Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021 Today’s headlines: After nearly 20 years of attempts, the state of Illinois will finally sell the James R. Thompson Center in downtown Chicago. Champaign’s new plan to reduce gun violence divides $3.2 million in pandemic relief among local agencies. None of that new money would go to the Champaign Police Department. Residents…
Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021 Today’s headlines: Illinois stopped licensing traditional midwives in the mid-1960s, and made the practice illegal in 1992. But on Tuesday, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a law once again sanctioning midwifery outside of hospitals beginning next fall. The Champaign City Council unanimously approved a blueprint on Tuesday for a plan which infuses $3.2…
CHAMPAIGN — Champaign has a new plan to stop the recent spike in shootings. The Champaign City Council approved the plan unanimously on Tuesday night after hearing two hours of testimonies about gun violence in the city. Samantha Carter lives in Garden Hills, one of the most affected neighborhoods. “I would like to share with…
Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2021 Today’s headlines: Governor J.B. Pritzker issued a state disaster proclamation Monday for 28 Illinois counties hit by Friday’s severe storms. The proclamation gives the state and its emergency management agency the authority to provide resources to help storm victims. Republican candidate for governor Darren Bailey is the first in the GOP field…
CHAMPAIGN – Staffing shortages persist at C-U at Home – which provides services to those living in Champaign-Urbana without a home. Two emergency shelters that were scheduled to open Monday in Champaign-Urbana are delayed due in part to a lack of staff. The delay comes after the organization’s main shelter closed for several months earlier…
When International Prep Academy in Champaign sent students home in March 2020, 10-year-old Ana Hernandez and her mom started what they called the “Hernandez Homeschool.” Ana’s mom, Genevieve Kirk, looked up different teaching resources and curriculum to keep Ana on track, she said. This process, she said, connected her with both of her children—Ana and…
A new U.S. Department of Agriculture report found the percentage of farms that are small and family owned remained unchanged from 2011 to 2020, holding steady at 89% of all farms. A new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows the percentage of farms that are small and family-owned remains steady, but they produce…
CHAMPAIGN — The Fighting Illini women’s basketball team evened their record at 5-5 this season with a 78-66 win over Butler at State Farm Center Sunday afternoon. First-year guard Adalia McKenzie scored a career-high 23 points on 9-15 shooting. She also grabbed four rebounds and a steal, and dished out two assists. She credited her…
Monday, Dec. 13, 2021 Today’s headlines: The search for more victims and cleanup efforts will continue Monday at the Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville after being struck by an EF-3 tornado Friday night. Officials have confirmed that six employees died, one is in the hospital with serious injuries, and 45 were rescued and reunited with family. Meteorologists…
Updated Saturday at 10:45 p.m. SHELBY COUNTY – On Saturday, meteorologists at the National Weather Service in Central Illinois said an EF-2 tornado caused destruction in Shelby, Moultrie and Coles counties. So far, no injuries have been reported. According to the NWS, EF-2 tornadoes have winds of 111 to 135 miles per hour. They cause…
Updated Saturday at 12:35 a.m. URBANA – Meteorologists issued several tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings on Friday evening. An approaching cold front and warm moist air clashed, spawning severe weather in Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois and Kentucky late Friday. There are early reports of damage in the Illinois towns of Windsor and Gays in Moultrie County…
Friday, Dec. 10, 2021 Today’s headlines: Illinois lawmakers have increased funding to the state’s child welfare budget for the last few years, but those on the ground say that money hasn’t helped a system in crisis. A University of Illinois lab is turning modified sugar cane into fuel. U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm,…
URBANA – U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm stopped in Urbana on Thursday as part of her two-day tour of Illinois energy facilities. She listened carefully as researchers at the university’s Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory described how they turn sugar cane into fuel. “What today is about is seeing what the opportunities are and building…
DANVILLE – About 30 people attended a public meeting in Danville on Thursday afternoon to hear plans to clean up three coal ash sites. Texas-based Vistra Energy took over control of the old Dynegy site in 2018 following a corporate merger. Dynegy closed its coal-fired power plant along the Middlefork River back in 2011 leaving…
URBANA – A traditional celebration over the weekend gave the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign community an opportunity to join together for the holiday season. The Latino Student Association hosted its annual Las Posadas at the U of I. Many Latin American countries and people in the United States celebrate Las Posadas, which commemorates Mary and…