Update: Weather service says deadly Crawford County tornado tracked 42 miles
A tornado close to the Illinois-Indiana border killed at least 3 people and destroyed homes and an airport. At least 8 others are hurt.
From muscles to molecules, learn lots about science at the Beckman Institute this weekend
URBANA – As I enter the atrium of the Beckman Institute, natural light shines down on dozens of research projects. I walk up to Luis Rodriguez Koett, an engineering Ph.D. student in the Autonomous Material Systems Group. He has a Captain America shield on his table. “This, unfortunately, is very sturdy, very strong. It requires a […]
Police: teen arrested for shooting death of Urbana teen
Updated March 19 URBANA – Police announced over the weekend that they arrested a 14-year-old in connection with the shooting death of a 16-year-old boy in Urbana. Early Wednesday morning, police say the victim was found with a gunshot wound to the head in an apartment unit in the 2400 block of Prairie Green Drive […]
Braver Angels teaches liberals and conservatives how to talk to each other at Town Hall
Braver Angels conducts workshops across the US with the goal of to bringing Democrats and Republicans together to understand each other.
Update: Urbana High School placed under “soft” lockdown after threats
Administrators at Urbana School District 116 placed the district’s high school under lockdown on Monday morning after receiving threats. Students are safe.
Urbana protesters mourn beating victim and demand changes to policing
Demonstrations broke out across the country over the beating death of Tyre Nichols. Some marchers in Urbana are pushing for major changes.
Judge issues restraining order against Illinois assault weapons ban
The ruling only affects 866 plaintiffs who sued to overturn the law. For the rest of the state, the ban on assault weapons remains in place.
How did Illinois’ delegation vote for Speaker of the House?
Updated Saturday 1:10 a.m. WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Kevin McCarthy has been elected House speaker on a historic post-midnight 15th ballot, overcoming holdouts from his own ranks. Floor tensions boiled over into shouting after a chaotic week that tested the new GOP majority’s ability to govern. But McCarthy prevailed in the end as he had […]
Weather Service confirms 7 tornado touchdowns on Tuesday in Central Illinois
URBANA – The National Weather Service confirms there were seven tornado touchdowns in Central Illinois on Tuesday. Meteorologists say there were three touchdowns in Macon County, two more in Sangamon County, one in Logan County, and one southeast of Gibson City in Ford County. After surveying all of the damage sites, it was determined that a […]
Tornado warned storms cause damage in Central Illinois
Illinois Public Media is tracking severe storms in Central Illinois on January 3, 2023. This story will be updated with posts from Chambana Weather meteorologist Andrew Pritchard and the National Weather Service. Updated at 10:50 p.m. Here is the National Weather Service Central Illinois map of the storm reports. It now indicates 6 tornado touchdowns. Meteorologists will survey […]
Local farm turns Christmas trees into tasty snacks for goats
WHITE HEATH – On a gray overcast day in late December, 40 goats and a few sheep await a green, tasty snack in a pasture in White Heath. Mitch Gardner runs Goats on the Go Champaign-Urbana. He lays a Christmas tree on its side at his farm along I-72 near the Piatt and Champaign County […]
Superintendent: Paris HS must replace gym floor after pipe burst and flood
PARIS – The superintendent of an Eastern Illinois school district says the gymnasium floor of the high school must be rebuilt after a pipe break and flood. It was the Christmas Day surprise that Paris Union School District No. 95 superintendent Jeremy Larson was not expecting. “When you walk into the school and into that […]
Deep freeze breaks pipes, flooding homes, schools and business across Central Illinois
URBANA – After a week in the deep freeze, crews are responding to dozens of broken pipes across Central Illinois. The city of Decatur says services like meter checks are being delayed because of more than 15 water main breaks since last week’s cold snap. A Winter Storm plunged temperatures below freezing for several days […]
Next ‘News, Brews & Beatz’ discussion to center around lack of affordable housing and its connection to crime
URBANA – According to many financial experts, you should spend no more than 30 percent of your gross monthly income on housing. For renters, that includes utility costs like heat, water, and power. But following that advice is a challenge for many people in Champaign-Urbana. Housing is the subject of a public discussion in downtown Champaign […]
Tax credits, prison reform pass in veto session
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers last week passed significant legislation dealing with electric vehicle manufacturing incentives and the availability of hygiene products for prisoners in the state’s correctional system. But some weightier issues, including a possible assault weapons ban, will wait until a lame duck session scheduled for early January. Last week, lawmakers wrapped up a […]
