WATCH LIVE: Pritzker’s Jan. 22 COVID-19 Update
WATCH LIVE: At 12 p.m. today the Pritzker administration is holding a press briefing to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The questions we receive from
Building Trust Is Key To Ensuring Farmworker Access To COVID Testing, Vaccine
For more than a decade, Saraí has been a farmworker, cultivating corn and soybeans in the fields of central Illinois. She moved to the U.S. from Mexico…
Illini Women Still Winless in Big Ten, After 73-54 Loss at #21 Northwestern
EVANSTON – Another slow start cost the Illini women another Big Ten loss Thursday night, as they fell to Northwestern at Evanston, 73-54. Illinois managed
Bill Allows Victims To Collect Pretrial Interest On Civil Damages
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois General Assembly last week pushed through legislation to allow victims in all personal injury and wrongful death cases to collect interest
New Champaign Unit 4 Schools Leader Moving From Springfield
CHAMPAIGN – The next superintendent of Champaign Unit 4 Schools is moving from Springfield. On Thursday night, the Board of Education announced its selection of Shelia
Biden Focuses On COVID-19 Strategy With 10 Executive Actions
Updated at Thursday 3:36 p.m. ET WASHINGTON – President Biden signed a series of orders and directives on his second day in office to take
From The 21st: Illinoisans’ Hopes for the Biden Administration
WASHINGTON – Presidential inaugurations are by definition historic events. Joe Biden officially become the 46th president of the United States on January 20, 2021 just before noon Wednesday
‘It Was An Incredible Experience’: U of I Professor Tapped By Biden Administration To Transition USDA
URBANA – A University of Illinois professor helped the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) transition from the Trump to the new Biden-Harris administration. Jonathan Coppess
Education Bill To Revamp Social Studies Classes
SPRINGFIELD – Social studies classes in Illinois public schools are about to get a major overhaul, with more emphasis on Black history and the contributions
Illinois Could Expand Access To Higher Education In Prison Through Pell Grants
WASHINGTON – Federal financial aid to people in prison was quietly restored as part of a COVID-19 stimulus bill passed by Congress last month. The
Senate Confirms Avril Haines As Director Of National Intelligence
WASHINGTON – The Senate has voted to confirm Avril Haines to be Director of National Intelligence, making her President Biden’s first Cabinet-level official to receive Senate
Biden Moves To Have U.S. Rejoin Climate Accord
WASHINGTON – In one of his first acts in the Oval Office, President Joe Biden signed an executive order to have the United States rejoin the
Joe Biden Sworn In As Nation’s 46th President
WASHINGTON – Joe Biden has officially become the 46th president of the United States. Biden took the oath of office just before noon Wednesday during a
Watch Live: Inauguration Day Ceremony And Events
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be sworn in as president and vice president of the United States on Wednesday. Follow live special coverage throughout the day beginning at 11 a.m. ET.
Minute By Minute Updates: America’s Change Of Power
WASHINGTON (AP) — Here are the latest details on Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration from the Associated Press (all times local): 7:15 p.m. White House press
Sen. Tammy Duckworth Asks Biden Administration To ‘Restore’ Renewable Fuel Standard
A group of senators is pushing the incoming Biden-Harris administration to “restore” the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) — a program aimed at reducing greenhouse gas
22nd-Ranked Illini Top Weary Nittany Lions 79-65
CHAMPAIGN – Kofi Cockburn is the national leader in men’s college basketball double-doubles, and he notched his eleventh of the season Tuesday night in a
‘I’ve Tried Everything’: Pandemic Worsens Child Mental Health Crisis
When schools closed last spring, children with severe mental illnesses were cut off from the services they’d come to rely on. Many have since spiraled into emergency rooms and even police custody.
Photo Gallery: Biden Inauguration’s Field of Flags
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Capitol building is prepared for the inauguration ceremonies for President-elect Joe Biden as the “Field of Flags” are illuminated on the
Biden To Propose 8-Year Citizenship Path For Immigrants
WASHINGTON — President-elect Joe Biden plans to unveil a sweeping immigration bill on Day One of his administration. It would provide an eight-year path to
Health Make-A-Thon Supports Illinois Residents With Ideas For Improving Health Care
URBANA – People who have navigated tough situations in health care often have the best ideas for how to improve the system. The goal of
Why Even Corn Can Get A Bad Night Of Sleep
In 2020, a stubborn enemy emerged for corn farmers across the Great Plains: drought. Today, about half of the U.S. is in drought , with large swaths of…
Q&A: How To Clear Your Cannabis Arrest Record Without Waiting For Automatic Expungement
Nearly half a million cannabis arrest records were expunged in the first year of recreational cannabis legalization in Illinois. Ten counties, including Peoria and Knox,
Illinois Collects $62M In Cannabis Revenue For Minority Neighborhoods
CHICAGO — Illinois has collected $62 million from legalized marijuana sales that’s earmarked for helping minority businesses and neighborhood development, but the money hasn’t been
Pritzker Activates National Guard As FBI Warns Of State Capitol Protests
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker has activated 250 members of the Illinois National Guard amid FBI warnings of potential armed protests at the 50 U.S.
Liddell, Buckeyes Romp Over Feckless Illini 87-81
CHAMPAIGN – The No. 14 Illini men’s basketball team dropped its second straight home game at the State Farm Center Saturday, with an 87-81 loss
A Third Of Champaign County Health Care Workers Declined The Vaccine, Health Officials Say
URBANA – Despite more Champaign County residents becoming eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, one-third of health care personnel in the county still aren’t vaccinated
‘C-U At Austin’s Place’ Emergency Women’s Shelter Moves To New Permanent Home
CHAMPAIGN – An emergency women’s shelter in Champaign, “C-U at Austin’s Place,” is now operating out of a new permanent location. Starting 13 years ago
Pritzker’s Daily COVID-19 Briefing Full Transcript And Audio — Jan. 15, 2021
Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Dr. Ngozi Ezike held a COVID-19 press briefing today as cases and hospitalizations in Illinois reach record highs. Read and listen
Illinois National Guard Activated To Secure State Capitol
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois National Guard members will be on duty this weekend in Springfield in response to state capitols being threatened across the country. Gov.
Pritzker Unfreezing Regions From Mitigations Doesn’t Mean Indoor Dining’s Return — Yet
Governor JB Pritzker on Friday will unfreeze all of Illinois’ 11 regions from the so-called Tier III Coronavirus mitigations he implemented statewide in…
Welch Sworn In As House Speaker, Ending Madigan’s Decades-Long Hold On Illinois Politics
SPRINGFIELD – Former House Speaker Mike Madigan is now merely State Rep. Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) for the first time in nearly four decades as the embattled
Illinois Restaurant Association Again Calls On Pritzker To Reopen Indoor Dining
SPRINGFIELD – Certain regions in Illinois will be allowed to transition to less restrictive COVID-19 measures beginning Friday. But that doesn’t mean restaurants and bars will
Talk To Children About Mental Health And Suicide, Experts Say
At Riley Hospital for Children there’s been a jump in emergency room visits related to mental health and suicide. From March to December, these visits…
200 Illinois Guard Troops Will Go To DC To Aid Inauguration
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. J.B. Pritzker is sending about 200 members of the Illinois National Guard to Washington, D.C., to help with security at next week’s
Kennedy Center To Honor Danville’s Dick Van Dyke
CHAMPAIGN — The Kennedy Center announced it will honor Dick Van Dyke, an actor and comedian who grew up in Danville. Van Dyke is known
Illinois Lawmakers Vote to End Cash Bail
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois General Assembly passed an expansive criminal justice bill on the last day of the lame-duck session, which, among other changes, would end
Illinois Man Accused of Threatening Inauguration Violence
CHICAGO — Prosecutors say a suburban Chicago man has been arrested on a federal charge that he threatened to take the lives of President-elect Joseph
Trump Becomes First President To Be Impeached Twice
WASHINGTON – A majority of the U.S. House has voted to impeach President Donald Trump for a second time, just a week after he encouraged loyalists
Welch Becomes Illinois’ First Black Speaker Of The House
SPRINGFIELD — Rep. Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, will be the next speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives after days of closed-door meetings with fellow
Changes Promised After Champaign County Animal Control Mistakenly Euthanizes Dog
URBANA – The mistaken euthanizing of a dog by Champaign County Animal Control over Christmas has raised a storm of controversy. Now, Champaign County officials
Black Caucus Passes Criminal Justice Omnibus Bill Through Senate
The Illinois Senate passed a criminal justice omnibus bill early Wednesday morning after a grueling 20 hours of politicking during Tuesday’s lame duck…
U Of I Admins Urge Students To Stay Vigilant As They Return To Campus
URBANA – As University of Illinois students return to the Urbana campus this month, administrators urge them to remain vigilant as the COVID-19 pandemic rages
How This School Nurse Handles Work During COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for Midwestern school districts as they balance their students’ education and safety. At the forefront are…
Rodney Davis Among Republicans Lashing Out Against New Security Measures At The Capitol
Several lawmakers were visibly upset Tuesday by the new security system at the Capitol complex that requires them to walk through a metal detectors, following last week’s deadly insurrection.
House Votes To Impeach Trump, But Senate Trial Unlikely Before Biden’s Inauguration
The resolution charges President Trump with “incitement of insurrection.” Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he will not reconvene the Senate early for a trial to remove Trump from office.
House Votes On 25th Amendment Resolution Against Trump
Democrats and some Republicans have called for President Trump’s removal from office for his role in inciting a violent mob that breached the U.S. Capitol last week.
Education Reform Bill Will Head to Governor; Economic Equity Bills Pass House
A bill aimed at improving racial equity throughout the state’s K-12 and higher education system passed both houses of the General Assembly on Monday,…
Permanent Vote-By-Mail Expansion Moves To House Floor
SPRINGFIELD – The House Executive Committee advanced an election bill that would make permanent some of the expansions to mail-in voting that were passed for
IL Reps. Announce Trump Impeachment Votes: Kinzinger For; Miller Against
WASHINGTON – Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL16) has become the third Republican member of Congress to call for President Donald Trump’s impeachment. Kinzinger said in
Black Caucus Puts Welch Forth As Speaker Candidate
One day after state House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, announced a suspension – but not a withdrawal – of his campaign for another term as…
GOP: Madigan’s Suspended Campaign ‘Historic;’ Unsure If His Reign Is Over
In what could become one of the biggest shifts of political power in Illinois in decades, Mike Madigan announced Monday he’s suspending his campaign for…
Slow Coronavirus Vaccine Rollout Continues In Illinois, As More Become Eligible
URBANA – Supply chain issues and logistical challenges are causing the rollout of the coronavirus vaccine in Illinois to move slower than expected. But the
State Lawmakers Debate Police Reform, Changes to Criminal Justice System
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois lawmakers spent much of their weekend session debating criminal justice reform bills. The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus is using the lame-duck session
State Veterans Affairs Director Resigns In Aftermath Of Deadly COVID-19 Outbreak
Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director Linda Chapa LaVia announced her resignation Monday following a contentious House committee hearing on…
Pritzker’s Daily COVID-19 Briefing Full Transcript And Audio — Jan. 11, 2021
Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Dr. Ngozi Ezike held a COVID-19 press briefing today as cases and hospitalizations in Illinois reach record highs. Read and listen
Danville Officials Hope 2021 Will Be Their Year For A Casino
DANVILLE – Danville officials and casino developers hope that 2021 is the year their long-pursued project gets started. A revamped lineup of investors and developers
Madigan Suspends Campaign For House Speaker
SPRINGFIELD – Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) is suspending his campaign to be Illinois House Speaker. Madigan has long been one of those most powerful politicians in
Illini Men Upset By Maryland; Women Fall At Michigan
CHAMPAIGN — The Maryland Terrapins now have two Big Ten wins, both on the road at nationally-ranked opponents. That’s after they upset #12 Illinois 66-63
WATCH LIVE: Pritzker’s Jan. 11 COVID-19 Update
WATCH LIVE: At 2:30 p.m. today the Pritzker administration is holding a press briefing to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The questions we receive from