CHAMPAIGN — There have been more than 260 mass shootings in the US so far in 2022, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Two Champaign community leaders are offering more than thoughts and prayers. Rev. Terrance L. Thomas is a pastor at Bethel AME Church in Champaign. He rejects blaming the current gun violence crisis…
URBANA – Former President Donald Trump will hold a rally with Representative Mary Miller (R-IL), who is locked in a bitter primary race with another GOP incumbent, Representative Rodney Davis (R-IL). The Trump rally will take place Saturday, June 25 at 7:00 p.m. at the Adams County Fairgrounds in Mendon, northeast of Quincy, the largest…
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine cut off wheat exports, while drought conditions in the Great Plains will further reduce grain stocks. Reduced supplies could trickle down into higher prices for grocery list staples, such as bread and pasta. Global wheat supplies have been tightened from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and now the crop faces a domestic…
Thursday, June 16, 2022 Today’s headlines: Wednesday marked the 10th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program. However, it’s fate remains uncertain. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has signed a law requiring health insurance plans to cover continuous glucose monitors used by diabetes patients. One Champaign community leader is offering more than…
SPRINGFIELD – At least 16 residents and six staff at the state-run veterans home in Manteno have tested positive for COVID-19 and one COVID-positive resident who was in hospice died Wednesday morning, according to the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs. All of the positive residents had received at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine…
INDIANAPOLIS — Gary Gibson has a clear memory of his first conversation with his future wife Brenda Williams back in 1973. “Hello, my name is Brenda,” was the first thing Gibson remembers her saying. The second was, “I have sickle cell disease.” “I was like, sickle what?” Gibson said. https://cpa.ds.npr.org/s4780019/audio/2022/06/sicklecelldisease-story1-lackofresources-web.mp3 Listen to this story here….
Wednesday, June 15, 2022 Today’s headlines: The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is relaunching a land conservation program for farmers, ranchers and other landowners in 68 counties. Caterpillar did not receive or request any incentives to relocate its world headquarters from Illinois to Texas.That’s according to a corporate spokesperson. Champaign is hosting its annual Juneteenth…
CHAMPAIGN — On Saturday, Chambanites can celebrate the end of slavery at Douglass Park with a bouncy house, photo booth, small business fair and more. Champaign Park District coordinator Robert White helped organize the Juneteenth event. He remembers the first time he learned about Juneteenth from his fraternity brother in college. “It was shocking because…
URBANA — This Sunday marks the second year that Juneteenth will be an official state and federal holiday. Juneteenth celebrates the day in 1865 when Union troops marched into Galveston, Texas and forced the Confederate state to free the enslaved. Slavery existed in Illinois too, despite its status as a free state. “Whether we’re talking…
BLOOMINGTON — Gov. JB Pritzker said Monday a new gun control measure that a bipartisan group of U.S. senators has agreed to is a good start in response to recent mass shootings, but he wants to see more done. “It’s been an awfully long time since Congress acted on gun safety. So I’m glad to…
Tuesday, June 14, 2022 Today’s headlines: Likely Illinois Republican voters are still mostly in the dark about down-ballot races in the June 28th primary election. That’s according to a WBEZ-Chicago Sun-Times poll. Forecasters are advising you to take precautions as central and southern Illinois bake under high heat and humidity. This Sunday is Juneteenth, a…
The crossbreed gained some attention in the 1970s. Supporters today say there is big potential to provide better, healthier meat by combining the best qualities of the two animals, in just the right amount. RAYMONDVILLE, Mo. — Bison produce very lean meat, but they are wild animals that can be difficult to raise on a…
SPRINGFIELD – Thousands more families in Illinois will soon be eligible for subsidized child care and child care providers will see a pay raise under a series of initiatives that Gov. JB Pritzker announced Thursday. Starting July 1, the state will invest more than $175 million in additional funding for child care and early childhood…
SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker has signed 401 bills sent to him this calendar year, leaving just 10 of those passed by lawmakers this year awaiting his action as of Monday. His most recent crop of signed bills from Friday, June 10, included a measure taking aim at wage theft in the construction industry and…
Former President Donald Trump wields a powerful spell over Illinois Republicans with a majority declaring him as their top choice for the White House in 2024 and even more believing legally he should still be there. More than two-thirds of the state’s GOP voters believe Trump actually won the 2020 election. And nearly nine out…