America @ 250: Barbara Suggs Mason asks what kind of country Americans are leaving for future generations
Barbara Suggs Mason’s family has been part of Champaign County since at least 1865. Until recently, she was co-chair of the Champaign County African American Heritage trail.
Gov. Pritzker opens up about his 80-pound weight loss, use of GLP-1 — ‘I think it’s what I need to succeed’
More than two years into his weight loss journey, Gov. JB Pritzker says he wants to talk about it, largely in part because he knows millions of Americans are suffering from obesity-related health conditions.
Champaign County’s 125-year-old courthouse faces an uncertain financial future
Since 1901, the courthouse has gone through immense changes, from the building itself to the way it functions in the community. But changes to state law have led to a sharp decline in revenue for courthouse services.
Bike to Work Day promotes safety and accessibility across Champaign County
Cyclists participated in Bike to Work Day, part of a larger Bike Month across Champaign County.
Illinois residents who are terminally ill can now end their lives. Here’s how it works.
The medical aid in dying law is facing court challenges, but the law still stands.
Illinois ends nonconference schedule with a win against SIU
After scoring his second touchdown of the game, Colin Dixon now holds the record for most touchdowns scored at Gies Memorial Stadium.
Most car seats aren’t installed properly. C-U Public Health aims to help
When a car seat is not properly installed, children and babies can be harmed, even in low-speed collisions. It’s why the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District offers free car seat safety checks.
Sheriff Dustin Heuerman and Gregory Worrell discuss immigration enforcement, Flock cameras in candidate interviews
Democratic incumbent Champaign County Sheriff Dustin Heuerman and Republican Gregory Worrell, participated in candidate interviews at Illinois Public Media’s studios.
With homelessness on the rise in Champaign County, a group of service providers seeks solutions
CHAMPAIGN – Homelessness in Champaign County has risen in recent years. The latest count, conducted in early 2026, found 364 people in the area
IPM’s Content Creation Lab returns offering unique opportunity to teen media enthusiasts
The semester blends hands-on studio time with guided workshops, creative challenges, and real-world media practices.
Mahomet-Seymour school district teachers move to authorize a future strike over contract negotiations
The Mahomet-Seymour school district warned Tuesday in a news release that schools may be forced to close if the union representing teachers and staff goes on strike over contract negotiations and that extracurriculars activities would also be canceled.
Construction sites will be required to be more welcoming to women under a new Illinois law
A successful legislative push embraced by Gov. JB Pritzker means the state’s male-dominated construction industry soon will have to make new job-site accommodations to employees who lactate and menstruate.
El Paso burial site of first Black man to vote in Illinois confirmed 121 years after his death
More than 120 years after his death, local historians finally feel confident of the burial spot for the first Black man to vote in Illinois.
Champaign County residents share concerns about data centers and a shortage of skilled nursing beds
At Tuesday’s Champaign County board meeting, the chair of the board said the county has no data centers planned. And during public comment, residents asked for help to fund a skilled nursing facility.
Champaign Unit 4 school district backs away from free meals for all, looks into reducing costs of bus routes
Superintendent Geovanny Ponce said families should email him if they are above the income cut-off and can’t afford school meals.
WILL Call: What’s Happening in Central Illinois September 17 – 20
Fall festivals, live music, and the grand opening of a history museum are all happening this week in Central Illinois.
A ‘super El Niño’ is on the way. What that means for fall and winter weather in the central U.S.
Warmer-than-normal-temperatures in the Pacific Ocean are driving what could be the strongest El Niño on record. Here’s how that’s likely to impact weather across the central U.S this year.
Two local community colleges to implement manufacturing training programs with state grant
Governor JB Pritzker said that the new training academies will help more Illinoisans learn in-demand skills, and give manufacturers more reasons to keep and expand jobs in Illinois.
America @ 250: Sammy Garduno asks President Trump why he is not doing what he promised
Sammy Garduno emigrated from Mexico when he was 16. In 2006, he opened Sammy’s Pancake House on North Mattis Avenue in Champaign. In April, retired and handed management duties over to his daughter Veronica.
C-U Mass Transit District riders may notice some changes — now and in the future
The Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District has made some bus route changes to offer better service to its riders and has taken steps toward the redesign of the Illinois Terminal.
‘Culture is a gift’: Welcoming Week kickoff party celebrates C-U’s vibrant immigrant communities
Community members gathered to celebrate “Welcoming Week” at a kickoff event Friday evening in Urbana.
Public defense reform advances as Illinois moves to hire statewide public defender
The initial statewide public defender will serve a two-year term and receive a salary of $218,400 — equal to that of Attorney General Kwame Raoul.
Duke sneaks a 31-27 win to give Illinois its first loss of the season
The Illini’s strong receiving plays were not enough to block a comeback from the Blue Devils as the team lost 31-27 in a sold-out stadium.
Champaign-Urbana remembers those lost in 9/11 at Gies Memorial Stadium
CHAMPAIGN — A memorial at Gies Memorial Stadium in Champaign honored the nearly 3,000 people who were killed in the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001,
Philo Road Ahead Initiative moves forward with opening of Community Engagement & Violence Prevention Office
Urbana Mayor DeShawn Williams stands in front of the newly opened Community Engagement & Violence Prevention Office in Urbana on Sept. 10, 2026. He says the goal is to improve safety and help residents connect with the resources they need.
‘Welcoming Voices’ panel highlights immigrant support in Champaign County
Several immigrant support agencies teamed up with local officials in Champaign County to host a panel discussion focused on immigrant support and to spread awareness of area resources. The event is part of the “Welcoming Week” – nearly 30 events taking place from Sept. 9 through Sept. 19.
IPM News reporter recalls Champaign-Urbana’s reaction to September 11 terror attacks
Jim Meadows was a full-time reporter at Illinois Public Media on that day, and he shared some reflections with IPM News and Public Affairs Director Reginald Hardwick earlier this week.
‘Blood is a medicine’: Local boy’s 200 blood transfusions highlight importance of donors amid shortage
Amid national and regional blood shortages, ImpactLife hosted a blood drive at the Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine on Wednesday, Sept. 9, as part of the Abbott and Big Ten “We Give Blood” Challenge.
As the U.S. and Canada slap new tariffs on goods, American farmers are stuck in the middle
After trade talks between the countries fell apart last month, the Trump administration and Canada’s leaders have rolled out new tariffs on everything from dairy products to machinery.
Legislative Inspector General Michael McCuskey resigns amid criticism
Recent ethics investigations raised questions about office’s professionalism.
Central Illinoisans preparing to remember September 11 attacks with ceremonies
Ceremonies will remember the victims of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks.
WILL Call: What’s Happening in Central Illinois September 10 – 13
As summer wraps up, concerts, festivals, and art-focused events are all happening in Central Illinois this week.
Judge weighing arguments to halt Illinois’ ‘medical aid in dying’ law ahead of Sept. 12 start
Disability rights advocates worry about potential for coercion and want more state oversight.
Workers at The Literary are hopeful unionization and new ownership will bring positive changes
The Literary – a bookstore, bar and cafe in downtown Champaign – is under new ownership. Newly unionized workers hope to see better wages, more predictable shift scheduling and better staffing going forward.
America @ 250: Ranjodh Singh asks that his fellow Americans see God in everybody
Decatur resident Ranjohd Singh is a general and colorectal surgeon at Decatur Memorial Hospital and a member of the Sikh Religious Society of Central Illinois. He lives in Decatur with his wife and two teenage children.
U.S. farmers lost conservation experts in Trump’s federal cuts. Now they’re hurting for help
The Natural Resources Conservation Service lost nearly a quarter of its staff nationwide in 2025 after the Trump administration’s cuts to the federal government. Many were local experts that help farmers with soil and water conservation efforts.
Illinois kicks off the season with a win against UAB
The entire stadium was lit by a new, large, bright video scoreboard.
PHOTOS: Fighting Illini Football beats UAB, debuts largest video scoreboard in college football
In an evening game on September 3, 2026, the Fighting Illini football team defeated the University of Alabama Birmingham Blazers.
IPM’s 2026 Midterm Election candidate interviews
One-on-one in-depth conversations with congressional, gubernatorial, senate, and local government candidates from the 21st Show and IPM News ahead of the November mid-terms
WILL Call: What’s Happening in Central Illinois September 3 – 6
Listen to Sam Rink and Lyric Roy talk about weekend events on IPM News AM 580 and FM 90.9 – Wednesdays at 6:45 and 8:45
Heat wave continues in Central Illinois ahead of Labor Day weekend
The National Weather Service said conditions are dangerously hot, and that it could feel like 105 degrees.
Millions of older Americans don’t have enough to eat, as food prices rise beyond fixed incomes
Inflation in food prices can hit even harder for people in their 60s and older as they also juggle fixed incomes, health problems and changes in federal law.
Gloria Steinem, trailblazing journalist and activist, dies at 92
Starting in the 1960s, at a time when women were largely limited to domestic roles, Steinem challenged gender stereotypes and championed feminist ideals like equality, sisterhood and reproductive freedom.
New Rantoul mural honoring Tuskegee Airmen bridges history and community through art
A new mural unveiled this week honors the lives of the Tuskegee Airmen, the first all-Black flying squadron for the U.S. Army Air Corps. The artwork is the newest stop on the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail.
Judge orders federal logging project halted in Shawnee National Forest
Ruling finds Biden administration’s approval violated Endangered Species Act.
Champaign County officials say they can’t ban data centers. But residents want tighter restrictions
A ban on large data center development could expose the county to a lawsuit from a developer, according to Champaign County officials. A proposed ordinance offers guardrails for new centers, but some feel it’s not strict enough.
Bad weather has kept these Urbana children out of school. A new bus stop shelter is in the works
In Ivanhoe Estates, weather is the most common reason children miss school. A partnership between parents there, CU Early, Urbana School District 116 and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Architecture is working on a simple solution – a covered bus stop.
El mal tiempo ha impedido que estos niños de Urbana vayan a la escuela. Se está planeando una nueva parada de autobús
En Ivanhoe Estates, las condiciones meteorológicas son la razón más frecuente por la que los niños faltan a la escuela. Una colaboración está trabajando en una solución sencilla: una parada de autobús cubierta.
NASA’s newest space telescope has launched — and a Champaign-Urbana native helped build it
Over the next five years, NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is expected to reveal more information on the expansion of the universe, dark matter and distant planets.
America @ 250: Diane Lathrop asks what went wrong, and how we keep it from happening again.
Mattoon resident Diane Lathrop was born and raised in east-central Illinois. She was valedictorian of the Mattoon Senior High School class of 1971. She attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and, in 2023, retired after more than 40 years in the financial services industry.
GOP congressional candidate Jeff Wilson on tariffs, energy production, and healthcare
Jeff Wilson, a Republican and former member of the Champaign County Board, is making a bid to flip Illinois’ 13th congressional district. He makes his case on The 21st Show.
American ranchers are irked by Trump’s efforts to bring down beef prices: ‘This is a mistake’
The Trump administration has tried to lower beef prices for months, but demand, drought and a parasite have foiled its efforts.
Champaign County Clerk candidates disagree on Trump’s SAVE Act, decline to discuss federal charges
Champaign County’s incumbent clerk, Democrat Aaron Ammons, faces a challenge from Republican Alan Anderson. During a candidate forum hosted by IPM, the two discussed election administration and local challenges. They declined to comment on allegations against Ammons in a federal indictment.
Squeezed by a tough economy, many farmers are relying on decades-old machinery
More farmers are opting to repair old tractors, combines and other machinery instead of buying new upgrades. A tough farm economy and historically-high equipment prices are at least partly to blame.
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski discusses her record, makes case for third term
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski sat down with the 21st Show’s Brian Mackey to discuss her accomplishments so far and her position on many current issues while seeking another tern.
Illinois attorney general joins suit against Postal Service over mail voting rules
The case follows Supreme Court ruling allowing Trump administration to proceed with restrictions.
8 taken to hospital after house explosion west of Bloomington
The house was burned to the ground in the explosion and resulting fire, according to a WGLT reporter at the scene.
Krannert Center for the Performing Arts upcoming season celebrates community
The 2026-2027 season at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts includes musical collaborations, an illusionist, circus acts and more.
Yes, there’s pesticide on your fruits and veggies. Here’s what scientists say you should do
Hundreds of pesticides are legal, but that doesn’t mean that their impacts on health are fully understood. Cleaning produce before eating it reduces your exposure.
Urbana City Council’s Ward 6 seat open after incumbent member steps down
Southeast Urbana’s incumbent council member Grace Wilken resigned earlier this week. Residents of Ward 6 can apply by September 11 to be appointed to Wilken’s former seat.