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 627 episodes available.

First Listen episodes:

August 11, 2026 Springfield police officer has been reassigned during the investigation into her DUI arrest | First Listen
Linzee Carpenter was stopped in Chatham and arrested following an officer smelling alcohol in her vehicle.
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3min
August 10, 2026 Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is hitting back at his Republican challenger Darren Bailey | First Listen
Bailey has implied Governor Pritzker has kept silent amid misconduct allegations in the House.
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5min
August 07, 2026 Illinois is signing on to two new lawsuits against the Trump administration | First Listen
One lawsuit focuses on tariffs and the other on data access.
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3min
August 06, 2026 One of state government's most notable sexual harassment survivors is calling for more action | First Listen
Alaina Hampton is calling for House Speaker Emanuel "Chris" Welch's resignation.
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4min
August 05, 2026 Households that lost SNAP eligibility are eligible for a one-time $400 payment from Illinois | First Listen
State lawmakers appropriated $70 million in the budget to create the FRESH program.
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6min
August 04, 2026 A federal judge rejects President Trump's attempt to access Illinois voter rolls | First Listen
This is the 19th ruling on access to voter rolls issue across the country.
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4min
August 03, 2026 Prisoner Review Board denies medical release for Sean Grayson | First Listen
Sean Grayson is battling cancer and applied to have his sentence served on home confinement.
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4min
July 29, 2026 The Muni opens "Disney's Frozen" the Saturday | First Listen
Stephanie Myre, who plays Elsa, and Lauren Herington, who plays Bulda, talk about the journey to bring "Frozen" to the Muni stage.
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7min
July 29, 2026 More than 300,000 Illinois residents are expected to lose SNAP food benefits | First Listen
The loss of SNAP benefits is especially concerning for schools.
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4min
July 28, 2026 A law requiring hospitals to share financial information with regulators could be more transparent | First Listen
The new Illinois law requires hospitals to share financial information with state regulators, but doesn't require transparency to the public.
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4min

FAQs about First Listen:

How many episodes does First Listen have?

The podcast currently has 627 episodes available.