The filmmaker behind the @pbs.org American Masters documentary on the life of Dick Van Dyke as well as @npr.org Media critic Eric Deggans discuss Van Dyke's accomplishments.

Dick Van Dyke is 100. We’ll talk today about his life, career and legacy with the filmmaker behind a new documentary about him, NPR media critic @edeggans.bsky.social, and a Danville woman who knows Dick and his wife, Arlene. We're live at 11 Central: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

Film critics from @vocalo-chicago.bsky.social and @letterboxd.social share their picks for best and worst movies of 2025.

With Christmas coming up and Hanukkah already here, this is a time when a lot of families are thinking through the difficult choice about how to respond when kids ask for a phone.

Today: -There’s growing concern about the effects of smartphones on young people. We’ll talk with an Illinois “prevention scientist” who’s developed a program aimed at helping families navigate those challenges. -Plus, the best films of 2025. It's live at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

@scssoft.com is soon releasing an expansion for the game that highlights several cities across Illinois.

A journalist with Harvest Public Media and an agricultural economic expert from Purdue University discuss what is driving this latest round of payments, what farmers are saying, and how rising food prices will affect upcoming holiday meals.

Today: -The Trump administration says it’ll send out $12 billion in payments to farmers. We’ll talk about that. -Then, the company behind the video game American Truck Simulator is based in Europe, but is adding Illinois locations. It's all live at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says a Biden-era switch to the font Calibri, meant to be more accessible to more readers, was another instance of too much DEI. He's ordered a return to Times New Roman. We talk about that with Ellen Lupton, the author of a bestselling book on typographic design.

Lloyd Randall has been challenging the authorities in Danville, Illinois over racial disparities in traffic stops. He joined us today to talk about that. We also got some perspective on the issue from the ACLU of Illinois and a reporter.

Danville, Illinois native Dick Van Dyke turns 100 tomorrow. Next week, we'll be talking about his life, career and legacy. What are your memories of him? What's your favorite work of his? What kind of mark do you think he's left on our culture? Reply here and we might share on the show Wednesday.

Today: -A man who’s taking on the authorities in Danville over what he says is a tendency of police to target Black drivers. -Plus, the State Department says the fonts on its memos were too “woke.” We’ll talk about that with a graphic design expert. Live at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

How has being from the Midwest influenced some of our best writers?

@capitolnewsil.bsky.social Statehouse Reporter shares the latest updates on races for 2026 across the state.

Today: -We’re less than two months away from the start of early voting. We’ll talk about what’s happening leading up to the primary across Illinois. -Plus, a literary tour of the Midwest with the editor of a new collection called “Lingering Inland.” It's live at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

The director of Get Covered Illinois discusses how to navigate Illinois' marketplace when purchasing health insurance plans.

A journalist with @kffhealthnews.org and a health care policy expert with @rwjf.org discuss the latest developments surrounding health care at the federal level.

Health insurance is getting more expensive next year. Costs are rising for people on employer plans, Medicare, and especially for those who get coverage through the Affordable Care Act. Today live at 11, we'll talk about what it all means. will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

Is the U.S. facing an “epidemic of loneliness?"

What difference does connection make for a population whose health is especially vulnerable such as older adults?

Today: It’s been said our nation is facing an “epidemic of loneliness.” We’ll talk about why so many of us are feeling it. We’ll also talk about how having a robust social network can make a difference for older adults trying to stay healthy. It's live at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

How do you pay for the things you need in life? We talk about the end of the penny and a credit card processor settlement, the changes those are leading to, and what it all means for our wallets and the places we do business with.

The penny is history, and retailers across the country are trying to figure out how to adapt. Meanwhile, a settlement between credit card companies and merchants could mean new fees. We’ll talk about what it all means for the way we pay, live at 11. will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

Philip A. Wallach is the author of the book "Why Congress."

We all know Americans are deeply divided by politics. Scholar Philip Wallach says our main tool for bridging those divisions is supposed to be Congress. He argues lawmakers could meet the challenge again. We’ll hear his vision for “Why Congress,” live today at 11. will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

Some experts are criticizing the Northwestern University agreement. will.illinois.edu/21stshow/sto...

Today: -Northwestern University has agreed to pay $75 million to the Trump administration. We’ll break down what’s in the deal. -And we’ll talk with artist and musician Cassandra Jenkins about the backstory behind her song, “Aurora, IL.” It's all at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

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.

Hyped to be spreading the word with @ilpublicmedia.bsky.social about @nyreviewofarch.bsky.social's Chicago Review of Architecture (coming summer 2026!) with our brilliant crew @katewagner.wehwalt.net and @anjulierao.bsky.social. will.illinois.edu/21stshow/sto....

We're back! Today: -A one-off magazine is in the works called the “Chicago Review of Architecture.” We'll talk about it. -Plus, we’ll check in on the college basketball season, and see which teams have a chance to join the Big Dance in March. It's all live at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

What's your favorite kind of pie? We heard some of your answers as we talked with a culinary historian about some of the stories behind the pies so many of us enjoy during the holidays.

Augustana College president Andrea Talentino sat down with Brian Mackey earlier this week to talk about the state of higher education, 150 years after the school moved to the Quad Cities.

Today: -The president of Augustana College in the Quad Cities... on enrollment, trust, and changes in higher education under the Trump administration. -What makes pie American? We’ll talk about that with a culinary expert. It's all at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

Journalists from Gateway Journalism Review, Daily Egyptian, and @capitolnewsil.bsky.social discuss free speech challenges across the Midwest.

Today: Free speech is a fundamental right in America, but it’s facing many challenges this year. We’ll talk with a trio of Illinois reporters who’ve been covering free speech challenges across the Midwest. Let's talk at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

Comedian Samir Abdul will be performing on Friday at 8 p.m. at The Circa 21 Speakeasy in Rock Island.

What role can the U.S. play in ending the devastating war in Sudan?

The civil war in Sudan has brought a tremendous amount of suffering. We’ll talk with an Illinoisan who's from the country about what’s happening there, and why it gets far less attention in America than other conflict zones. We'll talk about this live at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

Illinois Times is celebrating its 50th anniversary-surviving many changes in journalism from the rise of the internet and social media to the collapse of classified advertising. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9iM...

@illinoisanswers.bsky.social investigates challenges faced by mentally ill people in Illinois' jails.

Today: - @meredithnewman.bsky.social with @illinoisanswers.bsky.social, on why defendants declared unfit for trial in criminal cases sometimes spend months waiting for a state hospital bed. -Plus, 50 years of Illinois Times in Springfield. It's all at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

George Packer, journalist and author, is out with a novel, about what happens when a government collapses, and new ways of life take root in a society. He joins us for the hour today to talk about it.

Today: In his new novel, George Packer imagines a society in collapse. Some see opportunity... others, danger. It’s called “The Emergency,” and it raises the question: What do we owe each other when things fall apart? We're live with Packer for the hour at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

Some rail projects are underway to bring or improve passenger rail service across downstate communities with some making more progress than others.

Money will soon be flowing from the government again, but immediate improvements in air travel are not expected.

Today, planes and trains: -We'll talk about what you need to know ahead of the upcoming Thanksgiving travel season. -Then, we'll talk about passenger rail projects, and the state of rail travel in Illinois. We're live at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

State of Change airs Thursday at 7:00 p.m. on Illinois Public Media and other @pbs.org stations across Illinois.

Today: -We’ll talk with our colleagues from the TV show “State of Change”. The latest episode explores prairie preservation. -Robert Moore grew up in the deep south. He eventually became US Marshal for Central Illinois. We'll hear some of his story. Join us at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

“William Smith — A Warrior in Time" will be screened this weekend at the American Indian Center of Chicago in collaboration with @goodmantheatre.bsky.social.

To mark Veterans Day, Illinois women who’ve served in the military speak about some of their experiences and reflect on some of their struggles.