Gov. J.B. Pritzker's budget proposal would allow the state to spend more on pressing needs. But that investment would come at a cost: shorting the state's already underfunded public pension systems. We talk with the author of an analysis about what impact that would have for the future. And, with the state's teacher shortage worsening, what can be done to get people who aspire to be teachers into those classrooms? In many cases, those individuals are already working at schools as

Milo Vieland is a caseworker for transgender and gender nonconforming people at the Howard Brown Health Center in Chicago. Through a program that started last year, he helps transgender foks navigate through medical aspects of the transition process such as dealing with insurance. The transgender man says many of his clients will benefit from a new policy the state recently announced to start paying for gender reasignment surgeries through Medicaid. Maureen McKinney spoke with Vieland this week.

Technology means we are no longer disconnected. Being able to receive good news anywhere, and sharing it with others, can be a thrill. But what about bad news, like a college rejection notice? It's happening for many through email and some believe that puts more stress on today's students. We have a report. And this week marked 154 years since the death of Abraham Lincoln. We hear from a researcher who found out how the average American at the time dealt with the tragedy. Not all of them mourned

Illinois is a long state. Those in southern Illinois are closer to Tennessee than Chicago. And the political leanings can be just as far apart. We talk with a state lawmaker who has signed on to a plan calling for Chicago to be separated from the rest of Illinois. He adds he joined the effort because it's time to start a conversation over policy. Coming together can be difficult - even more so when we talk about consolidating school districts. It might save money, but that's just one

Two proposals to raise Illinois' tax on gasoline have surfaced as a way to help pay for a public works program. Lawmakers and the governor are pushing to get a plan in place during this legislative session, which ends in May. And, a cancer survivor and author explains how finding perspective can help all of us during our darkest times. That and more on this episode of Statewide.

This baseball season marks a century since the infamous Black Sox scandal. Ballplayers and gamblers colluded to throw the World Series. It's recounted in the book and movie titled "Eight Men Out." But new research sheds light on the story we thought we knew. Also, some believe one way to solve the teacher shortage is to reduce test requirements for teachers. We look at the proposals under considertion. That and more on this week's Statewide.

When does freedom of speech and academic freedom go too far? The argument is playing out on college campuses across the country, including right here in Illinois. In some cases, it's pitting students against professors and universities. Also, we've been hearing about the decline of the bee population for years. An Illinois graduate student wants to find out what beekeepers are seeing and build a database. That and more on this week's Statewide.

Despite all the focus on solving the state's teacher shortage, a new survey finds the problem is getting worse. That has sparked more discussion on how to recruit more teachers. We'll hear why some want to change teacher licensing standards. We also get a recap of the 2018 governor's race, which saw spending at record-setting levels. And we learn how one community is coping with a rise in gun violence. That and more on this week's Statewide:

Video gambling has exploded across much of Illinois. The machines are available at corner bars, neighborhood restaurants and more. That means they are easily accessible to the people who are addicted to gambling. Is the state doing enough to help those individuals? We have a report. And Governor J.B. Pritzker has ideas to raise more money for the state. More gambling is one of his proposals. We look at that and a few of his other plans. That and more on this week's Statewide.

Less than two years removed from a state budget impasse, social service agencies are still trying to rebound. That includes mental health providers who say the state needs to put more money into the system. Also, about 40 percent of corn grown in the U.S. is turned into ethanol. But with electric vehicles becoming more popular, the switch has repercussions in Illinois and the rest of the Corn Belt. That and more on this week's Statewide.