The farm bill moves forward in Washington D.C. | First Listen

NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS | By Michelle Eccles

Published September 18, 2026 at 6:27 AM CDT

Congress will now consider the farm bill with farm and food legislation that hasn't been updated in years
Unemployment is down in Illinois, as are non-farming jobs
Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport is getting more than $11 million for runway improvements
The union representing most employees at the Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center has filed a lawsuit seeking to block plans to scale back operations at the facility
A former youth softball coach held on child sexual assault charges has died in jail

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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