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Illinois Public Media News Headlines:
Champaign Council Allows Video Gaming
Illinois May Allow Mini Horses as Service Animals
Ed. Leaders Concerned Over Rising Student Loan Interest Rates
Regional Superintendents Back Consolidation Bill
Acting Indiana Chief Justice Picked to Head Court
Dems Form 3rd Party to Defeat Derrick Smith
Quinn Mulls Executive Order on Insurance Exchange
Cokie Roberts Urges Students to Get Politically Involved
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Urbana Schools Expand Nutrition Education
Story air date: Sunday, May 13, 2012
Snack time in elementary school may have once been a break from the day’s lesson, but now it’s part of it in the Urbana School District. Several elementary schools have adopted more nutrition education thanks to an initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. Schools are chosen for the program based on the number of students eligible for free and reduced lunches. Illinois Public Media’s Sean Powers explains as part of our series on efforts in the region to increase health and wellness.
(Photo by Sean Powers/WILL)
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Story categories: education • health
Champaign, Urbana Chiefs Weigh in on Community Policing
Story air date: Friday, May 11, 2012
From neighborhood watch programs to relationships with churches and businesses, Champaign-Urbana’s two police chiefs say community policing is an essential part of their operation.
Following a forum on the topic Thursday night, Illinois Public Media’s Jeff Bossert talked with Urbana Chief Patrick Connolly and Champaign Chief Anthony Cobb on the strengths and weaknesses of their community ties.
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Jeff's full interview with Police Chiefs Anthony Cobb and Patrick Connolly:
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Urbana Police Chief Patrick Connolly's address before the League of Women Voters of Champaign County:
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Champaign Police Chief Anthony Cobb's address:
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Initiative Encourages Biking, Walking to School
Story air date: Monday, May 07, 2012
Ever sit through that conversation with your parents about how they walked 10 miles to school uphill…both ways? Well, a new generation may tell similar tall tales to their kids thanks to the “Safe Routes to School” program in Champaign-Urbana. As part of our series on efforts in the region to increase health and wellness, Illinois Public Media’s Sean Powers reports on the program's activities in Champaign-Urbana.
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Story categories: education • government • Illinois • United States • health
Fracking: Energy Solution or Environmental Hazard?
Story air date: Thursday, May 03, 2012
Hydraulic fracturing – a process used to collect and extract natural gas – has been around for decades. But how and where it’s done today is new…and it has some worried about what it means for air and water quality. Several drilling companies have moved into southern Illinois to extract natural gas by using horizontal fracking, deep underground beneath shale. They could begin within a month.
Legislation in the Illinois General Assembly that has passed the Senate would allow the state's Department of Natural Resources to regulate hydraulic fracturing that cracks open fissures in southern Illinois' roughly 4,500-foot-deep New Albany Shale and other formations to get to trapped oil and natural gas. The legislation also would require energy companies to disclose the chemical makeup of the fracturing fluids and to test the integrity of the cement and steel well casings meant to protect groundwater during drilling.
Since October 2010, more than 100 bills across roughly 20 states have been introduced relating to hydraulic fracturing for natural gas. David Morse from the Illinois State Geological Survey assesses the state of fracking with Illinois Public Media’s Sean Powers.
(AP Photo/Orlin Wagner, File)
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- Find out what other states are doing to regulate hydraulic fracturing
- More coverage on fracking from ProPublica
- “Fracking” Comes to Southern Illinois (Related))
- Is Fracking Making People Sick? (Related)
- New Study Fuels Hydraulic Fracking Debate (Related)
- Fracking Byproducts May Be Linked To Ohio Quakes (Related))
- A Debate Over Who Regulates Gas 'Fracking' In Pa. (Related)
Story categories: energy • government • Illinois • health
Annual C-U Event Pushes People to Bike Ride
Story air date: Sunday, April 29, 2012
Tuesday kicks off the annual "Bike to Work Day" in Champaign-Urbana. If you don’t own a bicycle or if you have a bike that’s gathering dust, then this might be the right day to release the kickstand and take off. As part of our series on efforts in the region to increase health and wellness, Illinois Public Media’s Sean Powers recently ended a long-time hiatus from bike riding to share the stories of people in the community who are passionate about cycling.
(Photo by Sean Powers/WILL)
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Story categories: health
C-U's Native Son is Back For 14th Annual Film Festival
Story air date: Tuesday, April 24, 2012
What started with a one-time screening of a sci-fi classic in Champaign has become an annual tradition featuring beloved, but overlooked films as gauged by one of this area’s native sons.
Illinois Public Media’s Jeff Bossert previews the 14th annual Ebertfest.
(AP Photo/Seth Perlman)
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Jeff Bossert's recent interview with Roger Ebert:
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Jeff's interview with Jeffrey Lerner, who produced Ebert's 2001 DVD commentary for "Citizen Kane":
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- Roger Ebert on "Keepin' The Faith" on April 18, 1999
- Roger Ebert on "Media Matters" on April 13, 2003
- Ebertfest website
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Hospital Offers Employees Incentives to Stay Healthy
Story air date: Monday, April 23, 2012
A growing number of companies across the country have started encouraging employees to stay healthy by offering financial incentives. Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, which is one of the largest employers in the area, is pushing for a healthier workforce through its Charge Rewards Program. Illinois Public Media's Sean Powers reports on how it works.
(Photo by Sean Powers/WILL)
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Story categories: business • health • health care
Money Smart Week Expands in East Central Illinois
Story air date: Saturday, April 21, 2012
Ten years ago, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago started partnering with local communities to provide free financial advice over a week’s time.
More recently, ‘Money Smart Week’ has been part of financial institutions and businesses in East Central Illinois. Illinois Public Media’s Jeff Bossert spoke about Money Smart Week with University of Illinois Extension educator Kathy Sweedler and Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance attorney John Roska:
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