Illinois gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin dodges questions on a federal abortion ban

Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin held a rare press conference Monday that turned into repeated questions about the possibility of overturning Roe v. Wade. The fundraising frontrunner among Republicans in the Illinois governor’s race repeatedly dodged questions Monday about his stance on a possible national abortion ban and whether he voted for former President Donald Trump […]
Former central Illinois congressman Tim Johnson dies

URBANA – Former Illinois Congressman Tim Johnson has died. Johnson’s former chief of staff, Mark Shelden, reported his death on his Facebook page on Tuesday morning. An obituary published on Sunday May 15 in the News-Gazette and at the Renner-Wikoff funeral home website says the 75-year-old Johnson died Monday night at Carle Foundation Hospital in […]
Pilot program to send mental health professionals with law officers in 4 Illinois communities

SPRINGFIELD – Police departments in four communities in Illinois will be part of a co-responder pilot program that aims to send social workers and mental health professionals on law enforcement calls. That was part of House Bill 4736, a measure signed into law Tuesday by Gov. JB Pritzker in Peoria, one of the four communities in […]
Appellate Justice Lisa Holder White named to replace Justice Garman

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court announced Tuesday that 4th District Appellate Justice Lisa Holder White has been appointed to succeed Justice Rita Garman, making her the first Black woman to serve on the state’s high court. “Being appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court is the honor of a lifetime. I am humbled by the confidence […]
Farmers in the Plains are in ‘dire straits’ due to drought, wildfire conditions

Most of Illinois has had plenty of rain, but even with a few recent rains, much of the Great Plains are in a drought. Wildfires have swept across the grasslands and farmers are worried about how they’ll make it through the growing season. https://cpa.ds.npr.org/s60/audio/2022/05/drought-in-plains-hpm-web2.wav Listen to this story here. Randy Uhrmacher is in his tractor, […]
217 Today: Recent rains aren’t enough to erase drought conditions across the Great Plains

Tuesday, May 10, 2022 Today’s headlines: State Supreme Court Justice Rita Garman says she’ll retire in July after 48 years on the bench at every level of the judiciary. The best-funded candidate in the Illinois Republican primary for governor Monday dodged questions about his support for Donald Trump and Roe v. Wade. Supporters of abortion […]