Each week Dialogue features interviews people across the region along with in-depth stories from the IPM News team about education, health, politics, arts, and more as it relates to local Black communities. Dialogue airs Saturdays at 11 am and Tuesdays at 6 pm on Illinois Soul FM 101.1 and streams live at illinoissoul.org and can be heard Saturdays at 9pm and Wednesdays at 8 pm on WILL-AM 580.
Officials in Urbana had a busy week at city council. They rejected a proposal to grant landmark status to the former Civic Center downtown, which may become the site of a new transit center. The city also approved a new budget and appointed a new Ward 5 council member.
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This large Chicago high school rarely suspends its students
Schools in Illinois suspend Black students at much higher rates than white students. Kenwood Academy High School on Chicago’s South Side stands out for bucking that trend.
This Springfield high school has one of the highest rates of suspensions for Black students in Illinois
There were fewer than 500 Black students at Lanphier High School in the 2024-2025 school year, but they received almost four times that number of in-school and out-of-school suspensions.
‘A legacy brand sunset’: Illinois radio stations reckon with CBS News Radio’s shutdown
As longtime CBS affiliate stations across the state move to other news services, broadcasters and industry professionals are weighing how the loss will impact local coverage and what it signals about the future of radio news.
Urbana Park District seeks community input to create future goals
The Urbana Park District is asking residents to fill out a survey and participate in focus groups to help guide the creation of their 2027-2031 Strategic Plan.
This Rockford middle school disciplines Black students more than any school in Illinois
Schools in Illinois discipline Black students at much higher rates than white students.
A Rockford middle school is an outlier for handing out the most discipline violations per Black student of any school in the state.
Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan dies at 100
Former U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan has died at the age of 100. He died on Monday from complications of Parkinson’s Disease. That’s according to his wife of 29 years, NBC News correspondent Andrea Mitchell.
Natl. Weather Service: At least two tornadoes caused dozens of miles of destruction
Meteorologists say an EF3 tornado with peak winds of 145 miles per hour tore a 24 mile path of destruction through Effingham County.
Sweet hope, Chicago! Obama, city celebrate a presidential center that ‘could not be anywhere else’
The star-studded opening brought out three former presidents, musical legends and former staffers to celebrate a center that former President Barack Obama said will “serve as an affirmation of just how special, how precious our democracy truly is.”
Coles County tornado leaves Charleston residents without power, damaging trees and homes
Thousands of residents were left without power following severe weather, including tornadoes, that touched down in Coles County Wednesday night.
Effingham tornado flattens family-owned Corvette museum, downs trees, power lines
A tornado that tore through Effingham Wednesday night flattened the Mid America Motorworks museum.
IPM Storm Tracker: Tornado reported in Coles County, thousands without power
For instant weather warnings, listen to WILL-AM 580, WILL-FM 90.9 and Illinois Soul FM 101.1.
WILL Call: What’s Happening in Central Illinois June 18 – June 21
Celebrate Juneteenth with free, all-ages events, get a taste of local theater, try your hand at beginner level fishing and more in Central Illinois this weekend.