In-depth reporting by AM 580 News
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AM580 News Headlines:
Early Prisoner Release Set to Begin Tuesday
Former Iroquois County Clerk Sentenced for Defrauding Taxpayers
2010 Champaign County Budget Plan Due for County Bd Vote This Month After Committee Passage
Urbana Women’s Shelter Faces Funding Shortage, Possible Closure
Degorski Sentenced to Life in 1993 Killings
Restraining Order Issued on Abortion Law
U of I Grad Workers Union Holds Strike Authorization Vote
Judge Accepts Settlement Agreement, Lifts Unit Four Consent Decree
Top news features from WILL:
"Extreme Makeover" and the Good and Bad of Reality TV
Story air date: Friday, October 23, 2009
Sunday night, America will see the fantasy that Philo residents Nathan and Jenny Montgomery and their family have been living since last August. The ABC reality show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” destroyed the family’s dilapidated home and built them a new one, filled with new furnishings. Nathan Montgomery’s creation of the Salt and Light food bank helped get them selected.
“Extreme Makeover” belongs to a TV genre that’s often pummeled by critics for hype, over-commercialization and lowest-common-denominator values. But University of Illinois media observer James Hay says reality TV has real roots. He tells AM 580’s Tom Rogers the shows grew out of an ethic that took hold as the century changed and Americans chose a conservative government.
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Story categories: arts and culture • community life • entertainment • media
Twitter Helps Break News a Bit Too Quickly for UI Athletics
Story air date: Thursday, October 22, 2009
The University of Illinois Fighting Illini basketball team is nearing the start of a new season. But because of a new edict from the coach, you shouldn't expect to get any practice updates from players who use the social networking site Twitter. Rob McColley of the Champaign-Urbana website Smile Politely reports for AM 580.
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Story categories: community life • recreation • technology • internet • University of Illinois
Citizens Demand Answers, Action after Champaign Police Shooting
Story air date: Wednesday, October 21, 2009
It wasn’t on the agenda, but the October 9th shooting death of Kiwane Carrington in a confrontation with police was the major topic at Tuesday night’s Champaign City Council meeting. Council members heard some three hours of comments from a skeptical and sometimes angry public. AM 580’s Jim Meadows reports.
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Story categories: civil rights • crime • government • Champaign • race/ethnicity
UI History Professor Recalls 1950's Ouster of University President
Story air date: Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Joseph White’s announcement last week that he would resign as President of the University of Illinois is not the only time a president at the university was forced out of office. 56 years ago… the Board of Trustees pressured George Stoddard into stepping down as President after a 7-year tenure marked by controversy. AM 580’s Jeff Bossert spoke with Professor Emeritus of History Winton Solberg on both the good and bad of Stoddard’s tenure:
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Story categories: education • government • Illinois • University of Illinois
UI Professor's Innovations Make Him a MacArthur "Genius"
Story air date: Tuesday, September 22, 2009
If you hear about someone pursuing their wildest dreams with a monetary windfall, the first thing to come to mind might be a lottery winner. But as AM 580’s Tom Rogers reports, the latest half-millionaire in Illinois has worked hard for the reward.
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Story categories: education • health care • technology • University of Illinois
Newly Formed UI Board of Trustees Meets, Votes on Admissions Reforms
Story air date: Friday, September 11, 2009
Six people with diverse backgrounds came together for the first time at the University of Illinois’ Urbana campus Thursday, and left their meeting as members of the school’s Board of Trustees. The goal for them and their fellow members… reforming admissions and deciding if the current University leadership can guide that process. AM 580’s Jeff Bossert reports:
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Story categories: government • Illinois • University of Illinois
WILL Connect: The Economy, Tracking New Directions for Displaced Workers
Story air date: Thursday, August 27, 2009
In central Illinois, many employers large and small have downsized or closed altogether, forcing thousands of laid-off workers to consider new options. In our latest report as part of our outreach project “WILL Connect: The Economy”, AM 580’s Jeff Bossert looks at the retraining of workers. Ingenuity and government-funded training are giving many of them a jump on a new career, or a better shot at an old one:
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Story categories: business • economy • education • people
WILL Connect: The Economy, Meeting Those Who Asked for Help
Story air date: Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Organizations that help the poor in east-central Illinois are giving out more and more assistance. But there may be many people who for some reason or another have not made that call for help. In the latest of our series of stories in connection with the outreach project “WILL Connect: The Economy,” AM 580’s Tom Rogers introduces us to people who decided to make the leap and reach out for aid, and people who encourage others to do so.
