Illinois Policy Unpacked

What happens when fluoridated water goes away? (with Dr. Helen Lee)

In this episode, pediatric anesthesiologist Helen Lee discusses the vital role fluoridated water plays in preventing tooth decay and protecting children's health. Drawing on her experience caring for children, especially those enrolled in Medicaid who often face barriers to dental care, she explains the consequences communities can face when fluoridation is removed, the potential costs for Illinois if it were discontinued, and the scientific debate surrounding the recent National Toxicology Program report on fluoride and neurological health. Read the full report: https://bit.ly/4eBQBew [https://bit.ly/4eBQBew] Learn more about Dr. Lee's PROTECT Lab: https://sites.google.com/uic.edu/protect/home

The collateral consequences of school discipline records in Illinois (with Eve Rips)

In this episode of Illinois Policy Unpacked, Eve Rips, an assistant professor at UIC Law, shines a light on the consequences of K-12 discipline records in college admissions and professional licensure. Rips recommends two policy solutions to ease these inequities. Read her latest report with IGPA here >> [https://igpa.uillinois.edu/reports/policy-spotlights/report-highlights-long-term-barriers-posed-by-persistence-of-k-12-school-disciplinary-records-in-college-admissions-professional-licensing-decisions?utm_source=buzzsprout&utm_medium=podcast+description&utm_campaign=rips_policyspotlight]

How COVID relief funds changed Illinois schools (with Craig De Voto)

In this episode of Illinois Policy Unpacked, host Kristen Chandler speaks with Craig De Voto, research assistant professor at the Learning Sciences Research Institute at the University of Illinois Chicago. De Voto unpacks how Illinois schools used federal ESSER funds distributed during the COVID-19 pandemic to address learning loss, what results those investments have produced, and what’s policy recommendations could address the impending education funding crisis.

How parties really view ranked choice voting (with Brian Gaines)

In this episode of Illinois Policy Unpacked, host Kristen Chandler speaks with Brian Gaines, Honorable W. Russell Arrington Professor in State Politics for the University of Illinois system. Gaines details his latest policy analysis exploring partisan preferences toward ranked choice voting, along with its potential impact to Illinois, the Republican and Democratic parties, and American voters.

The cost of keeping Illinois moving (with Richard Funderburg and Paula Worthington)

In this episode of Illinois Policy Unpacked, Richard Funderburg, professor of public management and policy at the University of Illinois Springfield, and Paula Worthington, senior policy advisor at the Civic Federation and lecturer at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago, discuss Illinois’ growing transit budget crisis. They examine ridership trends since the pandemic and explore both short and long-term policy solutions to ensure the sustainability of public transportation across the state.