Showers and chance of severe thunderstorms in Central Illinois
Along with off and on showers, temperatures will shift towards the 50’s.
University of Illinois tenured faculty restart unionization process in midst of Trump policy changes
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.”
Illinois nets first conference win against the MSU Spartans in overtime
The Illini came out on top in Spartan Stadium with an overtime touchdown, winning their first conference game of the season.
After Mahomet ends data center talks, some Champaign County residents hope for strict guardrails
Residents’ concerns about data centers include wildlife and environmental impacts and electricity demand. The Champaign County Data Center Task Force held a public meeting Wednesday, Oct. 7, to review its proposed regulations for large data centers in the county.
Mike Ditka, the quintessential Chicago Bear, dies at 86
Nicknamed “Iron Mike” as a player, Ditka helped revolutionize the tight-end position, then moved to the sidelines and took over as Chicago’s coach. His 1985 team featured one of the game’s most dominant defenses ever.
Champaign County officials vote down Mahomet-led effort to ban leaf burning
Mahomet officials were asking the Champaign County Board to ban leaf burning within 1,000 feet of the village.
Youth speak out against violence in C-U neighborhoods
Recent shootings in Champaign prompted the city to host a community gun violence response meeting on Oct. 6. Three teens with the H-3 Youth Ambassadors shared thoughts on violence prevention.
Courage Connection to host domestic violence awareness event focused on honoring survivors
“Courage on the Block” takes place at The Yard on Broadway in Urbana on Saturday October 10. Two portraits by local artist Emily Donohoe will be unveiled from the Through Purple Eyes project.
Energy costs could rise this winter. Low-income residents can apply for financial assistance
The federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides one-time benefits to income-eligible households. The Champaign County LIHEAP office has nearly 900 scheduled appointments for the month of October.
This grain could be an answer to drought-prone fields – if more Americans eat it
More farmers are showing interest in sorghum, a drought-tolerant grain. The crop is poised to expand in the U.S. – especially if Americans start consuming it.
State standards designed to prevent jail suicides don’t always work
According to records Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority provided in response to Illinois Answers’ public-records request, at least 30 people died by suicide in Illinois jails between 2019 and 2025.
Data center companies have approached Champaign County for projects in Sidney, Tolono
Both proposed sites fall outside of the villages’ boundaries and are under the jurisdiction of the county.
NPR CEO discusses how public media outlets are coping one year after the end of federal funding
The CEO of NPR as well as leaders from public media stations in Illinois joined The 21st Show last week to discuss layoffs and programming changes a year after losing federal funding.
Rural Americans feel the sting of sweeping federal food aid restrictions
More than 5 million people are no longer getting food aid in the wake of a slew of cuts and changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. As changes to the program continue to unfold, rural Americans face unique problems.
