Sean Crawford
Managing Editor, NPR Illinois/ CAB Ex-OfficioSean has led the NPR Illinois news operations since the fall of 2009. He replaced the only other person to do so in the station's history, Rich Bradley.
Prior to taking over the News Department, Sean worked as Statehouse Bureau Chief for NPR Illinois and other Illinois Public Radio stations. He spent more than a dozen years in the statehouse press room, winning numerous awards for his reporting, including a national Capitolbeat honor for coverage of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment and removal from office.
Overall, Sean has logged 40 years in journalism. He began his broadcasting career at his hometown station WJPF in Herrin, Illinois while still in high school. It was there he learned to cover local government, courts and anything else that made the news.
He spent time in the Joliet area as News Director and Operations Manager for radio station WKBM and worked for a chain of weekly newspapers for two years. Along with news coverage, he reported heavily on sports and did on-air play by play.
Sean hosts weekly shows Statewide and State Week, which air across Illinois Public Radio stations. He holds a Master's Degree in Public Affairs Reporting from the University of Illinois Springfield.
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Lawmakers are scheduled to wrap up their session by May 31. -
Some have taken to the streets to protest. Others take it a step further by not paying their taxes as a form of civil disobedience. -
The work is set to begin May 11. -
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Illinois' average price is highest in the Midwest. -
The testing will take place from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. -
The Illinois Accountability Commission issued its final report into Operation Midway Blitz.
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First Listen for Friday, May 1, 2026
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Local governments across the country are having to decide if the promise of economic benefit with large scale data centers offsets environmental and consumer concerns. Several projects are proposed across Illinois, while the state already has dozens of the facilities.
