Krannert Center for the Performing Arts celebrates latest season with opening night party
The Krannert Center for the Performing Arts has announced its 2024-2025 performance season featuring international, national, and local acts.
Massey Commission plans first listening session
The newly formed Massey Commission will host its first listening session this month. The commission, which includes officials and members of the public, was created in response to the killing of Sonya Massey this summer. The first session will be to understand the public’s hopes and concerns before finalizing the final mission and goals. Massey…
Principal of Urbana’s new multilingual school: ‘It’s really refreshing’
URBANA – About 16 % of the 300,000 English learners in Illinois are taking public school classes to become bilingual in both their first language and English. Few of those schools are fully multilingual. One is in Champaign and after years of debate, Yankee Ridge Multilingual Elementary School opened in Urbana earlier this month. IPM…
At America’s longest-running Black rodeo, ‘real cowgirls and cowboys’ carry on a rich history
The longest-run Black rodeo in the nation, the Roy LeBlanc Okmulgee Invitational Rodeo takes place every year in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. This year, hundreds of spectators and competitors from across the country celebrated the rodeo’s 69th anniversary. The crowd inside the rodeo arena gets loud and the red dirt kicks up in clouds as teams…
Biden to designate 1908 Springfield race riot site as national monument
SPRINGFIELD — President Joe Biden is set to sign a proclamation Friday to designate a national monument at the Springfield, Illinois, site of the 1908 race riot, which later fueled the formation of the NAACP. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during a briefing with reporters on Wednesday that the ceremony will be held…
Yolanda Adams shares ways Journalists can find peace after NABJ Convention
2024 has been a tumultuous year of news. Journalists and storytellers recently gathered in Chicago at the National Association Of Black Journalists’ (NABJ) convention to find ways to stay grounded. Grammy Award-Winning Gospel Artist, Yolanda Adams, sang “Open My Heart” and “The Battle Is the Lord’s” on the final day of the conference. Afterward, IPM’s…
Video shows sheriff’s deputy shoot and kill an unarmed woman in Springfield, Ill.
Sonya Massey called 911 to report a potential prowler before being shot inside her home. Footage shows she was cowering and holding a pot when the deputy opened fire. The Sangamon County State’s Attorney released body camera footage on Monday showing then-sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson shooting and killing Springfield resident Sonya Massey inside her home….
High schoolers in rural, western Illinois learn the history of why their town is white
“My students want to ask about lynchings in the area,” said Cuba High School history teacher Joe Brewer. “It’s difficult for folks to talk about still, but those are the exact questions my students want to address.”
John Deere ends support of ‘social or cultural awareness’ events, distances from inclusion efforts
Deere’s move arrives just weeks after rural retailer Tractor Supply ended an array of its corporate diversity and climate efforts. While the companies’ responses differed, both arrive amid a wider backdrop of conservative backlash that has been targeting companies across industries.
Grammy nominee Syleena Johnson returns to CU to celebrate Juneteenth with free concert
On June 20, Syleena Johnson will headline a concert at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts Stage 5, sponsored by Illinois Public Media’s new station Illinois Soul. Doors for the free concert open at 5:00 p.m. Music starts at 6:00 p.m.
Five Cities Baroque Festival is back for second season in central Illinois
DECATUR- Singers and musicians from across central Illinois are collaborating to celebrate Baroque music this June at the Five Cities Baroque Festival. Performances will be held throughout Champaign and Decatur starting this Sunday, June 16th through Saturday, June 22nd. Morning Edition host Kimberly Schofield spoke with the festival’s founding director, Nate Widelitz, about bringing 17th…
Central Illinois prepares to honor Juneteenth days before the official observance
Juneteenth commemorates the ending of slavery in the US on June 19, 1865.
State Jewish Caucus members visit University of Illinois during pro-Palestine encampment
Three lawmakers in Illinois’ Jewish Caucus visited the University of Illinois Monday to support Jewish students.
After 3 years, state poised to enforce law aiming to end lending discrimination
State-level Community Reinvestment Act finally was mired in rulemaking process.
New UIUC signs honor early Black students, promotes inclusion
The African American Heritage Trail, established in 2020, is a series of memorial signs that chronicle the history of African Americans throughout the county. Recently, two new displays have been added to the trail. These are dedicated to William F. Earnest and Maudelle Tanner Brown Bousfield. The new signs are located on First street in…