How is the end of Baker& Taylor affecting libraries in Illinois? www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7bb...

Today: -A major distributor of books for libraries is shutting down. We’ll talk about why — and how that could affect what you’re able to find at your local library. -Plus, a man who’s eating his way across Peoria, one TikTok at a time. It's all at 11 Central: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

What are the broader implications of this for people and the economy?

Today: What's going on with SNAP benefits? We'll talk about that, what's going on in court, and what it all means for Illinoisans who both give and receive food assistance. That's live at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

Don Tracy, a GOP candidate running for the U.S. Senate sits down with us for a one-on-one.

Today: Don Tracy is a lawyer and former chairman of the Republican Party of Illinois. Now he wants his party’s nomination to be the next U.S. Senator from here. Share your questions here or at 217-300-2121. Then join us live at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

American Academy of Pediatrics says that middle school and high school students shouldn't begin their classes before 8:30 a.m. Education and sleep experts weigh in.

How well-rested are kids for school? Today, the day after the end of DST for the year, we’ll talk about the science around school start times. We’ll get into the debate over why school should … or shouldn’t … start later. That's live at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

Today: -The aftermath of the Sean Grayson trial. - @mikemiletichtv.bsky.social on what happened in the legislature's veto session. -We’ll talk with an Illinois couple who’ve made a former funeral home into THEIR home. It was recently featured on HGTV. It's all at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

We heard from @mulchy.bsky.social and @staceywescott.bsky.social on today's show about their work as journalists documenting federal immigration enforcement actions in Illinois.

A jury has found former Sangamon County sheriff's deputy Sean Grayson guilty of second-degree murder in the killing of Sonya Massey last year. What's your initial reaction to the outcome? Do you think it's fair and just? What changes would you like to see after this episode?

“We don’t have any weapons; we were only recording what they’re doing. And if what they’re doing is actually legal, then they should not be afraid for it to be documented.” State Rep. and Congressional candidate Hoan Huynh on the responses to the actions of federal agents in Chicago.

Today: -State Rep. and Congressional candidate Hoan Huynh on what happened last week, when he says a federal agent pointed a gun at him. -Journalists have captured striking pictures of ICE and Border Patrol operations in Illinois. We'll talk about it. It's all at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

Today, a deep dive into the state of soybean farming in Illinois and beyond. We talk about the harvest, the state of international trade, and what's next for the farmers who make their living off of it.

Today, trouble for soybean farmers in Illinois and beyond. Drought conditions have made for a faster-than-average harvest, but a big problem remains the ongoing trade war — and the lack of places for farmers to sell their beans. We'll talk live about it at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

We hear about the latest out of Chicago from @heathercherone.bsky.social on today's show.

Today: - @heathercherone.bsky.social with @wttw.bsky.social on the latest news about ICE, CBP and the National Guard in Chicago. - Kathi Davis began her career as a flight attendant in the golden age of air travel. We'll talk about her new memoir. It's all at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

Canada geese are a fact of life in many parts of Illinois. But the creatures can be a safety risk and a danger to public health. We talk with the creator of the Goosinator, a device that aims to get rid of geese (in a humane way), and the head of parks and rec in Moline, Illinois.

ICYMI: We talked on the show with @mrillinois.bsky.social about some of the interesting stops on a tour of cemeteries across Illinois.

Who are the landscapers who mow our lawns and rake our leaves? Many of them, especially in the Midwest, are Mexican immigrants. Sergio Lemus writes about his experience with that work, and the stories of those who come to America seeking a better life. His new book is “Los Yarderos.”

Today: -Canadian geese can be a safety risk. We'll talk with the creator of a device that aims to get rid of geese (in a humane way). -Plus, author Sergio Lemus on the struggles of those who come to America seeking a better life, in "Los Yarderos." That's at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

Today: -We continue our series of interviews with higher education leaders. Next up: Aondover Tarhule, president of Illinois State University in Normal. -Plus, a grand tour of some of central Illinois’ notable cemeteries. It's all at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

"Most of the leaves that are changing, they're all relatively thin, and if those leaves were to be on the tree in the winter, the cells would literally explode as the water inside of them freezes." - @mortonarboretum.bsky.social's Christy Rollinson, on why leaves change color in the fall.

What's going on with drought in Illinois? And what is or isn't a drought, anyway? Weather Realness, our sister podcast, talked about it last week. We'll hear from its hosts Trent Ford and Maddie Stover.

Today, conversations from Weather Realness at @ilpublicmedia.bsky.social. -We’ll hear from the Illinois State Climatologist about how little rain we've gotten. -Trees across the state are turning vibrant colors. We’ll talk about why that happens. It's all at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

Civil rights lawyer Gloria Browne-Marshall has written “A Protest History of the United States.” She joined us today to talk about this weekend's No Kings protests, and how those fit into the bigger arc of history.

Today, the latest No Kings protests. We’ll talk about what happened, and put them in the larger context of American history. Our guest is civil rights lawyer Gloria Browne-Marshall. Her new book is “A Protest History of the United States.” We're live at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

NPR's Cheryl Whitlow Thompson, a University of Illinois graduate, joins us in studio to talk about her journey through journalism, some of the stories she's investigated over the years, and what she's telling journalism students in 2025.

Cheryl Whitlow Thompson’s career in journalism goes back more than four decades to her days at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Today we’ll talk with the NPR senior editor about her journey, and the threats to journalism in America. That's live at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

Illinois forensic accountant Kelly Richmond Pope has seen it all when it comes to fraud. She chronicles some of it in her book "Fool Me Once: Scams, Stories, and Secrets from the Trillion-Dollar Fraud Industry." She's our guest on today's show.

Fraud is all around us, from pyramid schemes to spam calls. Illinois-based forensic accountant Kelly Richmond Pope talks about why people do it in “Fool Me Once: Scams, Stories and Secrets from the Trillion Dollar Fraud Industry.” That's our topic today, live at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

Colleen Shogan served for years as Archivist of the United States. Then she was fired from that job by President Donald Trump earlier this year. Colleen will be a keynote speaker at an event in Springfield later this week. She joins us on today's show.

Today, Colleen Shogan, former archivist of the United States. She was the person responsible for safeguarding federal records. It’s traditionally been a non-partisan post, but Shogan was one of the first high profile officials fired by President Trump. Listen at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

The Quad Cities Ballet Folklorico has been teaching Mexican folk dancing for more than 40 years. We talk about the art form with a couple of the people behind the Quad Cities group.

Illinois lawmakers are back in Springfield for the first of two weeks of veto session. Yesterday, Illinois public radio's Mawa Iqbal and @chicagotribune.com's Jeremy Gorner gave us a preview of what's on the agenda.

ICYMI: What's the latest with ICE and the National Guard in Chicago? @themelodymercado.bsky.social with @blockclubchi.bsky.social has been following the stories, and she joined us to share what she's found.

ICYMI: A new book and exhibit at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum aims to tell the story of our 16th president through objects and documents from his life. We talk about it with the co-authors of the book.

Today: -We’ll talk about the latest with President Trump’s push to deploy National Guard soldiers in Illinois. -We’ll preview the General Assembly’s fall veto session. -We’ll talk about Ballet Folklorico, a celebration of Mexican cultural heritage. It's all at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

"We fear that a lot of things we did simply aren't happening any longer, and the excuse that's always given is 'that's not America first.'" We spend an hour with Illinoisan Eric P. Whitaker, who served for a few years as U.S. Ambassador to Niger.

Today, former American diplomat Eric Whitaker. Born and raised in Illinois, he went on to become U.S. Ambassador to Niger. We’ll talk about his background, what’s happening in Africa, and the future of American foreign policy. We're live at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

"These Jewish communities are all fading away, and there has to be some record about how Jewish people supported their communities in each of these towns across Central Illinois." We talk with a longtime member of the Danville Jewish community about her experiences.

Today: -After the holiest days on the Jewish calendar, a conversation reflecting on Jewish life and history in central Illinois. We’ll talk with an archivist for an oral history project, and a longtime member of the community. We're live at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

"We shouldn't be afraid to admit that we could do better, and that we're doing the hard work of being better tomorrow than we are today." The president of Northern Illinois University, Dr. Lisa Freeman, joins us to talk about the state of her school and the state of higher education.

"What we're seeing is, I think, over the past couple weeks ... is ICE really engaging and escalating sort of violent tactics." - Ed Yohnka of ACLU of Illinois He and @jonseidel.bsky.social of @chicago.suntimes.com join us to talk about the latest National Guard and ICE news in Chicago.

Today: -Court fights over President Trump ordering National Guard soldiers to Illinois, and the treatment of the media outside an ICE facility. -Plus, a conversation with the president of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. It's all at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

Today, novelist Shelby Van Pelt. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she now makes her home in Illinois, in the suburbs of Chicago. Her debut novel, “Remarkably Bright Creatures," was a breakout success. She's with us for the hour at 11 a.m. Central: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

Amid economic uncertainty and layoffs, job seekers are competing with thousands of applicants at times.

@ericsorensen.bsky.social weighs in on how the shutdown will impact federal workers in Illinois.

Today: -Illinois Congressman @ericsorensen.bsky.social, as the government shutdown continues. -The job market seems to be tightening. We'll talk with experts about what's happening, and where the market goes from here. It's all at 11 a.m. Central. Join us: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

How will this move impact federal workers in Illinois and the many people in the state, who rely on federal benefits?