Illinois Public Media
History
Book sheds light on unique history of bicycling in Illinois
Before Schwinn was a household name, before Chicago had a single protected bike lane, and before cars became one of the dominant forces in American life, the 21st state was arguably the center of American bicycling. Christopher Sweet spent nearly a decade digging through archives, scrapbooks, and old cycling magazines to tell that story in a “A History of Bicycling in Illinois: 160 Years of Booms and Busts.” Listen to Sweet's interview with “The 21st Show.”Latest News
August is Black Philanthropy Month
WILL FM
Illinois Classical
Prairie Performances
Beautiful Beginnings
On this season premiere of Prairie Performances, we celebrate beautiful beginnings with beloved classical overtures.
Dialogue
Dialogue Roundup: Data Center Debate, Champaign Youth Summer Job Program, and Dire Results of a Hospital Shutdown
A push to regulate data centers, Champaign Unit 4 students tell us what they've learned in their summer jobs, and it’s been more than three months since a West Side hospital…
WILL AM
The 21st Show
Is election security at risk in Illinois?
The second Trump administration has tried to assert more control over elections … using false claims about election security as justification. We’ll talk about security…
The 21st Show
From Illinois to Lithuania: Tracing a small Eastern European country’s deep local ties
This spring, a reporter and photographer from the Chicago Sun-Times spent two weeks in Lithuania as the Pulitzer Center's 2026 Richard C. Longworth Media fellows, reporting a…
The 21st Show
What the Illinois House speaker knew about a colleague’s harassment allegations — and when
Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch is facing criticism for his handling of sexual harassment allegations against fellow Democrat, Harry Benton.
WILL TV
Prairie Fire
Prairie Fire: Season 3 - Episode 7 - May 2026
For this month's Prairie Fire, students from the University of Illinois’ College of Media spent a semester producing five short documentaries highlighting food, skating,…
Mid-American Gardener
Propagation, Hail Recovery & Summer Garden Tips
In this episode of Mid-American Gardener, Tinisha is joined by horticulturists Karen Ruckle and Ella Maxwell for hands-on advice on how to keep your garden thriving all…
State of Change
Small gestures to make a big difference in preserving our planet
We visit a zero-waste general store, a garden bringing a community together in a Chicago food desert, a program protecting pollinators, and advice to increase sustainability…
