Businessman Larry Gies to become U of I’s largest donor after pledging $100 million towards business college
The new pledge is in addition to Gies’ $150 million donation to the business school in 2017 and a $100 million donation to the athletics department in 2025.
Cunningham and Champaign Township voters will weigh in on repeal of Illinois’ anti-BDS laws
The advisory question on the midterm ballots asks whether Illinois should repeal its law that prohibits the state pension fund from investing in companies that boycott Israel.
Urbana City Council appoints former park district board commissioner to represent Ward 6
The Urbana City Council appointed a successor for former Ward 6 Council Member Grace Wilken. The group also eliminated the mayor’s ability to vote in a certain committee meeting.
At the U of I’s Asian American Cultural Center, a traditional Indian art form gets its first showcase
Kuhu Shukla’s exhibition, “Not Mine Only Held,” uses Warli’s geometric patterns to explore emotion, belonging and culture. It’s on view at the Asian American Cultural Center through Dec. 11.
Free school lunch is no longer on the menu for many kids. It’s one of many strains on cafeterias
Schools in the U.S. serve almost 30 million lunches every day. But rising food costs, regulations and cuts to food assistance mean school kitchens have to do more with less.
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.
Hunting and foraging classes gain popularity, as more people want to connect with nature
People have harvested wild foods for millennia, but learning how to do it today is harder, because fewer people have those skills. These groups are teaching people to eat “field to fork” again.
PHOTOS: 2026 LGBTQ pride celebration in Urbana
Sixteenth annual event includes parade and booths featuring 150 community organizations along Race and Main Streets.
Republican Congressman Mike Bost on Medicaid, Iran war, and why he won’t debate his opponent
As he runs for another term serving Illinois’ 12th district, Congressman Mike Bost discusses the Iran war and other foreign policy issues as well as Medicaid on The 21st Show.
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.
