Educating, informing, and inspiring communities through the power of public media. Heard, seen, and experienced on WILL-AM, FM, TV, Illinois Soul, and beyond! 📍 Based at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 🌍 Serving central Illinois and more!https://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3muzo5cx45k2nWorkers at The Literary — a bookstore, cafe and bar in downtown Champaign — voted to unionize in late August. A day before the vote, former owner Jenny Shima sold The Literary to Jeffrey and Lauren Brokish, according to reporting from Smile Politely. https://ipmnewsroom.org/workers-at-the-literary-are-hopeful-unionization-and-new-ownership-will-bring-positive-changes/08 Sep 2026 18:37 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3muzo5cx45k2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3muzefohnv22gDecatur resident Ranjohd Singh is a general and colorectal surgeon at Decatur Memorial Hospital. He emigrated from India in 2003 to attend medical school. Singh is a member of the Sikh Religious Society of Central Illinois. He lives in Decatur with his wife and two teenage children. https://ipmnewsroom.org/america-250-ranjodh-singh-asks-that-his-fellow-americans-see-god-in-everybody/08 Sep 2026 15:43 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3muzefohnv22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3muppbjzv4c2kThe NRCS was founded almost a century ago in response to the Dust Bowl. But it lost nearly a quarter of its staff nationally in 2025 after President Donald Trump’s sweeping cuts to the federal workforce, leaving many farmers with less access to environmental conservation practices. https://ipmnewsroom.org/u-s-farmers-lost-conservation-experts-in-trumps-federal-cuts-now-theyre-hurting-for-help/04 Sep 2026 19:31 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3muppbjzv4c2khttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3munb4gaoms2nExtreme heat in Central and Southern Illinois will continue until Friday evening. The National Weather Service said conditions are dangerously hot, and that it could feel like 105 degrees. This means heat related illnesses are more likely. https://ipmnewsroom.org/heat-wave-continues-in-central-illinois-ahead-of-labor-day-weekend/03 Sep 2026 20:12 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3munb4gaoms2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3mumsjgtyk227“Our hope is that when our young people pass this, they stop and ask, ‘Who were the Tuskegee Airmen?’ and, ‘What happened right here in Rantoul?’” said Dr. Jennea Klingenberg, the founder and executive director of the H.O.Y.C.E. Center, one of the sponsors on the project who spoke at the unveiling. https://ipmnewsroom.org/new-rantoul-mural-honoring-tuskegee-airmen-bridges-history-and-community-through-art/03 Sep 2026 15:51 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mumsjgtyk227https://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3mukqrvkpx22e“We do not have the legal authority to ban data centers; I want to make that really clear,” said Emily Rodriguez, vice chair of the Champaign County Board who also serves on the task force, at a public task force meeting Monday, Aug. 31. https://ipmnewsroom.org/champaign-county-officials-say-they-cant-ban-data-centers-but-residents-want-tighter-restrictions/02 Sep 2026 20:14 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mukqrvkpx22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3mukfytz25c24A federal judge this week ordered the U.S. Forest Service to suspend a commercial logging project in southern Illinois’ Shawnee National Forest, finding the 2024 approval of the project under President Joe Biden violated the Endangered Species Act. https://ipmnewsroom.org/judge-orders-federal-logging-project-halted-in-shawnee-national-forest/02 Sep 2026 17:01 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mukfytz25c24https://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3mufsqkqkgk2oThe candidates for Champaign County Clerk and Recorder sat down with Illinois Public Media for a candidate forum to discuss issues ranging from election administration to federal policies. Filmed forum link in comments. https://ipmnewsroom.org/champaign-county-clerk-candidates-disagree-on-trumps-save-act-wont-discuss-federal-charges/31 Aug 2026 21:06 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mufsqkqkgk2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3mufb52g4uk2s A native of Urbana is among the many scientists involved in the launch of The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. NASA’s newest observational tool took off from the Kennedy Space Center on Sunday, Aug. 30. https://ipmnewsroom.org/nasas-newest-space-telescope-has-launched-and-a-champaign-urbana-native-helped-build-it/31 Aug 2026 15:51 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mufb52g4uk2shttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3mu6byej2rc2aIllinois Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski is calling for major reforms to how ICE operates. But speaking on IPM's @21st.show, the Democrat stopped short of calling for abolishing ICE as some candidates and other members of Congress have. Budzinski is running for a third term against Jeff Wilson (R).28 Aug 2026 21:17 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu6byej2rc2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3mu5rqv34dc2oRepublican Jeff Wilson explains his support for President Trump's tariffs on IPM's @21st.show Wilson is a former Champaign County Board member who is challenging incumbent congresswoman Nikki Budzinski to represent Illinois' 13th U.S. House district.28 Aug 2026 16:27 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu5rqv34dc2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3mu3tagfiyc2rIllinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced Wednesday he has joined a multistate lawsuit against the U.S. Postal Service challenging new rules that purport to give it authority to regulate mail-in voting in federal elections. https://ipmnewsroom.org/illinois-attorney-general-joins-suit-against-postal-service-over-mail-voting-rules/27 Aug 2026 21:48 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu3tagfiyc2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3mu34qdsirk2tThe Urbana City Council is accepting applications for a new member to represent Ward 6. The ward’s incumbent council member, Grace Wilken, stepped down on Monday after representing the southeast part of the city since 2021. https://ipmnewsroom.org/urbana-city-councils-ward-6-seat-open-after-incumbent-member-steps-down/27 Aug 2026 15:06 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu34qdsirk2thttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3mtjlrwtgws2mChampaign Unit 4 School District has used trailers to temporarily add space at Jefferson Middle School for 25 years. The school board is putting a question to voters in a ballot referendum – do they support the school district selling bonds to solve that and other facility problems? https://ipmnewsroom.org/champaign-unit-4-school-district-would-like-to-build-a-fourth-middle-school-it-needs-approval-from-voters/20 Aug 2026 15:47 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtjlrwtgws2mhttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3mteiobo2rk2fAn attempt to pass home rule in Champaign County Monday night was cut short when a bipartisan group of county board members left the meeting early, forcing the meeting to end after three minutes and before any member of the public could comment on the issue. https://ipmnewsroom.org/bipartisan-group-of-champaign-county-board-members-thwart-vote-on-home-rule-blocking-a-plan-to-ban-data-centers/18 Aug 2026 15:08 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mteiobo2rk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3mtc2kn4fgk2qTeachers in Urbana are getting a raise. A majority of Urbana Education Association members voted for the new contract Wednesday evening, and the District 116 School Board approved it on Thursday. School Board President Paul Poulosky said the contract includes annual 5% raises. https://ipmnewsroom.org/urbana-teachers-to-receive-annual-5-raise-under-new-contract/17 Aug 2026 15:50 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtc2kn4fgk2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3mt2jzwqmss2sDarren Bailey, Illinois’ Republican candidate for governor, discussed his critique of the SAFE-T act with Brian Mackey on @21st.show. You can find the full interview on our website or at the Illinois Public Media YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/qQXG5c1OIbE?si=LfJXivQdES4NjcFy14 Aug 2026 16:06 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt2jzwqmss2shttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3msy2m5wv4k2zUrbana Mayor Deshawn Williams spoke about public safety, infrastructure improvements, accessibility and public input in his first State of the City Address at the Urbana Fire Station No. 3 on Wednesday. https://ipmnewsroom.org/urbana-mayor-deshawn-highlights-decrease-in-crime-plans-to-confront-ongoing-housing-challenges-in-address/13 Aug 2026 16:24 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3msy2m5wv4k2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3msvhahl3yc2zA Champaign County group organizing against data centers held its second teach in Monday night. The group – called Resist AI Data Centers in Champaign County – was launched last month to push against data center development in the county. https://ipmnewsroom.org/champaign-county-group-rallying-against-data-centers-hosts-second-information-session/12 Aug 2026 15:32 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3msvhahl3yc2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3mste2lfzf22bOn @21st.show, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker responded to critiques of billionaires like himself who are involved in politics. Watch the full conversation with Brian Mackey via our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYhQACMkYM011 Aug 2026 19:30 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mste2lfzf22bhttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3mstdauqr6k2tThe deadline for Champaign residents to opt out of the city’s new electric aggregation agreement is Wednesday. The program allows city officials to pool resident and commercial electricity accounts to negotiate a bulk rate. https://ipmnewsroom.org/champaign-residents-have-until-wednesday-to-opt-out-of-electric-aggregation-agreement/11 Aug 2026 19:16 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3mstdauqr6k2thttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3msqw4l2fpk2kMost Illinois counties have a non-medical exemption rate under one percent. The exemption rate is higher in most other states in the Midwest. In one Wisconsin county, between 10-20% of parents are opting their kids out of vaccines. https://ipmnewsroom.org/few-parents-in-illinois-opt-kids-out-of-required-vaccines/10 Aug 2026 20:15 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3msqw4l2fpk2khttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3msjjcewgvs2l@21st.show had the chance to talk with Governor JB Pritzker yesterday in studio. Stay tuned for their conversation next Monday on "The 21st Show" at 11 AM on WILL-AM 580 and other public radio stations across the state. The episode will also be available to stream online at 21stshow.org.07 Aug 2026 21:37 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3msjjcewgvs2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3msggllg25s2kThe Mahomet-Seymour school district is asking voters in November to approve a referendum that would allow for construction of a new junior high school building without a property tax increase. https://ipmnewsroom.org/mahomet-seymour-school-district-seeks-public-approval-for-84-million-construction-project/06 Aug 2026 16:11 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3msggllg25s2khttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3msdx457az22hFrom Friday, Aug. 7, through Aug. 16 the state’s sales tax on school supplies will be reduced from 6.25% to 1.25%. Items with a lower sales tax will include traditional supplies such as markers and pencils, notebooks and folders and other classroom items, as well as many clothing purchases. https://ipmnewsroom.org/illinois-offers-temporary-sales-tax-reduction-on-back-to-school-shopping/05 Aug 2026 16:28 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3msdx457az22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3msbfvbxnqc23Around 100 years ago, broad floodplains were disconnected from the Illinois River by earthen levees, primarily for agriculture. Now, some of those floodplains have been returned to their natural state, including one in Brown County called Spunky Bottoms. Read more ⬇️ https://ipmnewsroom.org/at-spunky-bottoms-an-illinois-river-wetlands-resilience-is-on-display/04 Aug 2026 16:15 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3msbfvbxnqc23https://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3ms7buxla322hNearly every state has put in place added requirements for animals traveling from the areas around confirmed cases or the entire state of Texas. And that has complicated the work of animal rescue organizations that rely on transporting dogs and cats to places where they are more likely to be adopted https://ipmnewsroom.org/screwworm-restrictions-are-slowing-transports-of-dogs-and-cats-from-crowded-shelters/03 Aug 2026 19:58 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms7buxla322hhttps://bsky.app/profile/ilpublicmedia.bsky.social/post/3ms6vdyd2yk2cThis year, the Steffens expect to pay $32,000 for health insurance – more than double the about $13,000 they paid in 2025 after the premium tax credit. Steffen said they could get a different income-based tax credit, but at this point they’re unsure how much of their costs it will offset. https://ipmnewsroom.org/healthcare-costs-have-more-than-doubled-for-many-farmers-this-year-on-top-of-soaring-expenses/03 Aug 2026 16:14 +0000at://did:plc:ndvt3rs4ryap2ambjo3zzfx7/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms6vdyd2yk2c