Good morning!

Welcome to this edition of the Morning Drive Podcast; In today’s episode, we look into hungry artists, dry crops and hot, hot weather.

But first, some news:

►During a visit Monday to a southern Illinois corn and soybean farm, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn announced that drought-affected farmers would be eligible for state debt restructuring and loan programs in addition to the aid the USDA announced last week.

►Some black congressmen from Chicago are praising Metra for taking another look at hiring minority contractors. That’s after months of criticizing the rail service for not giving black workers the chance for new construction jobs.

►Independent mediator Edwin Benn says teachers deserve a 14.85 percent raise because the mandate for a longer day means they could be working 19.4 percent more time. Benn’s recommendation falls midway between the initial offers put forth by the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools.

Featured in the podcast:

►This week, WBEZ takes a look into the lives of young, and hungry, Chicago artists.

Blogs we’re reading this morning:

►WBEZ blogger Claire Zulkey looks into a FOX news story about sexy “pranks” to pull on your loved one, and the crazy comments that followed it.

And your WEATHER for today: There will be a heat advisory in effect from 10 am this morning to 10 pm this evening. It’s going to be mostly sunny until the late afternoon, then becoming partly cloudy, very hot and humid, highs around 100 degrees. Peak afternoon heat index readings 104 to 109. Then tonight, partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, muggy, lows in the mid 70s except upper 70s downtown.

Then tomorrow it should get a bit cooler, partly sunny with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, highs around 90 degrees. Then some winds into Wednesday night, with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, lows in the lower 70s except in the mid 70s downtown.

Today’s featured music is Belle and Sebastian “If You’re Feeling Sinister.”

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