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.

This Memorial Day weekend, we're bringing back one of our favorite shows from the past year. What does Midwestern food mean to you? Maybe a Chicago hot dog, or a horseshoe? We hear from experts, chefs, and callers. But first, we look at student-run mental health clubs on college campuses, and how peers are supporting one another.

Figuring out what’s true or false online can be tricky for everyone, but it turns out older Americans are especially vulnerable to misinformation on social media. Plus, caregivers for veterans are often under a lot of stress. We’ll talk about a new study that shows how mindfulness therapy can help. But first, 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 new documentary called 'Leaps Of Faiths.'

Senator Dick Durbin said a few months ago that he doesn’t support the Green New Deal. Has he changed his mind? And how do the rest of Illinois Democrats feel about it? And, as one homeless shelter in Southern Illinois closes, we talk about the challenges facing shelters across Illinois. Plus, it’s college graduation season and seven men from Stateville Correctional Center just received their degrees at a ceremony that included a performance from Chance the Rapper.

Planting season in Illinois has been massively delayed as we face one of the wettest springs in more than a century. So, how are farmers coping with all of this uncertainty? Plus, African-Americans have been moving out of Chicago for years, not just to suburbs or other parts of Illinois, but also to areas in the South. And, Attorney General Kwame Raoul tells us why he's worried that alternative energy suppliers are preying on consumers and charging high utility bills.

State lawmakers have just two weeks to decide how they’ll move forward with several pieces of legislation. House Republican Leader Jim Durkin joins us to share his priorities. Plus, a southern Illinois mother faced thousands of dollars in hospital bills for her newborn because of Medicaid enrollment delays. She’s one of more than 112,000 who are facing problems with the program in Illinois. A new play at Steppenwolf explores the story of Ms. Joan Jett Blakk- a Chicago drag queen who ran for president in 1992.