Man makes big leap from University of Illinois college-in-prison program to working towards U of I degree
Pierce spent over 20 years in prison. While inside Danville Correctional Center, he took college courses through U of I’s Education Justice Project.
217 Today: One man’s journey from living in poverty in Southern Illinois to prison to a PhD
In today’s deep dive, the Education Justice Project at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign gives people in prison a chance to take college classes and earn a degree.
Central Illinois warms up today, bitter cold returns Friday
Another round of bitter cold temperatures will arrive this weekend.
Illinois Medicaid program faces looming funding crisis due to federal changes
New federal law will restrict a key revenue stream used to pay state’s share of Medicaid costs.
Dr. Martin Luther King At Illinois Wesleyan University
On February 10, 1966, three years after the March on Washington, Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington.
Berry Wallace scores career-high 29, No. 25 Illinois women edge Northwestern 74-71
Berry Wallace scored a career-high 29 points, 12 in the fourth quarter, and No. 25 Illinois held off a fourth-quarter rally to defeat Northwestern 74-71.
Zvonimir Ivisic scores 18 points and Keaton Wagler adds 17 as No. 13 Illinois beats Minnesota 77-67
CHAMPAIGN — Zvonimir Ivisic scored 18 points and pulled down nine rebounds off the bench and Keaton Wagler had 17
Honorary Walter Smith Way celebrates a man who devoted his life to young people in Champaign
Walter Smith studied kinesiology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the late-1960s. Smith dedicated his life to the Douglass Community Center.
Few fireworks as Illinois GOP governor hopefuls share stage for first time
The four Republican candidates trained their fire on Gov. JB Pritzker and Illinois’ immigration policies
Recent postal service changes could disrupt mail-in voting, county clerks warn
County clerks across the state say thousands of votes could be invalidated if mail-in ballots are not received in time.
217 Today: New exhibit showcases Illinois’ role in Underground Railroad
Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad highlights people around the state who helped with the Underground Railroad, including those in east central Illinois.
New exhibit showcases Illinois’ role with the Underground Railroad
A new exhibit shares how people in Illinois, including east central Illinois, helped with the Underground Railroad. Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad runs through March 31st.
Tuition is going up for incoming University of Illinois undergrads
Tuition for incoming, in-state students will increase by 2%. It will increase more for out-of-state and international students.
Illinois among 12 states to sue as Trump seeks forced compliance with gender order
The administration now says states and other entities that don’t comply with that executive order will be ineligible for billions of dollars in federal grant funding allocated through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service
State education board OKs $10.9B budget request
The Illinois State Board of Education voted Wednesday to approve a budget request for the upcoming fiscal year that calls for only a minimal increase in K-12 education spending, a reflection of the state’s tightening fiscal condition.
WBCP Radio Way honors central Illinois’ first Black-owned radio station
When a stretch of Fourth Street from Tremont Street to Grove Street was designated as WBCP Radio Way in 2018, the sign marked the legacy of central Illinois’ first Black-owned radio station — a cultural home for music, community and conversation that lasted nearly three decades.
217 Today: WILL CALL: What’s Happening in Central Illinois Jan. 15 – Jan. 18
A look at the arts, culture, and entertainment coming to the central Illinois area this weekend.
Here are the books Illinois students loved the most in 2025
Every year, Illinois students vote on the Readers’ Choice Awards for the books they loved the most. WNIJ education reporter Peter Medlin spoke with English teacher and award chair Nichole Folkman about the books that won in 2025.
Keep up with news in Central Illinois every weekday with 217 Today. Hear the day's headlines, along with one deeper dive, in just ten minutes. Learn about the people and places that make Central Illinois unique with 217 Today.
