After years of planning, a casino opens in Danville
Nearly a year after a groundbreaking ceremony, a new casino opened to the public for the first time on Saturday in Danville’s Eastgate area. Initially, the casino will be open eight hours a day, closed on Tuesdays.
Memorial services Friday remembered police officers killed on duty in Champaign, Champaign County
At the Police and Fire Memorial in Champaign’s West Side Park, a ceremony remembered the three Champaign police officers — Christopher Oberheim, Robert Tatman and Thomas Dodsworth — who were killed on duty over the years.
OSF Healthcare will reopen the birthing center at its Danville Sacred Heart hospital, and close the one at Urbana Heart of Mary
Pending regulatory approval, OSF Healthcare will reopen the birthing unit at its Danville hospital — while the birthing center at its Urbana hospital will close.
The Rantoul Village Board once again rejects a proposed cannabis growing facility.
Once again, the Rantoul Village Board has voted against allowing a cannabis business to open in their town. The village board rejected a proposal Tuesday night to allow applications to open a cannabis growing facility in Rantoul, with Mayor Chuck Smith breaking a 3-3 tie vote.
Economic growth in Illinois continued to slow down in April, according to the Flash Index.
The latest University of Illinois Flash Index shows the state’s economic growth rate continuing its year-long, near-steady decline. The Index fell from 103.1 in March, to 102.9 in April. It had been as high as 106.1 in March 2022. Any Flash Index reading above 100 indicates a growing economy in Illinois.
Rantoul village trustees will vote on cannabis craft grower proposal
The Rantoul Village Board has agreed to vote next week on whether to allow a cannabis growing operation to open in the village. Rantoul trustees agreed to take the vote after hearing a new presentation Tuesday night from Blake Schilb.
Piatt County wind farm opponents face off against a new state law encouraging their construction.
Voters in the central Illinois county of about 16,000 rejected wind farms in general, in an advisory referendum that the county board had placed on the April 4 ballot.
After promising to run the former Champaign County Nursing Home for at least ten years, its owner has filed plans to close it after five.
The owner of the former Champaign County Nursing Home has filed plans with state regulators to close the facility in two months, despite an agreement with the county to operate it as a nursing home for at least another five years.
Freshman lawmaker Nikki Budzinski says she’s found ways to work across the aisle in her first 100 days
As she reaches her 100th day in office, Illinois Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski has been touring her congressional district, talking about her achievements so far.
The Springfield Democrat told Jim Meadows that one of her goals was to find ways to work constructively with members of the other party.
Striking faculty return to class Friday at EIU, will vote next week on a tentative contract
As of 8 AM Friday, class is back in session at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. A week-long strike by the union representing faculty and support staff is on hold, while members consider the administration’s contract proposal. A ratification vote is expected sometime next week, although a date has not been set.
Flash Index: Illinois’ economic growth continues its slow decline in March.
After an increase to 103.4 in February, the Flash Index for March dropped back to its January level of 103.1. Except for that one-month increase, the Flash Index has been declining since a peak of 106.1 in March of 2022. (Any reading on the Flash Index above 100 indicates economic growth.)
Eastern Illinois University faculty go on strike
Negotiations continue Friday between Eastern Illinois University and its faculty union. But the bargaining session will take place off campus — because the union began its strike on Thursday, and doesn’t want its members to have to cross picket lines for the meeting.
Voters reelect Mayor Feinen in Champaign and Mayor Williams in Danville
Voters in Champaign and Danville re-elected their mayors Tuesday, but by widely different margins.
Champaign County puts out the call for election judges for April 4
Tuesday, March 28 is the deadline for formal announcement of polling locations for the April 4 consolidated local elections in Illinois. In Champaign County, the county clerk’s office says the number of polling places will depend on how many election judges they can recruit. County Clerk Aaron Ammons says as of right now, Champaign County is well short of the number of judges he would like to have.
Mayoral candidate Jackie Vinson outlines her vision for Danville
The April 4th ballot in Danville features two candidates for mayor: the current mayor, Rickey Williams Junior, and Jackie Vinson, the executive director of the Vermilion Housing Authority.
