News | Illinois Public Media

Despite being eliminated from Illinois in the 19th century, mountain lions have been sighted twice in Illinois recently, once in DeKalb County and once in Springfield. — National Parks Service via AP

November 17, 2022

Mountain lions have been sighted again in Illinois. Here’s what you need to know:

We were joined by a wildlife biologist to talk about last month's unusual mountain lion sightings and the questions they raise.

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Data shows that Americans are more politically divided than ever, and that division is taking a toll on our perceptions of and interactions with one another. There are some groups out there attempting to change that, including Braver Angels, a non-profit that aims to help politically divided Americans find common ground. — Reginald Hardwick/Illinois Public Media

November 17, 2022

Building a better democracy: Braver Angels fight political demonization

As part of our ongoing series “Building a Better Democracy,” we were joined by coordinators from a non-profit that's trying to help those who disagree politically learn to talk to one another.

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Drought is causing the levels of Illinois' rivers, including the Mississippi River, to drop. That drop is already having an effect on the supply chain of the state. — Jose Zepeda/Illinois Public Media

November 16, 2022

Illinois rivers are facing severe drought. Why does it matter?

To discuss the drought facing rivers across Illinois, its causes and effects, and why it matters, we were joined by the senior vice president of Waterways Council and the senior manager of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s River Forecast Center.

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