New details emerge in University of Illinois police investigation of Akul Dhawan’s death, including alcohol consumption and police timeline
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The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Police Department says they acted immediately on the information they had at the time, some of which they learned after his death was inaccurate.
Parents say student found dead on University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus was an “energetic, happy-go-lucky kid”
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Akul Dhawan’s friend called campus police about an hour after midnight on Saturday, Jan. 20. It wasn’t until 10 hours later that an unrelated university employee found the 18-year-old dead on a nearby porch.
One in 10 students skips or reduces meals to save money. Some Illinois lawmakers want to help
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One in 10 college students are food insecure, according to a 2020 University of Illinois study of U.S. Census data. Some Illinois lawmakers want to change this.
Illinois to report for first time how many prisoners are taking college courses – and how many are waiting for access
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There will be public data for the first time this year on the enrollment, demographics and waitlists for higher education programs in Illinois prisons, thanks to the Higher Education in Prison Act.
Do you want your child to go to an English-Spanish or other dual language school? The state wants to help
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Illinois state representative Abdelnasser Rashid sponsored HB3822 this year to help school districts expand their dual language programs.
Racial covenants limited housing options for Black residents in Champaign; a local group aims to repair that harm
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Racial covenants restricted almost 800 pieces of land in Champaign County from being owned by anyone who wasn’t white. The Champaign-Urbana Reparations Coalition is starting to advocate for reparations for this for African Americans in the area.
Illinois has created a Rural Education Advisory Council. Teachers don’t have to be on it
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The Rural Education Advisory Council can make recommendations to the State Board of Education. It won’t have any decision-making power.
The University of Illinois SHIELD saliva test company is winding down. What lessons has the testing team learned?
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This winter marks the last stage for one of the most impactful inventions at the University of Illinois in recent years – a saliva-based test for COVID-19.
Alana Banks made history as the first Black, transgender woman on a school board in the United States. How is she doing now?
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Alana Banks made history two years ago, becoming the first Black and transgender woman elected to a school board in the country. Still, she has found balancing the demands of the communities she represents challenging.
How does Illinois compare to other states on transgender rights?
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According to the Movement Advancement Project, 21 states have banned gender-affirming medicine for trans youth. In response, Illinois passed a law this year protecting patients and providers who cross into the state for care.
This Danville School is leading East-Central Illinois in improving reading skills for Black students
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Meade Park Elementary School in Danville stands out among east-central Illinois schools.
Illinois teachers start I3 training on new social studies curriculum
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University of Illinois hosts inclusive, inquiry-based training for Illinois social studies teachers.
After Dennis Lab closure, Decatur Public Schools hires engineers to check structural safety of all district schools
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The Decatur Public Schools board has hired an engineering company to check the structural safety of all 24 of its buildings.
As Urbana school board considers redistricting company, Spanish-English dual language program remains central question
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The Urbana school board plans to hire an outside company on Tuesday to redistrict its schools.
Urbana school board votes to permanently end Wiley Elementary classes, reopen building as sixth grade center
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The Urbana District 116 school board voted 4-to-3 on Tuesday to open the sixth grade center in the former Wiley Elementary.