WILL AM 580 News Features
In-depth reporting by AM 580 News
Listen to the latest AM 580 Newscast
Get the AM 580 News Daily Podcast
Story category: politics
Rural Issues and the Campaign: Ethanol Plants
Story air date: Monday, October 06, 2008
AM 580 is joining with public radio stations across the country to look into how the Presidential race impacts rural residents.
The debate over alternate energy sources like wind and solar power is not only aimed at reducing dependence on natural resources like coal and natural gas.
Driving cars and using other machines rely more on these sources. While John McCain stresses greater production of oil, and nuclear energy, Barack Obama speaks more of using alternates. One getting a lot of attention in recent years is ethanol. But lately, supply and demand have hurt the development of new facilities that produce it. AM 580’s Jeff Bossert looks at how the state of the industry is affecting two rural Central Illinois towns and what the presidential candidates’ energy policies could mean for their future.
Audio archives:
Play now:
Download: mp3 file
Story categories:
business • community life • energy • government • elections • United States • politicsPossible Answers for Problems Facing Black Men
Story air date: Wednesday, October 01, 2008
The words “at risk” are often pinned on African-American males for several reasons. They’re considered less likely to finish high school, more likely to have been in prison, and subject to greater health problems and shorter life spans. Now, recently signed legislation has set up a state task force to study these problems and report on possible solutions. And for the past four weeks, Illinois’ Task Force on the Condition of African-American Males has been gathering community input at town hall meetings around the state. The task force held one of its meetings in Urbana. AM 580’s Jim Meadows reports.
Audio archives:
Play now:
Download: mp3 file
Story categories:
civil rights • community life • economy • government • Illinois • politics • race/ethnicityA Pivotal Former Mayor Leaves Rantoul
Story air date: Friday, July 11, 2008
It’s been 20 years since the federal government announced that Chanute Air Force Base would be closing its doors. That cost over a thousand jobs and decimated Rantoul’s population, but the effort to redevelop the land has produced a number of success stories. Katy Podagrosi served as Rantoul’s mayor through much of that time. This week, the village’s leader for more than 12 years -- and resident for nearly 50 -- is leaving the community. She spoke with AM 580’s Jeff Bossert (click below for the full interview)
Audio archives:
Play now:
Download: mp3 file
Story categories:
community life • government • people • politicsChampaign County's Nursing Home Woes
Story air date: Wednesday, May 21, 2008
The Champaign County Board is discussing recommendations from a consultant for improving finances at the Champaign County Nursing Home. County officials say they understand that they have to act quickly and decisively to fix the nursing home’s precarious finances. But even with those changes, many are saying that more tax money will be needed to balance the books. AM 580’s Jim Meadows reports.
Audio archives:
Play now:
Download: mp3 file
Story categories:
business • government • Champaign County • health care • politicsAnna Quindlen on the Primary Fight
Story air date: Thursday, May 08, 2008
Thousands of women flock to the UI campus for the largest women's conference in the nation, the Biennial Conference for Women. Among this year's guests is Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and novelist Anna Quindlen. She also writes a biweekly column for Newsweek, alternating with conservative commentator George Will. One of Quindlen's present prime topics is the Democratic Presidential campaign. She shared her thoughts on the race with AM 580's Michael Koliska.
