Parent Brianna Turner (left) holds her four-year-old daughter.
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Families weigh desegregation benefits, familiarity as Unit 4 discusses abandoning its school choice system

CHAMPAIGN — Families are beginning to weigh in on plans from the Champaign Unit 4 School District to change how it assigns students to elementary schools next year. Some families are excited that the district wants to further desegregate schools. Shanita Weatherall likes the idea of her daughter attending school with students who live near…

Champaign Police say automated license plate readers aid officers’ investigations

Champaign Police say automated license plate readers aid officers’ investigations

CHAMPAIGN – Nearly four months ago, Champaign officials began installing cameras around town to take pictures of license plates on passing cars. According to Kevin Olmstead, Champaign police’s interim deputy chief of operations, 28 of the department’s 46 license plate readers have been positioned on Champaign streets as of September 15. “It gives us basically…

Champaign Township is looking for new homeless shelter location

Champaign Township is looking for new homeless shelter location

URBANA – The city of Champaign Township hopes to open a new homeless shelter, called Strides, later this fall, but it’s still looking for a location. On Sept. 20, the Champaign City Council, in its capacity as the Champaign Township Board, approved a resolution for the city of  Champaign Township to begin the process of…

Voters will decide on ‘right to unionize’ constitutional amendment
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Voters will decide on ‘right to unionize’ constitutional amendment

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois voters will be asked in November to decide whether the right of workers to form unions and engage in collective bargaining should be enshrined in the state constitution. The first clause of the amendment contains two sentences. The first would establish a “fundamental right to organize and to bargain collectively and to…

King, Sorensen outline differences in 17th District U.S. House debate

King, Sorensen outline differences in 17th District U.S. House debate

PEORIA — The two candidates vying for the opening seat representing the 17th U.S. Congressional District had widely differing opinions on a variety of topics during a debate Monday night at Bradley University’s Hayden-Clark Alumni Center. Republican Esther Joy King and Democratic nominee Eric Sorensen are seeking to follow retiring U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Moline,…

217 Today: Democrat candidate Nikki Budzinski discusses labor activism and uniting the 13th congressional district

217 Today: Democrat candidate Nikki Budzinski discusses labor activism and uniting the 13th congressional district

Tuesday, October 4, 2022 Today’s headlines: Planned Parenthood is launching its first mobile abortion clinic in the country, and it will start in southern Illinois. Governor JB Pritzker says he’s open to changes to the SAFE-T Act, which will end cash bail in the state. Over the weekend, local advocacy group Uniting Pride threw its…

Democratic candidate Nikki Budzinski backs natural gas production, supports lowering prescription drug prices in IPM interview
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Democratic candidate Nikki Budzinski backs natural gas production, supports lowering prescription drug prices in IPM interview

URBANA — Two first-time candidates, Democrat Nikki Budzinski and Republican Regan Deering, are facing off in the newly redrawn 13th congressional district in central Illinois. The winner will help determine which party controls Congress in January. Springfield resident Nikki Budzinski spoke with Illinois Newsroom’s Harrison Malkin. Malkin: Nikki (Budzinski) is running against Regan Deering, a…