Arjun Thakkar

Senior Editor

About Arjun

              Arjun Thakkar leads day‑to‑day news coverage as Illinois Public Media’s senior editor. He joined IPM in 2024 after two years as a politics reporter with WKAR in East Lansing, Michigan, where he earned a Regional Murrow Award for his reporting on cycling infrastructure and advocacy. Arjun is committed to delivering clear, comprehensive reporting on state and local government.

A red Carle Arrow Ambulance drives down a road with a University of Illinois banner hanging from a nearby lightpole.

Carle Arrow Ambulance is now Champaign’s sole emergency medical services provider

November 20, 2025 No Comments

Arrow Ambulance is setting aside four trucks and staff to exclusively serve Champaign. Some paramedics are concerned the agency is not prepared for the task.

Faculty at U of I urge administrators to reject Trump higher education compact

November 11, 2025 No Comments

The school’s University Senate voted Monday to urge administrators to keep the school out of the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.

Paralympian Susannah Scaroni reflects on her performance following Chicago Marathon win

October 14, 2025 No Comments

Two-time Boston Marathon winner Susannah Scaroni said she feels grateful and “a little sore” after her first-place finish Sunday at the Chicago Marathon. Her attention now turns to next month’s New York City Marathon.

the entrance to OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center

OSF HealthCare receives state approval to restructure services at Heart of Mary Medical Center

October 8, 2025 No Comments

Specialty services will be relocated from OSF HealthCare’s hospital in Urbana to locations in Bloomington and Danville while mental health treatment options will expand at the facility.

Cyclists meet at the Sidney Dairy Barn for an ice cream break along the Moonlight Ride.

Central Illinois cyclists connect with the prairie, grab ice cream on moonlight bike ride

October 2, 2025 No Comments

IPM’s Arjun Thakkar hopped on his bike to ride 22 miles with cyclists under the fool moon — and see how the experience helps them get in touch with the countryside.

A woman and her son stand in front of a table welcoming cyclists.

Thinking of biking to work? These Champaign County residents did.

September 12, 2025 No Comments

Autumn is fast approaching, which leaves just a few months left to go out on a comfortable bike ride before colder weather arrives. With Champaign