Growing Your Own Backyard Prairie Takes A Lot Of Patience, But The Results Can Be Rewarding
URBANA — Prairies once stretched across most of Illinois. Today, only about 6,100 acres remain of this natural habitat in the Prairie State. But it
GOP Leader McCarthy Taps 5 Republicans To Serve On Jan. 6 Select Committee
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has nominated five Republican representatives to serve on the House select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection.
New Nonprofit Aims To Support Central Illinois Families With Babies In The NICU
CHAMPAIGN – It can be challenging for parents to bond with their new baby when the child ends up hospitalized following the birth. Champaign resident
Gov. Pritzker Announces Re-Election Campaign; Faces Many GOP Opponents
URBANA – J.B. Pritzker announced Monday he will seek a second term as governor of Illinois. The politician will face a Democratic primary challenger and
Majority Of Champaign And Urbana Police Live Elsewhere; Effect Of Non-Residency On Community Policing Debated Nationally
The vast majority of police staff members for Champaign and Urbana don’t live in the communities they serve. In Champaign, nearly four out of five
Champaign And Urbana Police Struggle To Diversify
Despite pledges over the years to diversify the police department, both the Champaign and Urbana police staff have remained overwhelmingly white. In 2014, the police
Pritzker Has ‘No Plans’ For Added Mitigations; ‘Local Control’ Focus Of School Guidelines
SPRINGFIELD – The wide availability of COVID-19 vaccines has changed the state’s approach for mitigating the virus’ spread statewide and in schools. For school districts,
What It Takes To Get To Tokyo To Cover The Olympics
TOKYO — When anyone traveling to Japan for the Olympics touches down in Tokyo, they are immediately separated from everyone else on their plane and
Theaters Are Reopening But Some Aren’t Sure What Comes Next
MONTICELLO — Theater companies around central Illinois are gearing up for summer shows and new seasons, but some directors say they aren’t sure what they’ll
Crews Finishing Final Touches On SIU’s $11.5M Dental Clinic
ALTON — Crews are putting the final touches on Southern Illinois University’s new $11.5 million dental clinic. The project was announced in 2019 and work
After Years Of Increased Police Presence, How Has The Pandemic Affected School Discipline?
ROCKFORD — Since the 2014-15 school year, Rockford Public Schools referred students to law enforcement for school discipline matters 2,379 times. The number of police
State To Pick Overdue Marijuana Dispensary Winners By Aug. 19
SPRINGFIELD – More than a year after new marijuana dispensary licenses were scheduled to be distributed per the state’s 2019 adult-use legalization law, the governor’s
Illinois Supreme Court To ‘Triage’ Eviction Cases
SPRINGFIELD – With the state-imposed moratorium on residential evictions set to expire Aug. 1, the Illinois Supreme Court announced a plan Thursday that provides an
Pritzker Signs Ban On Deceptive Interrogation Of Minors, Other Criminal Justice Reforms
SPRINGFIELD – Terrill Swift spent 15 years in prison, convicted of a rape and murder which DNA evidence later proved he did not commit. On
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
Urbana Man Faces Attempted Murder Charge After Allegedly Ramming Truck Into County Jail
URBANA – Authorities have charged an Urbana man with attempted first-degree murder and several other crimes after he allegedly rammed a stolen truck into the
As Iowa Opens Up, COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Continue To Slow
IOWA CITY — On a hot evening at the Broadway Neighborhood Center in Iowa City, home to the University of Iowa, student volunteers set up
Federal 3-Judge Panel To Decide Whether State Redistricting Plan Is Constitutional
SPRINGFIELD – Lawyers for plaintiffs and the state told a panel of federal judges Wednesday the issues involved in two lawsuits challenging the state’s legislative
‘Paper Tiger’: Illinois’ Legislative Watchdog Resigns Citing Lack Of Ethics Reform
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope resigned from her job on Wednesday after more than two years in the role she called a
Vehicle Catalytic Converter Thefts Increase In CU
URBANA – Auto shop owners and law enforcement in Champaign-Urbana are seeing an increase in vehicle catalytic converter thefts. Catalytic converters make toxic exhaust fumes
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
School Summer Food Programs Are A Pandemic Idea That Lasted
AMBOY — Boxes of fresh produce line cafeteria tables inside an elementary school in Amboy, Illinois. Toni Fassig just finished setting up the summer food
COVID Cases In Parts Of Missouri And Arkansas Surge To Levels Not Seen Since Winter
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — In Springfield, Mo., firefighters are giving vaccine shots. Churches are scrambling to schedule vaccine clinics. Students and staff at summer school at
Vice President Harris Hints That She Has Discussed Filibuster Changes With Senators
WASHINGTON — With voting rights legislation stalled in the Senate because of Republican opposition, Vice President Harris suggested that she has talked to senators about
You Asked: Will The Pandemic Have Lasting Effects On Child Development?
The COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful for many families — and that stress can affect a child’s development, including their language and social skills. Side
More Than 1 Million Deaths In 2017 Linked To Burning Fossil Fuels, Wash U Study Finds
ST. LOUIS — Burning fossil fuels has created a massive, global problem: climate change. New research from Washington University finds these fuel sources also have
The White House Seeks To Boost Competition In The Meat Industry
Updated July 9, 12:09 p.m.: President Joe Biden issued an executive order on Friday directing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make rules to increase competition
Media Literacy Requirement, Animal Products Ban Among Latest 53 Bills Signed By Pritzker
SPRINGFIELD — Public high schools in Illinois will soon be required to teach students how to access and evaluate various kinds of news and social
At Community Vigil, A Peoria Wracked By Gun Violence And Trauma Urged Not To Give Up Hope For Healing
PEORIA — Michael Anthony Charles Johnson II was Peoria’s 16th homicide victim of 2021. Johnson, 21, was one of four people shot at a house
Undocumented Students In Illinois Stand To Gain Institutional Support In Higher Education
CHAMPAIGN – All colleges and universities within Illinois could be required to create a liaison position to support undocumented students if Governor J.B. Pritzker signs
This Vegetable Garden Is Also A Safe Haven For Neighborhood Youth
INDIANAPOLIS — On summer mornings, high schoolers in bright green T-shirts gather on the side of Burdsal Parkway north of downtown Indianapolis. As traffic speeds
Durbin Pushes For Lower Drug Costs, Movement On Infrastructure
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin wants to force drug companies to list the cost of prescription medications in their consumer advertisements. The Illinois Democrat
Illinois Football Player Hosts Free Kids Camp
CHAMPAIGN – University of Illinois football player Tailon Leitzsey and more than two dozen of his Illini teammates are holding a free camp for kids
New Law Requires Public Schools To Teach Asian American History
SPRINGFIELD – All public schools in Illinois will soon be required to teach a unit on Asian American history and culture as part of their
Unprecedented Unemployment Deficit Threatens To ‘Cripple’ Businesses, Claimants
SPRINGFIELD – Since economic shutdowns began and COVID-19 death counts started to rise in March 2020, national unemployment rates have hovered at historically high numbers,
Allerton Concert Series Returns With A Few Adjustments
MONTICELLO — Live music is coming back to the University of Illinois’ Allerton Park and Retreat Center outside Monticello for the center’s annual concert series.
U.S. Rep. Mary Miller Welcomes Marjorie Taylor Greene At Effingham Fundraiser
EFFINGHAM, Ill. – At the U.S. Capitol, Marjorie Taylor Greene told a downstate crowd Thursday night, she and fellow freshman Republican Congresswoman Mary Miller are
Stormy Skies Possible This Weekend
URBANA – The National Weather Service in Central Illinois advises that you stay weather aware this weekend. Strong thunderstorms are possible late Friday night into
Illinois Finally Implementing Work-Share Program That Could’ve Saved Up To 124K Jobs During COVID
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Employment Security is finally implementing a so-called work-share program — first authorized under a 2015 law — that could
Top Illinois Military Leader Says Cyber Threats Are Growing, Preparation Is Needed
NORMAL — Illinois’s top military officer says the growing threat of cyber attacks requires more resources to combat them. Maj. Gen. Rich Neely is adjutant
Lack Of Testing Means Millions Of Rural Midwesterners Risk Water Contamination
Millions of rural residents across the Midwest are at risk of nitrate contamination in their drinking water, but they might not know it. Many rural
Group Seeks More Support For Electric Buses, Trucks
A pro-EV group says more widespread adoption of battery-powered trucks and buses is increasingly cost-attractive and would have an outsized impact on air pollution. The
Citing Uncompetitive Legislative Maps, Libertarian-Leaning Think Tank Branches Out To Candidate Recruitment
The libertarian-leaning Illinois Policy Institute will be trying its hand at candidate recruitment this summer and fall, sending out at minimum tens of thousands of
Champaign Chief Of Police Anthony Cobb To Step Down In August
CHAMPAIGN – Champaign Chief of Police Anthony Cobb announced Thursday that he’ll step down from his position. He’s leaving the job to join the Illinois
Time Is Running Out To Save The Byron Nuclear Plant, And The Community Is Getting Nervous
BYRON — Christine Lynde says her community feels “powerless” — despite being home to a nuclear plant that provides electricity to more than two million
Illinois Researchers Using Image Recognition to Manage Invasive Asian Carp
EMIQUON PRESERVE – Fish and wildlife researchers are testing new image recognition technology on the Illinois River to manage invasive carp species. The system is
Man Whose Case Helped End Death Penalty In Illinois Dies
CHICAGO — A former Illinois death row inmate whose exoneration became an incentive to end the death penalty in Illinois has died. Attorney Jim Montgomery
State Revenues Surged In Previous Fiscal Year
SPRINGFIELD – Revenues flowing into state coffers surged in the fiscal year that ended June 30, spurred largely by an influx of federal funds, the
Biden: What’s Good For Families Can Also Be Good For Economy
CRYSTAL LAKE — President Joe Biden says that what’s good for families is also good for the economy. The president spoke at a community college
Illinois Reports Zero COVID Deaths For First Time Since Pandemic Began, But Delta Variant Coming From Missouri
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported zero deaths from COVID-19 were recorded on Monday — the first time the state
Pritzker Signs Bill Expanding Covered Medicaid Services
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois residents who have health coverage through Medicaid now have access to a broad range of services including mental health counseling, substance abuse
Advocates Continue To Push For Equitable Energy Bill
The language in a comprehensive energy bill aimed at moving Illinois to a carbon-free future has undergone a multitude of revisions, yet the foundation of
Only One Elder Care Facility In Champaign-Urbana Is Requiring Staff Vaccinations
URBANA – More than 10,000 residents of long-term care facilities in Illinois have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, according to state
4th Of July Shootings Across The Country Killed More Than 180 People
More than 180 people were killed in shootings across the country over the Fourth of July holiday weekend, according to data compiled by the Gun
While Waiting For Mental Health Care, Children Suffer
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Family pictures and religious art cover the walls in Meg Hartz’s home in South Bend, Indiana. She’s sitting on the end
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
Mental Health Crisis: Children At Breaking Point During COVID
On a tree-lined street, behind a welcoming front porch with an American flag and cushioned furniture, a mother tries to calm her teenage son. At
Blood Donation Shortage Leads To Extra Incentives
CHAMPAIGN — A shortage in blood donations locally has prompted a local blood bank to start offering rewards to try to encourage donations. ImpactLife—a blood
Tyson Foods Recalls 8.5 Million Pounds Of Chicken Over Listeria Concerns
SPRINGDALE, Ark. – Tyson Foods Inc., one of the largest food manufacturers in the country, is recalling more than 8-million of pounds of chicken products
Here’s Where To Catch This Weekend’s Local Fireworks
After taking a year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fireworks shows are returning to central Illinois. Here’s where you can see all the area’s