AM-580 News Features

Former Danville Schools superintendent David Fields (left) is one of seven new State Board of Education members appointed by Governor Rod Blagojevich, who replaced all but two existing members.  Fields managed District 118 from 1991 to 2001.  He spoke about his new responsibility with AM 580's Jim Meadows.

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For the first time in Illinois, a major commission dealing with helping the developmentally disabled will be headed by someone who uses that help.  Lester Pritchard of Urbana is the new chair of the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities.  Pritchard has cerebral palsy and uses a motorized wheelchair.  Through his wife Barbara, who's also disabled, he tells AM 580's Tom Rogers that the council can help direct funding for services, but its main goal is to be an advocate.

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As election campaigns begin to heat up, candidates in an Illinois legislative race in Champaign-Urbana are talking about keeping the heat down.  Republican challenger Deborah Frank Feinen is proposing a voluntary cap on campaign spending.  Democratic incumbent Naomi Jakobsson has offered a counterproposal.  But the idea of campaign spending limits is one that rarely gets out of the discussion stage.  AM 580's Jim Meadows reports.

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IPR reporters Bill Wheelhouse and Jonathan Ahl are following the Illinois delegation in New York.

(8/30) Nearly 150 Illinois delegates and alternates, along with their families and party members, are in New York, as is House speaker and convention chairman Dennis Hastert (left). As Bill Wheelhouse reports, some state leaders don't agree with some of the major parts of the national party platform.

(8/31) The Illinois Delegation is focused on the re-election of President George W. Bush.  But the leaders of the state party who are in New York are also looking for help in expanding Republicans presence in offices lower down on the ticket.  Jonathan Ahl reports.

(9/1) A few Illinois delegates have been wondering aloud where their Senate candidate, Alan Keyes, has been.  He's been busy, but he hasn't been spending much time with the Illinois delegation.  Bill Wheelhouse reports.

(9/1) Suburban communities in large metropolitan areas continue to be the fastest growing population in the US.  To political strategists, that means it's also the fastest-growing population of voters.  The Illinois delegation held a panel discussion to talk how their party can improve its standings in the suburbs.  Jonathan Ahl was there.

(9/2) A comment about homosexuality by US Senate candidate Alan Keyes caused some controversy among state Republican leaders at the national convention.  Bill Wheelhouse has this report.

(9/2) Illinois delegates are taking in all the typical events associated with a political gathering.  They're attending meetings, rallies, fundraisers, receptions, and participating in the sessions at the convention.  But the delegates are also taking on some side projects that are not standard fare for a political gathering.  Jonathan Ahl reports.

(9/3) Illinois Republicans head home from New York, and as with most conventions, those delegates leave energized to support their candidate.  But when the election is over in November, state Republicans also have to pick a new leader.  Bill Wheelhouse reports.

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The old hospital campus in Champaign was torn down earlier this year after standing vacant for more than a decade (the picture at left shows a postcard of an earlier building replaced decades ago). But memories of Burnham City Hospital are still strong with many people.  More than 130 of them, gathered to celebrate the hospital's 97 years of service, and AM 580's Jim Meadows was there.

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AM 580's Tom Rogers (left) and Sean Crawford of Illinois Public Radio's Statehouse Bureau followed the Illinois delegation in Boston.

(7/26) Illinois delegates arrived in Boston following a divisive period for the state's Democrats, who've witnessed party leaders trade barbs over the state budget.  Sean Crawford reports. 

(7/27) National Democratic leaders prepare to shine the spotlight on Illinois state senator and US Senate candidate Barack Obama (left). It’s unusual that someone so unknown just months ago gets a chance to keynote the Democratic National Convention. But as Tom Rogers reports, Democrats on both the national and state levels think they have a future political star.

(7/28) For the second time in four years, Democratic leaders put a rising African-American politician front and center at their convention. At the convention, their new star made his national debut amid high expectations. And if you ask delegates who saw Barack Obama speak, they’ll excitedly say that he’s arrived. Tom Rogers reports on the speech.

(7/29) Illinois Democrats have plenty to be happy about at their national convention.  Unlike four years ago, the party is riding high in Illinois, controlling nearly all of state government.  Yet prosperity can still breed dissent.  Sean Crawford has this report. 

(7/30) Following their national convention, Illinois Democrats head home to begin the countdown to Election Day.  Most analysts predict big Democratic wins in the state in November.  But as Sean Crawford reports, there is a downside to those high expectations. 

More on AM 580's Election Site