Alex Heuer

Former Vice-President Al Gore appeared at the St. Louis County Library on Saturday, February 9 to open the Buzz Westfall Great Authors Series.  He spoke to a sell-out crowd of 800 about his new book, "The Future: Six Drivers of Global Change." Host Don Marsh introduced Gore and engaged in a discussion with him following the talk.

Is it Missour-ee or Missour-uh?

Those two pronunciations of the state, according to linguist John Baugh of Washington University in St. Louis, peacefully co-exist and are “indicative of all of the linguistic collisions from the rest of the country that happen in our wonderful city.”

Baugh and linguist Cindy Brantmeier of Washington University joined host Don Marsh to talk about how language forms, evolves, and is spoken differently throughout the United States.

Brittany Packnett is an alumna of Teach for America and, four months ago, started a new job as executive director of Teach For America – St. Louis.

Packnett was born and raised in St. Louis and returned to the city after spending five years in Washington D.C.  Beginning in 2007, her commitment to Teach for America brought her to Martin Luther King Elementary in Southeast D.C.  She later went to work for Congressman Lacy Clay and as director for TFA’s Government Affairs team.

"The reason why I came home is because this is my city - it's deeply personal," Packnett said.

Sandra Fluke is an attorney and women’s rights activist.

One year ago this month, Fluke was a law school student at Georgetown University and found herself immersed in a contentious national debate over the role of contraceptive coverage and whether coverage should be mandatory.  Opponents of mandatory coverage cited religious objections.

Sandra Fluke testified about the issue before Democrats in Congress.  After that, conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh called her a “slut” and made other derogatory comments.