About Illinois newSroom
Powered by Illinois Public Media/WILL, Illinois Newsroom provides news about Illinois & in-depth reporting on Agriculture, Education, the Environment, Health and Politics.
Our team of journalists report on the issues that affect the diverse residents of Illinois with the goals of holding public officials accountable; fostering greater understanding of our state and region; and exploring the many ways people are working together to strengthen their communities.
Through online and in-person conversations and events, Illinois Newsroom invites the audiences we serve into the editorial process, connecting and empowering communities across the state. Have questions? Email us at: Contact@ilnewsroom.org
Mae Antar is a UIUC journalism graduate from Naperville, Illinois. She covered social issues and non-profits for the Illinois Student Newsroom. Additionally, she was a staff writer for the university newspaper, The Daily Illini. Antar has always been passionate about finding the truth and giving a voice to the voiceless.
Mae Antar
Reporter
Emily Hays started at WILL in October 2021 after three-plus years in local newsrooms in Virginia and Connecticut. She has won state awards for her housing coverage at Charlottesville Tomorrow and her education reporting at the New Haven Independent. Emily graduated from Yale University where she majored in History and South Asian Studies.
Emily Hays
Reporter
Linda Kenyon is a network news anchor and reporter who has worked for several national news outlets including AP Radio, Westwood One News, and CBS. In addition, she is a seasoned correspondent and covers Congress and the White House. She has been a credentialed member of the White House Press Corps for several administrations including Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden. In 2020, she was presented with the Radio-Television Correspondents’ Association Career Achievement Award for her more than 20 years covering Congress.
Linda Kenyon
DC reporter
Reginald Hardwick is the News & Public Affairs Director for the Illinois Newsroom. He started at WILL in October of 2019 after serving as News Director for WKAR in East Lansing, Michigan. Previously, he was a news producer and manager at the NBC station in Dallas, where he won 7 Emmy awards. Born in Vietnam, Reginald is a graduate of the University of Northern Colorado.
Reginald Hardwick
News & Public Affairs Director
Jim Meadows has been covering local news for WILL Radio/Illinois Newsroom since 2000, with occasional periods as local host for Morning Edition and All Things Considered and a stint hosting WILL's old Focus talk show. He was previously a reporter at public radio station WCBU in Peoria.
Jim Meadows
All Things Considered Host/Agriculture Reporter
Kimberly Schofield is the host of Morning Edition and covers arts and entertainment for Illinois Newsroom. When she is not covering the arts, she is performing in plays and musicals or running the streets of CU.
Kimberly Schofield
Morning Edition Host
Tinisha Spain has been reporting news in Central Illinois since the 90's, beginning her career at Mary Miller Junior High School in Georgetown, IL reporting the “Panther News.” In March 2021 Tinisha expanded her duties at Illinois Public Media joining the news team as the environmental reporter.
Tinisha Spain
Environmental Reporter