Illinois Public Media

Feature Story

State of Change logo featuring an outline of Illinois containing the words

State of Change: The state of the Illinois Prairie

State of Change 2025 looks at efforts to retain existing prairie in Illinois, as well as strategies to restore some areas to a more natural state. Emmy winning host and producer Tinisha Spain hosted this year’s State of Change from the Loda Cemetery Prairie Nature Preserve in Iroquois County, Illinois. The land has not been cultivated and is one of the few places you can still find the original tallgrass prairie in Illinois. State of Change 2025 airs Thursday, November 13 at 7:00 pm on WILL-TV, the Illinois Public Media YouTube channel, and the PBS app.

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WILL FM

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WILL AM

The 21st Show

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The 21st Show
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The 217 Today Podcast

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WILL TV

Prairie Fire

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Mid-American Gardener

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State of Change

The state of the Illinois Prairie

State of Change 2025 looks at efforts to retain existing prairie in Illinois, as well as strategies to restore some areas to a more natural state.