New State Police rules for assault weapons permits will take effect Oct. 1

People who owned banned weapons before new law must apply for FOID endorsement.
Immigration Welcome Awards honor those who serve local immigrants in the C-U area

The C-U Immigration Forum hosted its 10th annual Immigration Welcome Awards at the Urbana Free Library on Sept. 16. The awards honor businesses, organizations and individuals that work to serve immigrants in Champaign County. Ricardo Diaz, board chair of the New American Welcome Center at the University YMCA, said he is impressed to see how […]
Illinois becomes first state in nation today to eliminate cash bail. Here’s how it will work.

It’s been two years since the Pretrial Fairness Act was passed, but questions remain on who will be jailed and who will not.
217 Today: Downstate leaders say they will need help handling the historic end to cash bail

Monday, September 18, 2023 Today’s headlines: Advocates for survivors of sex crimes and domestic violence are cheering the end of cash bail in Illinois on Monday. The numbers are out on a COVID-era program aimed at helping preschool through eighth-grade students learn at Decatur Public Schools. Around a hundred people met Saturday at the Urbana Free […]
Decatur Public Schools increases literacy and school attendance with extended day program

The pre-K through 8 students in the DPS 61 Extended Day program had higher attendance, higher reading scores and fewer disciplinary issues than their peers, according to the district.