Illinois Public Media News

Farmers started forming co-ops nearly a century ago, primarily to get better prices for their crops. They pooled their resources, put up storage bins and gained leverage with buyers.

On The 21st: Gun control has been a hotly contested issue in 2018, and candidates in Illinois disagree on whether the solution is to make it easier or harder to buy a firearm. Plus, there’s a lawsuit dealing with digital copyright that could change how textbooks get used in university classrooms. But first, the comptroller is in charge of paying the state’s bills on time—a tall order given Illinois’ fiscal situation. We’ll hear from the three women are running for this position.

Children who grow up in poverty or other adversity are prone to worse health & educational outcomes. But having a stable, nurturing relationship with a parent or caregiver can offer protection. That's where home-visiting nurses can play a role.

Illinois's 15th Congressional district stretches from the southern tip of Illinois to parts of the Metro East Area of St. Louis all the way to Danville. Republican John Shimkus is running for his 12th term in Congress. He was unopposed in the 2016 general election but this year faces a challenge from Democrat Kevin Gaither of Charleston.

Lily Furgeson had a great experience in sex ed in middle school. Furgeson, who is a 17-year-old senior at a Chicago Public Schools high school, said her eighth grade sex ed teacher made sure to include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender identities as part of their curriculum.