Former Governor Jim Edgar dies at the age of 79 | First Listen

NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS | By Michelle Eccles

Published September 15, 2025 at 7:25 AM CDT

Former Republican Gov. Jim Edgar speaks at a ceremony to honor his name on the reading room at the Illinois State Library as Gov. JB Pritzker looks on. — *Earlier this year*, *former Republican Gov. Jim Edgar spoke at a ceremony to honor his name on the reading room at the Illinois State Library as Gov. JB Pritzker looks on.*

Edgar, who led the state of Illinois from 1991-1999, had been battling pancreatic cancer
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Michelle Eccles

Michelle Eccles anchors NPR Illinois' Morning Edition. Michelle has more than 30 years of experience in broadcasting which all began at her high school radio station, Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Flossmoor, Illinois. She attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale for her Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a focus in Radio Television and went on to become an award winning anchor and reporter for stations in Decatur and Springfield.

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