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Peoria Political Reporter Chris Kaergard Talks #BudgetBeard

NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS | By Amanda Vinicky

Published July 1, 2016 at 12:13 PM CDT

It's not often the worlds of state government and hair-care converge - but one Illinois reporter has changed that.

Our Statehouse Bureau chief, Amanda Vinicky, speaks with her longtime friend and fellow journo Chris Kaergard of the Peoria Journal Star. He tells her about why he decided to grow out his facial hair for as long as it took to put together a state budget - and whether or not he plans to shave it now that a stop-gap budget has passed: