Newbery-winning author visits Champaign school for Asian American Heritage Month
CHAMPAIGN – Students at Kenwood Elementary had a special visitor on Tuesday. Newbery-winning author Erin Entrada Kelly — a Filipina-American children’s book author — conducted
Illinois gubernatorial candidate Richard Irvin dodges questions on a federal abortion ban
Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin held a rare press conference Monday that turned into repeated questions about the possibility of overturning Roe v. Wade. The fundraising
Former central Illinois congressman Tim Johnson dies
URBANA – Former Illinois Congressman Tim Johnson has died. Johnson’s former chief of staff, Mark Shelden, reported his death on his Facebook page on Tuesday
Pilot program to send mental health professionals with law officers in 4 Illinois communities
SPRINGFIELD – Police departments in four communities in Illinois will be part of a co-responder pilot program that aims to send social workers and mental
Appellate Justice Lisa Holder White named to replace Justice Garman
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Supreme Court announced Tuesday that 4th District Appellate Justice Lisa Holder White has been appointed to succeed Justice Rita Garman, making her
Farmers in the Plains are in ‘dire straits’ due to drought, wildfire conditions
Most of Illinois has had plenty of rain, but even with a few recent rains, much of the Great Plains are in a drought. Wildfires
Garman to retire from state Supreme Court, setting up appointment to replace her
SPRINGFIELD – Republican Illinois Supreme Court Justice Rita Garman announced Monday that she will retire on July 7, marking the end of a long legal
DCFS director: ‘Stuck kids’ docket a problem years in the making
SPRINGFIELD – Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith has faced nine cases of contempt of court in recent weeks for failing to
Increasing gun violence raises issue of community-wide trauma among residents
Yvonne Miller likes driving her white Volvo because it reminds her of driving with her son. On her license plate is the word “STUFF.” The
Antique tractor sells for $1.47 million in Illinois, shattering the world record
The 1913 CASE 30-60 is one of just five that still exist, making the model highly sought after by antique tractor enthusiasts. A century-year-old tractor
U of I Latino Age study opens conversation for better resources
URBANA – A recent University of Illinois study that asks what positive aging means to Latino elders has opened a discussion on how to cater
Abortion rights protesters rally in cities around US
CHICAGO — Abortion rights protesters rallied in cities across the United States, vowing to fight to ensure that abortion remains a legal option for women
Professionals take center stage at next News, Brews & Beatz
Illinois Public Media is committed to having calm and comprehensive discussions about reducing gun violence in Champaign-Urbana. Our fourth “News, Brews and Beatz” discussion happens on
Ceremony honors officers killed in the line duty
SPRINGFIELD – As rain steadily fell in Springfield Thursday morning, there was a somber feeling among the law enforcement officers and elected officials that gathered
Audit finds IDPH failed to intervene in early days of LaSalle Veterans’ Home outbreak
SPRINGFIELD – A new report from the state’s auditor general found more fault with the Illinois Department of Public Health in its response to a deadly COVID-19
Fitch raises Illinois credit rating two notches
Rating agency cites ‘fundamental improvement’ in state’s fiscal outlook SPRINGFIELD – Fitch Ratings on Thursday raised the state of Illinois’ rating for general obligation bonds
The US jobs market continues its strong comeback from the pandemic
WASHINGTON — The U.S. job market remains red-hot. Employers added jobs 428,000 jobs in April, extending a remarkable comeback in the labor market. The unemployment
Biden taps 1st Black woman, LGBT White House press secretary
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden has named Karine Jean-Pierre to be the next White House press secretary. She will be the first Black woman and
Macon-Piatt hosts family night to dispel rumors about Social Emotional Alternative Program
DECATUR — Two Special Education programs housed at Decatur Public Schools are combining next year. Administrators worry that the change has prompted misinformation to spread.
The Dow rallies to its best day since 2020 after the Fed rules out larger rate hikes
NEW YORK –Stocks rallied on Wednesday after the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by half a percentage point, but ruled out lifting them by larger
Illinois could become an oasis in an ‘abortion desert’ if Roe v. Wade is overturned
Abortions will still be legal in the state of Illinois if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the federal constitutional protections enshrined by the 1973 Roe
Abortion rights around the world
This AP digital embed map shows the availability of abortion access in countries around the world, whether the procedure is prohibited, available only to preserve
As national labor shortage drags on, local businesses and workers suffer consequences of the “Great Resignation”
Daniel Krause, owner of the restaurant Cracked near the University of Illinois campus, said he went into debt to stay open during the pandemic after
Urbana schools debate renewing police officer contracts
URBANA — Urbana School District 116 is debating whether to keep police officers in its schools for another three years. Staff and students want them
Labor shortage leaves families of children with disabilities scrambling for care they need
VILLA GROVE, Ill. – Paper calendars line a wall inside a house in Villa Grove, a small town south of Champaign-Urbana. The calendars help Meagan
Illinois has tangled history with abortion despite recent liberal push
SPRINGFIELD – A leaked draft of an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court decision that could overturn the landmark 1973 case Roe v. Wade reignited a political
Illinois lawmakers respond to leaked Supreme Court abortion decision
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois Democrats warned of an “end to the constitutional right to privacy” if a leaked U.S. Supreme Court decision
Governors swiftly react to reports of leaked draft opinion of Roe v. Wade
WASHINGTON — A majority of the U.S. Supreme Court has voted to overturn the landmark 1973 ruling Roe v. Wade that established the right to
Illinois Historical Society & ‘Rage’ guitarist honor fallen workers
MARSEILLES, Ill. — There was music, but it wasn’t a celebration. It was a commemoration of those lost in the fight for fair pay and
Chicago rap duo Mother Nature brings mental health skills to Unit 4 school
CHAMPAIGN – A fourth grader takes the microphone at Booker T. Washington STEM Academy in Champaign, to cheers from his classmates. Professional hip hop artists
Report: A leaked draft opinion suggests the Supreme Court will overturn Roe v. Wade
WASHINGTON — A draft opinion circulated among Supreme Court justices suggests that earlier this year a majority of them had thrown support behind overturning the
Georgia sets $1.5B in aid for electric vehicle maker Rivian
ATLANTA — The state of Georgia and local governments will give Rivian Automotive $1.5 billion of incentives to build a 7,500-job, $5 billion electric vehicle
Booker T. Washington students focus on ‘fun science’ on Fridays
CHAMPAIGN — A second grader asks the University of Illinois graduate student to test out the egg parachute he’s holding. It’s “Fab Friday” at Booker
Most farmers are climate skeptics. But it turns out improving their soil also fights climate change
This story was produced in partnership with the Food & Environment Reporting Network Climate change is not a big concern for Lin Warfel. Sure, he’s
Educators push back against testing requirements
SPRINGFIELD – Teachers and other education professionals are urging the Illinois State Board of Education to reduce the amount of time students spend on standardized
Jazz legend Christian McBride is performing and teaching on the U of I campus this week
URBANA — It is a busy week of learning and performing for students in the jazz studies department on the University of Illinois Urbana campus.
The education culture war is raging. But for most parents, it’s background noise
WASHINGTON — Math textbooks axed for their treatment of race; a viral Twitter account directing ire at LGBTQ teachers; a state law forbidding classroom discussion
Rivian R1T truck named ‘Coolest Thing’ made in Illinois
SPRINGFIELD – Rivian’s all-electric R1T truck is 2022’s “Coolest Thing Made in Illinois.” That was the result of the third annual Makers Madness bracket-style tournament
Sickle cell can be passed on to kids – but many don’t know if they carry the gene
LaChelle Hope’s parents did not know they both carried a genetic mutation that, if inherited, could cause their baby to be born with a serious
Pritzker signs 4 laws to tackle shortage of teachers, aides
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois’ governor has signed four pieces of legislation into law aimed at easing a shortage of teachers and classroom aides in public schools.
Unit 4 kindergarten registration closes Saturday
Registration closes Saturday for those wishing to select a school for their Champaign Unit 4 kindergartener. Families rank all 12 of the district’s elementary schools
Students protest University of Illinois fossil fuel investments
When the push for the University of Illinois to divest from fossil fuels began thirteen years ago, many students said they were hopeful that administrators
Home health aides are hard to find — and it could get worse
WEST DES MOINES, Ia. — A lot has changed in Jonathan Miller’s life in the past decade, but one thing that’s remained consistent is his
With inflation, Illinois teachers earn less than they did a decade ago
CHAMPAIGN — Teacher salaries in Illinois have not kept up with inflation. That’s true nationwide, according to new research by the labor union, the National
Highway camera expansion covering 6,600 miles of road in 22 counties awaits Pritzker’s signature
SPRINGFIELD – A pair of bills on Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk would expand a state roadway camera monitoring program to 21 additional counties while also
U of I System President Killeen diagnosed with COVID-19
URBANA – The president of the University of Illinois system is working from home after testing positive for COVID-19. In a statement to the university, Tim
‘It’s given me purpose’ – Woodworking becomes an outlet for some veterans
AURORA — After hearing about the number of veterans who die by suicide, one northern Illinois man decided to do something about it. A total
US promises more Ukraine aid, Biden announces veteran envoy
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned Monday that Ukraine risks provoking World War III and said the threat of a nuclear conflict “should not be
Jury convicts 1 prison guard in inmate deaths, hung on 2nd
SPRINGFIELD — Jurors have convicted an Illinois Department of Corrections officer for violating the civil rights of an inmate brutally beaten at a western Illinois
‘Golden Girls’ shows little age at inaugural fan convention
CHICAGO — TV shows about sci-fi or comic book fare usually inspire fan conventions — not a sitcom about four women of a certain age
Elon Musk buys Twitter for $44B and will privatize company
Elon Musk reached an agreement to buy Twitter for roughly $44 billion on Monday, promising a more lenient touch to policing content on the platform
Pritzker appoints rejected Prisoner Review Board member to labor board
Former Illinois Prisoner Review Board member Jeffrey Mears, who failed to receive confirmation for that post from the Illinois Senate last month, has been appointed to the
Pork producers are taking a gamble to get more money for lobbying and lawsuits
Looking for ways to fund lobbying and legal efforts to preserve their way of business, pork producers are turning down guaranteed money that could go
Central Illinois under Thunderstorm Watch until 7pm
CHAMPAIGN – A line of storms crossed Illinois on Sunday afternoon. The National Weather Service in Central Illinois placed the area, including Champaign-Urbana, under a
U of I Autism Program encourages high school students to go to college
URBANA – The Autism Program at the University of Illinois continues to provide an online summer camp for prospective students on the autism spectrum. The
DCFS director faces 9th contempt charge for improper placements
A Cook County judge found DCFS Director Marc Smith in contempt on Thursday. It’s the ninth time this year that Smith has faced contempt citations
Expansion of Medicaid for noncitizens sent to governor
SPRINGFIELD – A bill that would expand Medicaid coverage to otherwise ineligible noncitizens is now awaiting Gov. JB Pritzker’s approval. That provision was part of
Before voters can weigh in on November ballot, ‘Workers Rights Amendment’ must survive new legal challenge
Before closing out its truncated spring legislative session earlier this month, the General Assembly approved language that will be put to voters in November, asking
Farmers turn to old-fashioned manure as fertilizer prices soar
It’s never been a better time to sell manure. “We have been inundated with calls,” said Andy Scholting, president and co-founder of Nutrient Advisors, a
‘Don’t stop now’: The new Illinois budget’s impact on higher ed and college students
DEKALB — Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker just signed a nearly $47 billion budget into law. That includes substantial increases to the need-based student Monetary Award