Interviews

Tias checks in with martial arts schools in and around Champaign-Urbana to find out how the pandemic has affect their operations and how they continue to serve their students through this unusual time.

In honor of Community Foundations week, Julie spoke to Joan Dixon and Angie Hatfield Marker of Community Foundation of East Central Illinois about the unique way the foundation is nurturing local nonprofit organizations. 

Annie chats with Soft and Dumb's Elena Buenrostro and Travis Newgren about their past musical experience, their new EP, how quarantine affects their music-making process, and more.

“If COVID-19 was a cocktail, I think It would be something very strong that you'd have to sip on. It probably would not taste very good. This year has been a little bitter and slow.”

We catch up with Huber's West End Store bartender Cassidy Price who shares about the changes they've made for COVID and what remains the same.

Did you know that some of the earliest texts about the real history of witchcraft can be found right here at Illinois Rare Book and Manuscript Library?

Mauricio Contreras, the owner of both La Mixteca and El Oasis, shares about the food at La Mixteca, including Birrikeka which they sell about 80 to 100 dishes of each day, and El Oasis' ice cream with “fruit, water, and brown sugar…[as] the main ingredients.”

Teamoji's co-founders Alex Zhang and general manager Jeffrey Chang recommend different bubble tea on the menu and talk about what sets Teamoji apart: “We launch a new line of products every semester to bring something new to the students.”

Chaundra Bishop wants to employ her background in public health to expand the role of the coroner in Champaign County.

Jaclyn spoke with Anne and Chris Lukeman of CU Adventures about running an in-person centered escape room business during a pandemic.