Podagraph: The Official Pantagraph Podcast

Government Reporter Derek Beigh interviews Health Editor Paul Swiech about his breast cancer awareness package in Saturday’s Pantagraph, including a profile of cancer survivor Andrea Kane.

Paul discusses risk factors for breast cancer, how Andrea leaned on her workout family during treatment, what anyone can learn from her “quiet strength,” a Monday end-of-life planning event and the latest on vaping.

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Music by Sappheiros

Government Reporter Derek Beigh interviews Education and Public Safety Reporter Kelsey Watznauer about McLean County Unit 5 schools, starting with the Normal-based district’s long-standing transportation woes.

Kelsey discusses why Unit 5 has so much trouble getting students to school, where those problems originated and what changes may be on the horizon.

Plus: the search for a superintendent, adding lacrosse at the high-school level, a WorldSkills finalist and Normal West High’s 25th birthday celebration.

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Government Reporter Derek Beigh interviews Sports Editor Randy Kindred about the Chicago Bears, starting with his Sunday column on Pantagraph alum Will Larkin and the Chicago Tribune’s 100 Best Bears series.

Randy discusses how he chose to write about Larkin, his favorite eras of Chicago Bears history, how common Bears fandom is in Central Illinois and the paper’s different approaches to pro, college and high school sports.

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Education and Public Safety Reporter Kelsey Watznauer interviews Government Reporter Derek Beigh about his Sunday story on the McLean County Museum of History’s project to preserve early negatives from The Pantagraph, many of which will be published for the first time this week.

Derek discusses how these negatives have withstood the test of time, what the museum and its partners have done to bring them back to life and how historians the world over can access them online starting Wednesday.

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Government Reporter Derek Beigh interviews Health Editor Paul Swiech about his Sunday story on the link between mass shootings and mental illness, a national conversation again after August massacres in El Paso and Dayton.

Paul discusses how closely the issues are linked; what we lose by stigmatizing mental illness; tips for those who struggle with mental illness or have loved ones who do; and how stereotypes and easy explanations can fall short.

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Government Reporter Derek Beigh interviews Higher Education Reporter Lenore Sobota about the new semester at Illinois State University, kicking off Aug. 19 in Normal.

Lenore discusses how to steer clear of move-in days; what’s new with Bone Student Center and other ISU facilities; and the latest ‘Explore with Lenore.’

Music by Sappheiros

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Government Reporter Derek Beigh interviews Sportswriter Bruce Yentes about his weekly motorsports column, including Friday’s on the Prairie Dirt Classic, one of the nation’s biggest dirt late model races, this weekend in Fairbury.

Bruce discusses what defines dirt late model racing, how amped the local community gets for the classic and how he finds ideas for weekly features.

Music by Sappheiros

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Government Reporter Derek Beigh interviews Higher Education Reporter Lenore Sobota about “Explore with Lenore,” a new series that spotlights the beautiful and diverse outdoor environments of Central Illinois.

Lenore discusses what she loves about the first three destinations featured in the series, how she approaches such a personal assignment and what she’s working on to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing this week.

Music by Sappheiros

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Government Reporter Derek Beigh interviews Bill Kemp, librarian at the McLean County Museum of History, about the downtown State Farm building hours after the company announced that community institution will be razed.

Bill discusses how the building was built over four stages and several years; what it’s meant to the company, Bloomington-Normal and places beyond; and what lies ahead for the downtown district where the museum also sits.

Music by Sappheiros

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Education and Public Safety Reporter Kelsey Watznauer interviews Government Reporter Derek Beigh about electric car adoption, a one-time Twin City priority that’s slowed but may emerge again under Rivian.

Derek discusses the ambitious origins and decline of the EVTown initiative, how Rivian fits into the local market and what to expect from the future of electric automotive technology.

Music by Sappheiros

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Government Reporter Derek Beigh interviews Higher Education Reporter Lenore Sobota about motorcycle safety, a critical focus for riders and other drivers during the warm summer riding months.

Lenore discusses how smart practices and classes can help motorcycle riders increase their chances of staying safe, what other drivers should keep in mind when they see one and the trauma of riders hurt on the highway.

Music by Sappheiros

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Government Reporter Derek Beigh interviews Reporter Kevin Barlow about his Sunday story on State Farm’s Heritage Unit, a treasure trove of Bloomington-Normal and insurance history tucked away at corporate headquarters.

Kevin discusses the former archaeologist who runs the unit, what curiosities lurk inside and why it’s important for a company to document its history.

Music by Sappheiros

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Government Reporter Derek Beigh interviews Health Editor Paul Swiech about his Saturday story on Camp Limberlost, an educational summer camp for selected fourth through sixth grade students in Bloomington-Normal.

Paul discusses what the camp tries to teach kids, how it’s persisted for nearly 90 years and what it can show adults about being part of their community.

Music by Sappheiros

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Education and Public Safety Reporter Kelsey Watznauer interviews Government Reporter Derek Beigh talk about his Sunday story on renewable energy as wind and solar development continue to be hot topics in Illinois.

Derek discusses the latest on McLean County’s wind and solar farms, legislation that could have a big impact on the industry’s future and what to expect as the General Assembly heads into overtime this weekend.

Music by Sappheiros

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Government Reporter Derek Beigh interviews Higher Education Reporter Lenore Sobota about her upcoming story on boating safety, a hot topic as Central Illinois takes to the water for Memorial Day weekend and beyond.

Lenore shares tips to stay safe, the consequences of reckless behavior on lakes and rivers and her experiences as a longtime kayaker and instructor.

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Government Reporter Derek Beigh interviews Higher Education Reporter Lenore Sobota about her Sunday story on the McLean County Interfaith Alliance, a local organization that promotes religious freedom and tolerance.

Lenore discusses how the group came together following the 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, the projects it’s taken on in addition to being a support through tragedy and how the alliance is still growing.

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Government Reporter Derek Beigh interviews Legal Affairs and Courts Reporter Edith Brady-Lunny and Steve Vogel about their new book, “The Unforgiven: The Untold Story of One Woman’s Search for Love and Justice.”

Edith and Steve discuss why they wrote a book about the 2003 drownings at Clinton Lake, how it differs from other true-crime books and why the genre has proved popular — as with Steve’s previous book, “Reasonable Doubt.”

No Podagraph episodes will publish next week.

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Government Reporter Derek Beigh interviews Legal Affairs and Courts Reporter Edith Brady-Lunny about her ongoing coverage of the trial of Kirk Zimmerman, who’s accused of killing his ex-wife in Bloomington in 2014.

Edith discusses the state and defense each resting their case this week, with closing arguments expected Thursday, and what to expect from deliberations and a possible sentencing.

No Podagraph episodes will publish next week.

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Government Reporter Derek Beigh interviews Legal Affairs and Courts Reporter Edith Brady-Lunny about her ongoing coverage of the trial of Kirk Zimmerman, who’s accused of killing his ex-wife in Bloomington in 2014.

Edith discusses this week’s proceedings, including a timeline of Zimmerman’s location around the time his ex-wife was killed and cell tower data that places him for a suspected gun purchase, with a possible conclusion next week.

There will be no regular Podagraph episode this week.

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Government Reporter Derek Beigh interviews Education and Public Safety Reporter Kelsey Watznauer about her Sunday story on school safety, a long-standing concern for local districts in sharper focus under a new state law.

Kelsey discusses how McLean County schools are ahead of the curve on safety, how their approaches differ for active shooters and what they’re still trying to improve with more communication and school resource officers.

Music by Sappheiros

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