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
Barge Industry May Be A Mixed Bag For The Green Energy Movement
ALTON — The Biden administration is fighting climate change in part by pushing for cars and trucks to be more fuel efficient and reduce emissions,
Illinois Expands Medicaid Coverage For Mothers
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois will now provide Medicaid benefits to eligible mothers for up to 12 months postpartum, a major extension from the previous 60-day limit.
FOID, Concealed Carry Permits Extended Again
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police has given another 150-day extension to people whose Firearms Owners Identification cards or Concealed Carry Licenses have expired due
Illinois Attorney General Reports Office Network ‘Compromised’
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced Tuesday that his agency’s office internet network was discovered to be “compromised” on Saturday, according to a
Biden Administration Says It Will Withdraw U.S. Troops From Afghanistan By Sept. 11
WASHINGTON – President Biden will withdraw all remaining U.S. troops from Afghanistan by Sept. 11, the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that prompted America’s involvement
U.S. Suggests ‘Pause’ On Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Shots Over Clot Reports
UPDATED at 2 p.m. with information from the Illinois Department of Public Health and local health officials in east-central Illinois. WASHINGTON — The U.S. is
Illinois Prisons To Restart In-Person Visits, Over A Year After COVID Stoppage
SPRINGFIELD – Within a month, Illinois prisons will be allowing in-person visitation again. It’s been over a year since the Illinois Department of Corrections stopped visitation to try
Johnson & Johnson Vaccine And Blood Clots: What You Need To Know
Updated 12:50 p.m. ET WASHINGTON — Federal health officials have called for a pause in the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, after reports
How An Iowa Town Won Its Fight For Better Flood Protection
HAMBURG, Ia. — Levees protect people, towns, and agriculture from flooding. But two years ago, parts of the Missouri River and its tributaries reached record
Coronavirus Information Center
This site is a compilation of the latest news about the COVID-19 pandemic in Illinois, along with up-to-date resources and guidance from local, state and
Congressman Joins Statehouse GOP In Calling For Redistricting Commission
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis joined his Republican colleagues in the General Assembly Monday in calling on Gov. JB Pritzker to support legislation to
Judge Rules Two Ex-Senators Should Be Paid Withheld Salaries
SPRINGFIELD — Two former Illinois state senators have a “clear right” to receive portions of their legislative salaries that were withheld by Illinois Comptroller Susana
Video Shows Black Player Forced To Sit Near Banana Peels
MOLINE – A Black football player at a northwest Illinois high school is seen on video sitting down in a locker littered with banana peels
Farmers On The Missouri River Sue The Army Corps Of Engineers For Flood Damages
Farmers along the Missouri River won a mass action federal lawsuit last December against the Army Corps of Engineers for land damages they say are
‘Peer Support’ Organizations Aim To Help Kids By Supporting Parents
RANTOUL – The pandemic has led to an increased need for mental health support for children. In working to meet this need, one central Illinois
Where Can You Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine In Central Illinois?
Updated April 11, 8:30 p.m. This is an updated post on which Illinoisans can receive the COVID-19 vaccine, when and where. Illinois has started its
Tourism And Hospitality Leaders Call For State Support, Guidance Amid COVID-19 Recovery
SPRINGFIELD – Leaders from the state’s tourism and hospitality industry asked legislators for additional support and reopening guidance during a Thursday committee hearing as the
Judge Declines To Dismiss Lawsuit Over Indoor Dining Ban
SPRINGFIELD – A Kane County restaurant’s legal challenge to Gov. JB Pritzker’s ban on indoor dining can continue, a Sangamon County judge ruled this week. Attorneys
‘Jazz Night’ Host Christian McBride Brings Show To WILL
URBANA — Weekend listeners to WILL-FM may have noticed the exciting sounds of jazz returning to our airwaves last weekend with the debut of NPR’s
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.
‘It Has To Stop’: Biden Takes Initial Action On Guns, Calls On Congress To Do More
WASHINGTON – Declaring U.S. gun violence an “epidemic” and “an international embarrassment,” President Biden outlined actions to regulate certain firearms and to try to prevent gun
State Tops Single-Day Vaccine Record At 154,201 As Universal Eligibility Nears
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker reiterated Thursday that all Illinois residents age 16 and older will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine beginning Monday,
As COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Expands, Some Say They Don’t Want The Shot
States across the Midwest are opening up COVID-19 vaccine appointments to more age groups. This should move the region closer to herd immunity and the return to some normalcy. Still, some say they don’t want to get vaccinated.
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
“Estamos Muy Agradecidos”: Por Unos Campesinos, Visas Americanas Ofrecen La Opción De Vacunarse
Read this article in English here . Un sábado reciente, unas camionetas blancas trasladaron a grupos pequeños de campesinos migrantes del huerto donde…
COVID-19 Positivity Rate Reaches Highest Level Since Late January
SPRINGFIELD – Public health officials on Wednesday announced 3,790 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 out of 80,628 test results reported over the previous
LIVE UPDATES: Central Illinois Local Elections
Champaign County results updated 10:30 pm on Friday 4/7; other results updated at 10:00am on Wednesday 4/7. Follow Illinois Newsroom’s live election coverage, including voting
Harris: Vaccinated Can Be ‘Role Models’ For Friends, Family
CHICAGO — Vice President Kamala Harris is urging Chicago union members to share their experience receiving a COVID-19 vaccine and act as “role models” for
Dosunmu Leaving Illinois; Entering NBA Draft
URBANA – University of Illinois standout basketball player Ayo Dosunmu is headed for the NBA Draft. The junior made the announcement on ESPN today. This spring,
ISBE Director On Leave After Attempted Online Extortion, Agency Reports
SPRINGFIELD — One day before Tuesday’s consolidated election, the Illinois State Board of Elections executive director was placed on administrative leave after being the subject
Illinois Schools Will Get $7B To Help Students With Pandemic Recovery
CHAMPAIGN – School districts in Illinois will receive $7 billion in federal funding over three years for kindergarten through high school education. The influx of
Black Medical Students Navigate Systemic Racism To Fulfill A Mission
Black medical students face challenges from the beginning. With less access to quality public school education, many find themselves ill-prepared and it takes them multiple tries at standardized tests required for medical school entrance. Once accepted, some are faced with racism inside the lecture and hospital halls.
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
Pritzker Urges Schools To Focus COVID Relief Funds
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker took to the road Monday to urge local school districts in Illinois to carefully target the roughly $7 billion in
Ray LaHood Resigns From ALPLM Board After Non-Prosecution Agreement Becomes Public
PEORIA – Ray LaHood is no longer the chairman of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Board of Trustees. Emily Bittner, a spokeswoman for Gov.
Housing Advocates Plan Next Steps Amid Pandemic Economic Uncertainty
SPRINGFIELD – As economic uncertainty continues to linger one year into the COVID-19 pandemic, housing advocates across the state are planning next steps to protect
WATCH LIVE: Pritzker’s April 5 Education Update
WATCH LIVE: At 1:30 p.m. today Gov. Pritzker is holding a press briefing in Champaign to discuss what K-12 students returning to the classroom could
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
For Non-English Speakers, Getting Vaccine Information Is A Challenge
The Midwest is home to tens of thousands of immigrants — including refugees from countries like Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Iraq. And it’s been a challenge to provide information about COVID-19 and vaccines to those who don’t speak English.
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
In Fireworks-Way Illinois, ‘Fountain’ Sparklers Are Debated
SPRINGFIELD — Fireworks enthusiasts want Illinois lawmakers to loosen some of the nation’s strictest laws by legalizing backyard ground-based sparklers called “fountains.” The bill sponsored
Illinois Billionaire Shahid Khan Investing In Thousands Of Acres Of The State’s Farmland
Illinois billionaire Shahid Khan is known for building the automotive parts company Flex ‘N Gate, based in Urbana, IL, into a global manufacturer with 69
Governor Signs Mail Ballot, Curbside Voting Expansion Into Law
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law Friday a measure that expands vote-by-mail and curbside voting for all future elections. House Bill 1871, now
U.S. Capitol Police Officer Killed In Attack At Capitol Checkpoint
Police say the suspect, who has since died, rammed his car into a barrier and then lunged at officers with a knife. One officer was killed and another was injured.
CDC Says Travel Is Safe For Fully Vaccinated People, But Opposes Nonessential Trips
Guidance released Friday allows fully vaccinated people to travel domestically without getting tested or self-quarantining, but advises them to keep practicing mitigation measures to protect others.
Latino Leaders In Meatpacking Towns Fight To Overcome Myths And Hesitancy About COVID-19 Vaccine
LIBERAL, Kansas — One woman thinks the COVID-19 pandemic was planned, man-made. A man won’t get inoculated because he suspects other countries are using…
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
3,526 New COVID-19 Cases Are One-Day High Since Feb. 5
The state reported 3,526 new confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 Thursday, the highest one-day total since Feb. 5. That drove the seven-day rolling…
Nuclear Power Proponents Speak Out To Save Two Illinois Plants
CHAMPAIGN — Proponents of nuclear power in Illinois are rallying together in hopes of preventing the decommissioning of two nuclear power plants — the Byron
DOJ: Ray LaHood Took Undisclosed Foreign Money While Serving in Obama Cabinet
The U.S. Department of Justice says former Congressman and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood took undisclosed foreign money while serving in…
Black Americans Face Widening Life Expectancy Gap, Biggest Since 1998
The COVID-19 pandemic lowered the life expectancy of the typical American, a recent CDC report says. And it seems that Black Americans have been affected the most.
Agency Seeks Funding Increase For Criminal Justice Initiatives
SPRINGFIELD – A state agency related to criminal justice on Wednesday requested a funding increase to implement new policies and programs meant to improve racial
Businessman Gary Rabine Announces Run For Governor
SPRINGFIELD – Businessman Gary Rabine on Tuesday announced he will seek the Republican nomination for governor in 2022, becoming the third candidate to officially enter
State Releases Guide To School Reopening
SPRINGFIELD — Educators, students and families will face a host of new challenges in overcoming the learning loss that occurred over the past year of
Biden Unveils What He Calls A ‘Once-In-A-Generation’ Infrastructure Proposal
PITTSBURGH – The country’s infrastructure is badly in need of repair, both major parties agree. But for years they haven’t been able to agree on a
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
State Supreme Court To Hear Case Over Suburb’s Assault Weapon Ban
SPRINGFIELD — Legal challenges against a ban on assault weapons in suburban Deerfield have reached the state’s highest court. Two consolidated lawsuits against the Lake
Republicans Propose Independent Redistricting Commission
SPRINGFIELD – Republicans in the General Assembly have introduced a new bill that would hand over the process of drawing new legislative and congressional district