Illinois Public Media News

More school districts are introducing computer science education in their classrooms. But Illinois doesn’t have any standards for teaching that subject and teachers say it’s time to come up with a clear plan. Plus, decades ago, a cutting edge stem cell treatment from umbilical cord blood saved one Illinois woman's life. And, earlier this month she met her donor and his parents for the first time. Also, we’ll talk to a University of Illinois geology professor about her work how to better forecast volcanic eruptions.

Veteran journalist Cokie Roberts, who joined an upstart NPR in 1978 and left an indelible imprint on the growing network with her coverage of Washington politics before later going to ABC News, has died. She was 75.

With the public clamoring for action to reduce gun violence, Congress may soon create a federal grant program that would offer incentives for states to pass so-called “red flag” laws. Those make it easier to take firearms away from unstable people.

Could it be that the press, especially the US press, is finally waking up to the climate story?

Two sessions on Tuesday at Danville Area Community College will give local residents the chance to tell the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency what they want from new rules regulating coal ash, a toxic substance produced by coal-fired power plants.