Emily Hays

Reporter

About Emily

             Emily Hays started at WILL in October 2021 after three-plus years in local newsrooms in Virginia and Connecticut. She has won state awards for her housing coverage at Charlottesville Tomorrow and her education reporting at the New Haven Independent. Emily graduated from Yale University where she majored in History and South Asian Studies.

Will Champaign and Mahomet be able to build new middle schools? Here’s what the preliminary results say

November 3, 2026 No Comments

Preliminary results show voter support for bonds for new middle schools in Champaign and Mahomet.

Will fourth time be the charm for Mahomet-Seymour school district bond referendum to pass?

November 2, 2026 No Comments

Mahomet-Seymour is asking voters to approve bonds for a new junior high. This time the referendum would not raise taxes.

Se presentaron ante la Junta de Educación de Urbana las ideas para la parada de autobús tan esperada en Ivanhoe Estates

October 30, 2026 No Comments

Mientras que la mayoría de los alumnos del Distrito 116 de Urbana acuden a un colegio cercano a su barrio, los alumnos de Yankee Ridge tienen que coger el autobús desde el otro extremo de la ciudad.

Ideas for long-awaited bus stop in Ivanhoe Estates unveiled to Urbana Board of Education

October 30, 2026 No Comments

The goal is to start construction in the spring.

Some in central Illinois worry Medicaid cuts will reduce living options for seniors

October 23, 2026 No Comments

States may spend less on home care as a result of upcoming federal cuts.

University of Illinois Senate plans to review Flock automated license plate reader contract

October 21, 2026 No Comments

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has 20 automated license plate readers through Flock Safety. The University Senate resolved Monday to give the public more information about the contracts.