Emily Hays

Reporter

About Emily

             Emily Hays started at WILL in October 2021 after three-plus years in local newsrooms in Virginia and Connecticut. She has won state awards for her housing coverage at Charlottesville Tomorrow and her education reporting at the New Haven Independent. Emily graduated from Yale University where she majored in History and South Asian Studies.

Trump is ending relief for international students from warzones. The relief was not used widely at the University of Illinois

May 11, 2026 No Comments

International students from certain countries can work more hours and take fewer courses than is usually legal under Special Student Relief (SSR).

U of I restores access to the Canvas learning platform following ransomware attack

May 9, 2026 No Comments

U of I restored access to the Canvas platform after verifying there were no security risks to bringing the platform back online after a ransomware attack.

A person with short red hair and a black jacket holds a megaphone. In the background are protesters and a camera person.

University of Illinois May Day rally focuses on immigrant student rights

May 1, 2026 No Comments

Around one hundred people rallied for immigrant rights outside the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign administrative building on May Day.

A white SUV in Urbana's downtown is decorated with yellow streamers and writing that says, "Melt ICE" and "ICE out for Good." The car was part of a caravan in January 2026 protesting the killing of Renee Good by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Springfield FBI starts sweep in Danville, says it is not immigration-related

April 29, 2026 No Comments

The Springfield FBI office says it is launching a major sweep this morning in Danville and it is not immigration-related.

Photography exhibit turns ‘The Black Gaze’ on Champaign-Urbana leaders

April 28, 2026 No Comments

Photographer Dwayne Banks Jr. highlighted 30 local African American leaders in his exhibit at the University YMCA in Champaign.

A protest on the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana campus in January 2026. One person holds a sign that says "Immigrants Built America."

UPDATED: FBI confirms it’s in Champaign-Urbana, but ICE is not

April 27, 2026 No Comments

Federal agents are planning to be in Champaign-Urbana this week — but not for immigration enforcement.