2022 Illinois State Fair officially opens
Pritzker, Secretary of State Jesse White cut the ribbon
Macomb unveils mural celebrating life and work of C.T. Vivian
MACOMB – A mural honoring civil rights pioneer the Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian and his connections to Macomb was officially unveiled on Saturday in the 200 block of East Carroll Street. The mural, entitled “Life of a Servant,” is 75 feet long and 18 feet tall. On one end a profile of an older Vivian overlooks…
Finding fireworks for Independence Day Weekend 2022
URBANA – Here’s a partial list of professional fireworks displays for Independence Day weekend, July 1-4, 2022: July 1 Freedom Fest – Lake of the Woods, Mahomet – fireworks begin at 9:00 p.m. Farmer City Raceway Fireworks – 850 Grove Street, Farmer City – fireworks begin at dusk July 2 Thunder Over Lake Vermilion –…
A Bloodhound from St. Joseph wins at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
TARRYTOWN, NY – A bloodhound, born and bred in St. Joseph, Illinois, has won the 146th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. The four-and-a-half-year-old dog, named Trumpet (his official show name is Flessner’s Toot My Own Horn), bested six other finalists on Wednesday night to snare U.S. dogdom’s most coveted Best In Show prize. Trumpet is…
Norman Rockwell inspires Princeton art exhibit through a modern lens
PRINCETON, Ill. — For the past few weeks, discussions that centered around an exhibit inspired by artist Norman Rockwell have taken place in Princeton, Illinois. The final one took place June 12 at the Freedom House. https://cpa.ds.npr.org/s528/audio/2022/06/0616fourf.mp3 Listen to this story here. Some participants enjoyed a thick slice of apple pie as they waited to…
Newbery-winning author visits Champaign school for Asian American Heritage Month
CHAMPAIGN – Students at Kenwood Elementary had a special visitor on Tuesday. Newbery-winning author Erin Entrada Kelly — a Filipina-American children’s book author — conducted a brainstorming session via Zoom with the students. She then spun a story out of the class’ brainstorm. Trevor Nadrozny is the principal at Kenwood Elementary School in Champaign. He…
Professionals take center stage at next News, Brews & Beatz
Illinois Public Media is committed to having calm and comprehensive discussions about reducing gun violence in Champaign-Urbana. Our fourth “News, Brews and Beatz” discussion happens on the evening of Monday, May 9, 2022. Illinois Public Media News and Public Affairs Director Reginald Hardwick previewed the next discussion with Morning Edition host Brian Moline. Brian: What will…
Illinois Historical Society & ‘Rage’ guitarist honor fallen workers
MARSEILLES, Ill. — There was music, but it wasn’t a celebration. It was a commemoration of those lost in the fight for fair pay and safe conditions. That fight turned bloody 90 years ago in Marseilles. During the throes of the Depression, local laborers protested a company bringing in out-of-state, underpaid workers to build a…
Jazz legend Christian McBride is performing and teaching on the U of I campus this week
URBANA — It is a busy week of learning and performing for students in the jazz studies department on the University of Illinois Urbana campus. Listen to Brian Moline’s conversation with Dr. Barrington Coleman here. Jazz bassist Christian McBride and his bandmates have been teaching masterclasses on campus this week, leading up to a performance…
Rivian R1T truck named ‘Coolest Thing’ made in Illinois
SPRINGFIELD – Rivian’s all-electric R1T truck is 2022’s “Coolest Thing Made in Illinois.” That was the result of the third annual Makers Madness bracket-style tournament hosted by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association which allows Illinoisans to vote for the “coolest” product made in the state. This year’s winner was announced at the Governor’s Mansion Wednesday. The…
Poetry contest honoring former Illinois Poet Laureate is now open for submissions
Applications are now open for an annual Illinois poetry contest. Henry Haupt, a spokesperson for Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, said those who submit their work to the 18th annual Illinois Emerging Writers Competition Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award should let their true essence shine through. “That comes across, particularly in poetry,” he said. “If…
In-person Ebertfest returns to Champaign’s Virginia Theatre
CHAMPAIGN – Wednesday kicks off the first day of the return of Ebertfest, Champaign’s annual film festival named in honor of late University of Illinois alumnus and film critic Roger Ebert. The festival will feature films from Wednesday to Saturday including “The Phantom of the Open,” “Ghost World,” and “Nightmare Alley.” Movies shown at Ebertfest…
Illinois Theatre premieres a modern take on ‘Peter Pan’
URBANA — The University of Illinois’s Krannert Center for the Performing Arts is showing “The Neverland” through Saturday. It’s an adaptation of the original “Peter Pan” play that’s more inclusive to minority groups. Although there are some changes from the original version of “Peter Pan,” “The Neverland” includes some of the original characters, such as…
Illinois Public Media staff read proclamation of WILL-AM’s 100 years on-air
On April 6, 1922, four members of the University of Illinois’s electrical engineering laboratory put WILL-AM on the air. What would follow is a century of service to bring news, music, sports, education, and entertainment to Illinois via AM radio, then FM radio, then television, and later the internet. On April 6, 2022, the staff…
WILL At 100: From its first broadcast on April 6 1922, WILL evolves from high-tech novelty to pioneer broadcaster.
April 6, 1922, marked the first broadcast of the University of Illinois’ radio station WILL-AM, then operating as WRM. At the time, both listeners and the university were still figuring out the role of radio broadcasting in American life. In the century that followed, WILL built a program schedule dedicated to both learning and culture, expanding to FM, television and online.