Friday, Sept. 10, 2021 Today’s headlines: The Illinois House passed major energy and climate legislation Thursday night that aims to put Illinois on the path to 100% renewable energy by 2050. A Champaign Unit 4 school bus was struck by gunfire yesterday while transporting students home. No students or staff were injured. The U.S. Department…
Thursday, Sept. 9, 2021 Today’s headlines: As energy negotiations continue in Springfield, renewable energy entrepreneurs say each day that goes by means a less certain future for their businesses. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is indicating support for a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for schoolchildren, once vaccines are authorized for those under 12. In-person campus tours resumed…
Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2021 Today’s headlines: Adlai Stevenson III, who was born into a political family and carved out his own accomplishments, has died. Illinoisans could start seeing more safe sidewalks and bike lanes, thanks to a new law that took effect this month. Beginning this school year, colleges and universities in Illinois must survey…
Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021 Today’s headlines: Time is running out for lawmakers in Springfield to agree on a massive energy and climate plan. It’s been two weeks since anyone saw Illinois State University graduate student Jelani Day, a Danville native. The Illinois Flash Index dropped slightly for a second straight month, but the economist who…
Friday, Sept. 3, 2021 Today’s headlines: Illinois’ governor says COVID cases among school students are likely higher than what official numbers show. Central Illinois U.S. Representative Darin LaHood says two top Biden administration officials should resign over the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. Officials at Planned Parenthood Illinois Action say they’re preparing to help patients…
Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021 Today’s headlines: Republican U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger says the U.S. exit in Afghanistan was “probably some of the worst military decision-making in my lifetime.” U.S. Senator Dick Durbin says efforts are ongoing to secure the release of Mark Frerichs, an Illinois man held hostage by the Taliban in Afghanistan. Utility crews…
Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021 Today’s headlines: Comprehensive energy legislation finally moved through the Illinois Senate Tuesday night after a months long impasse. Democrats in the General Assembly pushed through new legislative district maps over the objections of both Republicans and community advocacy organizations. Urbana’s Vineyard Church was the site Tuesday of the funeral for a…
Tuesday August 31, 2021 Today’s headlines: Democrats in the General Assembly are set to vote on new legislative maps as they return to Springfield Tuesday. Legislators also hope to agree on major energy and climate change legislation during Tuesday’s one-day session. The Farm Progress Show, one of the largest agriculture trade shows in the country,…
Monday, August 30, 2021 Today’s headlines: Illinois lawmakers return to Springfield this week to revise new legislative maps that Democrats pushed through the General Assembly just a few months ago. Police in many downstate cities stopped Black drivers at much higher rates last year than white motorists. Family members and police are looking for a…
Friday, August 27, 2021 Today’s headlines: All Illinois teachers, school staff and college students will have to get vaccinated against COVID-19 before September 5th under a new mandate Governor JB Pritzker announced Thursday. The three Republicans running for Illinois governor used words like tyrant and dictator, as they condemned Governor Pritzker’s new mask and vaccine…
Thursday, August 26, 2021 Today’s headlines: Gov. JB Pritzker is expected to reestablish a statewide mask mandate and announce vaccine mandates for school staff. The head of the Illinois State Police says they’ve made substantial progress in catching up with a backlog of unprocessed DNA evidence. An Illinois state senator discusses the impact of pending…
Wednesday, August 25, 2021 Today’s headlines: A longtime fixture in state and national Democratic politics is mounting a challenge to Congressman Rodney Davis in Illinois’ 13th District. Gov. JB Pritzker says he won’t hesitate to implement COVID mitigations again if warranted, but he has declined to say what they might be. An Illinois Congressman who…
Tuesday, August 24, 2021 Today’s headlines: A new use-of-force policy for Urbana Police places an emphasis on deescalating potentially violent situations. Extensive changes are on the horizon for two University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign buildings built more than a century ago. More than a year and a half into the COVID-19 pandemic, childcare providers say they’ve…
Monday, August 23, 2021 Today’s headlines: The percentage of available intensive care beds has dropped below 20% in Illinois, as the number of COVID hospitalizations continues to rise. A pediatric hospitalist at the Children’s Hospital of Illinois in Peoria says a recent spike in childhood respiratory illnesses has her worried. A shooting in Champaign’s Campustown…
Friday, August 20, 2021 Today’s headlines: With a difficult governor’s race next year, Illinois GOP leaders face an uphill battle to unite the party behind one message. Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis says he believes Americans would support maintaining a footprint of a few thousand soldiers in Afghanistan indefinitely to help keep the peace. As Gibson…