Herff Jones closing its cap-and-gown facility in Champaign, consolidating in Arcola
Herff Jones employs 170-200 workers in Champaign, depending on the time of year, and a similar number in Arcola.
Danville says goodbye to Bresee Tower
With the demolition of Bresee Tower, the city is losing a symbol of its past prosperity, while gaining a site that could be a part of its future growth.
Private donation allows U of I Soybean Innovation Lab to resume its work
The program previously had its funding cut by the Trump administration. An anonymous $1 million donation will help keep the lab running.
More states are moving to scrap sales tax at the grocery store
With high prices at the grocery store, legislators across the middle of the country have moved away from sales taxes on food purchases.
Outgoing Urbana Mayor Diane Marlin reflects on city finances, public safety
Marlin said she hopes the city’s next mayor will “make decisions based on what is best for the community as a whole.”
Media Matters host and journalism scholar Robert McChesney has died at 72
From 2002 to 2012, McChesney hosted the radio program Media Matters on Sunday afternoons on WILL-AM.
Gov. Pritzker visits Urbana as part of statewide tour focused on Trump administration’s impact in Illinois
Governor Pritzker urged Illinoisans to participate in “mass activism” and let Congress know they oppose the Trump administration’s cuts to food and agriculture programs.
Trump administration makes cancellation of Innovation Lab funding permanent, ending the Soybean Innovation Lab at the U of I
The Trump administration has terminated the Soybean Innovation Lab at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, nearly two months after its funding was paused pending a review. The lab’s funding is set to officially end on April 15.
Closing Market Report turns 40 years old
The Closing Market Report turned 40 years old this year.
Midwest farmers worry about the impacts of tariffs on exported crops and imported fertilizer
The Trump administration’s tariff announcements this week are bringing uncertainty to farmers going into planting season. Farm groups warn that retaliatory tariffs will add an additional “burden” to U.S. producers.
Updated special census boosts Urbana’s official population
City officials say the updated numbers should trigger $600,000 a year in additional revenue from the state.
Activists pressure Budzinski to be a ‘full-throated supporter’, push back against Trump’s cuts to federal agencies
Those rallying said that the congresswoman should expand her efforts to combat cuts made by DOGE, or the Department of Governmental Efficiency.
At a candidate forum, Urbana mayoral and Ward 6 hopefuls express differing views on policing technology
Ahead of Urbana’s Feb. 25 primary election, candidates for mayor and City Council presented to a full house at a forum held in the Urbana City Council chambers.
Danville Election Commission repeats meeting to retain city council candidate on April 1 ballot
The Danville Election Commission voted to keep city council candidate Jaleel Jones on the April 1st ballot, in a repeat of the group’s decision in December.
Foreign ownership of U.S. farmland is still small but has increased, analysis shows
The amount of American cropland, pastureland and forestland owned by foreign investors continued to increase in 2023, according to a recent analysis by the American Farm Bureau Federation.