Immigration, Reform, and Citizenship

From the Union League Club of Chicago: a debate over the impact of recent immigration on American culture and society.  The question is whether America is bettered by the diversity of new immigrants, or whether society should expect immigrants to assimilate into the existing culture.

Recorded October 18, 2007.  Aired the week of November 19, 2007.  1 hour & 10 minutes.

Environmental Concerns and the Illinois Economy

From Chicago: our one-on-one interview with Doug Scott, Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.  He discusses how his agency works to balance environmental needs with economic development, his concerns about pollution going into Lake Michigan from other states, and whether his agency has enough staff and resources to fulfill its mission.

Recorded October 19, 2007.  Aired the week of October 29, 2007.  30 minutes.

Religion and Society

From the City Club of Chicago: a portion of an address by Cardinal Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago, on the changing nature of religion in society.

Recorded April 6, 2006.  Aired the week of May 15, 2006.  15 minutes.

Hurricane Evacuees' Impact on Danville

From Chicago: Mayor Scott Eisenhauer of Danville talks about the impact on his community resulting from challenges required to house, feed, and clothe hurricane evacuees from the Gulf Coast.

Recorded September 23, 2005.  Aired the week of October 2, 2005.  10 minutes.

WAND-TV Reports: Illinois Hurricane Aid

From the Gulf Coast: Rick Barrett, reporter for WAND-TV in Decatur, goes to Mississippi to report on the positive impact Monticello, Illinois' charity is having on its sister city of Monticello, Mississippi, which not only suffered some damage from Hurricane Katrina, but has also taken in a number of students from other towns in Mississippi which suffered greater damage.

Recorded September 2005.  Aired the week of October 2, 2005.  4 minutes.

70th Anniversary of the Social Security Act

From Roosevelt University in Chicago: a program marking the 70th Anniversary of the passage of the Social Security Act.  The legislation enacting Social Security was passed August 14, 1935, during the Franklin Roosevelt administration.  Among those speaking at this event are Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Congressman Danny Davis.  We will also hear actor and historian R.J. Lindsey portray President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Recorded August 15, 2005.  Aired the week of September 25, 2005.  50 minutes.

Increasing Oversight of Gas Prices

From Springfield: Lt. Governor Pat Quinn announces his intention to have legislation passed that would give the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) watchdog authority over the sale price of gasoline in Illinois.  Quinn also promotes the use of E-85, a form of fuel consisting of 85% ethanol.

Recorded September 7, 2005.  Aired the week of September 11, 2005.  30 minutes.

Factors Behind the Rising Price of Gasoline

From Springfield: Bill Fleischli, Vice President of the Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association, which represents gas station owners, discusses the factors behind the recent spike in gasoline prices and whether gas station operators wish to sell E-85.

Recorded September 7, 2005.  Aired the week of September 11, 2005.  30 minutes.

Illinois National Guard Aids Hurricane Victims

From Camp Lincoln in Springfield: Lt. Colonel Tim Franklin of the Illinois National Guard talks about the mission and the units begin sent to aid hurricane victims in the Gulf.

Recorded September 7, 2005.  Aired the week of September 11, 2005.  10 minutes.

Illinois Aids Victims of Hurricane Katrina

From Decatur: Governor Rod Blagojevich meets with reporters during the Farm Progress Show to discuss what his administration is doing to help hurricane victims and what might be done to lower gas prices for Illinois consumers.  We also hear from Roger Walker, Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections, on his department's efforts to help the Gulf states.

Recorded August 31, 2005.  Aired the week of September 4, 2005.  5 minutes.

Gang Migration and its Impact on Illinois Cities

From the Illinois Municipal League Annual Conference in Chicago: a panel discussion on the migration of gangs from larger cities to smaller communities.  We hear about the impact the spread of gangs is having in the distribution of drugs and the spread of violence.

Recorded September 18, 2004.  Aired the week of July 3, 2005.  1 hour.

Reforming Workers Compensation Laws

From Springfield: Illinois Manufacturers' Association President Greg Baise discusses reforms of Illinois' Workers Compensation laws that could lead to lower costs for Illinois businesses.

Recorded May 26, 2005.  Aired the week of May 29, 2005.  5 minutes.

Senator Barack Obama (D) on Social Security Reform

From the National Press Club in Washington, DC: Senator Barack Obama talks about Social Security reform and then takes questions from members of the audience on a variety of pending policy issues.

Recorded April 26, 2005.  Aired the week of May 15, 2005.  40 minutes.

Privatizing Social Security Retirement Accounts

From Washington, DC: an interview with Michael Tanner, Director of the "Project on Social Security Choice" at the Cato Institute.  Mr. Tanner discusses why allowing workers to invest a portion of their Social Security taxes into private retirement accounts would benefit both the worker and the Social Security system.

Recorded April 28, 2005.  Aired the week of May 8, 2005.  20 minutes.

Social Security's Historical Roots

From Roosevelt University in Chicago: a review of Social Security's historic beginnings.  We hear from James Roosevelt Jr., grandson of President Franklin D. Roosevelt who began the Social Security system in 1935.  James Roosevelt Jr. is also the former Associate Commissioner for Retirement Policy at the Social Security Administration.  He comments on recent ideas that would allow workers to invest some of their Social Security taxes in private accounts.

Recorded March 30, 2005.  Aired the week of April 24, 2005.  40 minutes.

Criminal Court System in Today's Society

From Chicago: a presentation on the impact of the criminal court system on society.  We will hear from the Honorable Paul P. Biebel, Jr., Presiding Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Criminal Division.

Recorded March 22, 2005.  Aired the week of April 3, 2005.  45 minutes.

Second Annual Legislative Latino Caucus Conference

From Chicago: a panel discussion on the growing Hispanic population in Illinois and what impact this immigration is having on public services and education.  This panel was held during the Second Annual meeting of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus.

Recorded December 10, 2004.  Aired the week of March 13, 2005.  60 minutes.

Impact of Racial Disparities on Children

From the Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University in Evanston: a presentation on the impact of racial disparities on children.  We hear from Law Professor Dorothy Roberts, author of the book, The Color of Child Welfare.

Recorded November 30, 2004.  Aired the week of January 30, 2005.  20 minutes.

Department of Natural Resources Layoffs

From Clinton: Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington), Representative Bill Mitchell (R-Decatur), and DeWitt County Sheriff Roger Massey react to the recently announced layoff of 87 employees in the Department of Natural Resources.  They discuss how these layoffs may effect security at the Clinton Nuclear Power Plant.

Recorded December 1, 2004.  Aired the week of December 5, 2004.  8 minutes.

Cigarette Smoking and Tobacco Policies

From Springfield: Jack Holleran, Senior Vice President of Compliance and Brand Integrity with Philip Morris USA gives an address on cigarette smoking and tobacco policies.  Mr. Holleran delivered his remarks before Springfield's Rotary Club.

Recorded November 15, 2004.  Aired the week of December 5, 2004.  30 minutes.

Supreme Court Decisions on Handgun Nuisance Suits

From Springfield: a follow-up on Supreme Court Case, Chicago v. Beretta, and a similar suit which we aired last year.  The Supreme Court recently issued decisions in the cases.  Dan Vock of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin comments on the decisions and the issues involved.

Recorded November 18, 2004.  Aired the week of November 28, 2004.  7 minutes.

Homeowners Using Guns for Self-Defense

From the State Capitol in Springfield: comments on Senate Bill 2165 from its sponsor, Senator Ed Petka (R) of Plainfield.  SB 2165 covers homeowners using a gun for self-defense where guns are locally banned.  This bill passed in both houses of the legislature during the recent veto session.

Recorded November 18, 2004.  Aired the week of November 28, 2004.  3 minutes.

Developing Future Leaders

From the Illinois Municipal League Conference in Chicago: A panel of youth leaders and municipal officials speak about how they can work as partners in their communities.

Recorded September 18, 2004.  Aired the week of November 28, 2004.  60 minutes.

AARP Legislative Lobby Day Rally

From the State Capitol in Springfield: Governor Rod Blagojevich talks to AARP members about his efforts to allow importation of prescription drugs from Canada.  We will also hear from the state’s newest Senator, Kwame Raoul, who replaced Barack Obama in the Illinois Legislature.

Recorded November 16, 2004.  Aired the week of November 21, 2004.  20 minutes.

Fighting the Spread of Meth Labs

From Chicago: A panel discussion on how municipalities and local police officers can work to fight the spread of methamphetamine labs.  More commonly known as “meth,” this drug is produced by cooking several legal substances together.  The use of the drug has been spreading for several years in a general trend from Southern to Northern Illinois.

This panel discussion was part of the Illinois Municipal League's 91st Annual Conference.

Recorded September 18, 2004.  Aired the week of November 7, 2004.  90 minutes.

The Fight Against Terrorism

From New York City:  During the Republican National Convention, Illinois delegates met with their New Jersey counterparts to hear from former Governors Jim Thompson and Tom Kean, who were both members of the 9-11 Commission.  The two 9-11 members discuss the fight against terrorism.  Also speaking are former Governors Jim Edgar (R-IL)  and Christine Todd Whitman (R-NJ), who also served as an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator (2001-2003).  Additionally, we hear from current EPA Administrator Mike Levitt (R-UT).

Recorded September 1, 2004.  Aired the week of September 12, 2004.  50 minutes.

Soy Bio-Diesel Fuel

From Decatur:  Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn proposes the development of soy bio-diesel fuel as an energy alternative source and to help the environment.

Recorded August 25, 2004.  Aired the week of September 5, 2004.  15 minutes.

Responsibilities of a Citizenship

From the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston: An encore presentation of former Presidential candidate and Senator Gary Hart's presentation to students at the Medill School of Journalism.  Senator Hart discusses his views on the responsibilities of citizens in a Republic and their role in maintaining a healthy democracy.

Recorded April 2003.  Re-Aired the week of August 15, 2004.  50 minutes.

Fighting West Nile Virus in Animals

From Springfield: From the offices of the Illinois Department of Agriculture in Springfield, we talk with acting Illinois State Veterinarian, Dr. Colleen O’Keefe. Dr. O’Keefe shares with us some of the duties she must perform as State Veterinarian, along with initiatives and mandates her office is working on. One of these projects is the upcoming federally mandated animal tracking program. Dr. O’Keefe also gives us an update on the West Nile virus and what it means for the people and the animals of the state of Illinois this summer.

Recorded July 14, 2004.  Aired the week of July 18, 2004.  20 minutes.

Looking for Legislative Solutions to Combat Internet Spamming

From the Public Affairs Center at the University of Illinois at Springfield: Panelists at the Center for State Policy and leadership's 2004 Public Policy Summit discuss issues in cyberspace as they relate to each of their fields of expertise. These topics range from cyber ethics to spam at the network level to what role the government can play in cyberspace.

Recorded June 17, 2004..  Aired the week of July 11, 2004.  60 minutes.

Child Care Assistance Funding

From Springfield: Child Care Providers meet and express their concerns for the proposed cut in funding for child care services for the working poor.

Recorded June 29, 2004.  Aired the week of July 4, 2004.  20 minutes.

Crafting Anti-Spam Legislation

From the University of Illinois at Springfield: This program is a portion of the Center for State Policy and Leadership's 2004 Policy Summit on Issues in Cyberspace: Cyberethics, E-Commerce, and Spam.  In this segment, focused upon the problems of spam and junk email, steps which state legislatures can take to outlaw the massive influx of junk email into inboxes across the nation are discussed.  This discussion is led by Matthew Prince, an Anti-Spam Cyber Consultant.

Recorded June 17, 2004.  Aired the week of July 4, 2004.  45 minutes.

State Workers Protest Rally

From Springfield: Thousands of state works rally at the State Capitol to protest the Governor's suggestion that he may have to lay off state workers to balance the budget.  Our coverage brings you inside the Capitol, where speakers addressed some 3000 state workers gathered to send lawmakers a loud message that the state already has too few state workers.

Recorded May 25, 2004.  Aired the week of May 30, 2004.  30 minutes.

Opposing Horse Meat Exports

From Springfield: Actress Bo Derek, whose parents are native Illinoisans, visited Springfield to lobby on behalf of House Bill 649, which would prohibit the slaughter of horses for human consumption.  Interestingly, Derek says she doesn't care for celebrity activism on policy matters.  Derek says she is motivated as a horse owner, who loves the animal. At a reception for legislators and the media, Derek discusses her opposition to the slaughter and export of horse meat for human consumption.

Recorded May 18, 2004.  Aired the week of May 23, 2004.  6 minutes.

The Modern Civil Rights Movement

From the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston: Father Michael Pfleger of Ste. Sabrina Catholic Church in Chicago discusses the Modern Civil Rights Movement.

Recorded January 19, 2004.  Aired the week of April 4, 2004.  1 hour.

Illinois Security Preparations

From Knox College in Galesburg: Carl Hawkinson, Illinois Deputy Chief of Staff for Public Safety, discusses our state's emergency preparedness.

Recorded March 2, 2004.  Aired the week of March 29, 2004.  Re-Aired the week of July 18, 2004.  20 minutes.

Balancing Terrorism and Civil Rights

From the Illinois Municipal League's Annual Convention in Chicago: Attorneys Stephen Miller and Laura Scarry, who is also a former police officer, present the conflicting values that face law enforcement officers when a suspect is stopped.  This presentation covers what is and is not, racial profiling, and what law enforcement can do to enhance security, while balancing a suspect's civil rights.

Recorded September 19, 2003.  Aired the week of November 9, 2003.  90 minutes.

Mayor Richard Daley on Unfunded Mandates

From Chicago: Mayor Daley addresses fellow mayors at the annual meeting of the Illinois Municipal League.  Mayor Daley talks about the financial pressures put on local communities by federal and state officials, who pass legislation mandating actions, but without the funds required to take such actions.

Recorded September 19, 2003.   7 minutes.

Controlling the Spread of the West Nile Virus

From the Illinois Municipal League's Annual Meeting in Chicago: A panel discussion on the threat of the West Nile virus and what communities can do to control its spread.  Speakers include representatives for the Cook County Health Department as well as experts in controlling the spread of mosquitoes.

Recorded September 18, 2003.  Aired the week of October 5, 2003.  Re-Aired the week of July 25, 2004.  70 minutes.

Illinois' Terrorism Preparations

From the Illinois Municipal League's Annual Meeting in Chicago: Illinois Terrorism Director Mike Chamness' Power Point presentation on the state's efforts to coordinate federal, state and local resources to prepare for potential terrorist attacks.

Recorded September 19, 2003.  Aired the week of October 5, 2003.  25 minutes.

Fighting Consumer Fraud & Scams

From the Illinois Attorney General's Office in Springfield: Each year various Illinois citizen becomes a targets of fraudulent businesses and scam artists.  For 21 years, Assistant Attorney General Deborah Hagan has worked in the area of consumer fraud.  She discusses how the Attorney General's office is pursuing current scams, and the recourse for citizens who were victimized.

Recorded August 7, 2003.  Aired the week of August 10, 2003.  26 minutes.

Rosalynn Carter on Helping Those with Mental Illness

From the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston: Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter talks about how she became interested in aiding those who suffer from mental illness, and what actions families and the government can take to help.

Recorded July 11 & 12, 2003.  Aired the week of July 27, 2003.  35 minutes.

The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens in a Republic

From the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston: Former Presidential Candidate and Former US Senator Gary Hart (D-Colorado) discusses his views of the rights and responsibilities of citizens in a republic.

Recorded April 10, 2003.  Aired the week of July 6, 2003.

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