Illinois Public Media

Science

When weather warnings get lost in translation alongside a photograph of Dr. Joseph Trujillo-Falcón

How language barriers can put lives at risk during severe weather

 Weather and climate information is primarily reported in English. But, over 41 million Americans speak Spanish at home. When severe weather warnings are misunderstood or misinterpreted, the consequences can be serious. Language barriers can put non-English speaking communities at risk during emergencies. Dr. Joseph Trujillo-Falcón talks to “Weather Realness” about the importance of multilingual weather forecasting. 
IPM Newsroom
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Illinois Classical
Illinois Classical 90.9

Your home for Classical and more in Central Illinois.
Prairie Performances
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Prairie Performances: Revisiting the Music of Tim Corpus
Filipino-American composer and arts manager Tim Corpus is recognized for his compositions across concert music, film, and interactive media…
Dialogue
ochestra conductor, man looking at camera

Direct from Champaign: A Hamilton star and a Student Virtuoso talk about raising the bar
Our Dialogue for Teens hosts learn about a ‘Hamilton’ star who rose from Champaign to Broadway and an emerging talent from Centennial High School.
The 21st Show
a montage with the book cover (black with orange lettering) and a portrait of Lee Hawkins: he's got a shaved head; large, thick-rimmed glasses; and he's wearing a tweed sport coat with an elaborate Dolce & Gabbana crest embroidered on the breast pocket; the jacket is worn over a red polo shirt, which in turn is worn over a pink button-down shirt

Best of: How Lee Hawkins found freedom in exploring traumatic family history
Lee Hawkins is a journalist, a podcast producer, and a Pulitzer Prize finalist. But in his new book, he turns his skills toward telling his own family’s story. It’s a…
Weather Realness
A cloud of blowing dust in Urbana with the State Farm Center and Memorial Stadium in the foreground on the left.

How a dust storm swept across central Illinois earlier this week
Dust storms are unusual in Illinois, but they can be dangerous. We talk about the dust warning we received earlier this week and how it happened.
Weather Realness
A fire caused by high winds and dry conditions closes I-74 between the Ogden and Fithian exits at the border of Champaign and Vermilion Counties on October 29, 2024.

What wildfire season looks like in Illinois and the risks they bring
While wildfires aren’t common in Illinois, they do occur twice every year. We take a deeper look at the wildfire season in our state and how they’re changing under climate…
Prairie Fire

Prairie Fire: Season 3 - Episode 6 - March 2026
We introduce you to the art of Brian Dettmer, get a special performance from hip-hop duo Mother Nature, and visit with quilter Millie Sorrells, who shows us creativity has no…
News Local/State

Behind The Mic: News & Public Affairs Reginald Hardwick loves meeting new people through journalism
After two decades as a television producer in Denver and Dallas-Fort Worth, IPM News Director Reginald Hardwick switched to public media ten years ago. 
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…