WSIU InFocus

WSIU's Jennifer Fuller talks with Dorcy Prosser of the Jackson County League of Women Voters about changes to the way Illinoisans vote for the 2020 General Election in November.

The new academic year is scheduled to start within the next few weeks. Public school leaders are grappling with how to bring kids back to the classroom safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. What about smaller, private schools. Is their job easier?

WSIU's Brad Palmer talked to Carbondale New School director and lead teacher Kathy Compton about how her school – an independent, not-for-profit private school for students from Pre-K through 8th grade-- is getting ready for the start of the new year.

WSIU's Jennifer Fuller talks with SIU President Dan Mahony about how the university system is preparing for students to return amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

WSIU's Jennifer Fuller caught up with SIH CEO Rex Budde about the growing number of COVID-19 cases in his oranization's service area, along with what he expects for the next several weeks and months.

In June the Illinois State Board of Education release guidelines for returning to school in the fall.

Under those guidelines administrators say things will be different when the students return because of COVID-19.

WSIU's Jennifer Fuller talks with 40 Below Joe creator Curt Jones about his new endeavor, along with ties to Southern Illinois University and plans for the future.

WSIU's Jennifer Fuller talks with SIUC Chancellor Austin Lane, as the campus prepares to welcome back students, faculty, and staff for the Fall 2020 semester.

WSIU's Jennifer Fuller talks with former State Representative Roger Eddy, who has written about his time in the Illinois legislature and during the impeachment of Rod Blagojevich in his new book, "A Front Row Seat."

SIU is one of hundreds of universities trying to figure out how to get athletes back on the field amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Some returned to campus recently, and leaders say they're keeping a close eye on things. SIU-C Athletic Director Liz Jarnigan talks with WSIU's Brad Palmer about the situation.

Many states have seen large outbreaks of COVID-19 in prisons. The warden at a southern Illinois correctional facility talks with WSIU's Brad Palmer about what his facility is doing to keep inmates and correctional officers safe during the pandemic and beyond.

WSIU's Jennifer Fuller talks with Carbondale Mayor Mike Henry and City Manager Gary Williams. Communities across the region have lost revenue due to the COVID-19 restrictions, and leaders say they're hopeful as people get back out, there will be a positive economic impact.

WSIU's Jennifer Fuller talks with SIU Press Interim Co-Director Amy Etcheson and SIU Senior Fiction Writer Pinckney Benedict about the new Blanket Fort Radio Theater - a new podcast collaboration between WSIU, SIU Press, and SIUC's Creative Writing Program.

As a part of the "Understanding Our New World" series, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute Executive Director John Shaw spoke with former White House Chief of Staff, CIA Director, and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

WSIU's Jennifer Fuller talks with The Poynter Institute's MediaWise Editorial Director Kristyn Wellesley about the project, its origins, and where they're taking it in 2020.

WSIU's Jennifer Fuller reports on SIU's Conversation of Understanding, the first in a series of town hall-style events to address racism and other issues across the system. 

June marks Pride Month each year. Previously, we published a conversation between a local doctor and his patient on transgender healthcare. One of the topics they discussed was the learning curve doctors face when treating patients in the trans community.

Other doctors echo this point, saying they’ve had to do their own research and training to be able to treat the patients who’ve come to them for care.

June marks Pride Month each year. Last March, Storycorps came to Carbondale to speak with southern Illinoisans about their lives. Neither Chip Loghry or Matin Nekzard are originally from southern Illinois, though both call it home now. Loghry moved here as a child, and Nekzad and his wife came to the U.S. after fleeing Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion of the 1980s. Nekzad, who works for Shawnee Healthcare, is Loghry’s doctor, and one of the few in the area to treat transgender patients.

WSIU's Brad Palmer reports on a campaign to highlight Illinois agricultural diversity and raises consumer awareness statewide, nationwide, and globally of the foods raised and sold in southern Illinois and throughout the state.

WSIU's Jennifer Fuller talks with SIU President Dan Mahony, as he prepares for a virtual town hall focusing on racism and bias.

Mahony also addresses challenges the university faces because of COVID-19, and plans for the coming weeks and months.

Thanks to a ruling by the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the herbicde Dicamba will soon be banned.

WSIU's Jennifer Fuller talks with Paul Simon Public Policy Institute Director John Shaw about a new book list, focusing on Illinois. The list includes recommendations from historians, past and present lawmakers, political experts and more.