(L-R) 13th District Democratic congressional candidates Stefanie Smith and Betsy Dirksen Londrigan, at a Feb. 11 candidate's debate in the Champaign City Council chamber.

Democrats Challenging Rodney Davis Face Off At Forum

CHAMPAIGN – A candidate’s forum in Champaign Monday night featured the two Democrats competing for the chance to challenge 13th District U.S. Representative Rodney Davis in November. Betsy Dirksen Londrigan lost to Davis by a less than one percent margin in 2018. The Springfield resident said she’s continuing her campaign on issues like healthcare and…

County Board Chair Faces Primary Challenge From ‘Progressive Choice’

County Board Chair Faces Primary Challenge From ‘Progressive Choice’

Democrat Giraldo Rosales became chairman of the Champaign County Board a year ago, with the support of Republicans and a few moderate Democrats, defeating his own party’s nominee. Now Rosales, who ran for re-election unopposed four years ago, is being challenged by progressive Democrat Emily Rodriguez in the March 17th primary. Rosales and Rodriguez spoke…

No Coronavirus In Champaign County, But Health Officials Say They’re Ready

No Coronavirus In Champaign County, But Health Officials Say They’re Ready

CHAMPAIGN – Health officials in Champaign County say they are ready, if any cases of the novel coronavirus outbreak that originated in Wuhan, China should turn up locally. But they say no cases have shown up so far. As of Tuesday, five cases of the coronavirus have been reported in the United States, with one…

15th District Democratic Candidates Sound Off On Impeachment

15th District Democratic Candidates Sound Off On Impeachment

Most House Democrats voted last month in favor of impeaching President Trump. At a candidate’s forum in Charleston Sunday, three Democrats seeking to run in Illinois’ 15th Congressional District said they would have done the same — while a fourth added a qualification. John W. Hursey Jr. of Collinsville, told the audience at the Charleston…

University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

University Of Illinois Administrators Raise Tuition

[perfectpullquote align=”left” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Base Tuition For In-State Undergrads: $12,254 at U-I Urbana-Champaign; $10,776 at U-I Chicago; $9,503 at U-I Springfield [/perfectpullquote] CHICAGO – University of Illinois trustees voted in Chicago Thursday to raise tuition for the first time in six years, and extend the contract of their president, Tim Killeen. The…

Jason Erkes Of Cresco Labs Discusses Plans For Danville Cannabis Dispensary

Jason Erkes Of Cresco Labs Discusses Plans For Danville Cannabis Dispensary

Operators of a new recreational cannabis dispensary in Danville say they hope to open in the spring. Chicago-based Cresco Labs operates cannabis businesses in seven states. In Illinois, it owns cannabis cultivation facilities in Joliet, Lincoln and Kankakee, and operates recreational dispensaries under its Sunnyside brand in Rockford, Chicago, Elmwood Park, Buffalo Grove and Champaign….

The State Of Cannabis: Two Towns, Two Decisions On Cannabis Sales

The State Of Cannabis: Two Towns, Two Decisions On Cannabis Sales

Rantoul is looking forward to opening a new outdoor family sports complex, in 2021. Hopes for the $20 million project made it easier for village trustees in the Champaign County town to vote to prohibit cannabis-related businesses within their borders. Meanwhile in Vermilion County, city officials in Danville chose to allow cannabis businesses. The two…

Unit 4 Superintendent Drops Campus Swap Proposal

Unit 4 Superintendent Drops Campus Swap Proposal

CHAMPAIGN – Unit 4’s district superintendent says she’s dropping a controversial proposal for a campus swap between the Garden Hills elementary school and the International Prep Academy. A statement posted Friday afternoon (Jan. 10) on the Champaign Unit 4 website and Facebook page states: “Based on feedback from various stake holders over the last several…

Bennett, Other Lawmakers, Voice Concern About “Rape In Champaign” Email
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Bennett, Other Lawmakers, Voice Concern About “Rape In Champaign” Email

State lawmakers are reacting with alarm to a recently released email that refers to the cover-up of a quote “rape in Champaign”. State Senator Scott Bennett, a Champaign Democrat, says he was shocked and angered by the WBEZ report of a 2012 email from then-lobbyist Michael McClain to two aides in the administration of then-governor…