Illinois Public Media News

Community leaders in Champaign-Urbana have been working on the CU Fresh Start approach to gun violence for nearly a year. Thursday marked the program's 'Call-In', giving offenders with a background tied to gun crime a chance to connect to community resources and reform their lives. "We recognize that we can't arrest our way out of this problem," says Urbana Police Chief Pat Connolly.

On the 21st: We got to the bottom of the question, "Do 'brain-training' programs work?'" and met a Champaign doctor who has taken several trips overseas to provide medical care to Syrian refugees. Plus, Chicago band Options stopped by to play a few songs off their new record "Maxed Out." 

David Gill is ending his bid for Illinois’ 13th District congressional seat, after failing to get a hearing before the U-S Supreme Court.

Many WILL listeners know Guy Raz from the TED Radio Hour, which airs on Saturdays on AM-580 and is available on the NPR One app.  And now, he’s hosting a new NPR podcast called “How I Built This,” featuring conversations with the founders of some of the world’s best known companies. Illinois Public Media's Brian Moline spoke with Guy Raz from NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C.

52nd District Senate incumbent Democrat Scott Bennett of Champaign and Republican challenger Mike Madigan found a few areas to agree on during Wednesday's candidate forum in Champaign, but Madigan also endorsed a number of business reforms touted by Governor Bruce Rauner in recent months. The two also looked at where they would make cuts in government operations, and where they stand on pensions.