Illinois Public Media

History

Christopher Sweet (left) is the author of

Book sheds light on unique history of bicycling in Illinois

 Before Schwinn was a household name, before Chicago had a single protected bike lane, and before cars became one of the dominant forces in American life, the 21st state was arguably the center of American bicycling. Christopher Sweet spent nearly a decade digging through archives, scrapbooks, and old cycling magazines to tell that story in a “A History of Bicycling in Illinois: 160 Years of Booms and Busts.” Listen to Sweet's interview with “The 21st Show.” 
IPM Newsroom
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Illinois Classical
Illinois Classical 90.9

Your home for Classical and more in Central Illinois.
Prairie Performances
A treble clef growing a white flower next to the words

Beautiful Beginnings
On this season premiere of Prairie Performances, we celebrate beautiful beginnings with beloved classical overtures. 
Dialogue

Dialogue Roundup: Data Center Debate, Champaign Youth Summer Job Program, and Dire Results of a Hospital Shutdown
A push to regulate data centers, Champaign Unit 4 students tell us what they've learned in their summer jobs, and it’s been more than three months since a West Side hospital…
The 21st Show
Clockwise from top right: Chicago Sun-Times reporter Stephanie Zimmermann interviews Former President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus; Edgaras Ulanovas of BC Žalgiris Kaunas responds to fans after winning a basketball game in Vilnius; thousands gather for a free speech protest in Cathedral Square in Vilnius on April 25, 2026.

From Illinois to Lithuania: Tracing a small Eastern European country’s deep local ties
This spring, a reporter and photographer from the Chicago Sun-Times spent two weeks in Lithuania as the Pulitzer Center's 2026 Richard C. Longworth Media fellows, reporting a…
The 21st Show
Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch is catching heat for how he handled sexual harassment allegations concerning Harry Benton, who recently resigned from his role as a state representative.

What the Illinois House speaker knew about a colleague’s harassment allegations — and when
Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch is facing criticism for his handling of sexual harassment allegations against fellow Democrat, Harry Benton. 
The 21st Show

Quad Cities film festival celebrates Latino culture and history
A new series of film screenings in the Quad Cities focuses on movies that highlight Latino culture.
Prairie Fire

Prairie Fire: Season 3 - Episode 7 - May 2026
For this month's Prairie Fire, students from the University of Illinois’ College of Media spent a semester producing five short documentaries highlighting food, skating,…
Mid-American Gardener

Propagation, Hail Recovery & Summer Garden Tips
In this episode of Mid-American Gardener, Tinisha is joined by horticulturists Karen Ruckle and Ella Maxwell for hands-on advice on how to keep your garden thriving all…
State of Change

Small gestures to make a big difference in preserving our planet
We visit a zero-waste general store, a garden bringing a community together in a Chicago food desert, a program protecting pollinators, and advice to increase sustainability…