Southern Illinois storm spares lives, spoils soybeans
NEWTON — Parts of southern Illinois are recovering after a sudden storm dropped about ten inches of rain and hail in less than 24 hours.
Illinois parade attack suspect expected back in court
WAUKEGAN — The man accused of opening fire at an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago is due back in court a week after prosecutors
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
Storms cause flooding in Central Illinois communities
Illinois Public Media News is monitoring flooding on Tuesday. The National Weather Service in Central Illinois says a complex of strong thunderstorms is tracking southeast
The Space Force is scrapping the annual fitness test in favor of wearable trackers
O’FALLON, Ill. — Annual physical fitness tests are a cornerstone of military life. Each service has its own take on the once-a-year assessment required by
Biden: Killing of al-Qaida leader is long-sought ‘justice’
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden has announced that al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Kabul. Biden is hailing the
Pritzker: Monkeypox disaster declaration will aid in vaccine distribution
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker issued a public health emergency declaration and declared Illinois a disaster area in response to the monkeypox virus Monday, a
Republican candidate for governor Darren Bailey struggles to unite his party
One month after staging a primary upset, Republican Darren Bailey is laboring to reel in supporters of a top Republican primary rival and has yet
Macomb unveils mural celebrating life and work of C.T. Vivian
MACOMB – A mural honoring civil rights pioneer the Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian and his connections to Macomb was officially unveiled on Saturday in the 200
As a racial justice activist, NBA great Bill Russell was a legend off the court
Bill Russell, who has died at the age of 88, was more than just a basketball superstar and world-class athlete. As a dedicated human rights
Hot and humid weather returns to Central Illinois this week
URBANA – Meteorologists are warning that dangerous heat will return to Central Illinois this week. The National Weather Service in Central Illinois says daily afternoon
Nichelle Nichols, Lt. Uhura on ‘Star Trek,’ has died at 89
Relatives say Sunday that Nichelle Nichols, who broke ground for Black women acting on television as the beautiful, no-nonsense communications officer Lt. Nyota Uhura on
Chicago teen fatally shot outside Decatur graduation party
DECATUR — A 14-year-old girl from Chicago has been killed outside a graduation party in Decatur. Three more people were injured early Sunday. The Macon
State Rep. Lisa Hernandez becomes Democratic Party of Illinois’ first Latino woman chair.
The vote for state Rep. Elizabeth “Lisa” Hernandez as the Democratic Party of Illinois’ first Latino chairwoman was unanimous and uneventful Saturday morning – the
Bill Russell, who led the Boston Celtics to eleven NBA titles in 13 years, has died at age 88.
BOSTON (AP) — The NBA great Bill Russell has died at age 88. His family said on social media that Russell died on Sunday in Mercer
Biden tests positive for COVID-19 a second time, and returns to isolation
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has tested positive for COVID-19 again, slightly more than three days after he was cleared to exit coronavirus isolation.
Ticket bought in Illinois wins $1.28B Mega Millions jackpot
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Someone has beaten the odds and won the estimated $1.28 billion Mega Millions jackpot. Lottery officials say there is one
“Guns to Garden Tools” instills catharsis and social justice in community
CHAMPAIGN — A few years ago, Rabbi Alan Cook of Sinai Temple heard about a group that transforms donated guns into gardening tools. He thought
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
Appalachian floods kill at least 16 as rescue teams deploy; more flooding in St. Louis region
JACKSON, Ky. — Search and rescue teams backed by the National Guard are searching flooded Appalachian communities for missing people. Record floods have wiped out
Sen. Durbin becomes latest politician to test positive for COVID-19
URBANA – US Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) said Thursday morning that he will work remotely after testing positive for COVID-19. In a statement, the 77-year-old
As the Champaign County Fair continues, residents say it’s nice to return to ‘normal’ after COVID closures
URBANA — The annual county fair marks the beginning of summer’s end in Champaign County. The Champaign County Fair opened its gates on Friday evening
Congresswoman Mary Miller supports ‘maximum sanctions’ on Iran despite their ‘devastating’ impact
WASHINGTON — In April, Illinois Congresswoman Mary Miller met with Bryan Leib, Executive Director of Iranian Americans for Liberty, for a “meet and greet.” There
Donations and demand increase for groups that help pay for abortions
Kim Floren has spent the last several weeks trying to comfort people panicking about the end of Roe v. Wade. “Everybody has been on the
Thompson Center sale finalized with Google to be building’s lone occupant
SPRINGFIELD – After years of failed efforts that spanned multiple administrations, the state has finalized the sale of the controversial James R. Thompson Center in
Parade attack suspect indicted for murder, attempted murder
CHICAGO — A grand jury has indicted the man accused of opening fire on an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago, on 117 felony counts.
Native Americans across Midwest embrace traditional foods rejected by centuries of colonization
Native American tribes and communities are creating formal programs that focus on their traditional foods to not only combat systemic food insecurity, but also connect
Illinois state building sold in Chicago; Google moving in
CHICAGO — Google is moving into the Thompson Center, the state building in downtown Chicago. Gov. J.B. Pritzker says the state is selling the building
After rushing to safety, St. Louisans wonder how they will recover from historic flooding
HAZELWOOD, Mo. — Camila Cage woke to the sound of her phone rumbling on her nightstand early Tuesday, its glow piercing the darkness as a
Illinois Dems stump for 2024 Chicago convention as party chair vote looms
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Democrats are vying to make Chicago the host city for the Democratic National Convention in 2024 while considering who will lead their
States cracking down on abortion have high maternal mortality rates and gaps in rural care
People who are pregnant in rural areas generally have a harder time reaching a doctor. Dr. Anne Banfield saw this firsthand when she worked as
New gun violence prevention coalition gets seed money from Champaign County
CHAMPAIGN — A new coalition of small nonprofits aims to tackle gun violence in Champaign County. Called H3 for “harm,” “healing” and “hope,” the coalition
Congressman Rodney Davis pushes for bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act
WASHINGTON — When Congressman Rodney Davis took office in 2013, he introduced the Social Security Fairness Act. It’s a bill with broad bipartisan support that
4-H carries on tradition of the Champaign County Fair
The 4-H exhibition is an inseparable part of the tradition of county fairs, and this is no exception at the Champaign County Fair. The fair
Illinois jobless rate falls to lowest point since start of pandemic
4.5% remains higher than surrounding states, national average SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois economy added 18,800 jobs during June as the unemployment rate fell to 4.5
How school bus driver shortages and frequent bus route cancellations impacted students and their families
YORKVILLE – Ten minutes down the road on her way to work, Joni Carter gets a message on her phone. Her 14-year-old daughter’s school bus
Monkeypox is a public health emergency. Here’s what you need to know about the virus
The World Health Organization has declared the monkeypox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, but it’s not a disease that the general public
Biden’s COVID symptoms are less troublesome, his doctor says
President Biden’s COVID-19 symptoms now include a sore throat and body aches, in addition to a runny nose and loose cough, according to a letter
NIU is awarding its first-ever esports scholarships
DEKALB — In the middle of February this year, a few weeks into the spring semester, Northern Illinois University’s varsity Overwatch team overmatches Northern Kentucky
Trump didn’t act and didn’t want to, plus 4 other takeaways from the Jan. 6 hearings
WASHINGTON — In the early evening of Jan. 6, after former President Donald Trump finally and reluctantly put out a video telling rioters to go
Two Illinois schools are among the nation’s most expensive colleges and universities
Whether its due to lowered enrollment or shifting to hybrid virtual and in-person classes, college tuition across the country is only slightly increasing for the
NOW LIVE: The Jan. 6 committee holds its 8th hearing
The Jan. 6 committee is holding a prime-time hearing on Thursday — the last of its planned summertime hearings. It will focus on the 187
University of Illinois researchers lead the world’s largest study of Eastern box turtles
DANVILLE — On a sunny morning in Kennekuk County Park, researchers and veterinary students from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign scoured the area for Eastern
Why a little-known drug discount program is so controversial
Billions of dollars a year flow to U.S. hospitals through the federal prescription drug discount program known as 340B. A Supreme Court case this summer
Urbana and Champaign fire departments complete joint high-rise fire training
For the Urbana and Champaign fire departments, extinguishing fires in multi-story buildings will be a breeze after the departments completed their joint high-rise training last
OSF HealthCare won’t cover fertility treatments for LGBTQ employees, report says
PEORIA — OSF HealthCare’s insurance policy bars its LGBTQ employees from fertility treatment coverage. That’s according to a new report by Bloomberg Law. Reporter Shira
Patients seeking help for long COVID are getting more options for treatment
SPRINGFIELD — While COVID may not be top of mind for people anymore, the pandemic isn’t over. And for some who have had COVID, neither
UPDATED: Pritzker has ‘mild symptoms’ after positive COVID-19 test, receives anti-viral treatment
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker has tested positive for COVID-19 and is isolating at home, his office announced Tuesday, three days after he spoke at
Urbana City Council worries whether plasma businesses are predatory. Transfusion physician and local plasma donors do not
URBANA — Cars whoosh past the KEDPLASMA center on Lincoln Avenue. Brandon Olison has spent hours in the building, donating his plasma in exchange for
Amidst a lack of mental health services, the ‘Living Room’ approach aims to plug gaps
If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (En Español: 1-888-628-9454; Deaf and Hard of
Abortion is protected under Jewish law, but not in ‘red state America’
ST. LOUIS — Rabbis Karen and Daniel Bogard, the husband and wife duo at Central Reform Congregation, believe the Jewish position on life has been
University of Illinois tags students’ bicycles with stickers for campus bike clean-up
URBANA – At the University of Illinois Champaign Urbana campus, there’s a bike rack within 150 feet of nearly every campus building. Altogether, these bike
State Police broaden use of ‘clear and present danger’ reports
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois State Police announced Monday they will start using a broader definition of what constitutes a “clear and present danger” when reviewing
Police laud actions of man who killed Indiana mall attacker
GREENWOOD, Ind. — Authorities say a gunman who shot five people at a suburban Indianapolis shopping mall, killing three of them before a shopper shot
Carbon is agriculture’s latest money-maker. But is it enough to combat climate change?
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — If you take an aerial view of Jason Lay’s farm in mid-April, it would look like a green dot amid a sea
Latest shooting incident along Green Street in Champaign kills Urbana man
CHAMPAIGN -An argument between two men from Urbana turned deadly in Champaign’s Campustown over the weekend. Police responded to shots fired in the 200-block of
Chief: 3 dead in Indiana mall shooting; witness kills gunman
GREENWOOD, Ind. — Police say three people were fatally shot and two were injured at an Indiana mall after a man with a rifle opened
As Gov. JB Pritzker takes center stage in Florida, speculation of a presidential run increases
The Illinois governor said he wouldn’t oppose President Joe Biden, and he lacks the name recognition of other potential candidates. But he’s hitting the national
Hope and questions abound as a new mental health crisis line is set to launch
If you need to talk, or if you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, text the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 or call the National Suicide
Some in Illinois still waiting for redress from cannabis industry
PEORIA – When Illinois legalized recreational cannabis, state legislators sought to cut those disproportionately affected by marijuana arrests into the new industry’s profits. The path