Monday, Jan. 3, 2022 Today’s headlines: Former President Donald Trump is getting involved in an Illinois Congressional primary contest, endorsing the state’s newest Republican over a ten-year veteran in Washington, D.C. Today marks the start of Chicago’s new COVID-19 vaccination policy – businesses like gyms and restaurants are now required to ask patrons for proof…
URBANA – When Victor Figueroa got home from his private school in Chicago and started to wash his hair, he said he kept finding small pieces of paper in it. Puzzled, Figueroa said he didn’t know where they were coming from. One day while sitting in class, he turned around. He saw students holding small…
URBANA — In order to make water safe to drink, it has to go through a process called chemical disinfection. This process, however necessary, creates byproducts. University of Illinois researcher Lois Raetzman says it is possible that one chemical byproduct could have serious health effects. “So we’re absolutely not saying you should not disinfect water….
Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021 Today’s headlines: Illinois has surpassed 2 million COVID-19 infections since the pandemic began. A University of Illinois professor has discovered that chemical byproducts created when water is cleaned could impact the body’s ability to reproduce. Illinois led throughout in an 88-63 win Wednesday night in the annual Braggin’ Rights basketball game…
Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021 Today’s headlines: Electric utility Commonwealth Edison says it’ll voluntarily issue a $21 million refund to customers after it admitted former executives and lobbyists engaged in a years-long bribery scheme. With colder months ahead, there’s more farmers can do to protect their fields for future seasons. The Champaign City Council voted Tuesday night to…
DANVILLE — When Doug Toole, the director of the Vermilion County Health Department, and the department’s contact tracers get back to their desks in the morning, there are piles of calls to make. Those piles represent positive cases of COVID-19. Contact tracing is an important part of stopping the spread of COVID-19, according to Toole….
Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021 Today’s headlines: The Illinois Department of Public Health reported a new record number of COVID cases for 2021 on Monday. The University of Illinois announced Monday that it will delay the start of in-person spring classes on its Urbana campus by one week. Public health officials are pleading with the community…
Monday, Dec. 20, 2021 Today’s headlines: State public health director Dr. Ngozi Ezike says people need to continue to follow COVID-19 prevention protocols, including getting vaccinated. Beginning Jan. 1, Ameren Illinois customers will see an increase in their electric bill of around $2.50 per month. Some of the money will go toward ongoing upgrades to…
December 17, 2021 Today’s headlines: Despite increasing cases of COVID-19, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said he’s not planning to implement new restrictions on gatherings or businesses. The new year will bring higher Ameren bills because of a rate hike recently approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission. Two bus stops are getting upgrades as part of a settlement…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2021 Today’s headlines: The state’s Department of Public Health says Illinois has confirmed its first case of COVID’s Omicron variant. The news comes as Illinois has seen a more-than 160 percent increase in the number of new COVID patients entering hospitals each day over the past six weeks. The balance of political power…