WCBU-FM (NPR; Peoria, Ill., May 19) -- NASA Astronaut and Illinois alumnus Mike Hopkins delivered the commencement address on Saturday at Illinois. Sean Powers, a reporter for WILL at the U. of I., interviewed Hopkins about his experiences in orbit and thoughts about the future of the space program. Also: The News-Gazette (Champaign-Urbana, Ill., May 17), Daily Illini (May 17), CBS (Chicago, May 16), The Republic (from The Associated Press, May 18), Daily Reporter (Greenfield, Ind., from AP, May 18).
Related article: WSIU-FM (NPR; Carbondale, Ill., May 19) -- A NASA astronaut who was Saturday’s commencement speaker at the U. of I. says he’s optimistic political differences between the U.S. and Russia won’t affect the International Space Station.