Reporters Weigh In On Illinois Issues

Here & Now's Jeremy Hobson is broadcasting from WILL in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, and he's taking a look at some of the issues facing this Midwestern state with two journalists who work there. Jim Meadows is a senior reporter at WILL, and Niala Boodhoo is the afternoon host at WBEZ in Chicago.

Illinois is grappling with budget problems. The fiscal year ended last month with 46,000 unpaid bills, while Chicago, the state's largest city, has seen some very violent weekends this summer. Sixteen people were killed and more than 80 people were wounded on the Fourth of July weekend alone.

On Sunday, Illinois' Democratic governor Pat Quinn renewed his call for a ban assault weapons and expand background checks.