Illinois’ student population decreased since last school year. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen discusses the decrease in public school students in Illinois with Chalkbeat Chicago’s Samantha Smylie, learns about Black organizing pre-Civil War in Illinois with Northwestern University history professor Kate Masur, and discovers the Secret History of local saxman J.T. Brown. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

A view of Kaskaskia, IL. (Photo credit: Illinois Humanities. Used with permission.)

Mike Stephen learns about the fascinating history of Kaskaskia, IL, from Illinois Humanities’ Matt Meacham and then dives into the story of the 1980s-era metal band Witchslayer. To subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.

We get a state education legislation update. (Photo credit: Mike Stephen/WGN Radio)

Mike Stephen gets an update on education legislation in Springfield from Chalkbeat Chicago state education reporter Samantha Smylie and learns about Shorefront, an organization working to tell the story of Black history in the North Shore community, from its founder and executive director Dino Robinson. Also, it’s pothole season in Chicago! o subscribe to the OTL podcast, please visit our Apple Podcasts Page, Spotify, or our RSS feed.