A new investigation from the Illinois Answers Project documents tens of thousands of incidents in county jails in recent years … from fires to escape attempts and deaths. Two of the reporters behind the years-long project discuss their findings.

An investigation by ProPublica and NPR Illinois recently found that the University of Illinois may have helped preserve the reputations of sexual harassers. We spoke about how the U of I handles sexual misconduct allegations, and how some people want the process to change. Plus, some descendants of Black civil rights leaders in Chicago want the public to know more about their family members while also protecting them at the same time. And, a road in southern Illinois more than two miles long closes until the end of October every year to make way for migrating snakes. Also, we learned about Illinois’ newest invasive species, the jumping worm.

Was the Soviet Union involved in the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy?

A state senator representing western Champaign County is asking the Illinois Attorney General to investigate Peoples Gas, after a natural gas leak contaminated at least five private water wells north of Mahomet.

On the 21st: We talked with the Chicago Tribune reporter who led the investigation into the pork industry in Illinois, and heard a response from the industry. Plus, we got an update on what's going on with politics in Illinois.