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.
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.”
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.
