The Arch City Report

Mayor Cara Spencer on downtown’s direction

St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer joins Erik and Jacob to take stock of downtown's momentum — and confront the city's toughest structural questions. Six months after calling on the business community to plant a flag downtown, Mayor Spencer returns to the Arch City Report to assess what's changed. With the Rams settlement bill moving through the Board of Aldermen — potentially allocating $55 million for downtown redevelopment, the riverfront, and North City — Spencer breaks down exactly how those dollars would be deployed and what private matching investment could follow. But the conversation quickly turns to the harder questions: a state-appointed police board demanding a 22% pay raise with 24-hour notice, the strain on city services from a declining tax base, and whether St. Louis can realistically meet all of its pressing needs without a bigger structural fix. Is it finally time for a serious conversation about city-county merger? Topics covered: * Downtown development progress — Millennium site, Ballpark Village Phase 3, AT&T Tower, and Mansion House * How the $55M in Rams settlement funds would be allocated across downtown, the riverfront, and North City * The city's role as facilitator vs. doer in redevelopment * The breakdown with the state police board and the battle over officer pay and benefits * The case for regionalizing government functions — and whether opposition to merger is softening Arch City Report is sponsored by Maryville University and Cass Commercial Bank.

How a St. Louis Food Truck Became a James Beard Award Winner — and Reunited a Family

St. Louis chef Loryn Nalic — chef and co-owner of Balkan Treat Box and Telva at The Ridge — joins Veneta Rizvic to celebrate her 2026 James Beard Award win in the Best Chef Midwest category. Loryn shares what the win means to her, the deeply personal story behind Balkan Treat Box and how the restaurant helped reunite her husband Edo's family after years of separation, and her recent research trip to Bosnia where she trained at a legendary bakery. She also weighs in on the flourishing St. Louis dining scene, the "James Beard effect" on her business, and what the future might hold for her restaurants. https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/06/15/st-louisan-best-chef-james-beard-foundation-awards.html https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/feature/arch-city-report Mentioned in this episode: Cass Commercial Bank Cass Commercial Bank...member FDIC. https://www.cassbank.com/

Most Influential Business Women 2026 with Julie Murphy

The St. Louis Business Journal has announced its 2026 class of Most Influential Businesswomen — the 27th year of an awards program that has celebrated more than 530 women business leaders since 1999. Host Veneta Rizvic sits down with Julie Murphy, founder and managing principal of JFM Strategies and a 2025 honoree, who also served as a judge for this year's selection process. Julie shares insight into her 30-plus years navigating the intersection of government, business, and community development — from helping keep the National Geospatial Agency in St. Louis to revitalization projects at Laclede's Landing. She and Veneta also discuss a few of this year's honorees, what the judging process was really like, and what it truly means to be an influential businesswoman. The 2026 Most Influential Business Women luncheon takes place Thursday, August 13th, at the Ritz Carlton, St. Louis. Read more: www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/most-influential-business-women Nominate someone for 2027: www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/nomination Mentioned in this episode: Cass Commercial Bank Cass Commercial Bank...member FDIC. https://www.cassbank.com/

150 years of the Great Divorce

On the 150th anniversary of St. Louis’ “Great Divorce,” a decision many blame for the region’s long decline, a new conversation is emerging: Is reunification finally possible? This week I sit down with attorney and researcher Joe Blanner, who has spent a decade studying the 1876 split and its lasting consequences. We explore why past merger efforts have failed, why familiar problems keep resurfacing across generations, and whether today’s political and financial pressures create a true inflection point. With a new book in the works, Blanner makes the case for why this time might be different—and what it could take to finally bring the city and county back together. Mentioned in this episode: Cass Commercial Bank Cass Commercial Bank...member FDIC. https://www.cassbank.com/

Are schools St. Louis’ biggest growth deterrent?

Are schools the biggest barrier to St. Louis’ growth? This week on the Arch City Report we explore how school choice shapes where newcomers land—and whether they stay. First, Anthony Bartlett of relocation and retention firm Acclimate shares what relocating families really face when navigating the region’s complex education landscape. Then, reporter Kate Marijolovic breaks down her deep dive into how schools factor into population decline, and why local and state leaders are paying closer attention. It’s a candid look at a critical issue with major implications for the city’s future. All that and more this week's Arch City Report podcast! Mentioned in this episode: Cass Commercial Bank Cass Commercial Bank...member FDIC. https://www.cassbank.com/