First Listen

By Michelle Eccles

Start the day by adding NPR Illinois First Listen to your routine and hear the latest from the state capital (Springfield).... more

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FAQs about First Listen:

How many episodes does First Listen have?

The podcast currently has 528 episodes available.

First Listen episodes:

April 24, 2026 Illinois lawmakers move closer to a deal to entice the Chicago Bears to stay in Illinois | First Listen
Illinois is trying to keep the Bears from moving to northwest Indiana.
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4min
April 23, 2026 A lawsuit filed nearly one year after the YNOT camp tragedy in Chatham | First Listen
The suit names YNOT and the driver of the SUV.
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4min
April 23, 2026 "Frozen" opens at Pleasant Plains tonight and runs through Sunday | First Listen
Cohen Blakeman (Oaken) and Cheyenne Humphrey (Queen Iduna) talk about the experience prepping for the show and how theater develops life skills.
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7min
April 22, 2026 No timeline for a vote on the new UIS contract with tenure and tenure-track faculty | First Listen
UIS faculty is expected to vote soon on the tentative agreement.
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4min
April 21, 2026 Foster parent sentenced after pleading guilty to endangering the life of a child | First Listen
David Yankee received two years probation after a seven-year-old child drowned when he left him in the care of a 10-year-old.
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5min
April 20, 2026 UIS tenure and tenure track faculty reach a tentative agreement with the university | First Listen
Formal approvals on the tentative contract will go through formal approvals in the coming weeks.
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5min
April 16, 2026 SNAP benefits in question for thousands of Illinois families | First Listen
Nolan Downey with the Chicago Food Depository is part of the Save our SNAP Coalition which is pushing state to find ways to support SNAP families.
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7min
April 16, 2026 The Illinois legislature considers allowing autonomous vehicles | First Listen
The pilot project act would provide guidelines to test the vehicles on Illinois roads.
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4min
April 15, 2026 Two of the "ComEd 4" order released and given new trials | First Listen
First Listen for Wednesday, April 15, 2026
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4min
April 14, 2026 Purple Coalition calling for change to Springfield's law enforcment and local government | First Listen
Members of the Purple Coalition are calling for change in how Black residents are treated, and want policy reform and transparency.
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4min

FAQs about First Listen:

How many episodes does First Listen have?

The podcast currently has 528 episodes available.