Statewide

Reporting from in and around Illinois.Listen to Statewide on WNIJ Saturdays 6-7 a.m. and Sundays 6-7 p.m.

Statewide: The Chicago Bears' Big Gamble

NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS | By Sean Crawford

Published September 24, 2021 at 5:51 AM CDT

The NFL's Chicago Bears have called Soldier Field home since 1971. But the team is apparently eyeing a suburban site. Can Chicago keep the Bears in the city? And what would the club gain by moving?

Also, Afghan refugees are headed to Illinois for resettlement. We talk with those who will help with the process.

And, vacuum cleaner enthusiasts meet for their annual convention. Those stories and more on this episode of Statewide.

Our lineup:

* Sean Crawford talks with Tony Arnold of WBEZ about his reporting on the Chicago Bears and their landlord at Soldier Field, the Chicago Park District.

* The State Journal-Register's Ryan Mahan joins us to talk about the Illinois High School Association rule regarding forfeits and how it is causing some football players to miss out on games.

* Caroline Kubzansky reports on Afghan refugees being resettled in Illinois and the challenges they face.

* Side Effects Public Media brings us the story of how the focus on COVID-19 vaccinations has left many children unprotected from other diseases.
* Rich Egger with TriStates Public Radio provides an update on Western Illinois University enrollment and efforts to attract more students at the Macomb and Quad Cities campuses.

* Jonathon Ahl of St. Louis Public Radio visited with those who collect vacuum cleaners about their hobby.

* WGLT's Ryan Denham reports on shifts in the labor market leading some to consider the trades.

* Dana Cronin talks with Ashley Maybanks of The Nature Conservancy about the new climate and energy law in Illinois.

* Seth Bodine of Harvest Public Media has a story on cover crops and why they might not be for all food producers.