Dana Cronin
Dana Cronin covers food and agriculture for Illinois Newsroom.
Dana started reporting in southern Colorado at member station 91.5 KRCC, where she spent three years writing about everything from agriculture to Colorado’s highest mountain peaks.
She then went to work at her hometown station, KQED, in San Francisco. While there, she covered the 2017 North Bay Fires. She spent the last two years at NPR’s headquarters in Washington D.C., producing for shows including Weekend Edition and All Things Considered.
Help From Uncle Sam Isn’t Reaching All Farmers
When you walk into Cyndy Ash’s barn, one of the first things you notice is a huge burlap sack, bursting at the seams with wool. “We’re sitting on about…
Ask The Newsroom: SNAP Benefits For July And Beyond
Each month throughout the pandemic, Illinois Newsroom has received questions from listeners about whether maximum SNAP benefits will be issued. To find out more about
New Study Reveals Racial Disparities Among Food Insecure Families
The number of families experiencing food insecurity has hit a record due to the pandemic, and Black and Hispanic families are disproportionately…
Local Libraries Reopen After Pandemic-Driven Closures
URBANA – With libraries allowed to reopen under Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan, both the Champaign Public Library and the Urbana Free Library
C-U Commemorates Juneteenth With Peace Walk, Celebration
CHAMPAIGN – Champaign-Urbana residents celebrated Juneteenth on Friday afternoon with a peaceful march and a small festival in Beardsley Park. Juneteenth is celebrated every year
USDA ‘Lacks Transparency’ In How It’s Distributing Coronavirus Aid
In the past two weeks, the United States Department of Agriculture ( USDA ) has issued about $1.4 billion to agricultural producers to provide a boost…
Peaceful Protest In Champaign Draws Huge Crowd
CHAMPAIGN – Thousands gathered in the streets of downtown Champaign on Saturday afternoon for a peaceful march in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Struggling Rural Grocery Stores Get A Pandemic-Driven Boost
John Paul Coonrod usually recognizes most of his customers. Lately, though, he says there have been a lot of unfamiliar faces at Great Scott! Community…
County Health Officials Worry Meatpacking Plants Are Reopening Too Soon
Meatpacking plants are starting to reopen after President Trump signed an executive order intended to prevent shortages. Now, some county health…
Locally ‘Essential,’ Federally Illegal: How Cannabis Dispensaries Are Handling The Pandemic
Like many small business owners, Amy Manganelli has taken a financial hit since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. So, a few weeks ago, she decided…
C-U Outdoor Farmers Markets Will Open, But With Changes
This weekend marks the opening of Market at the Square, Urbana’s outdoor farmers market held in the Lincoln Square Mall parking lot. Although it will
Farmers Find Help Close To Home As COVID-19 Keeps Some Guest Workers Away
It’s planting season across much of the United States, and for some farmers who rely on foreign guest workers for help in the fields, the pandemic is…
Food Banks Working To Meet Heightened Demand With Less Supply
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more Illinoisans are turning to their local food pantries for help. Meanwhile, with grocery store shelves emptied out and the
Despite COVID-19, Local Farmers Markets Still Plan To Open In May
Despite Governor J.B. Pritzker’s classification of farmers markets as “essential” under his shelter-in-place mandate, the indoor farmers market in downtown Urbana has been closed for
Farmers Who Sell Directly To Consumers ‘Plan For The Worst’ Amid COVID-19
It’s become a common sight at grocery stores across the country: empty shelves , devoid of essential food and household items. Illinois, which is facing…
Corn Growers Struggle Amid Decreased Ethanol Demand
As the price of gasoline plummeted amid COVID-19 restrictions, so has the price of ethanol. And Midwestern corn farmers are beginning to feel the…
Who Can Get Tested For COVID-19 In Champaign County?
With testing kits in short supply, Champaign County health officials are limiting who meets the criteria to get tested for COVID-19, the disease caused by
Farmers Lose Out As Thieves Mistake Hemp for Marijuana
For many farmers, 2019 was the first year of growing hemp, since it became legal under the 2018 Farm Bill. In addition to the normal challenges of…
For Many Hemp Farmers, The First Year Was As ‘Bad As It Can Get’
Many farmers are wrapping up a frustrating first year of growing hemp, which was legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill . “It’s kind of a good way to start,…
Farmers Are Optimistic About The Economy’s Future
Farmers rounded out the year 2019 generally optimistic about the state of the economy and the future. That’s according to the Ag Economy Barometer, a
More People Returning Christmas Trees To Nature
It’s after Christmas and maybe you’re wondering what to do with the wilting, live tree in your living room. You might think about re-purposing the tree
Dept. of Natural Resources Encourages More Plants At Solar Farms
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is encouraging owners of solar energy fields to be more pollinator-friendly. Across the planet, bees and other pollinating insect
Hundreds Discuss Growing Hemp In Illinois
Hundreds of farmers, processors, and researchers gathered at the Illinois state fairgrounds on Tuesday to talk about hemp. It’s been over a year since