Illinois has several sleepy, small towns that travelers bypass as they motor along highways. Only a few of these have figured a way to not only get people to stop, but to make their community a destination. Casey, in eastern Illinois, was struggling like most others just a few years ago. Then, Casey leaders started thinking BIG. This week, we hear about the transformation and get some advice for other towns.
In 2016, Illinois' voting system was hacked and personal information for tens of thousands of voters compromised. As we prepare for another presidential election, we find out what has been done to make the system more secure.
That and more on this week's Statewide.
Our lineup:
* Sam Dunklau speaks with Tom Swoik, Director of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association,about a drop in revenue from casinos amid the spread of video gambling.
* Melba Lara of WBEZ talks with Illinois State Board of Elections Chair Chuck Scholzabout cybersecurity for the voting system.
* Maureen McKinney interviews Alaina Hampton, who went public with allegations of harassment by a Democratic Party of Illinois aide. We find out how it has impacted her professional and personal life.
* Jim Meadows of Illinois Public Media visits the Virginia Theatre in Champaign. The facility was revived through a community effort.
* Sean Crawford talks with Deb Bohannon,who promotes tourism for the town of Casey. The community is now home to several of the world's largest items. It is an initiative that has paid off.
* Wayne Pratt of St. Louis Public Radio has the storyof a researcher who discovered the only known photo of Stars Park, which housed the city's Negro League baseball club.
* Staying on the topic of baseball, Sean Crawford interviews Jacob Pomrenke with the Society for American Baseball Research. They discuss new findings about the infamous 1919 Black Sox scandal that led to 8 Chicago White Sox players being banned from the game for throwing the World Series.
Listen to Statewide across Illinois:
- Bloomington/Normal – WGLT 89.1 (Fridays 11 a.m. - Noon)
- Carbondale – WSIU 91.9 (Fridays 2-3 p.m. / Sundays 6-7 a.m.)
- Mount Vernon - WVSI 88.9 (Fridays 2-3 p.m. / Sundays 6-7 a.m.)
- Olney - WUSI 90.3 (Fridays 2-3 p.m. / Sundays 6-7 a.m.)
- Rockford/DeKalb – WNIJ 89.5 (Saturdays 6-7 a.m. / Sundays 6-7 p.m.)
- Springfield/Decatur - WUIS 91.9 (Fridays 11 a.m. - Noon and 11 p.m. - Midnight / Saturdays 9-10 a.m.)
- Peoria – WCBU 89.9 (Fridays 6-7 p.m.)
- Pittsfield - WIPA 89.3 (Fridays 11 a.m. - Noon and 11 p.m. - Midnight / Saturdays 9-10 a.m.)
- Urbana/Champaign – WILL 580 (Fridays 11 a.m. - Noon and 7-8 p.m.)
