Jim Meadows

Urbana

Reporter at Illinois Newsroom

Reporter at WILL-TV (Urbana, IL)

Reporter at WILL Radio/Illinois Public Media since 2000.

Articles

Danville says goodbye to Bresee Tower

2 weeks ago | ipmnewsroom.org | Jim Meadows

https://ipmnewsroom.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BreseeTower.mp3DANVIILE– One of Danville’s most striking landmarks is slowly being torn down. With the demolition of Bresee Tower, the city is losing a symbol of its past prosperity, while gaining a site that could be a part of its future growth. The demolition of the 12-story downtown office building began in early May.
Private Donation Allows U of I Soybean Innovation Lab to Resume Its Work

1 month ago | m.farms.com | Jim Meadows

By Jim MeadowsThe University of Illinois’ Soybean Innovation Lab has resumed its work on helping developing countries develop their soybean economies. Lab director Peter Goldsmith said that’s thanks to a private donation. The Trump administration had permanently canceled funding for the Soybean Innovation Lab (SIL), and other Innovation Lab projects at universities around the country.
Private donation allows U of I Soybean Innovation Lab to resume its work

1 month ago | ipmnewsroom.org | Jim Meadows

https://ipmnewsroom.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/NEWS20250429-Soybean-Lab-Funding-WEBAUDIO.mp3The University of Illinois’ Soybean Innovation Lab has resumed its work on helping developing countries develop their soybean economies. Lab director Peter Goldsmith said that’s thanks to a private donation. The Trump administration had permanently canceled funding for the Soybean Innovation Lab (SIL), and other Innovation Lab projects at universities around the country.
More states are moving to scrap sales tax at the grocery store

1 month ago | radio.kttz.org | Jim Meadows

Arkansas' grocery sales tax will end on Jan. 1. The same is true in Illinois. In Kansas and Oklahoma, shoppers stopped having to pay a state sales tax on groceries in January and August, respectively. Now fewer and fewer U.S. states continue to charge the tax, including Missouri and South Dakota, and several states have proposed legislation to do away with it. Some worry about the lost state revenue without the taxes.
Outgoing Urbana Mayor Diane Marlin reflects on city finances, public safety

1 month ago | ipmnewsroom.org | Jim Meadows

URBANA– This Saturday, DeShawn Williams will be sworn in as the next mayor of Urbana. He’ll take the place of the current mayor, Diane Wolfe Marlin, who decided not to run for reelection. Marlin was first elected mayor in 2017. She says her primary focus has been to strengthen the city’s financial standing while improving infrastructure and policing. IPM News’ Jim Meadows sat down with Marlin a few weeks ago to reflect on her time as mayor.
More states are moving to scrap sales tax at the grocery store

1 month ago | kcur.org | Jim Meadows

Arkansas’ grocery sales tax will end on Jan. 1. The same is true in Illinois. In Kansas and Oklahoma, shoppers stopped having to pay a state sales tax on groceries in January and August, respectively. Now fewer and fewer U.S. states continue to charge the tax, including Missouri and South Dakota, and several states have proposed legislation to do away with it. Some worry about the lost state revenue without the taxes.
Media Matters host and journalism scholar Robert McChesney has died at 72

2 months ago | ipmnewsroom.org | Jim Meadows

https://ipmnewsroom.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Bob-McChesney-Audio.mp3Robert W. McChesney, whose books and radio broadcasts denounced corporate domination of mass media, died this week at the age of 72 in Madison, Wisconsin. From 2002 to 2012, the strains of Thelonius Monk’s “Straight No Chaser” opened McChesney’s radio program Media Matters Sunday afternoons on WILL-AM.
Who and What I'm Following During This Stupid Coup

2 months ago | ambushmag.com | Jim Meadows

Beginning on November 5 and until late January, I felt an intense need to ignore the news media, social media, and any other media that might remind me of what was coming. It was too much. It was overwhelming. It still is, but I’m not looking away anymore.
Gov. Pritzker visits Urbana as part of statewide tour focused on Trump administration’s impact in Illinois

2 months ago | ipmnewsroom.org | Jim Meadows

URBANA — Governor JB Pritzker wants Illinoisans to participate in “mass activism” to let Congress know they oppose the Trump administration’s cuts to food and agriculture programs. The governor spoke at a panel in Urbana on Wednesday with U.S Rep. Nikki Budzinski (D-Springfield).
Trump administration makes cancellation of Innovation Lab funding permanent, ending the Soybean Innovation Lab at the U of I

2 months ago | ipmnewsroom.org | Jim Meadows

The Trump administration has terminated the Soybean Innovation Lab at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, nearly two months after its funding was paused pending a review. The lab’s funding is set to officially end on April 15. SIL is one of more than a dozen Innovation Labs part of a program called Feed the Future that were started during the Obama administration. They were created under the U.S. Agency for International Development to address global hunger.

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Jim Meadows @WILLJimMeadows

10 Jun 24

On June 9 1922, a University of Illinois professor demonstrated an early version of an optical sound track for motion pictures. https://t.co/IsvHTZYJ9U

Jim Meadows @WILLJimMeadows

12 Mar 24

RT @AP: India announces steps to implement a citizenship law that excludes Muslims https://t.co/tQZwwLu6tZ

Jim Meadows @WILLJimMeadows

12 Mar 24

Illinois Public Radio Statehouse reporter @Alex_Degman reports a lockdown at the state Capitol building.

Alex Degman @Alex_Degman

The Illinois Capitol has been locked down for the last few minutes with a message circulating over the PA to shelter in place. Not sure what’s going on — anyone out in the halls or near the doors that saw what might have caused this?