Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021 Today’s headlines: Attorneys for a woman who alleges she was raped by a Lyft driver in Chicago are asking the Illinois Supreme Court to overturn a state law that shields ride share companies from liability. Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is trying to find the owners of 11 unclaimed Purple Hearts….
CHAMPAIGN – Going maskless in school. Visiting a grandparent in India. Protecting a baby sister. These are some of the reasons Champaign-Urbana kids got vaccinated against COVID-19 on Wednesday in one of the county’s first clinics for the newly eligible, 5-11 age group. “Now that I know it doesn’t hurt too much, I’m actually looking…
CHAMPAIGN — The Illini men’s basketball team opened the season with a 71-47 win over Jackson State Tuesday night in Champaign. Illinois was without starters Trent Frazier, Andre Curbelo and Kofi Cockburn. The latter is serving a three-game, NCAA-imposed suspension because he sold some personal Illini gear before deciding to return to the team for…
URBANA — The number of new COVID-19 cases on the University of Illinois Urbana campus has jumped over the last week. Campus officials reported 220 new cases over the last seven days, about three times as many as the previous week. To learn more, Illinois Newsroom’s Brian Moline spoke with U of I epidemiologist Rebecca…
Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021 Today’s headlines: The Chicago Rockford International Airport announced Tuesday that it’s limiting access into the Bell Bowl Prairie until further environmental assessments can be completed. The Rockford Airport Authority agreed to temporarily halt construction over some of the last remaining high quality dry gravel prairie in Illinois. The Champaign community gathered last week…
CHAMPAIGN — Champaign substitute teachers will now earn at least $140 per day – $30 more than they were making before. The Champaign Unit 4 Board of Education approved the raise on Monday evening, following a similar move from neighboring school boards. “We’ve reviewed our rates and determined that we are no longer competitive with…
CHAMPAIGN — The Fighting Illini women’s basketball team tips off the season against North Carolina Central at 11 am on Tuesday. Illinois is looking to improve on a 5-18 record from last season, and Illinois head coach Nancy Fahey wants her program to turn the corner after posting just a 35-78 record in her four…
Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021 Today’s headlines: The House passed a $1 trillion infrastructure bill over the weekend. The bill is projected to send at least $17 billion to Illinois for things like roads and bridges, airports, public transit, broadband access, and water infrastructure. Governor J.B. Pritzker appeared Monday on a panel with three other Democratic governors at the U.N….
Monday, Nov. 8, 2021 Today’s headlines: Illinois political leaders have been in Glasgow, Scotland for the U.N. Climate Change Conference —or COP26 —since last week. They’re touting the state’s new plan to prioritize green energy and cut fossil fuels from Illinois’ electric grid by 2050. LGBTQ+ students were harassed during Spirit Week at Mahomet-Seymour High…
CHAMPAIGN — Do you know what’s in your drinking water? Depending on where you live, you could be ingesting contaminants linked to cancer, brain damage and other serious health effects. That’s why scientists at the Environmental Working Group developed the Tap Water Database – a searchable tool, based on zip code, that tells you what…
Making a Thanksgiving feast will cost more this year as the pandemic’s effect on the economy drives up food prices. Even economists like Curtis Dubay at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce notice the difference at the grocery store. “We’re spending roughly $25 to $50 more per week on groceries for a family of five,” Dubary…
Friday, Nov. 5, 2021 Today’s headlines: Republican congressman Rodney Davis currently sits alone in the new 15th Congressional District, but he hasn’t yet announced his 2022 election plans. A new tool school districts could use might help their educators improve and get students back on track. Champaign County’s Jail Facilities Committee voted Wednesday to make improvements…
URBANA — Urbana High School students and staff may soon walk through AI-powered metal detectors to get to class. The District 116 Board of Education spent Tuesday night debating whether to install the new technology, called Evolv Express. Superintendent Jennifer Ivory-Tatum told the board that rising community violence has left staff drained. “They’re doing patrolling…
URBANA — Lyric Theatre @ Illinois returns to the Krannert Center stage Thursday evening with a production of the Tony Award-winning musical, “Fun Home.” The show is an adaptation of the graphic novel of the same name, written by Alison Bechdel, which looks at the relationship between Alison and her father, who are both gay,…
Thursday, Nov. 4, 2021 Today’s headlines: Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger is retiring after Illinois Democrats drew him into a new 16th district with fellow GOP incumbent Darin LaHood. University of Illinois service workers Union members protested Wednesday to raise wages and fill vacant positions– including a five dollar per hour raise. The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is…