Missouri Inmates Are Overdosing On Drugs. How Are They Getting Them?
Destini Hutson spent much of her childhood picturing what life would be like when her dad came home. Over time, her plans turned to the practical: teach…
New National Center Promotes Mental Health In Rural Schools
It’s the middle of summer but Harrisburg Middle School is a hive of activity. Between summer school classes and renovations, it’s a little chaotic for…
Why Some Parents, Healthcare Experts Worry Active Shooter Drills In Schools Do More Harm Than Good
Dianne Gordon, a mom who lives in Champaign, knew something was wrong with her daughter Rory the minute she stepped off the school bus one afternoon in…
How A ‘Red Flag Law’ Works — In A Red State
The recent spate of mass shootings, capped by the weekend tragedies in El Paso and Dayton, are bringing new attention to so-called “red flag” laws.
FDA To CBD Retailers: Don’t Make Unfounded Health Claims
Federal agencies are scrambling to establish regulations for hemp and hemp products as farmers in the Midwest and around the country start growing the…
Iowa’s Rural Voters Are The First To Have A Say, Which Holds Sway Over Candidates’ Policies
Presidential candidates have been fanning out across Iowa for months ahead of the 2020 election, creating an opportunity for voters to get agricultural…
Federal Lawsuit Claims Granite City’s Crime-Free Housing Rules Are Unconstitutional
The city of Granite City in the Metro East is facing a lawsuit claiming its crime-free housing rules are unconstitutional. Attorneys with the Institute for Justice ,
This Class Helps Small Rural Hospitals Deal With Big Emergencies
Rural areas in America have high death rates from car crashes, hunting accidents and other trauma. But many rural hospitals are only equipped to handle…
Without Adequate Crop Scouting, Pests Like Hungry Caterpillars Can Eat Through Farmers’ Profits
Walking through rows of growing crops helps farmers monitor for harmful insects, leaves that are damaged by disease or other problems that could reduce…
Farming Is Headed Toward A Gene-Editing Revolution, And Hoping The Public Comes Along, Too
Sci-fi writers have long warned about the dangers of modifying organisms. They come in forms ranging from accidentally creating a plague of killer…
Reporter’s Notebook: Knowing What’s In The Heart(land)
Reporting any story means having to learn more about myself, what I care about and what I want to do next. For example, I once
Ohio Opens School For Students With Addiction
Bouncing on a purple exercise ball, Alyssa talks to her new teacher about what classes she needs to graduate. “There’s a Psychology 1 as an elective, I…
Reports Highlight Problems with Illinois’ Department of Children and Family Services
In late March, a child welfare worker visited the family home of 9-year-old Byron Casanova in Johnston City, Illinois. he social worker expressed…
Abortion Stories: Mother, Daughter And A Clinic
“This is the spot,” Marilyn Evans says, standing in the empty parking lot of the Women’s Med Center in Kettering, Ohio. The Women’s Med Center is the…
Abortion Stories: Woman Counsels Others On Regret
Nicole Dempsey remembers crying in a pew at church, watching a video of a woman with long dark hair and deep brown eyes. The woman was talking about her…
The Corn Belt’s Traditional Summer Job Of Detasseling Delayed By Weather
Every summer, thousands of Midwestern kids as young as 13 load onto school buses early in the morning to do one of the hottest, dirtiest temporary jobs…
Why This Group Hands Out Free ‘Morning After’ Pills
Rows of silver and pink plastic packages sit on the bathroom counter inside Bean, a Louisville coffee shop. Each package carries these words: emergency…
IDOC Director On Book Removal: Lack Of Policy, Oversight At State Prisons
The new director of the Illinois Department of Corrections said during a legislative hearing in Chicago on Monday that the agency plans to revise its…
Hemp And The Challenges Of Farming’s Frontier
There’s millions of dollars to be made from growing hemp, which for years was lumped in and vilified with its sister plant, marijuana. With the…
For Hospital Designers, Domke Is A Very Big Name
It’s humid spring morning in the woods of central Missouri and Henry Domke is lining up a shot. His target? The vibrant petals of a red buckeye bloom. …
JBS A Big Winner In USDA Trade War Relief Contracts
A Brazilian-owned meat processing company undercut its competition by more than $1 per pound to win nearly $78 million in pork contracts through a federal
Durbin Regrets Voting To Take Pell Grants Away From Prisoners
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin is cosponsoring legislation that would rollback one of the provisions of the 1994 crime bill. It’s called the Restoring…
Lawmakers To Question Officials About Removing Hundreds of Books From A Prison Library
Illinois lawmakers plan to ask state prison officials why more than 200 books were removed from a college in prison program’s library at the Danville…
Why A Father Worries His Son’s Mental Illness Could Get Him Deported
When José moved his family to the U.S. from Mexico nearly two decades ago, he had hopes of giving his children a better life. But
One Town’s Hope Rests On Money and The Mighty Mississippi
The Mississippi River system is both an artery and a vein. It pumps ag products out of the heartland and into the world while bringing back fertilizer…
Want To Prevent Gun Violence? Some States Turn To ‘Red Flag’ Laws
Earlier this year, police dispatchers in Evansville, Indiana, received a chilling call. A man said he was holding his wife at knifepoint, and he warned…
Illinois Doesn’t Track Electronic Monitoring Data, But New Legislation Would Require It
Augie Torres said he missed between seven and 10 job interviews when he was released from prison in October 2014 because he was on an electronic monitor…
Organic Farming Has A Plastic Problem. One Solution Is Controversial
Many organic farmers rely on plastic as a form of mulch, but it ends up in landfills. Biodegradable plastic could help, but some worry about its long-term effects on soil health and the environment.
Food Hubs Connect Small Farmers To Communities In Need Of Produce
Between the growing warehouse district and the south side of Peoria, Illinois, sits 1312 SW Adams Street. The city-owned building looks like a great…
How Foreign-Born Doctors Help Refugees, Other Immigrants
Deepa Halaharvi is a morning person. “Eat, read, pray, and get ready to go to work,” she says, laughing. “And usually I’m out the door around 6:15 or 6…
How A Community Helps People Suffering After Gun Violence
Losing a loved one to gun violence can cause anxiety, stress and other mental health symptoms . So can simply living in an environment where violence is…
How To Talk About Climate Change In Rural America? Don’t Say Those Two Words
Updated at 11 a.m. June 7 to correct details about Mark Junker — Rural communities are some of the most politically disenfranchised when it comes to…
‘It’s Heartbreaking’ Authors Criticize The Removal Of 200 Books From An Illinois Prison Library
Last week, Illinois Newsroom reported on the removal of more than 200 books from the shelves of a college in prison program’s library inside the…
How One Hospital Drastically Cut Opioid Prescriptions
As the opioid epidemic continues, hospitals are looking for new ways to treat pain and combat addiction. At Indiana University Health, which has 16…
Illinois Prison Removes More Than 200 Books From Prison Library
When she found out that staff at the Danville Correctional Center had removed more than 200 books from a library inside the prison’s education wing,…
Illinois’ Budget Is Last Chance To Fund 2020 Census
The U.S. Census count is less than a year away, and the group tasked with making sure everyone is counted is asking state lawmakers for millions to help…
Use Of Controversial Weed Killer Glyphosate Skyrockets On Midwest Fields
Farmers have been using the weed killer glyphosate – a key ingredient of the product Roundup – at soaring levels even as glyphosate has become…
E-cigarette Popularity Surges In Rural Classrooms
North Newton Junior/Senior High lies in the Northwest corner of Indiana, in a county home to more dairy cows than people. But students have no problem…
One Person’s Trash Fish Is Another Town’s Treasured Delicacy
Summer festivals are ubiquitous (especially across the Midwest), and often highlight the local food specialty, be it corn, apples or beef. But when the…
Aging In Rural America: The Link Between Chronic Disease and Mental Health
Dennis Pond doesn’t tell his psychiatrist about his thoughts of suicide. But he has them. He often feels useless, in large part because his diabetes has…
Meating In The Middle: The Challenge of Lowering Greenhouse Gas Emissions On Farms
Cow guts are quite the factory. Grass goes in, microbes help break it down and make hydrogen, then other microbes start converting it to another gas. In…
How Many Patients Should a Nurse Care For?
Several Illinois lawmakers want to improve patient outcomes through legislation that would limit the number of people nurses can care for at any given…
Why Don’t More Doctors Help Cancer Patients Quit Smoking?
Most people knew James Strain as “Butch.” Dr. Cynthia Meneghini called him “Dad.” She remembers h im as a handyman who could fix anything. When she…
Grandparents Are Raising Their Grandkids. Blame Opioids.
Getting to Anne Polston’s house is a journey: first, you have to get to Liberty , a town about two hours southeast of Louisville. Then, there’s a…
Illinois Farmers Delay Planting Crops Amid Wet Weather, Low Crop Prices And Trade Uncertainty
Floodwaters on the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers may be going down, but rain has continued to soak farmland around much of the state. More rain could…
With Crime-Free Rules, Tenants Evicted After Overdose Calls
In one town in the Metro East, across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, police are forcing landlords to evict tenants who have called for help…
It’s Planting Season, Except For Farmers Affected By Major Flooding
The Missouri River swamped Scott Olson’s land in March — the second time in the last eight years. Flooding tore holes in his fields and left mounds of…
Illinois Prison System Requests Huge Increase In Education Funding
The Illinois Department of Corrections requested a massive increase in funding for educational supplies as part of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s state budget proposal. The request
Better Jobs in Small Cities, More Investment In Higher Ed Could Stem Illinois’ Population Loss
Illinois continues to lose residents, according to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau released in April. Overall, around 45,000 fewer people lived in…
Can Cannabis Help Patients In Pain Avoid Opioids?
Since February, patients in Illinois have been able to swap their opioid prescriptions for marijuana. And many are doing just that.
A Growing Movement Wants To Loosen Laws Around Psilocybin, Treat Mushrooms As Medicine
Douglas rattles around a collection of glass jars in the storage closet of his Denver apartment. They’re filled with a small grain, like barley, and…
The Fight Over What It Means To Be Homeless — And How That Could Affect Illinois
Just because someone has four walls around them every night, that doesn’t mean they’re housed. That’s what Paul Hamann believes. He’s the president and…
One Way To Make Flyover Country More Welcoming To Migrating Birds
As grassland and prairies gave way to farmland in the Midwest, habitats for some native birds disappeared. There’s a relatively new program in central…
Why Getting Mental Health Care Can Be A Struggle For Refugees
Kazito Kalima was 14 at the start of the Rwandan genocide. Over just a few months in 1994 , hundreds of thousands of Tutsi people in his country were…
Ask the Newsroom: What Are Champaign And Urbana Doing To Create More Affordable Housing
Illinois Newsroom has been covering the struggle to find affordable housing around the state. The lack of funding to build housing for people with low-incomes
New Medicaid Coverage for Transgender Illinoians
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services will soon allow gender confirmation surgery to be covered by Medicaid. That procedure, most…
Is Illinois’ Gas Tax Running On Empty?
While gas prices fluctuate, one charge at the pump has stayed the same since 1990. Illinoisans have paid the same gas tax – the charge per gallon the…
By The Numbers: What The USDA’s Latest Census Tells Us About American Agriculture
It’s been five years since the last ag census. Since 2012, the U.S. has lost about 70,000 farms, saw the average age of farmers go up and prices for…
Schools Can Help Homeless Kids — But Only If They Find Them
Melissa Esparza fled her home in west suburban Chicago two years ago. Then 16, she said her parents became physically violent after years of verbal…
Study: Hepatitis C Not A Barrier To Organ Transplants
For years, transplant surgeons have been reluctant to use organs from people who were infected with hepatitis C, due to fears of spreading the virus….
“There Is Hope”: Series Highlights Stories Of Opioids Addiction
The opioid epidemic has ravaged cities across the United States. And just a couple of years ago, Dayton, Ohio, had one of the nation’s worst overdose…
Silicon Valley Startup Aims For Transparency, One Seed Price At A Time
A Silicon Valley startup is pitting itself against major seed companies, alleging that those companies are price gouging in the Heartland. Farmers…
Why Does Affordable Housing Matter?
News & Brews: Why does affordable housing matter? event on Tuesday, March 26 at Riggs Beer Company in Urbana.
Struggling for Housing
In the course of reporting my previous story on the gap between wages and the cost of housing, I spent time following a case manager with the Southern…
Missouri River Flooding Didn’t Just Damage Farms, It Impacted The Global Supply Chain
Farmers along the Missouri River and its tributaries are still assessing damage from recent flooding. But beyond the farms in parts of Iowa, Nebraska,…
How Can Indiana Support New Moms And Babies? State Health Commissioner Weighs In
Panelists at Side Effects Public Media’s two-part Happier Birth Days conversation answered viewer questions about maternal and infant health disparities…
A Surplus Of Meat And Dairy Puts A Strain On U.S. Markets And Storage
Meat and dairy are piling up across the U.S. It has cold storage places packed to the rafters, and the federal government, which subsidizes the…
For Black Women, Access To Birth Control Comes With Heavy Baggage
Some doctors see access to birth control as a tool in the fight to decrease maternal and infant mortality. Indiana has one of the nation’s worst rates…
Why Transitioning A Farm From One Generation To The Next Is Trickier Than Ever
Family structures—and farms themselves—are much more complicated than they used to be. Today, farm transition and land transfer are now among the…
Ask The Newsroom: Section 8 Housing
In Illinois, there are only 35 affordable housing units for every 100 families considered extremely low-income, according to Housing Action Illinois, a…
‘If You Build It, They Will Come’: Saving Pollinator Habitat With Solar Power’s Help
From bees to butterflies , a worldwide decline in pollinators has entomologists trying to figure out how to help those bugs and the plants that rely on…
For Low Wage Workers Housing Is Out Of Reach
An estimated 10,643 people in Illinois are homeless according to federal data. Many of those are working – but still can’t make ends meet. For the…
Illinois lawmakers may regulate midwives in home births
A small but growing number of U.S. women are choosing to have their babies at home. In more than 30 states, including most of the Midwest, it’s
Trump Administration’s Refugee Limits Leave Meatpacking Plants Struggling To Find Enough Workers
Like many of the refugees who have resettled in Greeley, Colorado, 35-year-old Abul Basar is employed by JBS. It’s a massive meatpacking plant that…
How One Illinois Nonprofit Supports New Mothers, Promotes Safe Sleep
Across much of the Midwest, maternal and infant death rates are high—especially among African-Americans. So doctors, public health agencies and non…
‘Crime-Free Housing’ Rules Spread In Illinois
Many communities in Illinois have rules that say renters can lose their housing if someone in the home is connected to a crime. City leaders who back…
Fentanyl Can Lead To Overdoses In Hospitals, Too
Experts often blame the painkiller fentanyl for skyrocketing overdose deaths among illegal drug users. Now a series of deaths at an Ohio hospital is…
Farmers Dig Deep To Weather Slumping Ag Economy, But Don’t Call It A Crisis
Farm income has taken a long, hard fall, dropping 50 percent since hitting a high point in 2013. Add to that near-record levels of farm debt, and you…
How Ag Programs Fare Under Trump’s Proposed Budget For 2020
President Donald Trump’s 2020 budget proposal is getting a lot of attention for its call for more border protection, but it also makes major changes to…
Ohio Community Fears Pollution From Planned Coal Mine
“I water my horses out of this creek down here,” Jeff Ivers says, resting his hand on his horse’s nose. He looks out over his land: 43 acres, surrounded…
Illinois Bill Aims To Help Children Get Mental Health Services
An Illinois Senate bill aims to help children who are at risk of entering state custody because of issues caused by untreated mental illness. The…
As Type 1 Diabetics Struggle To Afford Insulin, Eli Lilly Announces A Cheaper Alternative
Insulin is not a new drug, but even though it’s been around for nearly a century, its price continues to climb. People with Type 1 Diabetes have to take…
Illinois Gets A Break: New Tax Credit Could Boost Local Housing, Economies, But There’s a Catch
The Quad Cities are divided by the Mississippi River along the Illinois-Iowa border. They all took a big hit during the 1980’s farm crisis, and were…
How Measles Outbreak Threatens A Young Cancer Patient
Measles is a potentially deadly illness that is spreading in many parts of the world. Thanks to vaccines, the disease was eliminated from the U.S….
Public Airs Its Gratitude, Grievances Over Proposed Changes To Federal Waterway Regulations
The water we drink is protected by federal rules, which are at the crux of a long-running fight over how far upstream that protection extends. …
Out of Reach: Illinois’ Affordable Housing Crisis
Affordable housing issues often get media attention when property prices soar due to spiking economic development or when property prices tumble due to dramatic industry
An Illinois Law Aims To Help Homeless Students — Is It Enough?
Last summer, Chantil was forced to leave the townhome she shared with her two daughters and her mother in Des Plaines. (We’re withholding Chantil’s last…
Why Even Illinois’s Department Of Corrections Wants To Fix The Way The State Does Electronic Monitoring
Nicole Davis said her uncle was diagnosed with late-stage cancer after his release from prison in 2014. He was confined to his home because of
To Reduce Chronic Homelessness, A Chicago Hospital Is Treating It As A Medical Condition
The University of Illinois Hospital is one of a few hospitals in the Chicago area that have started providing permanent housing for homeless patients that
Illinois Ag Director Wants Money For Rural Broadband
Slow internet service can slow a business down, adding up to lost time and money. And often the problem is worse in rural areas. That’s one reason John…
How Racism, Trauma And Mental Health Are Linked
Research shows African-Americans are less likely to access treatment for mental illness. Cultural norms and the stigma associated with having a mental…
As Electric Cars Shift Into Mainstream, The Corn Belt Begins To Ponder A Post-Ethanol Future
At Hummel’s Nissan in Des Moines, Kevin Caldwell sells the all-electric Leaf. Driving one is basically the same as driving a typical gasoline or gas…
Why Tackling Obesity Is Harder Than You Think
Obesity is a big problem across the United States. It affects about 40 percent of the population. It’s even worse in Midwest states like Ohio, Illinois…
Jail Overcrowding Exacerbates Problems For Those With Mental Illnesses
The National Alliance for Mental Illness says about two million people with mental illnesses are booked into jails every year. But most counties aren’t…
FDA Says Teen Boys Are Most At Risk Of Using E-Cigarettes
Health officials say teenagers are using e-cigarettes at epidemic rates. Lawmakers in a number of Midwest states, like Indiana, Illinois and Minnesota,…
Study: Benefits of Some Genetically Engineered Seeds Extend Beyond Pest Control
After more than 20 years, an early tool of genetic engineering in crops is doing more than just killing pests. It’s providing environmental benefits,…
Making The Case For A Piece of Illinois’ Capital Plan
Crumbling sidewalks, gas line failures and cracked concrete — the problems at Brookfield Zoo are a metaphor for what’s wrong with public infrastructure…
Why Are There So Few Black Men In Medicine?
Dr. Don Arnold’s home office overflows with medical textbooks, old anatomical prints and six pages of a recommendation letter from his first application…
Why The Chicago Bulls And Other NBA Teams Rely On Sleep Coaches
Increasingly, sports teams, especially in the NBA, are hiring “sleep coaches” to help players. This follows research that good sleep can be as…
How Two Professors Are Helping Students Cope With Violence
Dr. Wanda Thruston and Dr. Barb Pierce are examining what they call a “wicked problem” – helping children deal with trauma and violence. We sat down…
Soybeans Singled Out In U.S.-China Trade War, But Small Farmers Bear The Brunt
In theory, closing off China’s soybean market due to the trade dispute with the U.S. on top of generally low prices for the commodity should affect all…
Rural Hospitals’ Plea To Federal Government: Help Us Stay Open
Rural hospitals aren’t just providers of medicine and health care, but also are often major employers and a massive part of a town’s tax base. However,…
March Madness: If Trade War Continues, The Cost Will Likely Reach Consumers
The U.S. trade war with China has created a financial burden for farmers and companies that import Chinese goods. Consumers, on the other hand, have…
The Messy Technological Roots Of The U.S. Trade War With China
The U.S. trade war with China, now approaching a year, is often framed as hurting manufacturing and agriculture the most. But that’s mainly collateral…
In Post-Treatment Cancer Patients, Depression Can Take A Toll
Two decades ago, Jim Nace was a national ice cream salesman, on cross-country flights 20 days a month. He was on top of the world. “I had a great…
In Their First Week Back On The Job, Federal Workers Play Catch Up To Aid Farmers
At her desk in Greeley, Colorado, Shelly Woods pulls out three thick stacks of manila folders. These files represent dozens of local farmers who’ve…
Pell Grants For Prisoners Could Save Illinois Millions
Illinois could save millions of dollars on incarceration costs if the federal ban on Pell Grants for inmates was lifted, according to a new report
How One Illinois Teacher Uses Art To Empower Students
In highly politicized times such as these, teachers are often warned to remain neutral in the classroom. But at a public primary school in Kewanee,…
Lawsuit: Racial Harassment Is ‘Standard Operating Procedure’ At U Of I
A lawsuit filed Monday in federal court includes numerous allegations of racial harassment of black employees at the University of Illinois at Urbana…
Study: Climate Change Will Affect Soybeans In 2 Ways That Cancel Each Other Out
Rising temperatures and carbon dioxide levels could have opposing effects on nutrients in soybeans, according to a new study.
Rethinking Cybersecurity Education To Meet Growing Demand
Weasle Forsythe is an information assurance apprentice with SuprTEK – a government contracting firm in O’Fallon, Illinois, outside of St. Louis. In the…
Prisoners With Mental Illness Still Waiting For Treatment
Ashoor Rasho has spent more than half of his life alone in a prison cell—22 to 24 hours a day. The cell was so narrow he could reach his arms out and…
A Story Of Resilience: How Perry Cline Overcame Incarceration, Heroin Addiction To Earn A Degree
Perry Cline’s story is a remarkable one. He’s a formerly incarcerated 51-year-old man who overcame the odds to graduate from the University of Illinois…
Facing Lost Funds And Representation, Illinois Hopes It Can Count On You
Illinois’ population loss could be a warning for larger changes to come. Between July 2017 and July 2018, Illinois lost more than 45,000 people, according
Troubled Pregnancies Can Mean Years of Health Problems
Melody Lynch-Kimery had a fairly routine pregnancy. But when she got to the hospital for delivery, she says things quickly turned dangerous.
Government Says Shutdown Unlikely To Delay Guestworker Visas, But Farmers Still Unsure
More than 240,000 guestworkers, many from Mexico, work on U.S. farms for several months each year as a part of the federal H-2A visa program. This year,…
From Prison To College: How A Formerly Incarcerated Student Overcame The Odds To Graduate
Like many people coming out of prison, Perry Cline never thought he’d get a college degree. “I thought I was just going to be another bum in the streets…
Study: People Opposed To GMOs Don’t Know As Much About Science As They Think
People who most intensely oppose genetically modified food think they know a lot about food science, but actually know the least, according to a peer…
Judge blocks U.S. birth control policy in some Midwest states
Today was the start date for a federal policy that gives companies more leeway to skip insurance coverage for contraceptives. Companies can now limit…
J.B. Pritzker Interview — On Criminal Justice, Higher Ed, Taxes, And Legislative Ethics
J.B. Pritzker is set to becomes the 43rd governor of Illinois on Monday. He won in part by promising to make college more affordable, improve the state…
New Law Helps Police Find Missing People With Disabilities
An Illinois law will make it easier for police to help find missing persons with intellectual disabilities. The law, which went into effect the first of…
How Sharing Stories Of Hope Impacts Addiction Recovery
Storytellers from Side Effects series SOBER: Stories of Recovery and Hope joined WFYI’s No Limits program to discuss the importance of sharing their…
Can Hacking Plants Feed the World? The Research Looks Good
Plants are good at what they do — turning sunlight into food. However, some researchers have found the leaf world could improve, and that could have a…
Mobile home owners fear they may be priced out by rent hikes
Some unlikely advocates have emerged in the fight to lift a 1997 ban on rent control in Illinois – manufactured home owners who are upset with
Court Strikes Down Iowa’s ‘Ag-Gag’ Law That Blocked Undercover Investigations
The industry-backed law was enacted after several investigations brought widespread criticism on Iowa’s agricultural industry. A judge ruled the law violates the First Amendment.
U.S. Farmers Face Planting Season Without A Resolution To Trade War
For crop farmers, winter is the offseason. But that doesn’t mean they take the winter off. It’s meeting season — going to endless seminars or having…
#MeToo? Some Hospitals Allow Pelvic Exams Without Explicit Consent
A law professor in Illinois wants to put a stop to a medical practice that she says treats women’s bodies like cadavers. Across most of the U.S.,…
Federal Government’s Shutdown Ripples Through Farm Country
The ongoing partial shutdown of the federal government, now into its third week, is reaching ever deeper into the lives of people far from the…
What Do You Want To Know About Rebuilding Illinois’ Roads, Bridges And Infrastructure?
The need for new or repaired roads, bridges, buildings and other infrastructure in Illinois continues to outpace the amount of funding available to complete the
Department of Corrections Director Blames Illinois Lawmakers For Lack Of Spending On Prison Books
Last spring, Illinois Newsroom reported that the Illinois Department of Corrections spent less than $300 on books for all of its prisons the prior year.
Autism And Mental Health Issues Make Finding Care A Challenge
Yvonne Martin keeps detailed notes of two years in her life. It starts on March 1, 2016. That’s the day her son, Daniel, first ran away from the family…
Farm Bill Boosts Money To Rural Areas With Slow Or No Internet
Small internet service providers in Illinois are optimistic after the farm bill – which President Trump recently signed – included more money for…
Experts: Dicamba Will Come For Trees, Specialty Crops In 2019
Dicamba, the controversial herbicide used on soybeans and cotton, is responsible for thousands of acres of damaged crops in recent years. Experts say…
The Fate of Illinois Farmland, An Intergenerational Effort
The fertile soil of Illinois farmland has defined the state for 200 years (hello, bicentennial). And current farmers and aspiring ones are wondering who gets
When Is A Corporate-Environmental Partnership More Than Just PR?
As harvest wrapped up this year and the leaves turned brilliant shades of red and yellow, two of the world’s biggest agribusinesses, Archer Daniels…
A History Of Discrimination Leads To A Lingering Distrust Of Doctors
Few people like going to the doctor. But for some, that fear is compounded by discrimination and history. For black Americans, the pervasive history of…
Experts Offer Tips For Coping With Holiday Stress
Stress is a normal part of life. And there’s even such thing as a “good” level of stress that keeps us going, according to psychology researchers Sanda…
High On The Highway: Challenges With Marijuana DUIs
Come January 14, Illinois will have a new pro-pot-legalization governor and a Democrat-held legislature, leading many to believe the state will legalize recreational cannabis. That’s
How Midwestern National Forests Keep Fires At Bay And Prepare For Climate Change
A stand of trees in the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri looks a little more sparse than what is often depicted in a forest. The trees are eight…
Why Illinois Won’t ‘Ban The Box’ On College Applications
Four years ago, Chris Miner decided to apply to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Then 40-years-old, Miner was encouraged to apply by a…
Illinois Newsroom Reporter Awarded Investigative Grant From ProPublica
Illinois Newsroom reporter Rachel Otwell has been awarded a grant from ProPublica for a year-long investigative project in 2019. More than 215 news organizations applied
Answering Your Questions About Cannabis Legalization
The issue of marijuana legalization in Illinois has been hotly debated for years. But assumptions, inaccuracies, and unknowns still fuel arguments on all sides across
Final Farm Bill Shows Hemp’s In, Food-Aid Work Requirements Are Out
The long-awaited final version of the farm bill was unveiled Monday night, and it hews somewhat closely to the previous piece of massive legislation —…
New Report Says Illinois Schools Need More Sexual Violence Response Guidelines
A new report says Illinois lacks comprehensive guidelines when it comes to dealing with sexual misconduct cases in elementary and high schools.
What Happens To Pot Convictions If Illinois Legalizes?
The push to legalize recreational marijuana in Illinois could get a jump-start early next year. State Sen. Heather Steans, a Chicago Democrat, said this week
Showing Students College Isn’t The Only Option For Success
On a recent Tuesday afternoon, a few high school students are measuring and cutting siding. They’re building a house in the trades class at the Capital…
Illinois Prison Monitor ‘Absolutely Convinced’ Mentally Ill Inmates Abused
The Illinois Department of Corrections continues to flounder in its efforts to care for inmates with mental illness, according to a new report authored…
Neurosurgeon Tells NRA Gun Violence Is His ‘Lane’
Physicians across the country have a message for the National Rifle Association: Gun violence is our concern. It’s part of a battle being fought…