Your food probably traveled a long way before reaching the grocery store. Here’s why
The interest in local food systems, like farmer’s markets and direct farm-to-consumer sales, is on the rise. But the U.S. is still more reliant on imported foods than ever before.
Longtime ComEd lobbyist gets 1 year in prison for role in Madigan bribery scheme
For eight years, Doherty agreed to use his consulting company as a pass-through in order to pay several political allies of Madigan’s, who did nothing for ComEd but received monthly checks ranging from $4,000 to $5,000.
WILL Call: What’s Happening in Champaign – Urbana Aug. 7 – Aug. 10
The Illinois State Fair, live music festivals, film screenings and more are happening in Central Illinois this week.
Gov. Pritzker says Illinois remap is ‘possible’ as DNC chair vows to fight Texas GOP efforts ‘tooth and nail’
Democrats in New York, California and Illinois are threatening to redraw their own maps in retaliation to Republican redistricting efforts in Texas.
Illini Solar Car races to first-place finish in national competition
The student-run organization broke records and took 1st Place in the single-occupant vehicle class of the 2025 Formula Sun Grand Prix in Kentucky.
Program to protect mentally ill from abuse is slated for cuts. Experts are worried
A program that monitors public and private psychiatric institutions, hospitals and nursing facilities for abuse, punishment, or seclusion of patients with mental illness could see a drastic reduction in its national budget next year.
Texas Democrats ready to stay in Illinois ‘as long as it takes’ to fight GOP congressional maps
U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi called the situation a “man-made catastrophe for democracy” while standing alongside some of the 40 Texas Democrats taking refuge in Illinois.
NPR journalist’s new book tells humanizing stories of life under current Chinese communist government
For years, NPR’S Emily Feng criss-crossed China, bringing intimate and informative stories about the nation of 1.4 billion people, but in 2022, the country’s government said she could not report from there anymore.
Aquifer protection, Chicago pension boost among more than 100 new laws
Lawmakers sent more than 400 bills to governor’s desk during the spring session.
What to know about signed bill banning carbon sequestration at the Mahomet Aquifer
The measure had dozens of co-sponsors, mostly Chicago area Democrats and lawmakers from both parties in the central and east-central Illinois region where the Mahomet Aquifer is the primary source for drinking water.
Northwestern University professors urge campus leaders not to make deal with Trump
These Northwestern professors and some students have accused Trump of exploiting antisemitism in order to suppress First Amendment-protected speech and bring universities in line with his conservative agenda
Texas Democrats flee to Illinois to block Trump-backed GOP redistricting plan
Texas Democrats joined Gov. JB Pritzker at a Sunday night news conference in Carol Stream, where the Democratic governor called President Donald Trump a “cult leader” and “would-be dictator of the United States” for demanding mid-decade redistricting.
A Dialogue on local voices shaping Central Illinois
In Central Illinois, community care takes many forms — from an 82-year-old veteran selling collard greens in Rantoul to young leaders organizing against gun violence in Danville. How are these local voices defining what it means to support and strengthen their communities today?
Trump removes official overseeing jobs data after dismal employment report
Friday’s jobs report showed that just 73,000 jobs were added last month and that 258,000 fewer jobs were created in May and June than previously estimated. The report suggested that the economy has sharply weakened during Trump’s tenure.
States sue Trump, saying he is intimidating hospitals over gender-affirming care for youth
The states that are suing are focused on the administration’s civil and criminal enforcement efforts that target providers. The suspended care has sent families with transgender young people scrambling for care.
Trump signs order imposing new tariffs on a number of trading partners that go into effect in 7 days
Trump imposed the Friday deadline after his previous “Liberation Day” tariffs in April resulted in a stock market panic. His unusually high tariff rates, unveiled in April, led to recession fears — prompting Trump to impose a 90-day negotiating period. When he was unable to create enough trade deals with other countries, he extended the timeline and sent out letters to world leaders that simply listed rates, prompting a slew of hasty deals.
Unhealthy air alert issued for many Illinois counties due to smoke from Canadian wildfires
Those most at risk of getting sick are people with respiratory or pulmonary disorders, as well as children and adults who are active outdoors, according to the state health department.
During B-N stop, Rep. LaHood defends higher tariffs and new landscape of trade agreements
U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood is hailing this week’s announcement of a trade agreement with the European Union and recent ones with Vietnam, the United Kingdom, Indonesia, and Japan as the Trump administration continues to reshape the global economy.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign research assistants officially join union
Research assistants at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are now represented by the Graduate Employees’ Organization, or GEO, after the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board certified the results of a recent union election.
Rep. Miller Joins Effort to Ban Chinese Land Ownership in U.S
Miller called Chinese land acquisition “a direct attack on our sovereignty” and said the legislation is needed to protect America’s food supply and communities.
82-year-old Rantoul vet owns thriving mobile market, selling melons and collards greens from his pickup
At 82 years old, Eugene Usher doesn’t need a slot at the farmers market. His red pickup truck, just off the highway in Rantoul, has become a local favorite for fresh collard greens and watermelons.
State leaders seek more transparency from insurance companies
Illinois leaders remain frustrated by State Farm’s rate hikes on Illinois homeowners and threatened more state regulation over premium increases in a letter to the editor published Wednesday in the Chicago Tribune.
Chicago hospitals are scaling back trans care for youth. A rapid response team is stepping in.
The team has a network of practitioners in Illinois who don’t rely on payments from the federal government, which threatens to cut funding to gender-affirming care providers.
Urbana appoints new city administrator
Darius White is a former city employee who has held multiple economic development positions.
WILL Call: What’s Happening in Champaign – Urbana Jul. 31 – Aug. 03
Listen to Kimberly Schofield and Patricia Bradford talk about weekend events on IPM News AM 580 and FM 90.9 – Wednesdays at 6:45 and 8:45
Trump administration requests voter data from Illinois elections board
The Trump administration sent the Illinois State Board of Elections a letter this week requesting troves of voter data. The request included sensitive information about voters and the state’s efforts to scrub the rolls of ineligible voters.
Urbana City Council gives final approval for a new comprehensive plan
The document aims to outline the community’s vision for growth and redevelopment over the next two decades.
A family came to Chicago seeking asylum. Dad was deported. Now, Mom wants to leave.
The family came for the ‘American Dream.’ The husband says conditions in detention were ‘inhumane.’ The wife has enrolled in the government’s program to self-deport.
Rural hospitals issue warning in wake of federal cuts
Hospital officials are warning that changes passed in President Donald Trump’s budget and tax bill put them on an unsustainable track that could lead to closures or loss of services in rural communities.
Gov. JB Pritzker signs gun safety bills, one fines firearm owners who improperly store guns
The Safe Gun Storage Act requires owners to keep weapons in a locked box around minors and at-risk individuals. Another bill requires law enforcement agencies to use a federal tracing system to track firearms.
More than a crown: Here’s what becoming Champaign County Fair Queen means to Sophia Hartke
Sophia Hartke didn’t expect to win the Champaign County Fair Queen Pageant on her first attempt. Now, she’s excited for the opportunity to represent her family and her community.
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District steps in for the summer as school meal programs pause
As local school districts pause their summer food services to prepare for the new academic year, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is stepping up to make sure children have access to meals.
Kelly leans on experience in Illinois’ Democratic Senate primary
U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly says she is not worried big spending or endorsements for her opponents will drown out her voice in the Democratic primary for Illinois’ open U.S. Senate seat.
Will Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ help farmers in the Midwest and Great Plains? It depends
The massive legislation extends tax cuts and increases safety nets for farmers who grow commodities, like corn, wheat and rice. But deep cuts to federal food assistance spending could hurt specialty growers who benefit from programs like Double Up Food Bucks.
Danville youth aim to find solutions to combat gun violence with upcoming town hall
The event, called “Voices for Change”, will take place on Thursday, July 31, at 6 p.m. at the Laura Lee Fellowship House.
Consumer advocate pushes for legislative action regarding State Farm rate spike
According to Bloomington-based State Farm, home insurance rates are on the rise in Illinois because of rising home replacement costs and more frequent severe weather events that drive up the cost and frequency of claims.
Heat and storms continue through the weekend
A Flood Watch is in effect for Champaign County and surrounding portions of central Illinois through Sunday at 7pm. Portions of central Illinois are also under a Heat Advisory until Sunday at 7pm.
Landlord jailed for decades in hate-crime attack on Palestinian American family has died
The 73-year-old Czuba targeted them in October 2023 because of their Islamic faith and as a response to the war between Israel and Hamas, which started days earlier.
A Dialogue on Red Lobster’s revival and cultural significance with CEO Damola Adamolekun
Red Lobster’s Damola Adamolekun opens up about his upbringing, the chain’s iconic status, and its strategy for bouncing back after tough business.
Black dance as artivism: Preserving African culture through movement
Dance is culture in motion. In Illinois, artists use traditional African dance as a form of artivism, blending heritage with activism. How are these creatives shaping social change through their movement?
Madigan’s political fixer gets 2-year prison sentence
Michael McClain was sentenced Thursday for his role in a plot to illegally influence former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan on behalf of ComEd.
Already in the red, rural hospitals across the Midwest brace for Medicaid changes
Health care leaders worry rural hospitals could be hit hard by Medicaid spending reductions in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” In the Midwest and Great Plains, Oklahoma and Kansas could face the highest risk of hospital closures and service reductions.
USDA’s end of diversity efforts in farm programs will mean ‘less food for the community’
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will no longer take a farmer’s race or gender into consideration for many of its loans and benefit programs.
How one prison is helping incarcerated men navigate transfer culture shock through peer education
Danville Correctional Center was one of the first in the state to do peer education. The latest course is for those transition from maximum to medium security environments.
Feds weigh in on lawsuit challenging how Illinois maintains voter registration rolls
In a filing known as a “statement of interest,” the Justice Department said the government has an interest in the outcome of the lawsuit, although the filing stops short of asking the court for permission to intervene as a party in the case.
Heat advisory in effect in Central Illinois as temperatures expected to hit over 100 degrees
The National Weather Service advises residents to keep hydrated, take frequent breaks in the shade and air conditioning, wear light clothing, and avoid outdoor activities from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
3 victims of St. Louis serial killer identified by Illinois police and SIUE
Illinois State police Director Brendan Kelly said that the internship program helped law enforcement identify Kelly Johson, Crystal Lay and Carol Jean Hemphill and that all were victims of Maury Travis.
WILL Call: What’s Happening in Champaign – Urbana Jul. 24 – Jul. 27
Listen to Kimberly Schofield and Patricia Bradford talk about weekend events on IPM News AM 580 and FM 90.9 – Wednesdays at 6:45 and 8:45
Trio of lawmakers, including U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, seeks answers after Texas floods
Sorensen is a former TV meteorologist and has proposed several bills pushing to maintain federal support within NOAA and the National Weather Service.
Traffic fatalities up in Champaign County this year, data shows
Reports show the county saw the highest number of traffic deaths at this point in a year in over two decades. Officials are taking community input to try and understand why.
NPR news chief announces she’s leaving days after Congress kills federal funding
The veteran news leader’s announcement comes just days after the Republican-led Congress, driven largely by President Trump’s claims of liberal bias at NPR, voted to strip public broadcasting of all federal funding.
College still pays off, but wage gaps persist in Illinois, study finds
College yields higher earnings postgraduation for all Illinois students, but disparities persist among graduates from low-income families, even if they have the same college degree as peers from more affluent families.
Former ComEd CEO says she’s innocent, even as judge gives her 2 years in prison
Pramaggiore’s legal team has long insisted upon her innocence. That’s despite a jury’s verdict more than two years ago, finding that she and three others participated in a nearly decadelong plot to sway Madigan to benefit ComEd.
Farmers in Illinois may lose conservation resources, allowing soil to ‘fly in the breeze’
After two years of funding cuts in Illinois, conservation advocates worry that soil health could suffer – and dust storms could become a greater risk.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, ‘Cosby Show’ actor, dies at 54 in Costa Rica drowning
Warner created many TV moments etched in the memories of Generation X children and their parents. He was nominated for an Emmy and won a Grammy for his work as a musician.
Tango beat coming to Urbana with public events and immersive workshop
Champaign-Urbana residents should grab their dancing shoes as the city is set to come alive with the sound of tango as the CU Tango Music Workshop kicks off on Sunday, July 20.
Here’s how much federal funding Illinois and Missouri public media stations will lose
Missouri and Illinois public media stations stand to lose about $20.5 million annually as the result of the federal rescission package.
4-H Memorial Camp at Allerton Park celebrates 75 years
The 4-H Memorial Camp has been a mainstay of Allerton Park since 1949. It is celebrating its 75th anniversary Saturday.
Drought means ‘drier than normal.’ How will climatologists define drought if the new normal is dry?
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is developing a framework for assessing drought in a changing climate. It’s a difficult task, as what’s considered drought is often situational.
A Dialogue on how one reentry program is growing change from the ground up
How is one local program using gardening to support formerly incarcerated individuals?