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Story category: lifestyle
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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government • Champaign • lifestyle • recreation • sports • taxationAuthor Wes Moore Talks About Meeting the Other Wes Moore
Story air date: Thursday, November 03, 2011
More than a decade ago, a man named Wes Moore was convicted of murdering a police officer during a botched robbery. What he didn’t know was that another man with the same name grew up not far from him in Baltimore. The two frequented the same places, had run-ins with the law, and were fatherless. While one Wes Moore will spend the rest of his life behind bars, the other has a successful career as a businessman, motivational speaker, and author.
In the book titled "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates,” Wes Moore talks about meeting the man with the same name, but a very different life. Moore spoke with Illinois Public Media's Sean Powers shortly before giving a presentation on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at the University of Illinois’ Alice Campbell Alumni Center as part of the United Way of Champaign County's Pillar Celebration.
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Bonus Video: Wes Moore on the events that shaped the other Wes Moore
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arts and culture • education • history • lifestyle • media • peopleLegislation Seeks to Extend Immigration Rights to Same-Sex Couples
Story air date: Monday, November 29, 2010
The U.S. Senate is expected to consider ending the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which bans gays from openly serving in the armed services. But there’s another issue that many gay rights supporters are pushing. Illinois Public Media’s Sean Powers reports on the political deadlock over legislation to extend immigration rights to same-sex binational couples.
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Listen to the LGBT Immigration Forum at Illinois State University (11/4/2010):
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- H.R.1024 - Uniting American Families Act of 2009
- Historical Look at Immigration Policy
- Family Reunification (Related Story)
- Upload Your Video About the 21st Century Struggles for LGBT People In East Central Illinois
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civil rights • government • United States • history • lifestyle • politics • race/ethnicityNew Center in Rantoul Serves as a Resource for Migrants
Story air date: Monday, August 23, 2010
A new daycare and clinic recently opened for the season in Rantoul. It caters mostly to children of migrant workers, but it’s open to anyone whose immediate family works in agriculture. The Multicultural Community Center is the largest of its kind in Illinois. As Illinois Public Media’s Sean Powers reports, the staff tries to make the transition of migrating easier for the children of migrant workers.
(Photo by Sean Powers/WILL)
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community life • lifestyle • peopleVermilion County's New Public Health Administrator Reacts to Budget Constraints
Story air date: Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Shirley Hicks recently took over as the Public Health Administrator at the Vermilion County Health Department. Hicks has been with the health department for 25 years, and comes into her new role amid massive program and staff cuts. In the first six months of this year, the department cut more than half of its staff and eliminated eight programs. The state still owes the health department $600,000, which Hicks says could be paid back by December. She estimates that it could be at least a couple of years until her department can start thinking about adding to its services. Illinois Public Media's Sean Powers spoke to her at the department’s office in Danville.
