© 2026 NPR Illinois
For your right to be curious.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Join the NPR Illinois team!

Community Voices is seeking a co-host/editor to join Jeff Williams and Randy Eccles in getting to know our neighbors and more. Apply by May 25, 5 p.m.

The news department is seeking part-time fill-in anchor/reporters who are available either weekdays from 5:30 to 9 a.m. and/or 3:30 to 6 p.m. Apply by June 5, 5 p.m.

State Week: Education is a winner in new state budget

State Week logo (capitol dome)
Brian Mackey
/
NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS

This week, Gov. Pritzker signed the new budget. It takes effect July 1. Included in the spending plan is a much larger investment in education.

We examine the funding for pre-school and child care, additional funds for K-12 schools and an increase to help colleges and universities.

The governor also signed a law aimed at preventing "venue shopping" in lawsuits that challenge the Illinois Constitution. It requires those cases be filed in either Cook or Sangamon County.

And a quick update on what the Chicago Bears may be thinking when it comes to finding a new home field.

Host Sean Crawford is joined by Professor Emeritus Charlie Wheeler and Capitol News Illinois Reporter Peter Hancock.

The former director of the Public Affairs Reporting (PAR) graduate program is Professor Charles N. Wheeler III, a veteran newsman who came to the University of Illinois at Springfield following a 24-year career at the Chicago Sun-Times.
Peter Hancock joined the Capitol News Illinois team as a reporter in January 2019.
Related Stories