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.
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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 29.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Democratic candidate for Illinois Senate seat Kevin Ryan talks economy, military background, ‘ethnic cleansing’ in Gaza on 21st Show
Kevin Ryan is a former teacher and United States marine, who is vying for the U.S. Senate seat in Illinois. He shares his views on the affordability crisis Americans are facing, border control, and his experience serving in Afghanistan.
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Local film competition challenges participants to make a movie in 48 hours
Filmmakers and creatives can participate in Champaign Movie Maker’s 48 Hour Film Competition this weekend.
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Supreme Court revives GOP congressman’s challenge to late-arriving mail ballot law
The Trump administration weighed in to support Bost. The Republican president has asserted that late-arriving ballots and drawn-out electoral counts undermine confidence in elections.
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From Illini Hillel to a national movement: the Abram Sachar story
At the corner of John St. and Fifth in Champaign, an Honorary Street is designated to Abram Sachar, who established a Hillel movement at universities across the country.
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217 Today: Local film competition challenges participants to make a movie in 48 hours
Champaign Movie Makers is hosting their annual 48 Hour Film Competition this weekend, where participants have just two days to make a movie.
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WILL CALL: What’s Happening in Central Illinois Jan. 15 – Jan. 18
A puzzle competition, celebrations of movies, and more are all happening in central Illinois this weekend.
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Labor, voting rights groups intervene in Illinois voter data lawsuit
Illinois is one of 23 states and Washington, D.C., that are being sued by the Trump administration for access to their unredacted voter rolls.
