Illinois has made progress on K-12 education in recent years, but there’s still more to be done in early childhood and higher education. We look at one report from the education non-profit Advance Illinois. We also talk about what it takes to help more Latinx community college students get the support they need to earn a degree. Plus, houses of worship have been closing all over the state. Now, there’s a movement of people who want to make sure that these buildings are still being used by their communities.

Illinois approved six new casino licenses earlier this year and local leaders hope this will bring in more money for their communities. Today, what’s being planned in Rockford, Danville, and southern Illinois. Plus, the Illinois State Museum is part of a project to give Australian indigenous objects back to the first nations communities they came from. And, Anne and Ed Burke have had a lot of power in Illinois for a long time. We’ll talk about how the state Supreme Court justice and the Chicago alderman navigate possible conflicts of interest.

The U.S. spends more on health care per person than any other country. Why are we paying so much? And where is all that money going? That’s part of Dr. Marty Makary’s latest book “The Price We Pay." Plus, there’s a lot of research out there that shows paid maternity leave makes a big difference for mothers and children. Now, we’re learning more about the impact of paid leave for fathers.

On Oct. 9, 2009, a white police officer in Champaign shot and killed an unarmed black teenager. Ten years later, community members came to the WILL studio to talk with each other about living with that pain, and what's changed (and hasn't changed) since then.

The war on drugs has affected communities of color the most. Now, as Illinois gets ready for legal recreational marijuana, state officials say they want the new legal industry to be more equitable. Plus, ten years ago today, an unarmed black teenager in Champaign was shot and killed by a white police officer. We’ll hear community members talk with each other about how they’ve been dealing with that pain. And, we’ll talk with one Illinois man about a condition that temporarily erased his memory for a day with no lasting physical or mental effects.

Today, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments about whether it’s legal to fire someone for being gay or transgender. Plus, Native Americans in the Midwest helped black men, women and children escape slavery through the Underground Railroad. We spoke about why that history is often overlooked. And, a Champaign-Urbana organization is celebrating its fifth annual Black Girl Genius Week through art, music and workshops.

A new Planned Parenthood clinic in Illinois, near the Missouri border, is opening in order to accommodate more abortion patients from out of state. We’ll talk about why its construction was kept secret. Plus, climate change is affecting Americans right now, it’s also taking a toll on our mental health. Mental health professionals are starting to hear more patients talk about how the changing climate worries them. And, what you do in your garden now can make a big difference come springtime. The experts will join us to give their tips and tricks for the most effective fall gardening.

Governor J.B. Pritzker says he wants to end the HIV epidemic in Illinois by 2030. Today we'll talk about what needs to be done to achieve that goal. Plus, Nafissa Thompson Spires is the author behind the book “Heads of the Colored People.” She joins us to talk about her short story collection that showcases black life in a way not often written about.

We’ll hear how emojis actually get made - from some of the people advocating for more emojis that reflect their daily lives. Plus, who gets to talk about history - especially when that history is brutal and hard to talk about in the first place? We revisit a conversation about a play on the topic at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theater. Then, Syphilis is one of many preventable diseases that we associate with another time, but it's actually back and on the rise according to public health officials. 

Americans older than 65 will be our largest age group within 20 years. Advocates say that means it’s time to rethink the way we design our local communities. Plus, if you think that only science, math and history are the key to success in school, think again. It turns out art and PE can have a big effect on graduation rates. And, we’ve all told little white lies. But according to research from the University of Chicago, the whole truth and nothing but the truth might be the best way to go.

Kate Rosenberg-Douglas has managed her chronic back pain with prescription opioids for years. We'll talk about what it’s like to rely on opioids while they’re being condemned for causing addiction. Plus, next year you’ll need a new kind of driver’s license called a Real ID in order to fly in the US. We’ll revisit a conversation with the Illinois Secretary of State’s office on what you need to know. Also, one in five Americans have no retirement savings at all. We’ll hear from one Illinois economist about how to save smarter. And, researchers have found that many animal veterinarians struggle with ethical conflicts over what pet owners ask of them.

The number of interfaith marriages has been increasing for years. So what does that mean when it comes to raising religious kids? Two Chicago filmmakers ask that question in a documentary called Leaps Of Faiths. Plus, we’ll hear from ESPN’s Cary Chow and CNN contributor Jeff Yang about what the film Crazy Rich Asians meant to them as Asian men. And, as summer wraps up we’ll talk about some of our favorite music artists and venues in Chicago. 

We revisit our conversation about a photography exhibit at the American Indian Center of Chicago that shows the protests at Standing Rock. Plus, Ike Holter's play, 'Lottery Day,' is set in a fictional, quickly gentrifying Chicago neighborhood. And, photojournalist Chris Capozziello, his brother Nick, and their family are the subject of the film, 'The Distance Between Us,' which explores Nick’s cerebral palsy.

All this week we’re revisiting some of our favorite arts and entertainment conversations from the show. You’ll hear from the University of Illinois Black Chorus about the Black Sacred Music Symposium. Plus, an Illinois documentary called 'Minding The Gap' got lots of attention at film festivals around the world - including at Sundance, where it won a special jury award. The film was also nominated for an Oscar for best documentary feature. It follows the lives of three young skateboarders in Rockford - and, the family they formed skating, which helped them cope with abuse, death and domestic violence.