Community

Community | Health

The IKIDS study is uncovering how prenatal exposure to chemicals can affect a child’s development
ByIllinois Student Newsroom March 25, 2024March 25, 2024

Chemicals and other environmental exposures are affecting the neurodevelopment of babies and children, according to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign research study IKIDS. IKIDS, which stands for Illinois Kids Development Study, follows pregnant people from their first trimester and measures their health and exposures to chemicals in consumer products. Researchers then study how those exposures…

Read More The IKIDS study is uncovering how prenatal exposure to chemicals can affect a child’s development
Community

Central Illinois Headlines – March 25, 2024
ByIPM News March 25, 2024

Top stories around Illinois for March 25, 2024.

Read More Central Illinois Headlines – March 25, 2024
Arts & Culture | Community | Health | Race & Culture

Long-delayed ‘Falsettos’ production explores family, Jewish identity, LGBTQ+ history
ByKimberly Schofield March 21, 2024March 20, 2024

Two of Illinois Public Media’s very own will take the stage for the opening week of Falsettos at the Station Theatre in Urbana. IPM News Director, Reginald Hardwick spoke with IPM’s hosts and reporters Owen Henderson and Kimberly Schofield about their roles and the significance of this musical. Reginald Hardwick: This is Morning Edition from Illinois…

Read More Long-delayed ‘Falsettos’ production explores family, Jewish identity, LGBTQ+ history
Community | Education

U of I dean Ruby Mendenhall is preparing to share a lifetime of writing as Urbana’s poet laureate
ByReginald Hardwick March 16, 2024March 31, 2024

IPM’s Reginald Hardwick talked with Mendenhall about her family, her gift and she shared one of her poems.

Read More U of I dean Ruby Mendenhall is preparing to share a lifetime of writing as Urbana’s poet laureate
Community

A new mural series will showcase the contributions of African Americans in Champaign County
ByIllinois Student Newsroom March 13, 2024

Two local groups are inviting artists to create murals honoring the lives and contributions of African Americans in the Champaign County area. The mural series project is a collaboration between 40 North — the Champaign County Arts Council — and the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail. Together, they will select the artists who will design and paint…

Read More A new mural series will showcase the contributions of African Americans in Champaign County
Community | Politics | Race & Culture

More than an afterschool program, DREAAM provides mentorship and lasting relationships
ByIllinois Student Newsroom March 13, 2024March 13, 2024

When Carolyn Johnson was raising her twins, one of her biggest challenges was helping them get to know people who are different from them. She said back then, Zaire and Kailah, now 15, tended to keep to themselves. That changed after the kids got involved with DREAAM, or Driven to Reach Excellence and Academic Achievement for…

Read More More than an afterschool program, DREAAM provides mentorship and lasting relationships
Community | Politics

UNFILTERED: Local diverse opinions on a ceasefire for Gaza
ByMae Antar March 8, 2024March 7, 2024

The call for a ceasefire in Gaza is growing louder both internationally and locally in Champaign-Urbana. This past Monday, the Urbana city council saw a large turnout of residents looking to discuss a proposed resolution to end the conflict in Gaza. The move comes after local representative Budzinski met with Palestinian community members, subsequently advocating…

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Community

News In Brief: March 8
ByIPM News March 7, 2024March 8, 2024

“News In Brief” from Illinois Public Media presents a comprehensive overview of critical topics affecting your community and Illinois as a whole.

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Community

Financial aid and scholarships make summer camp more accessible for C-U families
ByIllinois Student Newsroom March 7, 2024March 7, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — Now’s the time many families start signing kids up for summer camp. For working parents, this child care is essential; but it can be expensive. Parents in Illinois who qualify for the state’s Child Care Assistance Program based on their work or school status can use that to help cover the cost of summer camp…

Read More Financial aid and scholarships make summer camp more accessible for C-U families
Community

‘Genomics and Faith’ connects scientists and people of faith in C-U
ByIllinois Student Newsroom March 4, 2024March 4, 2024

There’s a common misconception about science and faith: that the two cannot coexist. But one group in Champaign-Urbana is working to change that. Genomics for Faith aims to connect scientists and people of faith in the community. The program was created by the outreach team at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at…

Read More ‘Genomics and Faith’ connects scientists and people of faith in C-U
Community

C-U residents protest siege of Gaza in ‘Hands Off Rafah’ demonstration
ByIllinois Student Newsroom March 3, 2024March 4, 2024

Hundreds of people took to the streets of Champaign for the “Hands Off Rafah” protest — a march against the Israeli siege of Gaza and U.S. aid to Israel. The protest, which started at Champaign’s West Side Park, was organized by the Champaign-Urbana branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation and was part of…

Read More C-U residents protest siege of Gaza in ‘Hands Off Rafah’ demonstration
Community | Criminal Justice

A new Illinois re-entry guide includes resources for LGBTQ+ people after incarceration
ByFarrah Anderson March 2, 2024March 3, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — Stephanie Zarate is both transgender and formerly incarcerated. Zarate says being transgender makes it difficult to find resources after incarceration — especially housing. “Unlike cisgender, straight people, it’s difficult for us because we don’t have the support that they have,” she said. That’s why the latest re-entry guide from the Education Justice Project…

Read More A new Illinois re-entry guide includes resources for LGBTQ+ people after incarceration
Community | Politics

State Rep. Carol Ammons wants descendants of slaves in Illinois to have access to free DNA testing
ByIllinois Student Newsroom February 29, 2024February 29, 2024

Black residents in Illinois who are descendants of slaves may soon have access to free DNA testing. Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) proposed a House Resolution urging support for the Family Roots Genealogy Program pilot, which aims to reconnect African Americans to their ancestral roots. The program is in partnership with the Department of Anthropology at University of…

Read More State Rep. Carol Ammons wants descendants of slaves in Illinois to have access to free DNA testing
Community

C-U residents say goodbye to Meadowbrook Park’s Prairie Play wooden playground
ByIllinois Student Newsroom February 26, 2024February 26, 2024

Children and families from Champaign-Urbana gathered at the playground at Meadowbrook Park in Urbana on Saturday to say goodbye to the wooden structure that has been around for almost 30 years. The playground will soon be replaced with a new design that Urbana Park District officials say is more modern and accessible. Urbana resident Bree…

Read More C-U residents say goodbye to Meadowbrook Park’s Prairie Play wooden playground
Community | Criminal Justice

One man’s re-entry charts a path for more formerly incarcerated people to buy homes
ByFarrah Anderson February 19, 2024February 15, 2024

CHAMPAIGN — Anthony spent about half of his life in prison and just got out last year. It was a huge adjustment because so much had changed in the decades Anthony was incarcerated. “I hadn’t seen a cell phone in almost 30 years,” Anthony said. “Now in this new world, you can’t function without a…

Read More One man’s re-entry charts a path for more formerly incarcerated people to buy homes