Illinois Public Media News

Lawmakers and candidates from all four of the Illinois House districts that reach into Champaign County will be in Urbana Thursday evening (July 26) to talk about long-term senior care and retirement issues.

On the 21st: We talked with gun training instructors and owners about the recent wave of teachers acquiring concealed carry permits in the wake of shooting incidents in recent years. Plus, Illinois infrastructure, and what lies down the road for future construction and maintenence. And, a recent study shows that lesbian, bisexual and questioning women are at a higher risk for diabetes and obesity later in life. Then, we discussed what one Illinois library is doing to eliminate the fines associated with forgetting to return your book, and how this came to be.

Governor Bruce Rauner has vetoed legislation intended to prevent wrongful convictions.

A behavioral health organization that provides services in Decatur and Clinton was recently awarded $2 million to improve mental health services for children.

On the 21st: Universal Basic Income is the idea that giving residents a fixed amount of money on a regular basis—with no strings attached—is a good way to address poverty and inequality. Now, one Alderman wants to launch a pilot program in Chicago. Plus, adopting a child is too expensive for many families, but the state has created a new tax credit to try and make it easier. And, we heard about one of Argonne National Labortaory's latest inventions: a reusable sponge that can clean up oil spills.