Illinois Public Media News

Fifty years ago, an Illinois engineer named Barbara Crawford Johnson helped land astronauts on the moon. She was from Sandoval and graduated from the U of I. Today, we learn about her life, and what it was like to work on the space program all those years ago. Plus, there are many reasons why people don’t drink alcohol, and those numbers of people continue to grow. How are bars and restaurants starting to cater cocktails to the sober set? Also, a study finds that just half of collegiate level sports programs follow the medical model of care for student athletes. 

Across the U.S., more than 2,000 people have reported vaping-related lung illnesses, and 47 have died. Some vaping happens in schools, so they share the burden of bringing this crisis under control. Which raises the question: what should the consequences be for a student caught vaping?

The Illini men's basketball team topped the century mark for the second straight game, beating NCAA Division II opponent Lindenwood 117-65 Tuesday night in Champaign.

The Illinois Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that could determine whether a person convicted of battery can still own a gum.

Last year, fewer than 4% of incoming medical students in Illinois were black men. Today: what’s behind that number, and what should be done about it. Plus, decades ago, a cutting edge stem cell treatment from umbilical cord blood saved one Illinois woman's life. And earlier this year, she met her donor and his parents for the first time. And, we talk to a University of Illinois geology professor about her work, on how to better forecast volcanic eruptions.