Statewide

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

The Man Who Knew The Way To The Moon; The Hunt For Carnegie Pipe Organs

NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS | By Sean Crawford

Published July 18, 2019 at 4:56 PM CDT

This Saturday, July 20, marks the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. Thousands of individuals contributed to that moment in history. That includes an airplane engineer from Illinois, John Houbolt. An Audible original puts the spotlight on him. We talk with the author.
Also , Andrew Carnegie is known for gifts that helped create libraries and other education opportunities. You might not realize that he is also responsible for thousands of pipe organs given across the world, and here in Illinois. A concert organist is on a mission to track down how many remain.

That and more on this episode of Statewide.

* Daisy Contreras talks with scientist Rachel Lickerabout a report predicting more extremne heat days in Illinois and the midwest due to climate change.

* Eric Stock of WGLT explainshow dollar stores have taken adavtange of economic trouble in rural areas.

* Sean Crawford visits with early music scholar Paula Romanauxabout her search for historic Carnegie pipe organs.

* Peter Medlin of WNIJreports on a plan to make civics education mandatory for middle schoolers.

* Amy Mayer with Harvest Public Media tells us how soybean farmers in the midwest may benefit from the rise of aquaculture.

* Sam Dunklau talks with authors Raine Waters and David MacDonald about their book "Kaskaskia: The Lost Capital of Illinois."

* Christine Herman of Illinois Public Media interviews author Todd Zwillich about his Audible original title "The Man Who Knew The Way To The Moon." It focuses on John Houbolt, an engineer and Illinois native, and the role he played in the space program.

Listen to Statewide across Illinois:

Bloomington/Normal – WGLT 89.1 (Fridays 11 a.m. - Noon)
Carbondale – WSIU 91.9 (Sundays 6-7 a.m.)
Mount Vernon - WVSI 88.9 (Sundays 6-7 a.m.)
Olney - WUSI 90.3 (Sundays 6-7 a.m.)
Rockford/DeKalb – WNIJ 89.5 (Saturdays 6-7 a.m., Sundays 6-7 p.m.)
Springfield/Decatur - WUIS 91.9 (Fridays 11 a.m. - Noon, 11 p.m. - Midnight, Saturdays 9-10 a.m.)
Peoria – WCBU 89.9 (Fridays 6-7 p.m.)
Pittsfield - WIPA 89.3 (Fridays 11 a.m. - Noon, 11 p.m. - Midnight, Saturdays 9-10 a.m.)
Urbana/Champaign – WILL 580 (Fridays 11 a.m. - Noon, 7-8 p.m.)