AM-580 News Features

From Far Behind to Final Four

In one of the most memorable games in Illinois history, the Illini came back from 15 points down and held off Arizona’s last chance for a 90-to-89 win and a ticket to the Final Four. AM 580’s Tom Rogers was there and recovered enough of his breath to file this report.

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Urban planning reports can make for pretty dull reading, but some residents of the High Cross Road area northeast of Urbana have been carefully reading urban planning reports that propose major highway projects for where they live.  These residents say new highways at the last thing they want.  AM 580's Jim Meadows reports.

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Counterterrorism expert Richard Clarke doesn't think the al Qaeda terrorist network would be slowed down by the capture or killing of Osama bin Laden. The former White House security adviser --- who made headlines last year with his criticism of President Bush's handling of the war on terror --- spoke on the UI campus.  AM 580's Jim Meadows reports.

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Since 1958, Rockome Gardens has been a tourist destination in the heart of Central Illinois' Amish community. The 29-acre theme park in Douglas County, along with its rock garden, shops, and restaurant, is up for auction.  City officials in Arcola hold out hope that a buyer will want to keep it going.  AM 580's Jeff Bossert reports.
 

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Barring a strong showing by a last-minute candidate, Laurel Prussing will be the next mayor of Urbana.  The former state representative won the Democratic nomination by a narrow majority over three-term incumbent mayor Tod Satterthwaite.  AM 580's Jim Meadows reports.

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Unofficial vote totals (Champaign County Clerk's office)

WILL sponsored a forum featuring candidates Laurel Prussing, Tod Satterthwaite and Shirley Hursey (2/15)

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President Bush’s tour of Europe included a summit with Russian president Vladimir Putin. The meeting takes place in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, which last year joined several eastern European neighbors as new members of NATO and the European Union. Anca Dragu is a reporter for Radio Slovakia International and the BBC – she’s a recent journalism graduate of the University of Illinois. AM 580’s Tom Rogers talked with her about the summit and what it means for Slovaks.

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A generation ago, shoppers could choose from plenty of stores along Philo Road. But today, some of the street’s largest retail buildings are empty. And while Philo Road is far from deserted, many have said something needs to be done to revitalize the area. AM 580’s Jim Meadows reports on the area’s problems and possibilities.
 

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A University of Illinois professor shows children in rural Illinois are the real victims when someone in their family uses methamphetamine. Jeff Bossert spoke with social work professor Wendy Haight.
 

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Indiana's new governor says he didn't enjoy laying out a budget that freezes education funding and makes only minimal increases to health care.  But the Republican says spending less new money -- along with a tax hike on the state's wealthiest citizens -- are necessary to balance Indiana's budget within a year.  In part 1, Daniels tells AM 580's Jeff Bossert that all facets of state government will have to help the state escape financial problems, including education.  In Part 2, the governor addresses the role gambling expansion may play.

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Illinois State Sen. Rick Winkel (R, Champaign) and Rep. Naomi Jakobsson (D, Urbana) discuss and debate the fate of the state budget, education funding reform, medical malpractice and other issues with AM 580's Tom Rogers.

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The Reverend Ben Cox challenged those attending the January 16th Martin Luther King Community Celebration at the University of Illinois to test themselves to see if they're living up to King's teachings.  Cox, who was a preacher and schoolteacher in Champaign-Urbana and Danville for many years, was also one of the original Freedom Riders, who traveled south to integrate interstate buses in 1961. Here's an excerpt from his speech:

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James Stukel is retiring as University of Illinois president, after ten years in the post and 44 years with the university. The U of I grew during his tenure. But in recent years, Stukel has grappled with repeated cuts in state funding --- cuts he says are not going away. AM 580's Jim Meadows talked with Stukel.

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The controversy over Chief Illiniwek has stuck around throughout James Stukel’s decade-long tenure. The university symbol was one of the issues Stukel discussed in this segment of his AM 580 interview.

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