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In 2004, AM 580 won a national award for its Smile Healthy Project, a collaboration of community partners focused on improving access to dentists for low income residents in Champaign County. What’s happened since then?  Reporter Lynn Crandall created several stories for the Smile Healthy project – she takes a look at dental access in the county today.  (left: Dr. James Wahl of the CU Public Health District with members of his dental team)

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AM 580's Smile Healthy! website from 2004

Thousands of women flock to the UI campus for the largest women's conference in the nation, the Biennial Conference for Women.  Among this year's guests is Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and novelist Anna Quindlen.  She also writes a biweekly column for Newsweek, alternating with conservative commentator George Will.  One of Quindlen's present prime topics is the Democratic Presidential campaign.  She shared her thoughts on the race with AM 580's Michael Koliska.

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More and more gay couples are adopting children.  The Urban Institute estimates that 65,000 adopted children are already living in households with same-sex parents.  Brandon Bowersox and Kevin Johnson make up one of those households.  More than a year ago, they adopted a baby, Garrett (left, with Kevin).  Kevin and Brandon say they enjoy being parents.  But being gay can make parenthood problematic and frustrating.  AM 580 intern Terrell Starr talked with Brandon and Kevin about the joys and dilemmas of adoption and the challenge they face as a gay adoptive couple.

Listen to Part 1 of the series

Listen to Part 2 of the series

The Veterans Administration hospital that serves central Illinois and western Indiana has a new leader. AM 580’s Tom Rogers spoke with Michael Hamilton about two issues VA facilities all over the nation face – maintaining quality and preparing for an influx of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

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