Documents show state’s disaster request met FEMA’s threshold
A spokesperson for FEMA did not explain why Illinois’ request was denied and did not say if the agency conducted additional in-person damage assessments.
C-U Reparations Coalition receives $1M to help repair harms caused by slavery, systemic racism
A significant portion of the money will be used as an endowment to help fund future reparations work. The coalition will meet with community members and leaders to determine where people want the money to go.
‘Slap in the face’: Decatur Public Schools custodians say they were offered lower raises than other employees
Decatur Public Schools offered custodians a raise of 60 cents an hour, according to the union representing the custodians, SEIU Local 73.
Data center development is paused in Champaign County. That’s not curbing interest from developers though
Data Center developers are looking for land to build the often-sprawling buildings that hold servers and require large amounts of electricity and water. That’s happening while the county has a one-year moratorium on new data center development.
Illinois erases $1.4 billion in medical debt for thousands of residents
On average, residents had about $1,200 in debt eliminated, though one person had as much as $900,000 in medical debt erased, according to the state.
C-U Public Health: The switch to generic naloxone will increase access to the lifesaving medication
Naloxone reverses opioid overdoses and is supplied to communities across Illinois thanks to federal funding. Health officials say the switch to a generic form will save money and increase the supply of the lifesaving medication across the state.
Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton on Iran war, ICE accountability, and Supreme Court reform
Making a return to The 21st Show, Juliana Stratton discussed the war in Iran and reforms to immigration enforcement, adding she would be a ‘no’ vote on any of President Trump’s U.S. Supreme Court nominees.
Storms expected today, chillier temperatures coming this weekend
A few strong to severe storms are expected today.
Rural areas reap economic benefits from wind and solar projects, new Midwest study finds
Across the central U.S., more communities are passing ordinances to regulate renewable infrastructure development. A University of Missouri study examines the economic impact of renewable energy in rural areas.
Champaign County Board takes steps to prohibit tax breaks for data centers
After hearing public outcry over environmental impacts, noise concerns, and other uncertainties about data centers, the Champaign County Committee of the Whole unanimously agreed to move a resolution forward prohibiting tax abatements for hyperscale data center construction on Tuesday, Oct. 13.
University of Illinois tenured faculty restart unionization process in midst of Trump policy changes
The Campus Faculty Association hosted a panel Tuesday focused on attacks on higher education, where organizers and heads of other unions pitched unionization as the way to fight back.
WILL CALL: What’s Happening in Central Illinois October 15-18
Pride Fest, pre-Halloween events and a flea market and much more are happening this week in Central Illinois.
Mahomet residents express frustration with village officials for signing data center NDA
Mahomet officials ended discussions with a data center developer last week, but residents are still frustrated by the process.
Scientists tracked cotton’s origin. They say wild cotton could make the crop better
Researchers recently traced the birthplace of the world’s dominant cotton species to the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. Their sleuthing also uncovered a treasure trove of genetic diversity in wild populations, which could eventually make the crop more resilient.
Two years after Illinois Answers exposed restraint-chair abuse, jails are doing better
The multi-part investigation, which was published starting in 2024, led to better oversight by the state’s jails-monitoring unit. It has also been cited in federal lawsuits and a new law-enforcement training program.
From campus to the ballot box: Candidates rally student voters at the Illini Union
With a U.S. Senate seat up for grabs in Illinois, Democratic candidate Juliana Stratton brought her campaign to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, urging younger people to turn out and vote.
Natural American cheese? A Midwest company has revamped the ooey gooey classic
Sargento has developed a natural American cheese, hoping to give consumers classic melt without added ingredients.
Beloved Urbana High School principal Taren Nance dies at age 41
With his signature fedora hats, Taren Nance referred to himself as “Fresh Principal Nance.”
