First Listen

Pippin opens at the Hoogland Center for the Arts this weekend | First Listen 13.11.2026 7:54 ↓

JB George, who plays Charles, the king, says this Pippin may be a little different than how the show has been presented before.

Upgrades to Springfield Parks include a new pickleball facility coming soon | First Listen 12.11.2026 6:24 ↓

Springfield Park District Board President Leslie Sgro checks in on the various activities at Springfield parks.

Scheels Sports Park will take some time to fulfill its economic promise | First Listen 11.11.2026 2:57 ↓

Scheels Sports Park General Manager Brandon Doherty says organizers book months ahead and since the park is new, it will take some time to get on many organizations schedule.

A judge dismisses a lawsuit over Sangamon County's first hyperscale data center | First Listen 10.11.2026 3:01 ↓

The plaintiffs argued the county board failed to consider concerns about noise and use of water and electricity.

The Sangamon County Mental Health Board is shaping its goals for its first year | First Listen 09.11.2026 5:58 ↓

Sangamon County Mental Health Board Executive Director Tatyana Gardner says they are holding weekly study sessions with its board and the public.

Governor JB Pritzker has appealed FEMA's decision denying disaster aid | First Listen 09.11.2026 3:10 ↓

The governor wants the new Democrat-controlled Congress to ensure FEMA doesn't make decisions about disaster relief based on political leanings.

Emmanuel "Chris" Welch will not run for Illinois House Speaker again | First Listen 06.11.2026 3:09 ↓

Twenty-six state reps are pushing for a new Illinois House Speaker.

Democrats also win big in Illinois | First Listen 05.11.2026 3:09 ↓

First Listen for Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026

Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski discusses what Democrats need to do moving forward | First Listen 04.11.2026 6:52 ↓

Budzinski beat her opponent Jeff Wilson, and is looking forward to moving affordability issues forward in Congress.

Illinois Times reporter Scott Reeder discusses the 48th State Senate District result | First Listen 04.11.2026 5:54 ↓

Incumbent State Senator, Doris Turner, defeated Republican, Frank Lesko, for the seat.

The Illinois Attorney General's office will have representatives monitoring the election process | First Listen 03.11.2026 6:14 ↓

Cara Hendrickson, Executive Deputy Attorney General, discusses the role the AG's office plays on election day.

Voting is underway and we check in on one county to see how things are going | First Listen 03.11.2026 6:30 ↓

Madison County Clerk Sandy Leitheiser says they've seen considerable early voting and are ready for the voting at the ballot box today.

Bloomington police now say nine people were victims in Sunday's shooting | First Listen 03.11.2026 2:59 ↓

Police in Bloomington also have identified the woman killed.

More on a mass shooting in Bloomington, the State Report Card, and a perennial grass crop | First Listen 02.11.2026 3:01 ↓

First Listen gives a first look at the news of the day.

Bloomington police continue to look for more information in a mass shooting near Illinois Wesleyan | First Listen 02.11.2026 4:30 ↓

Eric Stock gives a deeper look at the mass shooting near in Bloomington over the weekend.

As Breast Cancer Awareness Month wraps up, another reminder about mammograms | First Listen 30.10.2026 6:28 ↓

Amanda Meyer, Nurse Navigator from HSHS St. John's Cancer Center, talks about why women shouldn't let fear stop them from getting their breasts checked.

Several business groups advocating for a pharmacy tax break| First Listen 30.10.2026 3:56 ↓

The Illinois Retail Merchants Association and the State Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity want the credit to pass during the fall veto session.

Is it staying warmer later in the year in central Illinois? | First Listen 29.10.2026 6:33 ↓

National Weather Service Meteorologist Ed Shimon discusses the warmer October weather and more.

Republican congressman Darin LaHood is asking Trump to reconsider Illinois disaster relief | First Listen 29.10.2026 3:02 ↓

The federal government denied aid for August's severe weather, and LaHood says the assistance is needed to help with the resources needed for the recovery process.

Questions around voting rights add confusion to the midterm elections | First Listen 28.10.2026 6:24 ↓

UIS professor Isabel Skinner from the School of Politics and International Affairs discusses some of the challenges and an opportunity to learn more about your rights.

The race for Mayor of Springfield next year will include three candidates | First Listen 28.10.2026 3:12 ↓

Monday was the last day to file for the April election and a few more candidates filed by the deadline for city of Springfield offices.

An update on the I-55/I-72 expansion and a reminder to stay safe this weekend | First Listen 27.10.2026 5:32 ↓

IDOT's Paul Wappel details the work on the I-55/I-72 expansion and the "Drive High, Get a DUI" campaign this weekend.

Springfield authorities have made an arrest in an aggravated arson | First Listen 27.10.2026 3:21 ↓

Emergency crews in Springfield were called to a residence Sunday Night for a report of a structure fire which resulted in a garage explosion causing several injuries.

Mini O'Beirne Crisis Nursery to expand in the Enos Park neighborhood | First Listen 26.10.2026 6:32 ↓

Executive Director Chriss Smith says some a generous land donor and a capital campaign will make the expansion possible.

A plan to close four correctional centers in Illinois is drawing strong opposition | First Listen 26.10.2026 3:11 ↓

Critics cite concerns about future upkeep of the facilities and the approach to incarceration for young and low-level offenders.