruction before the 1904 World’s Fair. Go behind the scenes as students headed outdoors this summer to make unforgettable memories—and uncover future career paths in the process. Meet the artist Larry Allen and learn how tragedy gave birth to his Unity designs. Plus a look back to when service men and women were honored with thousands of flags on art hill.

This week on Spotlight STL: We’re celebrating the 2025 Saint Louis Art Fair! Discover the rich history of one of the city’s most beloved cultural events—from its humble beginnings to its impressive growth. Meet two standout oil painters: one uses her work to inspire and empower others, while the other draws vibrant influence from the streets of New York and the charm of Paris. Go behind the scenes of the Emerging Artists Program, a unique initiative helping new creatives break into the art world. Plus, hear from a globe-traveling photographer who captures the universal human spirit, and explore the nostalgic, memory-filled world of a mixed media artist who draws inspiration from childhood.

This week on Spotlight: a class giving high school students real world experience as entrepreneurs. Saint Louis University makes strides in vaccine research with promising clinical trials targeting mosquito-borne illnesses — including a breakthrough against West Nile. We explore the rich legacy behind the Keser Torah Award. Meet an artist who finds inspiration in antique books — and another whose stunning work caught the eye of National Geographic. And finally, a TikTok influencer is challenging stereotypes and changing the narrative around Down syndrome — one video at a time.

This week on Spotlight: Meet a woman empowering minority students through personalized tutoring and mentorship. Discover the remarkable journey of an Osage woman to Europe and back, preserved in a powerful historic collection. See how cutting-edge technology is preventing the real-time transmission of airborne infectious diseases. Meet a glass artist who draws inspiration from fabric, and explore the latest renovations at the Life Science Lab in the Saint Louis Science Center. Plus, revisit Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ bold 2022 debut of a reimagined play honoring activist Harvey Milk.

This week on Spotlight: Discover a revealing book that explores the final 20 years of Michelangelo’s extraordinary life. See how Mercy Hospital is pioneering some of the most advanced robotic surgical procedures available today. Travel back to 1817, when a deadly duel revealed the tension between honor and violence in early St. Louis. Meet a photo montage artist and a glass artist featured in the upcoming Saint Louis Art Fair. And visit a local group teaching kids how to navigate both bikes and life with confidence and purpose.

This week on Spotlight: Discover St. Louis’ rich history captured in watercolor paintings. Learn the dramatic story of the first U.S. president to fly in an airplane and how the flight nearly ended in disaster. Explore an opportunity for new mothers to donate their placentas, unlocking powerful healing potential for others. Meet a Saint Louis Art Fair artist who brings stories to life through striking hyperrealistic drawings. And visit the Missouri Botanical Garden’s Herbarium to meet a trailblazing botanist who has named more plant species than any other living woman.

This week on Spotlight: Discover how the Mississippi River has shaped the lives of St. Louisans with insights from a historian at the Missouri Historical Society. Explore how researchers at Washington University are using AI to support eating disorder interventions. Meet a St. Louis prodigy whose visionary work helped build the future he once imagined. Get a sneak peek at a featured painter headed to the 2025 St. Louis Art Fair. Step into Washington University’s miniature city designed to test autonomous vehicles. And learn how a local organization is bringing the joy of music to children in foster care.

This week on Spotlight: From St. Louis to Cooperstown—celebrating legendary baseball figures. Join mosquito trackers protecting local health. Meet a pioneering speedboat racer and a design firm behind world-class museums. Author Alvin Hall explores racism and road trips in Driving the Green Book. Plus, cool off on National Ice Cream Day with Ices Plain & Fancy’s unique frozen treats.

This week on Spotlight: the forgotten story of Charles Daniels, whose Olympic debut in 1904 helped spark America’s dominance in competitive swimming. The unique foods and restaurants that St. Louisans and visitors experienced at the 1904 World’s Fair. How the Great Rivers Greenway is connecting the region one pathway at a time. A platform for regional playwrights to produce original, unpublished, and never-before-staged works. A behind-the-scenes look at the National Building Archives, home to the nation’s largest and most diverse collection of building artifacts. And a group that brings amateur guitarists together to play, perform, and share their passion for music.