Illinois' public school system is considered among the most inequitable in the country. So, should top students at the poorest schools be penalized when it comes to college admissions? A state lawmaker weighs in with his plan.
Also, infant mortality rates are much higher for black women. We look at some of the reasons why. That and more this week on Statewide.
* Niala Boodhoo of The 21st interviews Democratic U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth in Washington D.C.
* Sean Crawford talks with Niala about her week broadcasting in the nation's capitoland what she heard from members of the state's congressional delegation.
* Dusty Rhodes reports on an effort to give high school students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their class AND achieve certain standardized test scores guaranteed admission at Illinois public universities.
* JB or J.B.? Brian Mackeytries to solve the mysteryover spelling of the governor's first name.
* St. Louis Public Radio's Eli Chen heads out with a group of cave explorers in Missouri.
* Maureen McKinneyhas our Illinois Issues reportexaming the high infant mortality rates among black mothers in the state.
* Steph Whiteside of the Illinois Newsroom tells us about efforts to recruit more black menin the field of medicine.
* Sean Crawford discusses the push for a statewide capital construction program with Mary Hansen.
Statewide, which brings you reports and conversations from in and around Illinois, is a production of NPR Illinois with help from other Illinois public radio stations. Find all our episodes online at Statewideshow.com
Listen to Statewide across Illinois:
- Bloomington/Normal – WGLT 89.1 (Fridays 11 a.m. - Noon)
- Carbondale – WSIU 91.9 (Sundays 6-7 a.m.)
- Mount Vernon - WVSI 88.9 (Sundays 6-7 a.m.)
- Onley - WUSI 90.3 (Sundays 6-7 a.m.)
- Rockford/DeKalb – WNIJ 89.5 (Saturdays 6-7 a.m., Sundays 6-7 p.m.)
- Springfield/Decatur - WUIS 91.9 (Fridays 11 a.m. - Noon, 11 p.m. - Midnight, Saturdays 9-10 a.m.)
- Peoria – WCBU 89.9 (Fridays 6-7 p.m.)
- Pittsfield - WIPA 89.3 (Fridays 11 a.m. - Noon, 11 p.m. - Midnight, Saturdays 9-10 a.m.)
- Urbana/Champaign – WILL 580 (Fridays 11 a.m. - Noon, 7-8 p.m.)
