WILL-AM | Illinois Public Media

Don Giovanni (Nathan Gunn) stands over Commendatore (Philip Phillips) in Lyric Theatre @ Illinois' production of 'Don Giovanni' — Darrell Hoemann/for Illinois Public Media

News Local/State

February 22, 2018

Nathan Gunn Directs, Sings Lyric Theatre’s ‘Don Giovanni’

Nathan Gunn sings the lead role and directs the classic Mozart opera, opening Thursday night at Kranner Center for the Performing Arts.

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Dicamba resistant soybeans in rural McLean County on August 7. — Darrell Hoemann/Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting

News Local/State

February 22, 2018

Ag Panel To Discuss Dicamba Impact

The herbicide dicamba has been in the news a lot over the past year. One University of Missouri researcher says dicamba has been blamed for more than 3 million acres of damaged soybeans in 2017 alone.

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Democratic candidates for governor before a deabte Wednesday at the University of Illinois Springfield. From left: J.B. Pritzker, Tio Hardiman, Bob Daiber and Daniel Biss. Robert Marshall hadn't arrived yet and Chris Kennedy withdrew after a bac — Brian Mackey/NPR Illinois

News Local/State

February 22, 2018

Speaker Madigan Among Lead Topics At Democratic Gubernatorial Debate

Five of the Democrats running for Illinois governor met at a debate Wednesday night in Springfield. Among the prime topics was House Speaker Michael Madigan’s handling of harassment in his political organization.

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Evangelist Billy Graham speaks during in 2005 in the Queens, N.Y. Graham was one of the most influential religious figures of the 20th century. Scholars say his death marks the end of a historical era, in which one person could unify Protestant Chris — Spencer Platt/Getty Images

News Local/State

February 21, 2018

‘America’s Pastor’ Billy Graham Dies At 99

Billy Graham, the most famous minister of his era, died Wednesday at his home in Montreat, N.C., spokesman Todd Shearer tells NPR. In his 99 years, Graham changed the face of evangelical Christianity in America.

Advocates have highlighted a Whiteside County Clinic as a state leader in its outpatient drug rehabilitation program. — Emily Reed/WNIJ

News Local/State

February 21, 2018

Northern Illinois Clinic Uses Multi-Faceted Treatment Program To Combat Opioid Epidemic

As the death toll climbs for opioid-related overdoses in Illinois, state leaders are looking for solutions. Advocates have highlighted a Whiteside County Clinic as a state leader in its outpatient drug rehabilitation program. Jessie Schlacks went to Rock Falls to tour the facility.

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Michigan State's Jaren Jackson Jr., top, and Illinois' Greg Eboigbodin reach for a rebound during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, in East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State won 81-61. — Al Goldis/AP

News Local/State

February 21, 2018

No. 2 Michigan St Tops Illinois 81-61, Seals Share Of Big Ten Title

Miles Bridges grabbed the Big Ten trophy, lifted it and flashed an ear-to-ear grin. Bridges scored 19 points, leading No. 2 Michigan State to an 81-61 win over Illinois on Tuesday night to seal a share of the Big Ten championship.

News Local/State

February 20, 2018

Engineer, Former State Lawmaker, Tom Berns Dies At Age 72

Friends of former state representative Tom Berns say his one term in the Illinois House was only a small part of his public service.

Berns, who died Monday at age 72, was elected to the Illinois House 104th District in 2000, succeeding Republican Tim Johnson, who left to serve in the U.S. House.

child walking — niko si/Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

News Local/State

February 20, 2018

Despite Law, ‘Planned Abandonment’ Persists As Last Resort For Troubled Families

A law passed in 2014 was supposed to ensure Illinois families no longer have to give up custody of their children in order to get them necessary mental health treatment. Even so, for years families with no other options have been forced to abandon their children to get them the help they need, and legislators say state agencies are to blame.

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