Illinois Public Media News

On the 21st: A new report finds that the Great Lakes are warming. Although it might make for better swimming, higher temperatures could have a disastrous effect on Lake Michigan’s game fish which depend on cold, water.  Also, Illinois Humanities teams up with the Smithsonian to produce traveling exhibhitions all over the state. We’ll tell you when they’re coming to your neighborhood. And, we also discuss the rising numbers of homeless high school students in the state and the potential causes behind that, as well as what's being done to remedy that.

The lack of well-funded research and the tendency of insurers to focus on the bottom line mean patients sometimes can’t afford necessary medical supplies.

With the growing popularity of websites like Craigslist, it’s becoming more common for strangers to meet and exchange money or goods. The Champaign Police Department announced Tuesday the opening of a new location aimed at making these interactions safer.

The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday from a man who earned a state teacher pension after substitute teaching --  for one day. 

On The 21st: As Jewish communities get ready for the holy day of Yom Kippur, we talk about forgiveness, atonement and how to reconcile with America’s racist past and present. But first, a year ago this week, Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico. We hear from Puerto Ricans about what the past year has been like. 

Like most states, Illinois is struggling with a severe teacher shortage. And, also like most states, that shortage is felt most profoundly in the area of special education. There is, however, an army of teacher assistants already on the job. Could they help relieve this shortage?

A new report says Illinois state government is at “elevated risk” in the event of an economic downturn.

The state of Illinois will receive about $380,000 this year to fund navigators who help enroll people and families in health insurance plans on the marketplace established under the Affordable Care Act. That’s compared to the more than $3 million the state received to fund those positions in 2013, the year the program launched, according to an announcement made last week by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). 

On the 21st: In the 1920s, plans were made to save Cairo, Ill., from flooding. We talk about how, over time, it became politically harder to implement that plan. Also, we speak to naturalist experts about the migration paths of Monarch butterflies and how we can participate in conservation efforts for them. But first, we discuss the "rainbow wave," the uptick of openly LGBT candidates running for office nationwide and in Illinois.

As of Monday, there are 50 days until Election Day. And in the race for Illinois governor, debate season is finally getting underway.