Emily - Illinois Newsroom

Emily Hays

University of Illinois designs social media platform to connect to high school students

Associate Chancellor Christopher Span is modeling the platform on sites like Instagram and TikTok, because that’s where teens spend much of their time.

University of Illinois grad student starts Asian American history workshops for teens

Graduate student Yingying Han wants students to understand their history within the United States. She hopes this will help them understand and combat racism they may experience themselves.

A little girl sits next to her father, who holds a sign that reads "I want to stay," and is decorated with hearts.

Champaign school board keeps schools of choice, modifies middle school assignments

Unlike initial plans, no students will have to switch schools next year – except the 13 students who live west of Champaign in Bondville.

Champaign Unit 4 parents asked: does desegregation help close achievement gaps? Here’s what five education researchers say.

“A lot of research suggests that that attending a high-socioeconomic status (SES) school kind of rubs off on you – more than your own SES even. It’s kind of amazing,” Palardy says.

A young woman with Afro puffs and a plaid shirt smiles at the camera.

How will ten Champaign County high schoolers continue Dr. King’s dream? Through environmental, health and housing justice.

“I want to help as many people as possible get the mental health that they need and deserve,” says scholarship winner Halie Thompson.

Champaign Unit 4 superintendent recommends keeping current schools of choice system

The Unit 4 school board hired a consulting firm to figure out how to further desegregate its schools. But after months of parent pushback, both the company and the district superintendent are recommending keeping the current schools of choice system, with some tweaks.

Urbana’s school board paused its vote for one Spanish-English school. Now, dual language parents and teachers are setting a deadline.

URBANA – The Urbana school board will reconsider in January how to establish a fully dual-language elementary school for Spanish and English. This comes after

Parent backlash delayed school desegregation plans in Champaign. What are the options now?

CHAMPAIGN – After parent backlash, the Champaign Unit 4 school board has a new option for further desegregating schools – keeping student placements mostly the

Urbana decide mantener las clases bilingües de español en las escuelas primarias Leal y Dr. Preston Williams

El consejo escolar de Urbana ha decidido no combinar sus dos programas bilingües de español en una sola escuela: Leal Elementary. El cambio hubiera movido

Urbana decides to keep Spanish dual language classes at both Leal, Dr. Preston Williams elementary schools

The Urbana school board has decided not to merge its two Spanish, dual language programs into one school – Leal Elementary. The change would have

Next Parkland College President Pamela Lau focuses on access to college

CHAMPAIGN — Parkland Executive Vice President Pamela Lau will become the president of the Champaign community college in January. The succession has been planned since

How is Carle Hospital in Urbana handling the surge of sick kids?

URBANA – Converting adult intensive care beds, and naming nurse teams after Hogwarts houses – these are just a couple of the ways Carle Hospital

Police arrest teenager suspected of threatening Urbana High School

Police have arrested one of the people suspected of threatening violence against Urbana High School. The arrest of a 16-year-old girl took place on Tuesday

Savoy asks Unit 4 school district to reinstate neighborhood schools

SAVOY — The Savoy Village Board voted unanimously on Tuesday to recommend the Champaign Unit 4 School District reinstate neighborhood schools. The Savoy Board of

Where are central Illinois students recovering fastest from COVID-19 learning loss?

MATTOON — Black and Hispanic students are learning more quickly in the Mattoon school district than in any other school district in east central Illinois.

What are Champaign Unit 4 schools doing for Black families?

CHAMPAIGN — As the Champaign Unit 4 School District debates further desegregating its schools, many parents have asked — what else is the district is

A man with a white scarf and a beard smiles at the camera.

Parents at Champaign Unit 4 open houses: don’t move students next year

CHAMPAIGN — Two open houses at Champaign Unit 4 schools this week yielded the same response – parents don’t want their children to change elementary

Unit 4 parents rally against reassigning elementary students next year

CHAMPAIGN — Dozens of parents rallied on Monday evening at the Unit 4 Board of Education meeting in Champaign. They have joined under a new

New U of I database gives more complete picture of police shootings in Illinois

CHAMPAIGN — University of Illinois researchers published a new database last week on police use of force across the state. The SPOTLITE database – short

Abortion and COVID-19 are among the many dividing lines for 13th Congressional candidates

URBANA — The two women running for Congress to represent Illinois’ 13th Congressional District differ in their approaches to abortion, the COVID-19 pandemic and more.

Parent Brianna Turner (left) holds her four-year-old daughter.

Families weigh desegregation benefits, familiarity as Unit 4 discusses abandoning its school choice system

CHAMPAIGN — Families are beginning to weigh in on plans from the Champaign Unit 4 School District to change how it assigns students to elementary

Champaign superintendent says next year’s school assignments still undecided

CHAMPAIGN — In December, the Unit 4 school board plans to vote on a new way to assign students to Champaign elementary schools. The Champaign

Champaign Planned Parenthood prepares for protesters after expanding abortion services

CHAMPAIGN – In response to bans in neighboring states, the Planned Parenthood clinic located in Champaign is now providing in-patient, surgical abortions. Clinic staff expect

Champaign business incubator provides mentorship through chess

CHAMPAIGN – A business incubator focused on disadvantaged neighborhoods in Champaign is expanding its chess program. The classes started with a handful of teenagers about

Champaign signed contracts with violence prevention groups. Other cities spent COVID relief money on policing.

CHAMPAIGN — Cities across the United States saw a spike in violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Biden administration encouraged cities to turn to one-time,

Students at Illinois community colleges will focus on skill-building thanks to $5 million dollar grant

CHAMPAIGN – A total of eight Illinois community colleges will soon be certified to do competency-based learning, thanks to $5 million from the U.S. Department

Champaign-Urbana health officials prepare boosters, more testing for fall COVID spike

CHAMPAIGN — Undergraduates at the University of Illinois tested positive for COVID-19 in record numbers last week. Julie Pryde leads the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District

Brothers build safe community with FirstFollowers

CHAMPAIGN – Ri’Chard Frazier took his role as a big brother seriously from a young age. By middle school, being the “tough” one started to

USDA secretary visits Le Roy gas station to promote money for biofuels

LE ROY – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack visited Illinois on Tuesday to announce a new investment of $100 million for biofuel infrastructure. Sen.

Cohort of freshmen with autism start Illinois Neurodiversity Initiative

URBANA — Fall classes began Monday at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. It was also the beginning of the university’s new Illinois Neurodiversity Initiative. The

Champaign students return to second fall of in-person pandemic school

CHAMPAIGN — Thursday was the first day of school for most Champaign Unit 4 students. Students at International Prep Academy welcomed the second year of

Southern Illinois storm spares lives, spoils soybeans

NEWTON — Parts of southern Illinois are recovering after a sudden storm dropped about ten inches of rain and hail in less than 24 hours.

A man sits next to his desk, with sunlight from the window lighting up half of his face. He has papers and a desktop monitor behind him.

New gun violence prevention coalition gets seed money from Champaign County

CHAMPAIGN — A new coalition of small nonprofits aims to tackle gun violence in Champaign County. Called H3 for “harm,” “healing” and “hope,” the coalition

A close-up image of an elbow with a bandage wrapped around it.

Urbana City Council worries whether plasma businesses are predatory. Transfusion physician and local plasma donors do not

URBANA — Cars whoosh past the KEDPLASMA center on Lincoln Avenue. Brandon Olison has spent hours in the building, donating his plasma in exchange for

Some in Illinois still waiting for redress from cannabis industry

PEORIA – When Illinois legalized recreational cannabis, state legislators sought to cut those disproportionately affected by marijuana arrests into the new industry’s profits. The path

U of I Black facilities workers push for protection from racial discrimination

URBANA — Black facilities workers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are trying to end racial harassment on the job – through a class action

After 4-3 Urbana City Council vote, Champaign County can begin jail expansion

URBANA — The Urbana City Council voted Monday to allow new jail construction within city limits. Champaign County plans to expand its satellite jail on

Champaign Unit 4 school bus monitors, cafeteria workers now make at least $15 an hour

CHAMPAIGN — Custodians, assistant teachers and other support staff in the Champaign Unit 4 School District are all making at least $15 an hour, as

Democrat Nikki Budzinski, Republican Regan Deering to face off in 13th

DECATUR – Decatur business owner Regan Deering won the 13th Congressional district Republican primary on Tuesday after a close race. In November, she will face

Champaign to host annual Juneteenth festival at Douglass Park on Saturday

CHAMPAIGN — On Saturday, Chambanites can celebrate the end of slavery at Douglass Park with a bouncy house, photo booth, small business fair and more.

Sunday marks Juneteenth’s second year as a state holiday – and over 150 years of Illinois emancipation days

URBANA — This Sunday marks the second year that Juneteenth will be an official state and federal holiday. Juneteenth celebrates the day in 1865 when

Some schools are lobbying to keep pandemic-era, universal free lunch. Universal free meals are already the reality in Urbana schools

URBANA – While schools across the country brace for the end of universal free lunches, Urbana public schools will continue to offer free meals to

Champaign County survey is the first step in filling rural internet gaps

URBANA — Surveyors will start knocking on doors in rural Champaign County this weekend to ask residents if they are happy with their internet service.

Baby formula shortage less acute in Champaign, but tough for food insecure families

CHAMPAIGN – While the nationwide shortage of infant formula is less severe in Champaign County than elsewhere, it has hit low-income families hardest – because

University of Illinois dining and building workers vote to allow September strike

URBANA — Service workers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are willing to strike in September after their current contract expires. Of the workers who

Yankee Ridge hosts Urbana French immersion program

URBANA – Students learn in both French and English at Yankee Ridge Elementary School on the south side of Urbana. Yankee Ridge hosts Urbana School

Newbery-winning author visits Champaign school for Asian American Heritage Month

CHAMPAIGN – Students at Kenwood Elementary had a special visitor on Tuesday. Newbery-winning author Erin Entrada Kelly — a Filipina-American children’s book author — conducted

Macon-Piatt hosts family night to dispel rumors about Social Emotional Alternative Program

DECATUR — Two Special Education programs housed at Decatur Public Schools are combining next year. Administrators worry that the change has prompted misinformation to spread.

Urbana schools debate renewing police officer contracts

URBANA — Urbana School District 116 is debating whether to keep police officers in its schools for another three years. Staff and students want them

Chicago rap duo Mother Nature brings mental health skills to Unit 4 school

CHAMPAIGN – A fourth grader takes the microphone at Booker T. Washington STEM Academy in Champaign, to cheers from his classmates. Professional hip hop artists

Booker T. Washington students focus on ‘fun science’ on Fridays

CHAMPAIGN — A second grader asks the University of Illinois graduate student to test out the egg parachute he’s holding. It’s “Fab Friday” at Booker

Unit 4 kindergarten registration closes Saturday

Registration closes Saturday for those wishing to select a school for their Champaign Unit 4 kindergartener. Families rank all 12 of the district’s elementary schools

A woman with a face mask holds a sign that says, "Listen to your teacher."

With inflation, Illinois teachers earn less than they did a decade ago

CHAMPAIGN — Teacher salaries in Illinois have not kept up with inflation. That’s true nationwide, according to new research by the labor union, the National

Champaign County nonprofits train indigenous interpreters and expand mental health services with COVID-19 relief money

CHAMPAIGN — Champaign-Urbana nonprofits are using COVID-19 relief to help victims of labor and sex trafficking free themselves. To become free and independent, victims need

First String Little League offers mentorship, technology lessons through baseball

CHAMPAIGN – Instead of practicing their swings, the baseball players were designing a remote-control car. The First String Little League coaches had decided to give

Champaign Unit 4 School Board votes to renew police contract

CHAMPAIGN – If the Champaign Police Department has enough staff, the Champaign Unit 4 School District Board of Education wants to reinstate resource officers –

Unit 4 board approves teacher contract

CHAMPAIGN — The Unit 4 Board of Education unanimously approved a new teacher contract on Monday. This ends months of negotiations with the Champaign Federation

A white woman stands next to a school auditorium.

Champaign teachers ratify extended-day contract

CHAMPAIGN – Champaign Unit 4 School District teachers voted 76 percent to 24 percent on Tuesday to ratify their new contract, rather than go on

Unit 4 tentative teacher contract includes longer day of 35 minutes for elementary students, 5 minutes for teachers

CHAMPAIGN — Champaign Unit 4 School District teachers vote on their new contract on Tuesday, the day they had originally planned to go on strike.

Unit 4 teachers and district reach a tentative contract agreement

CHAMPAIGN — Champaign Unit 4 teachers have a tentative contract agreement with the district. In an email to union members early Wednesday morning, Champaign Federation

Champaign Unit 4 board member speaks ahead of possible strike

CHAMPAIGN – As Champaign teachers prepare for a possible strike, a Unit 4 School District Board of Education member explained the district’s side of contract

Land bank to start repairing rural houses, thanks to COVID relief

CHAMPAIGN — Michael Davis describes an ideal client for his new project. An elderly couple is trying to make ends meet with their retirement income.

A Black man, a white man and a white woman all look into their webcams during the debate.

Three Democrats are running for Congress in the new, bluer 13th District. Here’s where they stand on gun violence, reparations, and immigration

CHAMPAIGN – The three Democratic contenders for Illinois’ 13th Congressional District faced off on Tuesday, revealing different approaches to gun violence, reparations for slavery, immigration

A man sits next to a doctor's office brain chart. In the foreground, a man wears a white coat.

State bill addresses addiction, mental illness stigma by paying employers

SPRINGFIELD — Lawmakers in Springfield are attempting to address stigmas around mental illness and substance abuse – by paying employers to hire those in recovery.

Danville tinkers with teacher shortage solution

DANVILLE — As schools throughout Illinois grapple with teacher shortages, Danville is working out the kinks in a grow-your-own teacher program. Danville School District 118

Mahomet, Fisher neighbors file class action lawsuit

MAHOMET — Two Champaign County residents affected by the Peoples Gas methane leak have filed the first class action lawsuit related to the incident. Meanwhile,

A woman sits cross-legged in a sofa chair. She types on a laptop. A bookshelf is on her left.

Parental mental health practice starts remote during pandemic

CHAMPAIGN — A new business in Champaign County specializes in providing mental health support during and after pregnancy. The Village started in the era of

Legal aid network seeks to expand, seeks more state dollars than budgeted

CHAMPAIGN — A network of legal aid groups across Illinois is hoping to expand, and is asking for more state money to do so. Tanya

A woman ticks off a list on her fingers.

Illinois schools prepare to tutor way out of learning loss

URBANA — Illinois schools are signing up for a new state tutoring initiative to help the students who struggled most in remote school. By this

Lt. Gov. Stratton visits University of Illinois to talk teacher shortage

CHAMPAIGN – A small group of University of Illinois students met with Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton on Monday about the state’s K-12 teacher shortage. Stratton

University of Illinois calls police on grad students protesting to keep mask requirements

CHAMPAIGN – The University of Illinois called police on a small graduate student worker protest on Wednesday and is threatening to suspend one or more

COVID relief allows Decatur to launch free after-school classes

DECATUR — Decatur Public Schools has long wanted to offer classes before and after school. It took federal COVID-19 relief to make that happen. When

A woman and a man sit at a table in front of a sign that reads "News Brews & Beatz."

C-U administrators: Schools can be places of refuge, if done right

CHAMPAIGN — Schools should change to fit their students’ cultures, not the other way around. That was one theme at Illinois Public Media’s News, Brews

A woman gestures with her hands while she talks, in her living room.

Rantoul schools add “office hours” to combat learning loss

RANTOUL — Learning slowed across Illinois when the COVID-19 pandemic began. Now, schools have the money to do something about it – in the form

New Decatur superintendent sets priorities and talks background

DECATUR – Decatur’s new superintendent has just finished one week on the job. Rochelle Clark steps into the top position in Decatur Public Schools at

A woman holds a sign that reads "Parents stand with U4 Teachers." Next to her, other parents and teachers march with signs.

If Champaign teachers strike, some families may need emergency childcare. Here’s one place to turn

CHAMPAIGN — Champaign Unit 4 teachers have voted to authorize a strike rather than accept a recent contract offered by the district. If negotiations falter

The governor stands at a podium, flanked by two students and an elderly man.

Pritzker appears in Champaign with students to promote MAP grant increase

CHAMPAIGN — Governor J.B. Pritzker visited the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus on Wednesday to promote an increase in student financial aid in his proposed

People holding signs walk behind a man with a bullhorn.

Tense Champaign teacher contract negotiations revive parent’s memories of Homer strike

CHAMPAIGN — Two weeks after Champaign teachers voted to allow a potential strike, one parent is experiencing déjà vu. Amy Dunn was in sixth grade

New high school clinic to help address substance abuse in Vermilion County

DANVILLE – A clinic for addiction and mental health treatment could open in Danville High School by the end of March. Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation

Volunteers clear snow to reopen safe bus stops, sidewalks

URBANA — During snowstorms, the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District calls on both employees and volunteers to “plow” the sidewalks. Cynthia Hoyle chairs the C-U Safe

A white man in a tan coat walks in a yellow school hallway.

Champaign teachers vote to authorize strike over contract

CHAMPAIGN — Champaign teachers are willing to strike to protest Unit 4’s latest contract offer. That contract would extend the elementary school day by 50

Champaign school day proposal prompts teacher rally, possible vote to strike

CHAMPAIGN – More than 350 Champaign teachers rallied on Monday over contract negotiations, and they will vote on Wednesday about authorizing a strike. At issue

University of Illinois workers grapple with maskless guests and COVID-positive students

CHAMPAIGN – Cooks and custodians at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana say the univeristy rejected their proposal this week for stricter safety measures amid the COVID-19

The photo shows a gray car and a blue car, with a university sports stadium in the background.

Catalytic converter thefts continue in Champaign-Urbana. Who is buying the stolen parts is a mystery

CHAMPAIGN — Catalytic converters keep disappearing from Champaign-Urbana cars. The University of Illinois Police Department has already reported seven catalytic converter thefts in 2022. Why someone

University of Illinois expects surge in student cases

URBANA — The University of Illinois is expecting a surge of COVID-19 cases as students return to Champaign-Urbana for the spring semester. The goal now

Urbana Middle School to stay remote this week

URBANA, Jan. 11 — Urbana Middle School will stay with remote instruction for the rest of this week. Absences among staff at Urbana Middle School

Urbana school district sets five-day quarantine policy. Unit 4 sticks with ten.

Students and staff at Urbana public schools only need to isolate for five days after testing positive for COVID-19. District 116 made the change on

A family stands in front of a brick house.

Despite CDC changes, Illinois students still quarantine for 10 days — for now

CHAMPAIGN — The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has halved the number of days of isolation recommended for those sick with COVID-19. Illinois

Carle delays non-emergency procedures amid record COVID-19 wave

URBANA – As COVID-19 hospitalizations reach a pandemic high, Carle Health has decided to delay non-emergency procedures. This time, Carle is not rationing supplies —

A street and University of Illinois campus buildings at night. Red lines show where car tail lights passed by.

Car crashes increased in 2021. On Urbana roads, pedestrians are most at risk

URBANA — In 2021, more than 1,300 people died in car crashes in Illinois. That’s the highest number since 2005. The roadside assistance group AAA

Two women board a blue, low-floor bus at the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District headquarters.

One disabled Champaign-Urbana bus rider complained to the DOJ. Now other riders get an accessible website and bus stop upgrades

URBANA – The U.S. Department of Justice combed through the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District website – and found a few things that needed to change