Police: Savoy man threatened violence against Champaign mayor, Campustown mass shooting
URBANA – A Savoy resident is facing a Class X felony charge of “Making A Terrorist Threat” after he sent emails to the mayor of Champaign threatening to commit a mass shooting. Meanwhile, Mayor Feinen says she’s grateful to Champaign Police and the Champaign County’s State’s Attorney’s office for their actions in the case. Feinen […]
Concerts with Sinfonia da Camera mark the return of the U of I’s Summer Piano Institute
After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Summer Piano Institute has returned to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The institute concludes with two concerts featuring piano concertos performed with Sinfonia da Camera. Institute faculty Timothy Ehlen and Hie-Yon Choi will perform piano concertos by Florence Price and Brahms, in addition to the […]
A Bloodhound from St. Joseph wins at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show
TARRYTOWN, NY – A bloodhound, born and bred in St. Joseph, Illinois, has won the 146th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. The four-and-a-half-year-old dog, named Trumpet (his official show name is Flessner’s Toot My Own Horn), bested six other finalists on Wednesday night to snare U.S. dogdom’s most coveted Best In Show prize. Trumpet is […]
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 […]
‘Voice of the Illini’ sportscaster Jim Turpin has died at age 90
URBANA – Longtime Illini sportscaster Jim Turpin died Sunday. The News-Gazette said the 90-year-old Turpin had recently suffered a fall and died with family members at his side. Jim Turpin first broadcast Illinois football, basketball and baseball games on WILL Radio in the late 1950s, while he was a University of Illinois student. After a […]
WILL At 100: From its first broadcast on April 6 1922, WILL evolves from high-tech novelty to pioneer broadcaster.
URBANA – One hundred years ago, on the evening of Thursday, April 6, 1922, the University of Illinois’ radio station went on the air for its first broadcast at 833 kilohertz (the station moved to 1100 kHz in 1924). WRM, the service that would become WILL Radio, was cutting-edge technology in 1922. Americans were still […]
WILL At 100: Remembering Focus 580, WILL-AM’s long-running local call-in show
URBANA – WILL turns 100 years old in 2022. And throughout the year, we are presenting stories about the history of this station. This story looks back on a locally produced talk show that was a mainstay of the AM 580 schedule for more than thirty years. At a time when national daytime programming was […]
The Illinois Gaming Board will consider a proposal for a Danville casino on March 10
DANVILLE – The Illinois Gaming Board has invited casino developers to their Thursday, March 10 meeting to make a presentation about their application for a casino license. Danville Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. announced the gaming board’s plans on Friday, February 25. A gaming board spokesperson confirmed the plans on Tuesday, March 2. Policy director Joe […]
WILL At 100: Langston Hughes poetry reading, recorded by WILL Radio
URBANA – WILL-AM Radio turns 100-years-old in April 2022. Throughout the year, we’re bringing you stories about the history of this station. Much of that history can be found in the recordings it made and archived over the years. One recording dates back to March, 1957, when Langston Hughes (1901-1967), one of the 20th century’s […]
WILL At 100: Looking Back On A Century Of Broadcasting
URBANA – 2022 marks the 100-year anniversary of WILL-AM, the oldest component of Illinois Public Media. The University of Illinois launched the station at a time when the idea of using radio to reach a mass audience was new and cutting edge. There was no FM radio or TV, no internet or social media. The […]
The Flash Index rose to 105.5 in November, but omicron, inflation could still leave a mark
URBANA – The state’s economy continues to grow at a good pace, according to the monthly Flash Index from the University of Illinois The Flash Index rose slightly in November, reading 105.5, compared to its October reading of 105.4. Any number above 100 shows economic growth. Economist Fred Giertz, who compiles the Flash Index for […]
Addressing gun violence requires everyone’s help, say News Brews & Beatz speakers
CHAMPAIGN – The rise in gun violence in Champaign-Urbana and elsewhere can be traced back to the trauma young people of color are experiencing. And addressing it effectively requires a united effort from the entire community. Those were takeaways from the discussion Monday night at the Pour Brothers Craft Taproom in downtown Champaign. The event, […]
Krannert Center will require audiences to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result beginning November 16
URBANA – Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Illinois in Urbana will soon start requiring audience members to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination, or of a negative test result. Beginning Tuesday, November 16, when the University of Illinois Wind Orchestra will be performing, the Krannert Center will require everyone attending performances […]
The Flash Index was down in October, as Illinois follows the national pattern of a slowing economic recovery
URBANA – Illinois’ economic growth slowed down in October, according to the University of Illinois Flash Index. The Flash Index reading for October is 105.4, down from the September reading of 106.0. This puts the Flash Index’s measure of the Illinois economy at its lowest point since six-tenths of a point from September, sending the […]
Facing a shortage of substitute teachers, the Urbana School Board offers them a raise
URBANA – Urbana District 116 is the latest area school district to raise pay for its substitute teachers. The Urbana school board approved the increase Tuesday night. Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Angi Franklin told the school board that the raise would be the first one for District 116 substitute teachers in more than four […]