Photo Gallery
Storm Aftermath Damage reported in Champaign and Vermilion Counties after storms on June 12, 2026. There is storm damage throughout central Illinois after severe weather
Champaign County officials break ground on $48M rural internet project
The CONNECT Champaign County Fiber Internet project will connect nearly 3,000 rural residents to broadband.
After much anticipation, Garden Hills improvements wrap up with new stormwater basins, playground equipment
Hedge Park is the main attraction of the new improvements. It includes a workout area, swing set, an exploradome with webbing and ropes to monkey around and a splash zone to cool off.
WILL Call: What’s Happening in Central Illinois June 11 – June 14
Join a knitting circle, raise the roof at a silent disco, peruse a local famers market, and more all this weekend in Central Illinois.
New Unit 4 superintendent hires new cabinet, one current member staying
On Monday, the Unit 4 school board approved three more members of Geovanny Ponce’s new cabinet.
Lincoln and Logan County officials slam state plans to close Logan Correctional Center
The move has been in the works for several years with state officials saying the all-women’s prison in Lincoln, built in the 1930s, was outdated and in disrepair.
Urbana City Council postpones vote on West Main Street housing project
The Urbana City Council is expected to take a final vote at a special meeting on July 6.
Dangerous humidity is increasing in the Midwest and South, putting farmworkers at risk
Extreme heat combined with high humidity is becoming more common as the climate warms, making it harder for people to cool their bodies.
KIDS COUNT data ranks Illinois 7th in the nation in education
The report looks at dozens of indicators including high school graduation rates, standardized test scores, and chronic absences.
Fish and mussels returned to these rivers after decades of cleanup. But new threats loom
Some rivers are success stories where wildlife is bouncing back from heavy pollution. But environmental groups say progress hasn’t happened across the board and backsliding remains possible.
NPR’s new chief content officer: ‘I’ve been training for this job my whole life’
NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher praised Zylstra, noting her work at Sesame and Pinterest’s reputation as a rare corner of relative kindness in the often harsh world of social media.
Trump administration blocks wind farm development in Illinois and across the nation
The Trump administration now has what amounts to a moratorium on new wind farm projects, according to renewable energy advocates.
Federal indictment alleges a former Champaign County Board member wrongfully collected unemployment benefits
The State Attorney’s office said Ammons falsely certified to the Illinois Department of Employment Security that she did not work and did not receive any wages while receiving benefits.
Family advocates praise Illinois bill that gives parents more transparency in child abuse investigations
The bill requires child abuse pediatricians — investigators at the hospital who look at medical records to determine if there is potential child abuse — to state who they are to parents as they start an investigation.
As people protest data centers across the Heartland, lawmakers rush to regulate development
Development of large-scale data centers is booming across the Midwest and South. As some communities push back, local and state governments are trying to catch up on how to regulate the new development.
Violence kills Champaign teen, large fight in Urbana results in two arrests
Someone shot and fatally wounded a 16-year-old in Champaign early Saturday morning.
Combe Incorporated invests $30 million to expand Rantoul facility, with $5 million state grant
Combe’s expansion in Rantoul is expected to create more than 20 new full-time jobs in the village and retain 100 existing full-time jobs.
Rantoul Township High School superintendent ‘pleased’ with state budget, hoping for more transportation funding
Rantoul Township High School Superintendent Scott Amerio said he is pleased with the increase to the evidence-based funding formula. But he would like to see additional funding for transportation services.
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