WSIU Public Broadcasting

A rider makes their way along RAGBRAI's route on a foggy morning Wednesday, July 28, outside of Emmetsburg, Iowa, on Day 4 of the annual recreational bike ride across the state of Iowa.

Michael Zamora

NPR

RAGBRAI: Riding a bike across Iowa isn't for the sane. Sign me up.

Michael Zamora

The Des Moines Register's Annual Great Break Ride Across Iowa is about to celebrate 50 years of pie, gravel roads and a community eager to make you forget about your troubles.

A screenshot from a music video depicting members of the Batswana heavy metal band Overthrust. Tshomarelo "Vulture" Mosaka, the lead vocalist, bottom center, talks to NPR about why his country has been a powerhouse in the African heavy metal music scene.

Youtube

'Scream for Me, Africa!': How the continent is reinventing heavy metal music

Malaka Gharib

The killings of 4 Muslim men in Albuquerque may be linked, police say

The Associated Press

After a police officer sent a racist text, a town disbanded the entire department

The Associated Press

WSIU News ›

State of Illinois

CAPITOL RECAP: Democrats choose Hernandez as new party chair

CNI provides a look back at the week's news in Illinois
State of Illinois

Federal Illinois lawmakers say declaring Monkeypox virus a national emergency is critical

Mawa Iqbal

The lawmakers praise President Joe Biden’s move to declare Monkeypox a public health emergency, but say much more work needs to be done to curb outbreaks.
Economy

Southern Illinois libraries included in grant funding for youth mentorship

WSIU Staff

The grants are being distributed across the state.
State of Illinois

Illinois geography plays a role in who gets lung cancer

Maureen Foertsch McKinney

Estimates are more than 9,000 people in Illinois will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year, and more than 5,000 will die from the disease.
Health & Wellness

In one southern Illinois town, residents grapple with abortion's past and future

Brian Munoz

Carbondale is set to become the closest place with abortion access for millions of residents in the Midwest and South.
State of Illinois

Regulatory work behind 1 million EV push in full swing in Illinois

Jerry Nowicki | Capitol News Illinois

Utility-driven beneficial electrification plans filed; new EV coordinator hired
Voter turnout was low for Illinois' June primary election

Illinois Information Service

Just under 22% of registered voters cast a ballot in the June 28th election.
State of Illinois

State Week: Bailey faces criticism for Holocaust remark

Sean Crawford

A Facebook video from 2017 has resurfaced in this year's race for Illinois governor. Republican nominee Darren Bailey was discussing abortion in the video and compared it to lives lost due to Nazi atrocities. We discuss the political fallout.
The ex-wife of an IDOT worker is accused of killing him after an incident in Jackson County

Brad Palmer

The Jackson County State's Attorney reports 41-year-old Alexis Stallman of Herrin is accused of fatally stabbing Edward Stallman.
Their mentor was attacked. Now young OB-GYNs may leave Indiana

Farah Yousry

When an Indiana abortion provider was attacked by pundits and political leaders, the vitriol hit home for medical residents at Indiana’s largest teaching hospital. Many of these young doctors were certain they wanted to practice in Indiana after training. Lately, some have felt more ambivalent.

National News ›

Authors and bookstore owners worry a big publishing merger will affect diversity

Chloe Veltman

The proposed merger between Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster will likely change things for authors and readers - for better or worse
These Ukrainian volunteers recover soldiers' remains to return them to their families

Eleanor Beardsley

Evacuation 200 is a special volunteer unit that scours the country for the bodies of soldiers left on battlefields. "My job is to accompany these heroes on their last trip home," one volunteer says.
At least 36 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the weekend

The Associated Press

An Israeli offensive launched Friday followed what the government called concrete threats of an imminent attack. Militants have fired hundreds of rockets at Israel in response.
Ex-rebel sworn in as Colombia's president in historic shift

The Associated Press

Colombia's first leftist president will be sworn into office Sunday, promising to fight inequality and heralding a turning point in the history of the country.
17 missing, 121 hurt, 1 dead in fire at Cuban oil facility

The Associated Press

A fire set off by a lightning strike at an oil storage facility raged uncontrolled in the Cuban city of Matanzas, where four explosions and flames injured 121 people and left 17 firefighters missing.
Democrats pass a major climate, health and tax bill. Here's what's in it

Deepa Shivaram

Senate Democrats spent the weekend advancing what they call a historic piece of legislation, but it's still a much smaller version of what they — and President Biden — originally called for.
His hometown didn't have a veterans memorial, so this teen built one himself

Nell Clark

For his Eagle Scout project, teenager Dominique Claseman built a veterans memorial in Olivia, Minnesota. With help from his community, he raised more than $77,000 to complete it.
Los Macorinos, the unsung heroes of Latin and Mexican music

Betto Arcos

The guitar duet has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, including Natalia Lafourcade, Chavela Vargas and Liza Minelli.
Politics & Elections

Republicans have long feuded with the mainstream media. Now many are shutting them out

Danielle Kurtzleben

A trend of GOP candidates ignoring or actively avoiding legacy media — particularly national outlets — is building this year. That can hamper voters' ability to make informed choices.
The secret behind why parents — and kids — love 'Bluey'

Elizabeth Blair

A new season of the hugely popular Australian cartoon Bluey is dropping on Disney+. With its made-up family games, high jinx and humanity, the series has hooked both kids and their parents.