Illinois Public Media News

On The 21st: Senator Dick Durbin tells us about the spending deal that Congress will vote on today - and what's he's hoping to see from the Senate's debate on immigration policy and DACA next week. Plus, Illinois Public Media and Side Effects Public Media reporter Christine Herman joins us to talk about whether marijuana is a viable way to treat chronic pain. We also continue our series of interviews with candidates for attorney general, and hear about a news non-profit in Chicago that has raised nearly $120,000 in three days.

Candidate Carl Spoerer says 2018 could be the year that a Democrat defeats incumbent Republican John Shimkus in Illinois’ 15th Congressional District.

The five Democrats looking to unseat U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis echoed each other Tuesday on nearly every progressive issue—from health care to immigration—while trying to distinguish themselves using their personal and professional backgrounds.

Federal lawmakers allowed funding for Community Health Centers to lapse last fall. For Promise Healthcare in Champaign, the loss in federal funding would make it difficult to expand much-needed services in the community.

On The 21st: Bitcoin seems to be gaining popularity, but what exactly is it and how does it work? Also, we talk about pharmacy deserts and how they affect both rural and urban populations in our state. Plus, we continue our series of attorney general candidate interviews, today with Republican Erika Harold. And, we talk about the constitutionality of guns in and near state parks.