Illinois Public Media News

Small internet service providers in Illinois are optimistic after the farm bill – which President Trump recently signed – included more money for expanding high-speed internet access in sparsely populated areas.

Dicamba, the controversial herbicide used on soybeans and cotton, is responsible for thousands of acres of damaged crops in recent years. Experts say that despite new federal rules that go into effect in 2019, the drift will continue but the victims will be different.

Amid talk of possibly legalizing marijuana in Illinois in the near future, farmers will soon be able to grow another type of cannabis plant --- industrial hemp --- thanks to a new state law.

On this encore edition of The 21st: How do we overcome fear? We revisit our conversation with Martha Nussbaum about how fear is affecting our politics and political discourse, and ask what to do about it. Plus, we discussed the graphic novel adaptation of "Kindred," the difficulties of adapting a work into a comic or graphic novel, and the difference between the two.

Hardly a week went by in 2018 where there wasn’t some kind of breaking agriculture, food or rural news. It was the year of the farm bill, a trade war and several food recalls. But Harvest Public Media reporters found places to revel in some fun, too. Here are some of our favorite stories from the last 12 months.