Episodes

  • iGAIT: Where AI Meets Autism Research at NIU

    iGAIT: Where AI Meets Autism Research at NIU
    May 22 2025
    Northern Illinois University researchers are developing a new kind of AI — one that looks at how we walk to help identify potential signs of autism. This episode dives into “iGAIT,” a machine learning model designed to supplement autism screenings at home. Host Kelsey Rettke interviews the NIU team leading this work and explains how their cross-campus collaboration could change the way families and healthcare systems approach early autism evaluations.

    The NIU team includes:
    Ziteng Wang, phD, associate professor in NIU's Dept of Industrial and Systems Engineering
    Allison Gladfelter, phD and associate professor in NIU's School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders
    Milijana Buac, phD and associate professor in NIU's School of Allied Health and Communicative Disorders
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    50 mins
  • State Rep. Amy Briel on rural healthcare access and more

    State Rep. Amy Briel on rural healthcare access and more
    May 8 2025
    State Rep. Amy “Murri” Briel of the 76th district talks with Shaw Local reporter Bill Freskos about rural healthcare access, the state of local hospitals and her objectives in the Illinois General Assembly.
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    20 mins
  • DeKalb School District 428 Board candidates debate, part 2

    DeKalb School District 428 Board candidates debate, part 2
    Mar 26 2025
    Candidates for DeKalb School District 428 Board Jose Jaques, Twangie Smith and James Mitchell debate the issues facing D-428 ahead of the April 1 election in a candidate forum hosted by Shaw Local's Kelsey Rettke and Megann Horstead.

    Election questionnaires:

    Jaques: https://www.shawlocal.com/daily-chronicle/2025/03/08/2025-election-questionnaire-jose-jaques-dekalb-school-district-428-board-of-education/

    Smith: https://www.shawlocal.com/daily-chronicle/2025/03/21/2025-election-questionnaire-twangie-smith-dekalb-school-district-428-board-of-education/

    Listen to part one of our debate with the other candidates on the slate here: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/dekalb-district-428-school-board-candidates-debate--64934700
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    48 mins
  • Sycamore District 427 school board candidate forum

    Sycamore District 427 school board candidate forum
    Mar 25 2025
    Five candidates seek four four-year terms on the Sycamore District 427 school board, though only one seat is a contested race. Only two candidates can be elected from each township listed on the ballot. Running for Sycamore Township seats on the school board are (pick 2): incumbent Michael DeVito, incumbent Eric Jones and newcomer Cole Regnery. Running to represent Cortland Township on the school board are (pick 2): Heather Tomlinson and incumbent Alan Zantout. Running uncontested to fill a two-year unexpired term is Christian Copple.

    Jones declined to participate in the Shaw Local virtual forum. Zantout did not respond to an invitation.
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    46 mins
  • DeKalb City Clerk candidate forum

    DeKalb City Clerk candidate forum
    Mar 24 2025
    Candidates for DeKalb City Clerk: Brad Hoey, Lynn Fazekas and Steve Kapitan debated the issues in the race ahead of the April 1 election with Shaw Local's Kelsey Rettke and Megann Horstead.
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • DeKalb City Council Ward 2 candidates: Barbara Larson and Michael Embrey

    DeKalb City Council Ward 2 candidates: Barbara Larson and Michael Embrey
    Mar 19 2025
    Barbara Larson and Michael Embrey, candidates for DeKalb City Council Ward 2 debated the issues facing DeKalb ahead of the April 1 election in a Shaw Local candidates forum with Kelsey Rettke and Megann Horstead.

    Election questionnaires:

    Barbara Larson: https://www.shawlocal.com/daily-chronicle/2025/03/17/2025-election-questionnaire-barbara-larson-dekalb-city-council-second-ward/

    Michael Embrey: https://www.shawlocal.com/daily-chronicle/2025/03/09/2025-election-questionnaire-michael-embrey-dekalb-city-council-ward-2-alderman/
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    39 mins
  • John Walker, DeKalb mayoral candidate

    John Walker, DeKalb mayoral candidate
    Mar 17 2025
    John Walker, a candidate for Mayor of DeKalb, answered questions about his positions on the issues facing the city from Shaw Local's Kelsey Rettke and Megann Horstead. Walker was unable to make our previous mayoral candidate forum, which is available in a separate podcast.
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    22 mins
  • DeKalb District 428 School Board candidates debate

    DeKalb District 428 School Board candidates debate
    Mar 17 2025
    DeKalb School District 428 candidates vying for 3 open full-term seats on the board debate the issues ahead of the April 1 election. Seven of the 10 candidates were present for the candiate forum

    PRESENT: Marilyn Parker, Derek Shaw, Kristin Bailey, Erin Grych, Nick Atwood, Brandon Elion, Howard Solomon.

    NOT PRESENT: Candidates Jose Jaques, Twangie Smith and James Mitchell. Resident Mark Charvat is running unopposed for a 2-year unexpired term

    Learn more about the election and the candidates on our website: https://www.shawlocal.com/tags/2025-election-dekalb-school-district-428-board/
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    1 hr and 36 mins