Deb Feinen Seeks a 3rd Term as Champaign’s Mayor

Champaign voters will have three candidates to choose from on April 4, including incumbent mayor Deborah Frank Feinen, who is running for a third term.

Public hearings on a proposed wind farm in Piatt County are entering the home stretch.

A zoning board has held more than a dozen hearings on Virginia-based Apex Clean Energy’s proposal to build the Goose Creek Wind Farm in northern Piatt County. The 300 megawatt project would consist of 50 to 60 large wind turbines on land in Blue Ridge, Goose Creek and Sangamon townships, leased from area farmers. Apex has built other wind farms now operating in central Illinois, in Vermilion, Ford and Sangamon-Morgan counties.

Former Champaign Mayor Don Gerard hopes to return to the office.

There will be three candidates on the ballot for mayor of Champaign in the April 4th consolidated election. This first report on the Champaign mayoral

Former Congressman Rodney Davis has been hired by a lobbying firm

Former Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis has been hired as a lobbyist. The Taylorville Republican will become a managing director for Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies. In his new job, Davis will provide counsel to the firm’s government relations clients.

Champaign will hire a consulting firm to help it recruit more, and more diverse, police officer candidates.

The Champaign City Council voted Tuesday night to hire a consulting firm to help it attract more, and more diverse police officers.

Freshman lawmaker Nikki Budzinski begins work representing Illinois’ 13th Congressional District.

Nikki Budzinski is starting her first term in Congress as a member of the minority party. But, despite that, and despite qualms about expected changes to House rules, the Springfield Democrat says she still hopes to work with Republicans on legislation that helps working people.

Applicants for Scott Bennett’s state Senate seat make their case at an online forum.

Applicants seeking to fill the state Senate seat left vacant by the death last month of Scott Bennett appeared on an online forum Wednesday evening, to make their case to local Democrats.

WILL at 100: A century of programming for the farming world

From its first sign-on in 1922 to the present day, agricultural programming for rural audiences has been an important part of programming on WILL-AM.

Hundreds turn out for a memorial service for State Senator Scott Bennett

At a memorial service for State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) on Monday, friends and colleagues emphasized his ability to make friends in a field where

Researchers are using a geologist’s version of an MRI to map the Mahomet Aquifer

During several days last week, a helicopter hauling a huge antenna flew at low altitudes over rural Champaign County.  The antenna sent electromagnetic waves into

Scott Bennett Funeral Scheduled For Krannert Center on December 19

State Senator Scott Bennett of Champaign will be remembered at a funeral at the University of Illinois’ Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Monday, December

With a 16-6 Democratic majority, the Champaign County Board reelects Kyle Patterson as their chair.

Newly elected Champaign County Board members held their organizational meeting Monday night. The meeting opened with Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons swearing in the assembled

Flash Index reports a pause in the decline in Illinois economy’s growth rate

Illinois’ economic growth rate held steady in November, according to the University of Illinois Flash Index. The economist who compiles the index says that’s good

A 111-year-old Danville building could soon be named for the congressman who got it built

DANVILLE — Last summer’s demolition of the Cannon school building in Danville destroyed a notable reminder of Joseph G. Cannon, the longtime Danville congressman and

Illinois’ economic growth rate continues to slow down: Flash Index

Illinois’ economy is growing at an increasingly slower rate. That’s according to the University of Illinois’ monthly Flash Index. The Flash Index has been declining

Planned Parenthood is expanding abortion services in Champaign & statewide to meet a surge of out-of-state patients

CHAMPAIGN – Doctors began performing abortions on patients at the renovated Planned Parenthood clinic in Champaign earlier this month. But on Wednesday morning, the doctors

WILL at 100: For two decades, Ed Kieser was WILL’s go-to guy for weather

Meteorologist Ed Kieser is probably the best remembered of WILL’s weather forecasters. From 1987 until WILL disbanded its weather department in 2010, Kieser forecast the weather during news and agricultural programming on WILL Radio, and also on WILL-TV.

WILL at 100: Debbie Day on how WILL audience members became ‘Friends of WILL’

Starting in the 1970s, WILL and other public broadcasters began turning to listeners and viewers for part of their operating funds. Debbie Day, WILL’s first development director, talks about how the Friends of WILL helped Illinois Public Media grow.

WILL at 100: Roger Cooper’s ‘Classically Black’ provided a showcase for Black musicians

At a time when Black composers and performers were underrepresented in the classical music world, WILL-FM’s Roger Cooper filled the gap with “Classically Black”, a nationally distributed series of programs produced for Black History Month from the late 1980s until Cooper’s retirement in 2008.

U of I Police are preparing to take over patrols in Campustown

URBANA – The University of Illinois Police Department said it has hired all of the officers needed to help Champaign Police patrol Campustown, the southeastern

Police: Savoy man threatened violence against Champaign mayor, Campustown mass shooting

URBANA – A Savoy resident is facing a Class X felony charge of “Making A Terrorist Threat” after he sent emails to the mayor of

Concerts with Sinfonia da Camera mark the return of the U of I’s Summer Piano Institute

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Summer Piano Institute has returned to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The institute concludes with

A Bloodhound from St. Joseph wins at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show

TARRYTOWN, NY – A bloodhound, born and bred in St. Joseph, Illinois, has won the 146th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. The four-and-a-half-year-old dog, named

Former central Illinois congressman Tim Johnson dies

URBANA – Former Illinois Congressman Tim Johnson has died. Johnson’s former chief of staff, Mark Shelden, reported his death on his Facebook page on Tuesday

‘Voice of the Illini’ sportscaster Jim Turpin has died at age 90

URBANA – Longtime Illini sportscaster Jim Turpin died Sunday. The News-Gazette said the 90-year-old Turpin had recently suffered a fall and died with family members

WILL At 100: From its first broadcast on April 6 1922, WILL evolves from high-tech novelty to pioneer broadcaster.

April 6, 1922, marked the first broadcast of the University of Illinois’ radio station WILL-AM, then operating as WRM. At the time, both listeners and the university were still figuring out the role of radio broadcasting in American life. In the century that followed, WILL built a program schedule dedicated to both learning and culture, expanding to FM, television and online.

WILL At 100: Remembering Focus 580, WILL-AM’s long-running local call-in show

For more than 30 years, the radio talk show Focus 580 was a mainstay of the WILL-AM program schedule, during a time when national daytime programming for public radio was scarce. The weekday program featuring host David Inge kept its listeners in touch with their local community and with the world.

The Illinois Gaming Board will consider a proposal for a Danville casino on March 10

DANVILLE – The Illinois Gaming Board has invited casino developers to their Thursday, March 10 meeting to make a presentation about their application for a

WILL At 100: Langston Hughes poetry reading, recorded by WILL Radio

The WILL Radio archives include hundreds of hours of recorded programs captured on acetate discs from the 1940s and 50s, including a 1957 reading at the University of Illinois by 20th century African-American poet Langston Hughes. Jameatris Rimkus, an archivist the University of Illinois Library, tracked down the mislabeled discs, rescuing them from obscurity.

WILL At 100: Looking Back On A Century Of Broadcasting

2022 marked the 100-year anniversary of WILL-AM, the oldest component of Illinois Public Media. The University of Illinois launched the station at a time when the idea of using radio to reach a mass audience was new and cutting edge. Over the century to come, WILL became a national leader in educational broadcasting, and more recently, public broadcasting.

The Flash Index rose to 105.5 in November, but omicron, inflation could still leave a mark

URBANA – The state’s economy continues to grow at a good pace, according to the monthly Flash Index from the University of Illinois The Flash

Addressing gun violence requires everyone’s help, say News Brews & Beatz speakers

CHAMPAIGN – The rise in gun violence in Champaign-Urbana and elsewhere can be traced back to the trauma young people of color are experiencing. And

Krannert Center will require audiences to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result beginning November 16

URBANA – Krannert Center for the Performing Arts at the University of Illinois in Urbana will soon start requiring audience members to show proof of

The Flash Index was down in October, as Illinois follows the national pattern of a slowing economic recovery

URBANA – Illinois’ economic growth slowed down in October, according to the University of Illinois Flash Index. The Flash Index reading for October is 105.4,

Facing a shortage of substitute teachers, the Urbana School Board offers them a raise

URBANA – Urbana District 116 is the latest area school district to raise pay for its substitute teachers. The Urbana school board approved the increase

As newspapers struggle, some areas are becoming ‘news deserts’

URBANA – The term “news desert” describes an area with a shortage of news coverage. According to research by Penelope Muse Abernathy, 28 Illinois counties

How Ford County gained a new newspaper and lost the old one

PAXTON – Ford County has lost a weekly newspaper. When the Ford County Record closed last month, it joined more than 21-hundred other American newspapers

UPDATE: Champaign County Board approves a new district map — again.

UPDATE: The Champaign County Board approved a revised district map Thursday night. County board members voted along party lines to approve a map submitted by

The Flash Index shows the Illinois economy grew at a faster pace in September

URBANA – After two months of slight declines in the rate of growth, the Flash Index to the Illinois economy rose in September to 106.0.

Paxton-Based Ford County Record To Cease Publication

CHAMPAIGN – One of two local newspapers in central Illinois’ Ford County will close down this fall.  The publisher of the Ford County Record says

Hundreds Run Through Streets Of C-U In ‘Run To Remember’

CHAMPAIGN – Hundreds of runners and walkers turned out for the inaugural Run To Remember on Saturday morning in Champaign-Urbana. The 8K run and walk

Economist: Illinois Economy Still Healthy, Despite 2nd Month Of Growth Rate Decline

URBANA – After rising to its highest level in six years, the Flash Index of the Illinois economy has declined over the past two months,

“A Great Loss To Us All;” Funeral Held For U of I Police Lieutenant

URBANA – Family, friends and fellow police officers said farewell to University of Illinois Police lieutenant Aaron Landers Tuesday, at a funeral held at the

De-Escalation Techniques Are Part Of New Urbana Police Use Of Force Policy

URBANA – A revised use of force policy for Urbana Police covers 14 pages, instead of the eight pages covered by the old one. And

Gibson City Sets Up Fund For Flood Victims

GIBSON CITY – As Gibson City cleans up from last week’s flash flood, a special fund has been set up to help people pay for

Urbana’s Emergency Housing Program Finds A New Home

URBANA – Urbana’s emergency housing program is about to move from rented hotel rooms to its own apartment buildings. The program gives shelter to homeless

Thunderstorms Flood Roads In Gibson City

URBANA – A nearly stationary line of heavy thunderstorms brought flooding Thursday to the uppermost part of the Sangamon River Valley in Champaign, Ford and

A New Committee Will Look For Champaign County Jail Solutions

URBANA – A special Champaign County Board committee has three months to come up with a plan to resolve the county’s jail issues. Meanwhile, the

Small Dip In Flash Index Suggests Illinois Economy’s Plateau

URBANA – The University of Illinois Flash Index reading of 105.8 in July showed the Illinois economy growing at a slightly slower pace, compared to

New Water Source Coming For Residents Hit By Gas Leak

MAHOMET – Relief is in sight for some rural residents of Champaign County, whose well water was contaminated by a natural gas leak. They could

Legion Hall, Site Of Recent Shooting, Hosts Neighborhood Safety Meeting

CHAMPAIGN – American Legion Post 559 in north Champaign was the scene of gun violence in early July.  On Monday evening, members of the community

Renovations Are Underway At Urbana’s Downtown Hotel

URBANA – After a year’s delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, work has begun on renovating a long-closed downtown Urbana hotel. Plans are to reopen

Frerichs Talks State Budget, Grant Program, During Champaign Visit

CHAMPAIGN – State Treasurer Mike Frerichs says Illinois is balancing its budget, even without a graduated state income tax that voters rejected last year. And

Illinois Flash Index Continues To Rise

URBANA – The Illinois economy is growing at its highest rate since 2015. That’s according to the latest University of Illinois Flash Index. Listen to

Improving Broadband Service is County Board’s Study Session Topic

URBANA – The Champaign County Board is getting ready to study ways to improve local broadband.  That includes a Finance Committee-of-the-Whole study session Tuesday evening,

Former Congressman Shimkus Joins Lobbying Firm

URBANA – Former Illinois Congressman John Shimkus has signed on with a lobbying firm. Kit Bond Strategies, which has been newly renamed the KBS Group,

U Of I Issues COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement For Fall Students

URBANA – The University of Illinois plans a return to near normal class schedules in the fall, and campus life free of face masks, social

Champaign County’s Boneyard Arts Festival Bounces Back

CHAMPAIGN – Artists from the Champaign-Urbana area will once again be showcased at the 19th annual Boneyard Arts Festival, June 18-20, named for the creek

Illinois Economy Rebounding, According To Flash Index

URBANA – The Illinois economy has been in growth mode for two months in a row, according to the University of Illinois Flash Index. Any

Democrats Override Veto, Approve New County Board District Map

URBANA – The Champaign County Board voted along party lines Friday evening to override the county executive’s veto of a new district map drawn by

State’s Attorney Says Deadly Force ‘Justified’ In Police Shooting

Editor’s Note: Illinois State Police released videos of the deadly May 19 shootings in Champaign. You can find a synced video of area surveillance cameras

Funeral Held For Slain Champaign Police Officer

DECATUR – An estimated 2,000 friends, family and police officers filled a church in Decatur Wednesday for the funeral of Champaign Police Officer Chris Oberheim.

Home Sales Rise In April, But Tight Inventory Still Hampers

CHAMPAIGN – April home sales were up sharply from a year ago in Illinois, while rising more modestly in Champaign County. The Champaign County Association

Wounded Officer Out Of Hospital; Funeral Plans Set For Slain Colleague

CHAMPAIGN – Champaign Police Officer Jeffrey Creel has been released from the hospital, after being wounded by gunfire during the domestic disturbance call, in which

Police Processional Escorts Body Of Fallen Champaign Officer

CHAMPAIGN – A police processional escorted the body of a slain Champaign police officer from the Champaign county coroner’s office in Urbana to a funeral

Champaign County Executive Vetoes Democrats’ County Board District Map

2nd UPDATE: May 21 2021 5:45 p.m. – Champaign County Executive Darlene Kloeppel has vetoed a new district map that the county board approved Thursday

Champaign Leaders Call For End To Gun Violence

CHAMPAIGN – Champaign community leaders called for an end to gun violence Friday, a day when three more people were injured by gunfire in the

U of I’s Solar Farm 2.0 Enters Final Phase Of Construction

SAVOY – The University of Illinois’ new solar farm outside of Savoy is entering its final phase of construction. But the facility has already been

Pritzker Announces New Round Of Rebuild Illinois Grants

URBANA – Gov. JB Pritzker used local road projects in Champaign County as his backdrop Tuesday to announce the latest round of Rebuild Illinois grants.

Danville Tears Down Buildings In Hopes Of One Day Building Anew

DANVILLE – The house on South Buchanan Street had been a familiar site in Danville’s Rabbittown neighborhood for decades. But in recent years, it had

Flash Index Shows Record Jump In Illinois Economy

URBANA — For the first time in 13 months, the Illinois economy is expanding, according to the University of Illinois Flash Index. The Flash Index

Rename Building Named For Stephen A. Douglas, Says EIU Committee

 CHARLESTON – A committee at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston voted unanimously (6-0) this week to recommend that a building named for Stephen A. Douglas

Bill To Form Mahomet Aquifer Advisory Council Moves Through Statehouse

UPDATE: Gov. JB Pritzker signed SB 2515, creating the Mahomet Aquifer Council, on Friday, August 13. Original article: URBANA – A bill to create a permanent

In Champaign, A New Effort To Close The Racial Achievement Gap At School

CHAMPAIGN — The Champaign Unit Four School Board is set to review a new program aimed at narrowing the racial achievement gap at its April

Final Election Tallies Include Some Close Votes

URBANA – All around Illinois on Tuesday, local authorities certified results from the April 6 local elections. Provisional and late-arriving mail-in ballots had an impact

Two Savoy Candidates Await Final Count In A Close Election

SAVOY – In the Champaign County town of Savoy, the election for a village board seat is still too close to call. Incumbent trustees Jan

Redistricting Hearings Focus On Champaign-Urbana

URBANA – An Illinois House committee is gathering input from different parts of the state, as its members prepare to redraw legislative and congressional districts.

The Election Was Tuesday, But Counting Ballots May Take A While

URBANA – Tuesday was Election Day in Illinois, consolidating local elections for cities, village, townships and other governing bodies such as park, school and library

Davis Says White House Infrastructure Plan Needs GOP Input

URBANA – Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis is appealing to bipartisanship, as he joins fellow Republicans in opposing the White House infrastructure plan. Davis made his

Ballot Drop Boxes Reopen In Champaign County

URBANA – Champaign County voters can once again use election drop boxes to send in their mail-in ballots for Tuesday’s local elections. The seven drop

Flash Index Shows Improving Illinois Economy For March

URBANA – The Flash Index showed a strong improvement in Illinois’ economy over the past month, rising from February’s reading of 96.6  to 97.8 for

Retail Developer Say New Sports Complex Drew Them To Rantoul

RANTOUL – Village officials in Rantoul have been hoping the Champaign County town’s new Family Sports Complex will attract new commercial development. Now they say

Rantoul Tries Electing Its Village Trustees From Districts

RANTOUL – There’s a three-way race for mayor in the village of Rantoul in northern Champaign County. But that’s not the only contest on the

Savoy’s Home Rule Referendum Attracts Supporters & Opponents

SAVOY – Larger towns in Illinois with more than 25,000 people have home rule powers automatically granted to them under the state constitution. Smaller towns

Champaign County Voters Will Decide Future Of Recorder’s Office On April 6

URBANA – The fate of the Champaign County Recorder’s office is up to the voters. If they approve a referendum on the April 6 ballot,

‘Black Lives Matter’ Honorary Street Signs Approved In Champaign

UPDATE: Champaign city officials say the Black Lives Matter honorary street signs were installed on Wednesday, Mary 13, eight days after their approval by the

Davis Criticizes Pritzker’s Handling Of Unemployment Benefits During Champaign Stop

CHAMPAIGN – Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis hasn’t said he’s running for governor. But the 13th District U.S. representative sounded like someone who might, during a

COVID-19 Came To Champaign County One Year Ago

URBANA – Champaign County has been living with COVID-19 for one year. Sunday, March 15, 2020, was the day when the first COVID-19 case was

Director Of Rantoul’s New Sports Complex Promises A Big Impact

RANTOUL – Construction crews are finishing up their work on the Rantoul Family Sports Complex for a mid-April opening. The village-owned facility, with 18 fields

Work Continues To Get C-U Weather Radio Station Back On Air

UPDATE: Champaign’s NOAA Weather Radio station could be back on the air in a couple of months. The National Weather Service office in Lincoln announced

U Of I COVID-19 Test Receives FDA Emergency Use Authorization

URBANA – The University of Illinois’ COVID-19 testing process has received Emergency Use Authorization from the federal Food and Drug Administration.   Authorization was granted

Illinois Lawmakers Vote For LGBTQ Equality Along Party Lines

WASHINGTON — Illinois lawmakers voted along party lines Thursday, as the House of Representatives voted 224-206 to pass H.R. 5, titled the Equality Act, a

Urbana Mayor Marlin Headed To 2nd Term After Winning Primary

URBANA – Urbana Mayor Diane Marlin easily defeated two challengers in Tuesday’s Democratic local election primary. Listen to this story here. Mayor Marlin won 1,845

Illinois’ Hospitality Industry Seeks Help From State

Leaders of Illinois’ hospitality sector are asking the state to work with them on a plan to help them recover from 2020’s pandemic shutdown. Representatives

Police Reform A Major Issue In Urbana Mayoral Race

URBANA – Racial justice and police reform have been on the minds of Americans across the nation. And they’re a major issue in the race

Snowplow Crews Labor To Clear Snow From C-U Streets

URBANA – Local governments in the Champaign-Urbana area all have crews out, working to clear streets of the snow that fell on central Illinois Monday

Urbana Seeks Feedback Through ‘Imagine Urbana’ Website

URBANA – A new website is asking you to post your thoughts and suggestions about Urbana, whether you live there, or spend time there. The

Emergency Shelter Program To Be Extended To Urbana School District

URBANA – Township and school officials in Urbana could soon be working together to bring more homeless families into an emergency shelter program. Under an

Illinois Republicans Choose Downstater Don Tracy As New State Chairman

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Republicans will be led by a downstate resident for the first time in more than 30 years. The party chose former Illinois

Flash Index Continues Slow, Steady Recovery

URBANA – The Illinois economy continued its slow recovery in January, according to the University of Illinois Flash Index. Listen to this story here. The