Audio Journalism
This section features my work for Illinois Public Media in both audio and web journalism, with a focus on impactful storytelling and immersive reporting that centers underrepresented voices. I cover the "Economy" and "Social Policy" beats. Curious? Check out my stories
My most recent stories
Explore a featured selection of my writing work below. All audio stories are accompanied by digital NPR-style stories.
Abortion laws are all over the map. A new online tool from U of I researchers will help track them - IPM Newsroom
URBANA — Ever since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022, abortion laws have been literally all over the map, and difficult to track. But Robin Fretwell Wilson, a professor at the University of Illinois College of Law, is working to make it easier to track abortion laws.
Wilson presented her team’s research on April 10 during Urbana-Champaign Reproductive Justice Week in Champaign-Urbana. The goal is to create a new website designed to help people understand abortion laws across all 50 states....
Wilson presented her team’s research on April 10 during Urbana-Champaign Reproductive Justice Week in Champaign-Urbana. The goal is to create a new website designed to help people understand abortion laws across all 50 states....
How Trump’s tariffs could threaten construction and housing affordability in Champaign-Urbana - IPM Newsroom
CHAMPAIGN — This spring, the lumber yard at LS Building Products in Champaign looks different: stacks of two-by-fours, vinyl siding and plywood stretch higher than usual, packed snug into every corner of the yard.
“There’s a ton of overstock lumber in the yard right now,” said warehouse manager Gilvie Zook. “And honestly, in this yard alone, we haven’t had probably this much lumber here in five or six years.”
This is the first time they have overstocked to this level since COVID-19, he said, an...
“There’s a ton of overstock lumber in the yard right now,” said warehouse manager Gilvie Zook. “And honestly, in this yard alone, we haven’t had probably this much lumber here in five or six years.”
This is the first time they have overstocked to this level since COVID-19, he said, an...
Fueling change: UIUC students vote on fossil fuel divestment this week - IPM Newsroom
URBANA — Voting season for students at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign begins this week. Elections for the Campus Student Election Commission will be held online from Feb. 25 through Feb. 27 through the One Illinois platform.
One of the questions on the ballot asks students to weigh in on the issue of campus financial investments in fossil fuel companies.
The referendum asks students: “Should the University of Illinois System remove its fossil fuels investments within 5 years?”
“It i...
One of the questions on the ballot asks students to weigh in on the issue of campus financial investments in fossil fuel companies.
The referendum asks students: “Should the University of Illinois System remove its fossil fuels investments within 5 years?”
“It i...
C-U advocates respond to Trump executive orders that take aim at trans rights, bodily autonomy - IPM Newsroom
URBANA – Local advocates for reproductive justice gathered in Urbana Saturday, Feb. 8, to address growing concerns about the erosion of bodily autonomy in the current political climate.
Since President Trump took office, he’s signed numerous executive orders aimed at limiting the rights of transgender people and curbing access to abortion.
“In the current administration, we feel more attacks on the areas that we’re working in,” said Julie Laut, the founder of Urbana-Champaign Reproductive Justi...
Since President Trump took office, he’s signed numerous executive orders aimed at limiting the rights of transgender people and curbing access to abortion.
“In the current administration, we feel more attacks on the areas that we’re working in,” said Julie Laut, the founder of Urbana-Champaign Reproductive Justi...
Accessibility blocked: U of I senior dropped disability studies minor over inaccessible bathrooms - IPM Newsroom
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign was a pioneer in campus accessibility, and remains one of the most accessible schools in the world. But issues still persist, creating barriers for some disabled students, like Alyx Bibbs, a U of I senior and a wheelchair user.
Bibbs is majoring in recreation, sport and tourism, and for the past three years, they have been working hard towards their minor in disability studies.
But with one required class left, Bibbs said they had to drop the minor —...
Bibbs is majoring in recreation, sport and tourism, and for the past three years, they have been working hard towards their minor in disability studies.
But with one required class left, Bibbs said they had to drop the minor —...
Some worry ‘Middle Eastern North African’ census designation will be misused if Trump wins - IPM Newsroom
The category of Middle Eastern North African, or MENA, was added to the U.S. Census earlier this year. It’s a change the MENA community had been trying to achieve since 1997 when the last major changes to race and ethnic categories in the Census were made.
The MENA race category was proposed during the Obama presidency and was ignored by the Trump administration in 2016. Then, in March, the Biden administration announced adding MENA as a race category to the next Census.
But with a potential T...
The MENA race category was proposed during the Obama presidency and was ignored by the Trump administration in 2016. Then, in March, the Biden administration announced adding MENA as a race category to the next Census.
But with a potential T...
