Podagraph: The Official Pantagraph Podcast

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...

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 spo...

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 his...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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.

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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 gr...

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, “Reas...

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 n...

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 possi...

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 resourc...