Coronavirus Information Center
As of December 2, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there are more than 48-million COVID-19 cases in the United States, including
‘It’s Virgil Abloh Day’ – Designer remembered in IL hometown
ROCKFORD – Wednesday was “Virgil Abloh Day in Rockford. The city’s mayor proclaimed the day in honor of a prolific fashion designer who passed away over
People go to libraries for more than books. That’s why some are hiring social workers
Yanna McGraw has a unique role at the Indianapolis Public Library. She’s the library’s first full-time social worker – one of about a dozen employed
The first U.S. case of the omicron variant has now been reported
The first case of the omicron variant of COVID-19 has been identified in the U.S., health officials said on Wednesday. The case was detected in
Second area code will be added to the 309 in central and northern Illinois
Portions of central and northern Illinois, including McLean County, will get a new second area code by late next year or early 2023. The Illinois
LISTEN: Supreme Court considers whether to reverse Roe v. Wade in historic arguments
WASHINGTON — An epic argument at the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday: At issue is whether to reverse the court’s nearly half-century-old Roe v. Wade
C-U homeless shelter seeks funds for new project
CHAMPAIGN — With the help of the Champaign County Board, C-U at Home is looking to create new shelters for the homeless. C-U at Home
Rodney Davis to announce sixth term for Congress, ending speculation on challenge to Pritzker
SPRINGFIELD — U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville) on Tuesday will officially announce his bid for a sixth term in Congress, ending months of chatter about
State Rep. Dave Vella continues in grandfather’s footsteps
SPRINGFIELD – Behind a window with a “Save the Byron Nuclear Plant” sign taped to the glass, Ricardo Montoya Picazo listened to a father of
1 million EVs: Inside the state’s plan for electrifying the transportation sector
SPRINGFIELD – With a pair of major policy victories in hand, Gov. JB Pritzker traveled to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland,
Niemerg says he wants to ‘speak up’ for downstate Illinois
SPRINGFIELD – Republican state Rep. Adam Niemerg grew up in a family that cared about politics, so it felt like a natural step for him
Shorthanded Illini get past Notre Dame 82-72
CHAMPAIGN — The Fighting Illini men’s basketball team overcame illness and injuries to beat Notre Dame 82-72 Monday night in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge at
Teens are remodeling this house to give themselves, and future tenants, a stable future
CHAMPAIGN – For two years, the Housing Authority of Champaign County’s YouthBuild program has helped young people finish their high school diplomas, while renovating public
Greg Harris — high-ranking Democrat best known for passing same sex marriage — announces retirement
Majority Leader Greg Harris (D-Chicago), the No. 2 Democrat in the Illinois House, will not run for another term in 2022, he announced Monday. Harris,
Biden says omicron variant is cause for concern but not panic
President Biden said Monday that while travel restrictions imposed on travelers from several southern African nations would slow the entry of the omicron variant of
Holiday celebrations underway in Central Illinois
CHAMPAIGN – From a parade returning to the streets to more than a dozen menorahs, Champaign-Urbana is catching the holiday spirit. Hanukkah Holiday Begins On
Brothers to take center stage in Jussie Smollett trial
CHICAGO — The trial of actor Jussie Smollett will boil down to the question of whether the jury believes the actor’s version of what he
COVID variant spreads to more countries as world on alert
LONDON — The new potentially more contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus has popped up in more European countries, just days after being identified in
llinois rolls over Northwestern, keeps bowl hopes alive
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Brandon Peters threw for 242 yards and a touchdown and Illinois rolled over Big Ten rival Northwestern 47-14. With the resounding
Cockburn’s career night lifts No. 14 Illinois to 94-85 win
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Kofi Cockburn scored a career-high 38 points to lead No. 14 Illinois to a hard-fought 94-85 win over Texas Rio Grande
Food banks scramble to overcome snags in the supply chain and inflation
Clogged supply chains and budget-busting food prices have food banks scrambling to stock pantry shelves. That crunch comes as food banks see increased demand from
Deere Q4 profit jumps 69% despite strike and supply problems
Deere & Co. said its fiscal fourth-quarter profit jumped 69% on strong sales of its agricultural and construction equipment despite a month-long strike that began
Illinois families of 2 killed at concert file lawsuits
NAPERVILLE — The suburban Chicago families of two college students who were among those killed this month at the Astroworld concert in Houston have joined
Illinois bounces back with a win over Kansas State
KANSAS CITY — One night after a blowout loss to Cincinnati, the Fighting Illini men’s basketball team figured things out on offense well enough to
New accommodations allow many guests to see — and hear — the Gettysburg Address for the first time in Illinois
Ann Crain has volunteered at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield for four years. She greets guests and answers questions about the
A new waterways definition could put farmers and environmentalists at odds
ROLLA, Mo. — Chris Brundick looks at a few inches of water running through a low lying strip of land on his 450 acres in
New congressional maps signed into law
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker on Tuesday signed legislation redrawing the state’s congressional district maps, saying they reflect Illinois’ diversity and preserve minority representation. “These maps
3 of America’s biggest pharmacy chains have been found liable for the opioid crisis
A federal jury on Tuesday found three of the nation’s biggest pharmacy chains, CVS, Walgreens and Walmart, liable for helping to fuel the U.S. opioid
Conservatorship system is slow to change, despite availability of less restrictive options
Ten years ago, Nick Clouse was riding shotgun in his friend’s Camaro when the car jerked and he felt himself flying through the air. Clouse’s
Illini men get blown out by Cincinnati 71-51
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — For the first eight minutes of the game, it looked like it would be a blowout Illini win. It ended up
U.S. drug overdose deaths increase nearly 30% during COVID-19 pandemic
INDIANAPOLIS — Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. spiked nearly 30 percent during the pandemic and reached the highest level ever recorded, according to data
Hedge fund with a reputation for ‘gutting newsrooms’ takes aim at owning Pantagraph newspaper publisher Lee Enterprises
BLOOMINGTON – A New York hedge fund with a reputation for shrinking newsrooms not long after buying them out is taking aim at the media company
As drug overdose deaths reach all-time high, experts say fentanyl is to blame
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Willie McCurry has struggled with opioid addiction for years and has spent much of his life in and out of prison. It’s
5 people are dead and 40 injured after a driver speeds through a Wisconsin parade
Updated November 22 at 2:38 p.m. WAUKESHA, Wis. -What was supposed to be a joyous occasion in Waukesha, Wis., turned to tragedy Sunday afternoon when
Illinois’ new congressional maps may favor Democrats, but they carve up cities like O’Fallon
This article is a collaboration between St. Louis Public Radio and the Belleville News-Democrat. O’FALLON — When Charlie Cook looks out across South Lincoln Avenue
Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin expects the Senate to pass spending bill by the end of 2021
WASHINGTON — President Biden’s spending bill, often called “Build Back Better,” passed in the House on Friday largely on party lines. Now the bill heads
Welcoming family into your home for Thanksgiving? Here’s how to keep COVID out
WASHINGTON — Here’s one thing to be thankful for this year: It’s not Thanksgiving 2020. A year ago vaccines had not yet been approved, daily
Jones’ kick return lifts No. 18 Iowa past Illinois 33-23
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Charlie Jones had a 100-yard kickoff return for No. 18 Iowa’s first touchdown as the Hawkeyes defeated Illinois 33-23. Iowa
State Supreme Court rules on pair of gun cases
SPRINGFIELD – In its latest round of opinions Thursday, the Illinois Supreme Court upheld a Village of Deerfield assault weapons ban and restored a Putnam
Fox says it did not pay for Rittenhouse film and interview
NEW YORK — Fox News on Saturday said it did not pay Kyle Rittenhouse for any special access during his murder trial or after his
Illinois State Museum debuts store with state-themed items
SPRINGFIELD — A new store at the Illinois State Museum in Springfield will feature products made in the state, along with state-themed souvenirs, specialty foods
Chronic Wasting stations open for deer season this year
SPRINGFIELD — Hunters heading out for firearm deer season in counties where chronic wasting disease has been detected need to know that deer check stations
Kyle Rittenhouse cleared of all charges in Kenosha shootings
KENOSHA, Wis. — Kyle Rittenhouse has been acquitted of all charges after pleading self-defense in the deadly Kenosha, Wisconsin, shootings that became a flashpoint in
The FDA authorizes COVID booster shots for all U.S. adults
WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration has given its OK for fully vaccinated Americans who are age 18 and older to receive a COVID-19
Illinois unemployment falls to 6%
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois unemployment rate fell two-tenths of a percentage point in October to 6 percent as employers added 40,900 jobs during the month,
Coronavirus FAQ: What is long COVID? And what is my risk of getting it?
WASHINGTON — Each week, we answer frequently asked questions about life during the coronavirus crisis. If you have a question you’d like us to consider
Renovated Waubonsee Community College campus is geared towards in-demand ‘new collar’ tech jobs
SUGAR GROVE — Illinois residents are quitting their jobs in record numbers. That’s leaving workforce shortages across a number of sectors. During the pandemic, Waubonsee
C-U schools are considering metal detectors to deter violence. This researcher says that won’t help
URBANA — School districts in Champaign and Urbana are considering installing metal detectors in response to a rise in youth violence. But a social science
More agricultural guest workers came to the Midwest this year than ever before
The Midwest saw a record rise in the number of agricultural guest workers this year helping out on farms, in meatpacking plants and with landscaping
How you can see the nearly total lunar eclipse Friday morning
WASHINGTON — West Coast night owls and East Coast early risers will have the best view of the upcoming lunar eclipse this Friday. Overnight, the
Deere & Co. workers approve the latest contract offer and will end their strike
MOLINE — Deere & Co. workers approved a new contract Wednesday that will deliver 10% raises immediately and end a monthlong strike for more than
Racial covenants, a relic of the past, are still on the books across the country
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Inga Selders, a city council member in a suburb of Kansas City, wanted to know if there were provisions preventing homeowners
New state law bans ‘dark money’ in judicial races
SPRINGFIELD – A new law in Illinois aims to ban out-of-state contributions and so-called “dark money” in judicial campaigns by requiring all candidates to disclose
The Urbana school district has appointed its first ever student ambassadors. Here are their top issues
URBANA — More teachers in hallways between classes. Inclusion of Latin American history in dual language programs. Fewer weapons in schools. These are some of
As tax dollars dry up, university ag schools turn to agribusiness dollars and industry projects
From Iowa to Oklahoma to Kansas, universities are working more closely with agribusiness in search of ways to pay for projects where tax dollars have
State’s top fiscal watchdog cleared after six-year battle over campaign finance violations finally resolved — for now
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois’ elections oversight board on Tuesday voted unanimously to end years-long dispute over campaign finance violations committed by Auditor General Frank Mautino’s campaign
Jelani Day’s phone has been found
A missing piece in the Jelani Day death investigation has been found. The LaSalle County Sheriff’s department confirmed to WGLT that Day’s cell phone has
Pritzker signs electric vehicle manufacturing incentives into law
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law a tax incentives package Tuesday that state lawmakers hope will help Illinois become a manufacturing hub for
Jury begins deliberating at Kyle Rittenhouse murder trial
KENOSHA, Wis. — The jury has begun deliberating at Kyle Rittenhouse’s murder trial after two weeks of testimony in which they were given starkly different