AM-580 News Features

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.

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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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The next director of American Indian Studies at the University of Illinois says the debate over Chief Illiniwek severely hampered the program in the past.  Robert Warrior (left), currently an English professor at the University of Oklahoma, says the symbol's retirement brings a unique opportunity when he takes over the program this fall.  He told AM 580's Jeff Bossert that the change at the UI led him to accept the job.

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UI Native American House website