News

Johns Stremsterfer discusses the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln's new visioning initiative, the Next 10, to grow the greater Springfield region.

Sangamon County State’s Attorney Dan Wright is running to keep the seat he was appointed to two years ago. The Republican incumbent is facing Democratic challenger Mike Drake.

As voters continue to cast ballots in Illinois, a key part of the state's financial picture is being decided.  A constitutional amendment that would swap Illinois' flat income tax for a graduated tax, with a different rate for higher earners, is seen as a way to shore up Illinois' budget.  But how much would it help the state?  And what happens if the proposal fails?   We'll have a discussion.

We'll hear about the brief time Illinois had a graduated tax and why that changed.

Also, a reporting investigation has uncovered more details about COVID-19 outbreaks in Illinois - where they've occurred and some of the reasons why.  

That and more on this week's Statewide.

The campaign over Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposal to impose a graduated income tax has focused mainly on who would pay higher taxes. But perhaps just as important is the question of how that money would be used.

Teressa Shelton has lived in nine states and three countries. After graduating from Belmont University in Nashville, she embarked on a career in managing medical practices. She lives with her family in Springfield. The Sergeant’s Daughter is her first book. She discusses it with Community Voices' Bea Bonner.

In May 2020, the McParlands joined NPR Illinois to disucss their United We Pipe campaign to raise funds for COVID-19 relief. How did it turnout after a summer of touring? We speak with father and son Damon and Aidan McParland and their partner Claire Smith to find out.

This week, Illinois Republicans expressed outrage at the decision to put an Illinois House committee investigating House Speaker Michael Madigan on hold until after the November elections.  Meanwhile, the public's vote on Governor J.B. Pritzker's proposal to move Illinois to a graduated income tax draws nearer, and this week the governor  released his proposals for criminal justice reform.

A.D. Quig  of Crane's Chicago Business joins the panel.

Sheridan Lane  is the Director of Culinary Program and Operations in the Culinary & Hospitality Center of Excellence at Lincoln Land Community College. 

On this week's episode, while we are in the midst of election season, more newspapers are choosing to forego the traditional political endorsement process.  There are different reasons for the decision, We'll hear from an Illinois editor about why her paper has followed this trend.   

Billed as an improvisational comedy enterprise, Second City has launched careers of some of the biggest comedians in recent decades.  Now, it's up for sale.  We'll have a report from Chicago. 

And have you noticed more stinkbugs in recent years?  The invasive pest can be damaging to crops and they want to spend the winter in your home.  Those stories and more on Statewide.

Tiffani Saunders is a fource in the local community at UIS and about town. Listen to hear her perspectives and about the Hip-Hop Xpress.

Community Voices talks local podcasting with Craig McFarland. Besides the Front Row Network, Craig has also been involved with the MUNI and the Springfield Area Arts Council. Learn more by listening below.

Cherell Wilson is a recent University of Illinois Springfield gradaute. During the pandemic she was inspired to create her own business Soaps by Rell.

Randy Eccles and Bea Bonner are the Community Voices Co-Hosts.

Bea Bonner and Randy Eccles are the Community Voices Co-Hosts. 

The following is a commentary from Dr. Robert Smith, Dean of the College of Public Affairs and Administration at the University of Illinois Springfield.  

Segment three of the September 18, 2020 Community Health Roundtable entitled Basic Community Needs in the COVID-19 Pandemic. This segment features the Central Illinois Foodbank Executive Director Pam Molitoris, Sangamon County Community Resources Executive Director David Petrilli, and SIU School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry Chair Dr. Kari Wolf discussing issues presented by the pandemic. United Way of Central Illinois President and Chief Professional Officer John Kelker moderates.

Segment two of the September 18, 2020 Community Health Roundtable entitled Basic Community Needs in the COVID-19 Pandemic. This segment features Sangamon County Community Resource Executive Director David Petrilli and SIU School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry Chair Dr. Kari Wolf on shelter and mental health issues presented by the pandemic.

Segment one of the September 18, 2020 Community Health Roundtable entitled Basic Community Needs in the COVID-19 Pandemic. This segment features Central Illinois Foodbank Executive Director Pam Molitoris on food issues presented by the pandemic.

MonsterCast 2020 continues with a very special episode. Last year we name the horror short Hidden Mother our top choice of the HuluWeen Film Festival and now we are so psyched to have the writer and director Joshua Erkman here to discuss it! We talk where the idea came from, the boldness of that ending and what horror films he recommends for a truly scary October. Give it a watch and listen!

FEATURING: Jeremy Goeckner

Questions about the connection between Democratic Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and a bribery scheme by energy giant Commonwealth Edison continues to create problems for the Speaker.  Republicans claim a House investigative committee is protecting Madigan, and representative Stephanie Kifowit announced she intends to challenge his position as the leader of the chamber.

The Chicago Sun Times' Rachel Hinton joins the panel.