NPR Illinois History (WUIS-WIPA-WSSU-WSSR)

New NPR Illinois sponsorship account executive, Eric Murphy, shares his journey that includes Illinois politics and the military.

Ko'u Hopkins is working as an NPR Illinois coordinator while studying international relations at the University of Illinois Springfield. She recently ran the 20th This I Believe program and has already traveled the world.

Bea Bonner does her exit interview on Community Voices with Sean Crawford and Randy Eccles after eight years at NPR Illinois.

The exhibit opened Sept. 18, 2025, at the Lincoln Library, Springfield's Public Library (directions/hours) as "Radio that Listens to You: 50 Years of NPR Illinois." It will run through May 2026. Michel Martin, NPR Morning Edition co-host, helped open the exhibit along with current and former staff, volunteers, students, donors, and friends (see slide show).

Funding cuts make a happy birthday harder

Public broadcasters across the country, central Illinois included, are figuring out how they plan to head forward after Congress rescinded over $1 billion in federal funding.

Community Voices addresses the recent cuts to CPB funding.

UPDATE: Public media, including your station — NPR Illinois, has been federally defunded. Service will continue, but what's next?

May 1 - May 2 were Public Media Giving Days and the start of NPR Illinois' Spring Fund Drive. There has been talk about the uncertainty of public media funding, which has left many listeners and donors questioning why. NPR Illinois General Manager Randy Eccles and NPR Illinois Director of Development Kate McKenzie spoke with Bea Bonner about the spring fund drive, station funding, and insight into the uncertainty of defunding the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

A Special Temporary Authority (STA) has been extended by the FCC.