Agriculture is the leading cause of methane emissions in the U.S. We’ll speak with one central Illinois farmer who changed the way he farms, in part so he could reduce his emissions. Plus, the man accused of kidnapping and murdering University of Illinois student Yingying Zhang two years ago could face the death penalty. We’ll bring you the latest with his trial now underway in Peoria. And we'll continue talking about the podcasts we’re listening to this summer - today, some recommendations on the fun side!

June is Pride Month, and you may have seen hundreds of big box stores selling rainbow merchandise. But when did pride become profitable, and where do brands actually stand on LGBTQ issues? Plus, thousands of Illinois patients have been affected by data breaches in the last year. We’ll talk about what hospitals are doing about it and how you can protect your information. And we’re continuing our weeklong series featuring podcasts you can listen to this summer.

Cars and trucks recently surpassed coal as the number one source of emissions in Illinois. We’ll talk about what led to this shift and what policies Illinois should put in place. Plus, one of the largest earthquakes recorded in the U.S. happened in the Midwest in 1811. So how likely are earthquakes in the Midwest today? And, you might be on the hunt for news podcasts to listen to during your summer travels. We’ve got some recommendations for you during a summer podcast series we’re doing all week.

Last week marked the 75th anniversary of D-Day. We take a flight in one of the last B-17 bombers still in the air and talk to Illinois veterans about their memories of World War II. Plus, Marilyn Webb has been a writer, educator and professor, but she never got to finish her doctorate. Back in the sixties, her male professors sexually harassed her and she eventually left her program. 52 years later she’s finally getting her Ph.D. from UChicago. 

Eighteen years ago, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin introduced the DREAM Act. And last week, the Democratically controlled House passed the latest version of that bill. We talk about that and other issues facing Congress. And, Americans older than 65 will become our largest age group within 20 years. Advocates say that means it’s time to rethink the way we design our local communities. Plus, have you heard of the idea of overtourism? That’s when too many people are visiting the same spots. We'll be speaking about what you can do about it.

Every year, thousands of students come to the U.S. from China to study. But now, the Chinese government is urging students to take a closer look at the risks of coming to U.S. universities. And, we're speaking with a University of Chicago student who was subpoenaed by the prominent Pearson Family after publishing news about them in the college newspaper. Plus, summer means it’s time to get outside, and maybe go for a hike. It also means a higher risk of tick bites. And, more than a decade ago, Mayor Richard M. Daley pledged that Chicago would be the “greenest city in America” by 2020. Where does that promise stand today?

We'll hear the story of why 200 books were removed by staff from a prison library in Central Illinois. Plus, when we say American soil, we think that means the farms are owned by Americans, right? It turns out that about 30 million acres of farmland in the US are foreign-owned. And, saving for retirement is a challenge, that’s part of the reason one in five Americans have no retirement savings at all. We’ll hear from one Illinois economist about how to save smarter.

There are more than 70,000 people in the trucking industry here in Illinois. How will the doubling of the gas tax affect them? That’s one of hundreds of bills passed this legislative session under the radar. We’ll talk about some of them. Also, we’ll get a tour of the Illinois Holocaust Museum’s newest exhibit. It focuses on the dangerous journeys that slaves made after they already got to America. And, it finally feels like summer! We’ve got a preview of some great summer music acts for you to check out.

In this special encore episode, we take you back to a conversation on tech in the classroom: should devices like Chromebooks and iPads be limited or actively used? Plus, when Prohibition became official in 1920, advocates wanted to make sure it was enforced. But that also had a darker side, including anti-immigrant violence supported by the KKK. Also, it’s been a tough few years for farmers who sell produce through CSAs, in part due to more competition from big grocery stores and others cashing into the local food market. We look at how farmers are adapting and what policymakers can do to help.

For almost two weeks, there were reports of at least 8 tornadoes across the country. Many of those were here in the Midwest. Why this is happening, and how can we talk to kids about it? Plus, a new report from the Erikson Institute looks into early childhood well-being. And, we'll speak with Alex Pancoe, a Highland Park native who recently got back from climbing Mount Everest during a deadly climbing season. 

It took two extra days, but the Illinois General Assembly has wrapped up its spring session. And there are big changes on the way: sports betting, legal cannabis, infrastructure spending, and a whole lot more. We’ll check in with Democratic and Republican leaders about what they did and why. Plus, Ramadan is a time of fasting, prayer and charity for Muslims. The holy month concludes tonight. We’ll speak with imams here in Illinois about how their mosques are giving back.

As lawmakers consider raising taxes on the video gambling industry, ProPublica Illinois and WBEZ report on several powerful lawmakers from both parties who have direct financial ties to the industry. Plus, last week, activists and workers’ rights groups organized walkouts and filed lawsuits against McDonald’s, for everything from higher wages, union rights, and reports of violence in the workplace. And, if you’re planning to hit the road for the perfect summer day trip, we’ll speak with some of the artisans and restaurateurs featured as Illinois makers.

One in four women in the US will have an abortion by age 45. And over the past few weeks thousands of these women have shared some of those stories through '#you know me.' And, what makes a good french fry? Is it curly, waffle, or seasoned? We’ll talk about this with two Chicago food critics.

Illinois is one step closer to a graduated income tax. Action by state lawmakers this weekend means that the issue will be on the ballot next fall. Plus, a new bill would change math requirements for high schoolers here in Illinois. We’ll hear how students looking for a career in a trade could benefit. And, Illinois was once home to millions of prairie chickens but now there are only about 200.