Illinois Public Media News

Aaliyah Kissick's interest in politics started when we she was just eight years old. Now a decade later, she's excited to vote in her first general election.

The Champaign Federation of Teachers voted Thursday afternoon to authorize a strike, according to union president Jennifer White. The move comes after she said the union and Champaign District 4 officials failed to come any closer to a contract agreement during a bargaining session earlier this week.

A small garden on the University of Illinois Urbana campus now memorializes Yingying Zhang. She’s the visiting scholar from China who disappeared in June of 2017.  More than 100 people turned out Thursday for a dedication ceremony for the garden, during which a dedication stone was unveiled.

On the 21st: We check in on this year’s pumpkin crop with some Illinois farmers. Plus, it’s officially Pumpkin Spice season. We talk about the spice some people love, and others love to hate. And, the Chicago International Film Festival has started. Michael Phillips gives us his picks. But first, we sit down with Congressman Rodney Davis a few weeks before the midterm elections. 

Cynthia Cunningham is the Democratic challenger to incumbent Republican Mike Marron in the race for Illinois House in the state's 104th district. The resident of Royal, and first-time candidate, spoke with Illinois Public Media about which issues she thinks are most important to her district, such as changing the school funding formula and protecting the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River.