AM-580 News Features

Computer hacking brings to mind the thief who tries to take over your system, stealing valuable information or rendering your machine useless. But hackers also help improve computing’s best defenses – the security systems that prevent ill-intentioned attacks.
Recently a University of Illinois club known as “SigMIL” placed fourth in a worldwide hacking competition – the goal was to enter other teams’ systems while keeping them from attacking yours. AM 580’s Tom Rogers talked with Frank Stratton, an undergraduate member of the U of I team.

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Folksinger Arlo Guthrie is using the fame of his hit recording, "City of New Orleans," as the focal point of a benefit tour to help New Orleans musicians devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The song is based on the Illinois Central train (left, in 1968) that has crossed Illinois for decades. AM 580's Jim Meadows got on Amtrak's version of the train with Arlo Guthrie in Chicago for this report.

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Arlo Guthrie's website

The Champaign chemist who owns Proviant Technologies (left) faces charges in what's known as the BALCO investigation.  The case has brought the fight against professional athletes taking performance enhancing drugs to central Illinois.  A local physician specializing in sports medicine says it will take the continued pursuit of suspects -- and more severe criminal penalties -- before steroids become less of a problem.  AM 580's Jeff Bossert reports on the ongoing battle against steroids from a medical perspective.

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Full interview with Carle Sports Medicine doctor Jerrad Zimmerman

AM 580's Jim Meadows reports on three Iraqi-Americans living in Champaign-Urbana (including Mohammad al-Heeti, left), who spoke against the U-S military presence in their home country at recent meetings held by a local anti-war group.

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UI Football Team Ends a Rough Season

The first year of the heralded “Ron Zook Era” was the fourth consecutive losing year for the University of Illinois football team. The Fighting Illini finished their football season over the weekend, with just two wins -- neither of them against Big Ten teams. AM 580's Jim Meadows reports that Coach Zook says his players are starting to improve -- and he’s going to work them hard until they start to win.

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The enrollment period has begun for one of the largest new federal programs in history – the addition of prescription drug coverage to the Medicare program. University of Illinois law professor Richard Kaplan (left) says unlike previous entitlement benefits, seniors themselves will bear much of the burden of choosing the program that’s best for them, and that choice is daunting. AM 580’s Tom Rogers talked with him.

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Richard Kaplan explains the "doughnut hole," the gap in coverage facing people whose drug bills fall between and a year

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Cuts in services and a hike in taxes are the main features in a budget plan which comes to the Vermilion County Board for a final vote on November 30th. The county board voted November 15th to put the budget plan and accompanying tax levy out for public review. But AM 580's Jim Meadows reports that happened only after they exhausted their search for loopholes.

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An event sponsored by the University of Illinois Naval ROTC included a display of military memorabilia, photos and documents collected by Naval Reserve veterans Bill "Chief" and Susan McLane of rural St. Joseph.  The collection looks back on ancestors who served during the nation's military conflicts dating back to the Civil War.  In an interview with AM 580's Jim Meadows, the McLanes said a major part of the display focuses on Susan's father, who was held by the Japanese as a prisoner of war during World War II. (left: A veteran color guard takes part in a memorial service at Urbana's Eastlawn Cemetery.)

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It's been 19 years since Dyke and Karen Rhoads were found stabbed to death in their burning home in Paris, Illinois.  A year later, two men were convicted of the murders and sentenced to prison.  Last year, a series of state and federal legal maneuvers led to the release of one of those men.  But prosecutors still call Randy Steidl (left) a suspect.  AM 580's Jeff Bossert looks at the latest efforts to re-examine his case -- while Steidl seeks to clear his name.

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After two summers with relatively few cases, the West Nile Virus has made a comeback in Illinois. So far this year, West Nile illness has been confirmed in 242 Illinois residents, eleven of whom have died. AM 580's Jim Meadows reports on current research into how the the mosquito-borne virus spreads.

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Illinois Department of Public Health's West Nile information page

The former US Senate Majority Leader and negotiator in the Northern Ireland peace accord visited the UI Law School, saying it will take a self-governing Iraq before the US government can again focus on other priorities, including terrorism.  AM 580's Jeff Bossert spoke with Mitchell on his principle of letting the democratic process take its course.

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Eastern Illinois University consumer sciences professor James Painter (left, holding drink) has produced a film that he says counters Morgan Spurlock's popular documentary Super Size Me, in which he falls ill eating nothing but McDonalds food in portions offered by the fast food chain.  Painter's point is that limiting your serving portions -- even portions of fast food -- is the key to maintaining your health.  He spoke with AM 580's Jeff Bossert.

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Little evidence remains that the blighted factory building in the middle of Monticello (below left) once housed a thriving patent-medicine factory (left, in the 1920's).  After years of unsuccessful attempts to keep the factory standing for other uses, the Pepsin Syrup plant is being demolished.  AM 580's Jeff Bossert talked to local residents about the end of the line for the building.

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What may be the first scientific conference devoted to the health benefits of walking is taking place on the UI campus.  The three-day "Walking for Health" conference builds on years of research showing that moderate exercise like walking can be as beneficial as more strenuous exercise.  AM 580's Jim Meadows took a walk with one of the organizers of the conference.  Kinesiology professor Weimo Zhu (left) says there are still plenty of things that walking researchers want to know.

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For 32 years, the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District operated on the University of Illinois campus without a fatal accident. But in the last year, buses have struck and killed two students on campus. As AM 580’s Kate Pokarney reports, that leaves many people wondering how to keep future accidents from happening.

(left: Students cross 6th Street in Champaign at one of several highly-marked crossings on campus.  Some question if the yellow signs are giving people a false sense of security.)

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