Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022 Today’s headlines: A judge in Cook County Juvenile Court has found Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith in contempt for delays in placing two children in new homes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new quarantine recommendations make sense, according to a University of Illinois virologist….
2022 marked the 100-year anniversary of WILL-AM, the oldest component of Illinois Public Media. The University of Illinois launched the station at a time when the idea of using radio to reach a mass audience was new and cutting edge. Over the century to come, WILL became a national leader in educational broadcasting, and more recently, public broadcasting.
A University of Illinois research team has published a study on the impact of assistance programs on vulnerable families. According to a new report from the Project for Middle Class Renewal at U of I, extending the child tax credit program beyond 2021 could promote financial stability in low-and-moderate-income families. Dylan Bellisle is a postdoctoral…
This story is part of a partnership between the Invisible Institute and CU-CitizenAccess exploring police misconduct in Champaign County. Champaign County Sheriff’s Sergeant Norman “JR” Meeker had a 10-year history of disciplinary violations, including destruction of personal property, contract violations, a Tik Tok account that shared bodycam videos of crime scenes, and mountains of missed paperwork. Yet,…
Champaign Unit 4 School District and the City of Champaign have launched the Leading Individuals and Families to Transformation program, also known as LIFT. LIFT will focus on African American students and families who are experiencing academic and personal challenges. The program provides trauma-informed care through intensive support from both school-based and community resources. Anthony…
Monday, Jan. 10, 2022 Today’s headlines: Public Health officials reported nearly 1600 new COVID-19 cases in Champaign County over the weekend. The number of active cases has topped 7000 for the first time. Cannabis sales in Illinois doubled in 2021 – the second year since cannabis became recreationally legal. New data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture…
Updated Saturday at 10:15 p.m. This post will be updated as new forecasts are posted. CHAMPAIGN – On Saturday afternoon and evening, meteorologists are predicting much of Central Illinois will see freezing rain and icy roadways. The National Weather Service in Central Illinois has issued a Winter Weather Advisory from 12:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. on Saturday. …
Friday, Jan. 7, 2022 Today’s headlines: It’s been one year since the attack on the U.S. Capitol building. Illinois U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth said she still remembers the events of that day vividly. Illinois Republicans are blaming Democrats in Springfield for not replacing a departing legislative watchdog. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has…
CHAMPAIGN — The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has halved the number of days of isolation recommended for those sick with COVID-19. Illinois school districts have not made that change – yet. The difference has caused enough confusion among parents that the Champaign Unit 4 School District superintendent had to email out a…
CHAMPAIGN — The Illinois men’s basketball team improved to 4-0 in the Big Ten with a 76-64 win over Maryland Thursday night in Champaign. It wasn’t easy. After his team squandered a 14 point first half lead, head coach Brad Underwood entered the team’s locker room at halftime. “It was very professional, very businesslike. And…
Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022 Today’s headlines: Illinois lawmakers won’t be coming back to Springfield next week because of spiking COVID-19 cases amid the spread of the Omicron variant. People should look into swapping their cloth masks for surgical masks or N95 masks, according to Illinois State Medical Society President-Elect Clarence Brown. Illinois likely just experienced its…
URBANA – If you felt like December’s weather was mild – you’re right. According to provisional data, December 2021 was the fifth warmest December on record. The average statewide temperature was 39.4 degrees Fahrenheit – more than nine degrees above average. It was the warmest December on record in Carbondale, the third warmest in St….
CHAMPAIGN – Many Central Illinois communities are opening warming centers so people without regular shelter are not exposed to subzero temperatures settling into the area. The National Weather Service in Central Illinois forecasts a low around 10 degrees and wind chill values as low as -4 on Wednesday night/Thursday morning in Champaign Urbana. Temperatures will…
A University of Illinois’ dorm tradition of singing through the phone still continues after dealing with the pandemic. After the absence of singing live to callers last year, Dial-A-Carol at Snyder Hall is back with on-air performances. Dial-A-Carol is the longest-running tradition in University Housing, which has been hosted by Snyder Hall since 1960. Groups…
MINNNEAPOLIS — The Illinois men’s basketball team blew the doors off ‘The Barn’ in Minneapolis Tuesday night, coasting to a 76-53 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Williams Arena. Illinois head coach Brad Underwood says he was relieved to find his team competitive after returning from a pause due to positive COVID tests on…