Derek Cantù | WGLT

Derek Cantù

Derek Cantù is NPR Illinois' graduate student Public Affairs Reporting intern for the spring 2021 legislative session. 

 

Derek earned a B.S. in History and Secondary Education from Bradley University and an M.S. in Curriculum & Instruction from Kansas State University.

 

Derek has previous experience working as a James H. Dunn fellow (education policy analyst), a high school social studies teacher, and a Fulbright fellow in the Slovak Republic. 

State Lawmakers Debate Police Reform, Changes to Criminal Justice System

By • Jan 11, 2021

Illinois lawmakers spent much of their weekend session debating criminal justice reform bills.

The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus is using the lame-duck session to address a range of social equity issues, from healthcare to education to criminal justice.

Attorney General Joins Forces With FBI To Investigate Unemployment Fraud

By • Jan 9, 2021

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is teaming up with the FBI to investigate a spate of fraudulent unemployment claims during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

GOP Lawmakers Again Demand Answers On State Unemployment Agency Failures

By & • Jan 7, 2021

  

GOP lawmakers are again demanding answers from Gov. JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Employment Securities over the state’s processing of unemployment benefits. 

GOP Members Introduce Bill To Distance Redistricting Process From Politicians

By & • Jan 5, 2021

Every decade, the year after a Census, state lawmakers are tasked with adopting new legislative maps for Illinois, which can shift the balance of power in certain areas with demographic changes.

Republicans Say They're Still Waiting On Pritzker's Budget Cut Ideas

By & • Jan 4, 2021

  Illinois House Republicans say they’re still waiting on Gov. JB Pritzker to propose specific spending cuts to the state’s current year state budget, which is $4 billion out of balance.