When we think of virtual reality, we probably think of entertainment. Putting on a headset and seeing a virtual, 3D experience. But increasingly, researchers are using this technology to help individuals with disabilities navigate the real world.

Educators and students across Illinois have struggled with a teacher shortage for years, and it’s a problem that our state will continue to face for the foreseeable future. Right now that shortage is estimated at 18-hundred educators, but that number is projected to be closer to 20,000 by the year 2025.

Convenience. If there were ever a word to summarize a lot of our motivations, that would be it. And the economy has obliged. Perhaps the clearest sign of that is disposable plastic. From disposable cups, to take out containers or coffee stirrers. It takes 400 years for each of these “little conveniences” to break down naturally. In the meantime, a lot ends up in mid-western lakes and rivers.

Many disposable plastic products can take hundreds of years to decompose, filling up lakes and landfills in Illinois. We talked about proposed state bills that limit plastic waste. And, Golden Apple Foundation president Alan Mather and his organization are working on ways to help address the teacher shortage here in Illinois. We heard from him about what else he would like to see done. Plus, when it comes to virtual reality, most people think of entertainment. But we heard from a researcher who thinks it’s an opportunity to level the playing field for people with disabilities.

Think about your favorite board games growing up, maybe it was Monopoly, Candy Land or Risk. You might think board games are just for kids, or have declined in popularity since video games came on the scene. But board games are booming. The global sale of board games and puzzles are expected to reach over 21 billion dollars by 2025.

Hemp and marijuana look and smell, a lot alike.To the untrained eye or nose, it’s hard to tell the difference between the two. That’s presenting a problem for hemp growers in Illinois, who are losing crop to thieves who steal it, thinking it’s marijuana.

Some hemp growers in Illinois are finding that their plant is being mistaken for something else, marijuana, making their hemp crop a target for thieves. Plus, Illinois could soon join California, New York and New Jersey in banning discrimination based on hair. And, global sales of board games are expected to reach over 21 billion dollars in the next 5 years. We talked to some of the Illinois folks behind the gaming boom.

Many black women and men say they've been denied work or educational opportunities because of the hairstyles or hair texture. A bill under consideration may make that kind of discrimination illegal in Illinois.

Looking to spice things up? There are plenty of hot sauce options right here in the midwest. 

Many of us have probably experienced the hassle of a delayed flight or lost bag when flying commercially. But what if the luggage has a life-saving organ? Thousands of organs are transported by airlines every year. A recent investigation by Kaiser Health News and the investigative news podcast Reveal explores what happens when those organs get lost in transit.