About 9.5 million veterans are in the American workforce. One group called Green Veterans wants more servicemembers to work in clean energy and sustainability. Plus, hospitals in the Chicago area have been sending ambulances away in an effort to reduce overcrowded emergency rooms. But, this practice is actually moving the problem instead of solving it. And, the centuries old sport of karate will be an Olympic event for the first time in Tokyo next year. We speak with some Olympic hopefuls.

Reporter Allie Conti was scammed by an Airbnb host on a trip to Chicago. When she looked into it further, she found a network of properties in different cities taking thousands of dollars from unsuspecting guests. Plus, NPR’s new daily science podcast is called Short Wave. It’s a show that digs into the science behind the headlines and makes it fun. And, what sounds do you associate with fall? Maybe the loud buzz of a leaf blower? Some communities have banned them because of noise, but also because they’re harmful to the environment. Also, we catch up on Illini sports.

The Trump administration has increased access to ‘bare bones’ health plans that don’t cover things like mental health care. We speak with an Illinois resident who’s on one of these plans and is now faced with a medical bill for $21,000. Plus, temperatures in central and northern Illinois are dropping below freezing this week. That’s led some homeless shelters to extend their hours and even open up warming centers early. And, a group of faith leaders in central Illinois are organizing a series of events called 'Cultivating Hope In Anxious Times.'

Researchers who study sleep say teens aren’t getting enough of it and say schools can do more to help by having class start later. We hear from a sleep scientist and an Illinois school district that has moved to later start times. Plus, advocates say they’re seeing an increase in so-called ‘revenge porn’ cases: when intimate images are shared without a person’s consent. But they also say Illinois leads the way when it comes to addressing this issue. And, the number of college students majoring in the humanities has hit its lowest level in decades. But what are we at risk of losing when students flock from English to STEM related courses? 

Pharmacists have been making dangerous errors caused, in part, by being overworked. Now Illinois lawmakers are proposing a bill that would require them to take more breaks. Plus, State Rep. Luis Arroyo has resigned after being arrested on federal bribery charges. All this as the General Assembly wrapped up week one of this year’s veto session. And, even though a majority of Americans think young adults should be financially independent by age 22, few actually are. We talk about what stands in the way.

State Rep. Luis Arroyo has been indicted on public corruption charges. Now, his Democratic colleagues are taking steps to expel him from the General Assembly. Plus, the Illinois Tollway has a huge amount of data on who uses electronic I-Passes, and when it's used. Reporting from WBEZ shows that just about anyone can request that information. Also, author Matt Grossmann of "Red State Blues" joins us to talk about the "conservative revolution." And, a "ransomware superhero" in Normal has helped thousands of people across the country and around the world battle malicious software attacking their computers, all for free.  

Democrats in the U.S. House are laying out next steps for the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. We’ll check in with a constitutional law scholar on what we all need to know about this whole process. Plus, hundreds of thousands of servicemembers suffered traumatic brain injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan. Some experts say this problem has stayed invisible for too long. And, why the Amtrak line between Chicago and Carbondale is one of the worst performing in the whole country. Also, we'll get the latest in Illinois sports from Cheryl Raye Stout. 

Illinois farmers have been growing hemp legally for the first season since the state approved production rules in April. Is this cash crop paying off for growers? Plus, within the past decade, the death rates from suicide went up more than 50% among young people aged 10 to 24. We spoke with a psychologist and a student about what they’ve seen on the ground when it comes to teens and mental health. And, scientists at Chicago’s Field Museum are ecstatic about the latest addition to their collection of meteors. They say it’s in almost the same condition it was in billions of years ago.

Last year, Democratic state lawmakers had a contentious veto session with then Governor Bruce Rauner. This time, they’re looking at a much less combative week with Governor JB Pritzker. Plus, About 70,000 unaccompanied minors have crossed the Southwestern border of the U.S. so far this year, but unaccompanied minors are in communities all over the country, including here in Illinois. And, every year hundreds of thousands of people visit the Cahokia Mounds. Now advocates, and some members of Illinois’ Congressional delegation, want to make the site Illinois’ first national park. 

Boeing is still dealing with the fallout from the 737 Max 8, which crashed twice before being grounded earlier this year. We talk about what’s next for the Chicago-based company. Plus, speech language pathologists in Central Illinois are helping transgender clients by providing techniques that focus on the resonance, tone and projection of their voices. Also, we talk about the new project GovBook that's meant to help people get in contact with local officials from around the state. And, what’s happening in the north central Illinois town of Mendota, where teachers have been on strike for the past week.

On Monday, a 9-year-old boy from the town of Goodfield struggled to understand as a judge read murder and arson charges against him. We’ll talk about this central Illinois case with a legal expert and a reporter who’s following the story. Plus, a non-profit wants more farmers to grow trees alongside crops. It’s meant to help both farmers and the climate by providing an alternative to corn and soy. And, Illinois could become the second state to make it legal for college athletes to make money off their celebrity. We’ll speak with the state lawmaker behind the legislation.

State Sen. Andy Manar has introduced a bill that would make Illinois the second state to cap co-payments for insulin at $100 a month. Plus, how the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is dealing with swastikas were found on campus in recent weeks—and how that response is being received by those who were targeted. We also get an update on what the state needs to improve the security of our election system, and preview the Chicago Red Stars' bid for a National Women's Soccer league title.

Heavy rain and flooding has made life difficult for farmers this year. We'll check in on how they're doing now that it's harvest season. Plus, more than a hundred years ago, Chicagoans reversed the flow of their city's river to make the water drinkable. But first, what we know and what's at stake in the sprawling federal investigation into Illinois staet government officials.

The Chicago Teachers’ Union is on strike, and classes are canceled today. But they’re not the only teachers walking off the job in Illinois. We check in with other teachers who are striking across the state. Plus, a new art exhibit in Urbana explores the invisible ways that radioactivity and nuclear waste affects all of our lives. And, Illinois produces more pumpkins than any other state. Now that fall is here, we’ll speak with two Illinois farmers about this year's pumpkin crop.