Central Illinois Headlines – March 26, 2024
Top stories around Illinois for March 26, 2024.
Durbin celebrates Senate confirmation of Normal Mayor Chris Koos to Amtrak board
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin was on hand Monday in Normal to celebrate the long-awaited appointment of Mayor Chris Koos to the Amtrak Board of Directors. The U.S. Senate voted in January to approve Koos’ appointment to the eight-member board — nearly four years after he was first recommended for the position. The nomination had been held […]
The IKIDS study is uncovering how prenatal exposure to chemicals can affect a child’s development
Chemicals and other environmental exposures are affecting the neurodevelopment of babies and children, according to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign research study IKIDS. IKIDS, which stands for Illinois Kids Development Study, follows pregnant people from their first trimester and measures their health and exposures to chemicals in consumer products. Researchers then study how those exposures […]
Central Illinois Headlines – March 25, 2024
Top stories around Illinois for March 25, 2024.
Long-delayed ‘Falsettos’ production explores family, Jewish identity, LGBTQ+ history
Two of Illinois Public Media’s very own will take the stage for the opening week of Falsettos at the Station Theatre in Urbana. IPM News Director, Reginald Hardwick spoke with IPM’s hosts and reporters Owen Henderson and Kimberly Schofield about their roles and the significance of this musical. Reginald Hardwick: This is Morning Edition from Illinois […]
U of I dean Ruby Mendenhall is preparing to share a lifetime of writing as Urbana’s poet laureate
IPM’s Reginald Hardwick talked with Mendenhall about her family, her gift and she shared one of her poems.
A new mural series will showcase the contributions of African Americans in Champaign County
Two local groups are inviting artists to create murals honoring the lives and contributions of African Americans in the Champaign County area. The mural series project is a collaboration between 40 North — the Champaign County Arts Council — and the Champaign County African American Heritage Trail. Together, they will select the artists who will design and paint […]
More than an afterschool program, DREAAM provides mentorship and lasting relationships
When Carolyn Johnson was raising her twins, one of her biggest challenges was helping them get to know people who are different from them. She said back then, Zaire and Kailah, now 15, tended to keep to themselves. That changed after the kids got involved with DREAAM, or Driven to Reach Excellence and Academic Achievement for […]
UNFILTERED: Local diverse opinions on a ceasefire for Gaza
The call for a ceasefire in Gaza is growing louder both internationally and locally in Champaign-Urbana. This past Monday, the Urbana city council saw a large turnout of residents looking to discuss a proposed resolution to end the conflict in Gaza. The move comes after local representative Budzinski met with Palestinian community members, subsequently advocating […]
News In Brief: March 8
“News In Brief” from Illinois Public Media presents a comprehensive overview of critical topics affecting your community and Illinois as a whole.
Financial aid and scholarships make summer camp more accessible for C-U families
CHAMPAIGN — Now’s the time many families start signing kids up for summer camp. For working parents, this child care is essential; but it can be expensive. Parents in Illinois who qualify for the state’s Child Care Assistance Program based on their work or school status can use that to help cover the cost of summer camp […]
‘Genomics and Faith’ connects scientists and people of faith in C-U
There’s a common misconception about science and faith: that the two cannot coexist. But one group in Champaign-Urbana is working to change that. Genomics for Faith aims to connect scientists and people of faith in the community. The program was created by the outreach team at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at […]
C-U residents protest siege of Gaza in ‘Hands Off Rafah’ demonstration
Hundreds of people took to the streets of Champaign for the “Hands Off Rafah” protest — a march against the Israeli siege of Gaza and U.S. aid to Israel. The protest, which started at Champaign’s West Side Park, was organized by the Champaign-Urbana branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation and was part of […]
A new Illinois re-entry guide includes resources for LGBTQ+ people after incarceration
CHAMPAIGN — Stephanie Zarate is both transgender and formerly incarcerated. Zarate says being transgender makes it difficult to find resources after incarceration — especially housing. “Unlike cisgender, straight people, it’s difficult for us because we don’t have the support that they have,” she said. That’s why the latest re-entry guide from the Education Justice Project […]
State Rep. Carol Ammons wants descendants of slaves in Illinois to have access to free DNA testing
Black residents in Illinois who are descendants of slaves may soon have access to free DNA testing. Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) proposed a House Resolution urging support for the Family Roots Genealogy Program pilot, which aims to reconnect African Americans to their ancestral roots. The program is in partnership with the Department of Anthropology at University of […]
