Healing Illinois grants continue help with community bonding | First Listen

NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS | By Michelle Eccles

Published February 2, 2026 at 6:15 AM CST

Four million dollars will assist hundreds of Illinois organizations help with racial healing through dialogue
New bipartisan legislation would modernize how the U.S. Department of Agriculture doles out loans to farmers
Certain types of student loan forgiveness face federal and state taxes after a law that protected borrowers recently expired
The future of a suburban Chicago horse racing track is in jeopardy

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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.

See stories by Michelle Eccles