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Illinois Public Media News Headlines:
Lack of Evacuation Plans Leaves Students, Staff Unprepared
UIUC Lacks Sufficient Resources for Mental Health Services
US Sen. Durbin Endorses Goetten for Congress
Quinn: Gun Registry an ‘Uphill Climb’ in State
Ill. Sen. Mark Kirk Moved to Stroke Rehab Center
Future Growth at CIRA Could Come from Current Carriers
Wheelchair Medalist, U of I Graduate Driscoll Named Lincoln Laureate
Quinn: Caterpillar Decision About Port Access
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Ask the Mayors: A Conversation with the Mayors of Champaign and Urbana
Story air date: Thursday, February 02, 2012
In a Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012 broadcast on WILL-TV, Champaign Mayor Don Gerard and Urbana Mayor Laurel Prussing talked about a range of issues such as a stormwater utility fee, police leadership, roundabouts and Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day. They spoke with Illinois Public Media’s Jim Meadows and took questions from callers.
Story links:
- Champaign Avoids Two Cuts in Public Service (Related Story)
- Champaign Police-Community Relations Scrutinized (Related Story)
- Champaign City Councilman Revives Discussion for a Police Review Board (Related Story)
- Video of Champaign Arrest Leaked Online (Related Story)
- FBI Finds No Criminal Civil Rights Violations in Arrest (Related Story)
- Champaign Council Members Give Initial Backing to Stormwater Fee (Related Story)
- Potential UC2B Subscribers Get an Update on Services (Related Story)
- Champaign, Urbana Voters Face Electric Aggregation Vote in March (Related Story)
- Focus: Conversation with C-U Mayors (Watch the Interview)
Story categories: government • Champaign • Urbana • people • politics
Champaign Starts Up Minor League Baseball Exploratory Committee
Story air date: Tuesday, January 31, 2012
An exploratory committee is forming with hopes of learning in about a year whether Champaign can support a minor league baseball team. A former minor league owner, sports enthusiasts, and someone who helped lure a collegiate team to town in the 90’s were among the 15 people at the group’s initial meeting Monday night.
Illinois Public Media’s Jeff Bossert talked with committee chair Tony Johnston, who was tapped by Champaign Mayor Don Gerard to lead the group.
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Story categories: government • Champaign • lifestyle • recreation • sports • taxation
Analyzing What We Eat: Author and Food Activist Michael Pollan
Story air date: Thursday, January 26, 2012
Michael Pollan thinks of himself as a writer, a professor…and eater. But many people would call him a food activist. The author of controversial books like "The Omnivore’s Dilemma" and "In Defense of Food," Pollan is known for his vivid critiques of industrial agriculture and the modern American diet. He recently spoke with Illinois Public Radio’s Véronique LaCapra about his views on food and agriculture – starting with what he sees as a healthy diet.
(Photo courtesy of Ken Light)
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Story categories: health • people
Champaign Police Lobby to Stay Open 24/7
Story air date: Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Plans for reducing the front desk staff and cutting lobby hours at Champaign Police Headquarters became one of the most controversial parts of budget cuts approved by the City Council last year. Now, despite the staff cuts, police officials say they’ve found a way to keep the front desk open to the public on evenings and overnights. Illinois Public Media's Jim Meadows talked with Champaign Deputy Police Chief Troy Daniels about the new arrangement.
(Photo courtesy of the city of Champaign)
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Story categories: crime • economy • government • Champaign • people
UI Professor Tackles Obesity, Diabetes in Immigrant Communities
Story air date: Friday, January 06, 2012
Obesity is hitting Latino children in the United States harder than any other demographic, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Angela Wiley, a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is trying to curb that trend in immigrant communities living in Illinois. She heads the Up Amigos project, which looks at how biological, social, and environmental factors affect rates of obesity and diabetes. Illinois Public Radio's Rachel Otwell talks with Wiley about her research.
(Photo courtesy of the University of Illinois)
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Story categories: community life • health • people • University of Illinois
Judy Wiegand Prepares to Become Unit 4's Permanent Superintendent
Story air date: Monday, January 02, 2012
Judy Wiegand becomes the Champaign School District’s next permanent superintendent this year; replacing Arthur Culver, who left Unit 4 more than six months ago. Wiegand is currently serving in that role on an interim basis. She says she wants to improve offerings in career and technical education, and further develop the STEM initiative, which seeks to boost education in science, technology, engineering and math. Illinois Public Media’s Sean Powers recently spoke with Wiegand about her goals for the district. She outlines a couple of areas that she wants to see added to Unit 4’s strategic plan, which was developed in 2008.
(Photo by Sean Powers/WILL)
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- Wiegand Chosen as Next Champaign Schools Superintendent (Related Story)
- Search to Begin for Culver’s Replacement (Related Story)
Story categories: education • government • Champaign • people
US Rep. Johnson Faces GOP Primary Challenge
Story air date: Friday, December 30, 2011
When Republican Congressman Tim Johnson of Urbana tries to get re-elected next year, he will have to do something he hasn’t done in more than a decade – square off in a Republican primary. As Illinois Public Media’s Sean Powers reports, two Republicans candidates from the St. Louis Metro East area are eying the newly re-drawn 13th Congressional district seat.
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Story categories: government • elections • United States • people • politics
U of I Police Chief Prepares to Head Back East
Story air date: Wednesday, December 14, 2011
The University of Illinois will begin a search for a new police chief. Barbara O’Connor has announced she’s leaving the Urbana campus in the spring, returning to her roots to become the next chief at the University of Connecticut. She's a native of nearby Granby, Massachusetts, and before becoming chief at the U of I, she was Chief of Police at the University of Massachusetts.
O’Connor says it took an offer from that area for her consider leaving the U of I. She talked with Illinois Public Media’s Jeff Bossert:
(Photo courtesy of the University of Illinois' Office of Public Safety)
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