Prairie Fire

Prairie Fire returns this week with stories about Paralympian Susannah Scaroni, restauranteur Mubanga Chanda and "American Idol" star Leah Marlene.

On the June edition of Prairie Fire, we meet two Illinois artists of different stripes, learn the history of the University of Illinois’ famous cherry blossom trees and hear some not-so-kind words about the Prairie from author Charles Dickens (yes, that Charles Dickens).

This month, we introduce you to a local gardener with an incredible story, we sit down with a former Prairie Fire host and learn about her favorite segments, and we get an in-studio performance from an Illinois roots musician.

We take a trip to Monticello, Illinois to bring you the story of "The Brown Bag", a popular deli that has been a local favorite for close to 50 years! We will also introduce you to someone with an incredible and unbelievable story that took her across the world and back home again to Central Illinois.

On the September episode of Prairie Fire, we introduce you to a Frank Lloyd Wright designed home in Riverside Illinois. We travel McLean, Illinois for a tour of an old-school gaming paradise called Arcadia. Charles Dickens gets a chance to redeem himself when we join him for a trip down the Mississippi River, and we get a performance by Los Tejanos to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

Episode six of Prairie Fire takes us on location to the Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur to enjoy the colors and cucurbits of the season. We get a personal tour of the newly redecorated Illinois Governor's Mansion from First Lady MK Pritzker. And we travel to a spooky hotel in Alton, Illinois with historian and author Troy Taylor, who's an expert on Illinois ghost stories.

This month on Prairie Fire, we take a look back at three of the segments that help celebrate the great downstate in Illinois, including a profile of Paralympian and Boston Marathon winner Susannah Scaroni. First Lady MK Pritzker gives us an exclusive tour of the redecorated Illinois Governor's Mansion. And we visit with renowned Illinois painter and sculptor Preston Jackson in Peoria.

In this holiday edition of Prairie Fire, we travel to Bull Valley, Illinois and introduce you to a special program geared towards helping veterans. The U of I Black Chorus visits WILL for a special holiday performance. And finally, we once again visit with author Charles Dickens as he gives us a preview of the new Christmas story he has been working on.

This month on Prairie Fire, we meet "Candy" Foster, one of central Illinois' biggest names in R&B and blues and Eric Robinson, a historian and expert on the Illinois Underground Railroad. We also introduce you to a new initiative at Illinois Public Media to amplify Black Voices: Illinois Soul.