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Pritzker Wears Mask To Briefing; Child Care Help Announced

Governor J.B. Pritzker focused Sunday on changes to make sure those who need child care can get it.

Coronavirus Updates in Springfield And Central Illinois

Testing Criteria Loosened At Central Illinois COVID-19 Drive-Up Site

Pritzker Announces Fourth Temporary Hospital To Treat COVID-19 Patients

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker announced a fourth field hospital location for treating COVID-19 patients. Public health experts are expecting a surge in cases this month.

Coronavirus Updates in Springfield And Central Illinois

Shoppers Asked Not To Buy Out WIC-Approved Foods

Community Voices

Springfield Restaurants Adapt, Anxiously Await Help

In the third week since Illinois’ governor banned going out to bars and dining out, restaurants are in limbo as they scramble to get by on takeout and curbside delivery orders, while they wait for relief from the government.

New Effort To Help Springfield Area Nonprofits

Springfield And Central Illinois Cancellations And Closures

Social Action - Thanks for Sharing!

Shoppers Asked Not To Buy Out WIC-Approved Foods

The nutrition program for women with infants, and young children, commonly referred to as WIC, is operating through the COVID-19 pandemic. However, some recipients say they are having a hard time finding food that is WIC-approved at grocery stores. Last year, more than 182,00 Illinois residents participated in the program.

Statewide: A COVID-19 Patient Shares His Story; Desperation Leads Some To Sex Work

Springfield Mayor Declares State Of Emergency

2 Workers From Same Walmart Store Die After Contracting The Coronavirus

By Alina Selyukh • 43 minutes ago

Two employees of one Walmart store in the Chicago area have died after contracting the coronavirus. The company did not specify the timing of their illnesses, but said the store remains open after passing "necessary inspections," last week.

Pritzker Wears Mask To Briefing; Child Care Help Announced

By Sean Crawford • 2 hours ago

Governor J.B. Pritzker focused Sunday on changes to make sure those who need child care can get it.

Australian Officials Launch Criminal Investigation Into Ruby Princess Cruise Ship

By Hannah Hagemann • 3 hours ago

Updated at 8:30 p.m. ET

The Ruby Princess cruise ship docked in Sydney on March 19 and nearly 2,700 passengers who were on board left freely, though some exhibited flu-like symptoms. On Sunday, Australian police announced they've launched a criminal investigation into the Ruby Princess, citing questions over whether the operators of the ship, Carnival Australia, were transparent about sickened passengers and crew members.

Trump Again Speaks In Favor Of Anti-Malaria Drug As Coronavirus Treatment

By Bobby Allyn • 4 hours ago

Updated at 9:12 p.m. ET

President Trump doubled down Sunday on the suggestion that people facing the coronavirus should consider taking an anti-malaria drug that has not been proven to be an effective treatment.

Boris Johnson Hospitalized For Testing After Coronavirus Diagnosis

By James Doubek • 5 hours ago

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was diagnosed with the coronavirus last month, has been admitted to the hospital for testing on the advice of his doctor, his office said Sunday.

"This is a precautionary step, as the Prime Minister continues to have persistent symptoms of coronavirus 10 days after testing positive for the virus," a spokesperson said in a statement.

Johnson announced on March 27 that he had tested positive. He said at the time that he had "mild symptoms" of COVID-19, including a fever and "a persistent cough."

Top 10 Guilty Pleasure Movies of the Last Decade

By Louis Hare • 5 hours ago

When I started the Guilty Pleasures podcast almost 3 years ago, I started with the basic question: What is a “Guilty Pleasure?” Some would say it’s a movie that’s so bad it’s good, a movie you watch with a sort of ironic detachment, laughing at something as opposed to with it. While I certainly agree with some of that, as I’ve delved further into the world of Guilty Pleasures, I find that concept to be a little incomplete.

How The U.S. Can Prepare For The Next Pandemic

By editor • 5 hours ago

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

And finally today, another selection from our anti-anxiety playlist. That's where you share the songs that help you stay calm during these stressful times. And we play some of them here. You've been sending us lots of great suggestions, and every week, it's hard to choose which ones to highlight. But today's choice is easy. It's from Twitter user @leahsamuel (ph), and we love it because who does not want to get up and dance when they hear Earth, Wind & Fire?

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "SING A SONG")

Report: Pentagon Knew Of Possible Coronavirus Threat For Years

By Jason Slotkin • 5 hours ago

NPR Poetry Month: Richard Blanco

By editor • 6 hours ago

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "SING A SONG")

Your Anti-Anxiety Playlist

By editor • 6 hours ago

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "SING A SONG")

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Report: Pentagon Knew Of Possible Coronavirus Threat For Years

The Pentagon was aware of the likelihood of a pandemic brought on by a novel coronavirus years ago, predicting with startling accuracy shortages of masks, hospital beds and ventilators that could occur in an outbreak, according to a 2017 internal document reported by The Nation . The 103-page document — which the magazine describes as an update to an earlier Defense Department pandemic influenza response plan — cites a novel respiratory illness as the "most likely and significant threat" in a...

Biden: The Democratic Convention May Need To Be A Virtual Event This Year

Queen Elizabeth II Addresses U.K. In Rare Televised Speech About The Coronavirus

Illinois Headlines

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Arts & Life

Grim Reaper Comedy 'Melancholia' Is Surprisingly Uplifting

By Etelka Lehoczky • 13 hours ago

It's hard to decide whether Nicholas Gurewitch's new book is jarringly at odds with our current moment or perfectly suited to it. That's because it's a comedy about death — or Death, to be more precise, as in the Grim Reaper himself. Notes on a Case of Melancholia, or: A Little Death probably won't sell well in a nation gripped by a pandemic. But given the nature of this strange project, Gurewitch probably has a longer horizon in mind.

Education Desk

UIS Puts Its Hands-On Learning On Remote

By Mike Smith • Apr 2, 2020

Shannon O'Brien / University of Illinois Springfield

University of Illinois Springfield has transitioned to all-remote learning as the state stays at home.

Equity & Justice

Domestic Violence Shelters Wait For The Storm

By Maureen Foertsch McKinney • Mar 30, 2020

Illinois domestic violence shelters have not received as many calls in recent days perhaps because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But that’s likely to change.

Illinois Economy

COVID-19 Pumps Brakes On Real Estate Industry

By Olivia Mitchell • Mar 24, 2020

Those in the real estate industry were hoping for a competitive and prosperous housing market during the spring season, but the rapid spread of COVID-19 put a pause on their plans. One broker offered advice to the industry on what it should be doing through the pandemic.

Statehouse

Pritzker Wears Mask To Briefing; Child Care Help Announced

By Sean Crawford • 2 hours ago

Governor J.B. Pritzker focused Sunday on changes to make sure those who need child care can get it.

Politics

Hospitals Reject Trump's Claim They Are 'Really Thrilled' With Supplies

By Sarah McCammon • 10 hours ago

An association representing thousands of hospitals across the country is pushing back after President Trump claimed that hospital administrators are "really thrilled to be where they are."

The American Hospital Association said hospital officials are worried about shortages of critical medical supplies, including medication for patients and personal protective equipment, or PPE, for health care workers.

Biden: The Democratic Convention May Need To Be A Virtual Event This Year

By Bobby Allyn • 10 hours ago

Former Vice President Joe Biden says the Democratic National Convention may need take place virtually as a result of the deepening coronavirus outbreak.

On Thursday the party delayed the presidential nominating convention from mid-July to mid-August over pandemic fears, but Biden on Sunday raised the specter of Democrats choosing their White House nominee online for the first time.

Wisconsin's Moves Ahead With Tuesday Primary As Campaigns And Polls Adapt

By Maayan Silver • 15 hours ago

LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO, HOST:

Week In Politics: Daily Doses Of Contradiction And Confusion

By Mara Liasson • 15 hours ago

LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO, HOST:

Congress Has Committed $2 Trillion To Economic Relief. It's Considering Even More

By Jim Zarroli & Lourdes Garcia-Navarro • 15 hours ago

Illinois Calendar

The X from NPR Illinois - LISTEN ON 91.9-3 HD OR STREAM

Roberta Flack On The Calming Power Of Rainer Maria Rilke

Our Daily Breather is a series where we ask writers and artists to recommend one thing that's helping them get through the days of isolation during the coronavirus pandemic. Who: Roberta Flack Where: New York, N.Y. Recommendation: Reading Ranier Maria Rilke For me in this time — no different than anytime — music is everything. I'm listening to music, really listening, deeply and openly. Music helps me to experience and express myself. It keeps me going and inspires me. I'm also trying to make...

Remembering Adam Schlesinger, One Of Pop's Great Collaborators

A Spring Roundup Of Music From New Release Season In Nashville

NPR Illinois Classic - LISTEN ON 91.9-2 HD OR STREAM

A New Piano Concerto For The People

Sometimes old recipes, newly tweaked, can yield astonishing results. Consider the concerto: It might be a 400-year-old formula, calling for a soloist to perform with — and often battle against — an orchestra. But occasionally, a brand new concerto arrives that offers old-fashioned thrills. The Concerto for Piano and Orchestra by the redoubtable British composer Thomas Adès relies on some of the old ingredients, but punches through with enough sparkling opulence and irrepressible delight to...

10 Classical Albums To Usher In The Next Decade

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