Illinois professor maps how to limit misinformation on Facebook
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Illinois professor maps how to limit misinformation on Facebook

Editor’s note: At the request of Nikki Usher, we changed the pronouns in this article that pertain to Usher from ‘she/her’ to ‘they/their.’  – Reginald Hardwick, News Director, March 26, 2024 URBANA – Lawmakers can’t effectively control misinformation on Facebook. What they can do is limit the reach of the social media giant. That’s the…

Judge rules Vermilion County teachers, parents must follow state COVID-19 rules in schools
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Judge rules Vermilion County teachers, parents must follow state COVID-19 rules in schools

DANVILLE — Protestors from the group Vermilion County Health Advocates stood outside the Vermilion County Courthouse on Friday afternoon holding signs and wearing t-shirts saying “Unmask our Children” while cars honked in support.  Meanwhile — inside the courthouse — Judge Karen Wall ruled against both Danville District 118 teachers and parents from Hoopeston Area School…

UI Freshmen Class Breaks Record Despite Decrease In Minority Student Enrollment

UI Freshmen Class Breaks Record Despite Decrease In Minority Student Enrollment

URBANA – With a total of 8,303 students enrolled this fall, the freshmen class of 2025 is the largest ever at the University of Illinois Urbana campus. Yet, a recent university report shows a decrease in minority students enrollment. Director of Undergraduate Admissions Andy Borst said there was an increase this fall of students coming…

Champaign School Bus Hit With Gunfire; No Students Hurt
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Champaign School Bus Hit With Gunfire; No Students Hurt

CHAMPAIGN – A Champaign Unit 4 school bus was struck by gunfire Thursday while transporting students home. No students or staff were injured. A statement from the Champaign Police Department says officers responded to the area of Neil Street and Arcadia Drive just before 3 pm for the report of shots fired. Police found a crash involving…

University of Illinois Officer To Be Laid To Rest On Tuesday
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University of Illinois Officer To Be Laid To Rest On Tuesday

URBANA – A University of Illinois Police Lieutenant killed in an off-duty wreck will be laid to rest on Tuesday afternoon. The department says a procession honoring Lt. Aaron Landers will begin at The Vineyard Church of Central Illinois on Lincoln Avenue in Urbana. It is scheduled to start around 12:30 p.m. The procession will…

Renovation Or Replacement Ahead For Two University Of Illinois Icons

Renovation Or Replacement Ahead For Two University Of Illinois Icons

URBANA – Extensive changes are on the horizon for two University of Illinois Urbana Champaign buildings built more than a century ago. The Rebuild Illinois state fund will help pay for the $192 million replacement of Illini Hall and renovation of Altgeld  Hall. The 114-year old Illini Hall will be replaced by a brand new…

Pandemic Exacerbates Lack of Mental And Emotional Support For Teachers
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Pandemic Exacerbates Lack of Mental And Emotional Support For Teachers

URBANA – Since March 2020, when regular classroom teaching was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers have been juggling transitions between remote, hybrid, and in-person learning; changing class schedules; students with a wide variety of technical needs; and their own mental and physical health. Some Champaign-Urbana teachers say trying to help their students through…

A Groundbreaking Self-Driving Test Track Could Be Coming To Central Illinois
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A Groundbreaking Self-Driving Test Track Could Be Coming To Central Illinois

RANTOUL — An autonomous test track may soon be on its way to the village of Rantoul and the decommissioned Chanute Air Force Base.  An intergovernmental agreement, which establishes the lease and purchase of the land, is expected to be reached on Tuesday between the village of Rantoul and the University of Illinois Board of…

U Of I Professor And Student Create “Illini Anthem”
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U Of I Professor And Student Create “Illini Anthem”

URBANA – University of Illinois football and basketball fans will hear a new fight song joining the traditional music during the upcoming season. The Illini will be marching to a hip-hop beat. The “Illini Anthem” is a song composed by Lamont Holden, University of Illinois instructor of music production, who is also a music producer,…

Undocumented Students In Illinois Stand To Gain Institutional Support In Higher Education

Undocumented Students In Illinois Stand To Gain Institutional Support In Higher Education

CHAMPAIGN – All colleges and universities within Illinois could be required to create a liaison position to support undocumented students if Governor J.B. Pritzker signs a new bill into law. House Bill 3438, which was sent to the governor in June, would require every public university and community college in Illinois to designate an employee…

After Blast, Hendrick House Residents Moving Back In
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After Blast, Hendrick House Residents Moving Back In

This is a developing story. It will be updated as we learn new details. UPDATE: 56 summer residents are moving back into Hendrick House at the University of Illinois — ten days after an explosion forced them to evacuate. Management for the privately-owned residence hall announced on social media Wednesday that the city of Urbana had…

Illinois Bill Requiring Asian American History Education to Address Hate, Discrimination
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Illinois Bill Requiring Asian American History Education to Address Hate, Discrimination

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois could become the first state to require public schools to teach the history of Asian Americans, a community that reported an increase in anti-Asian hate incidents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History, or TEAACH Act, would require Illinois K-12 public schools to teach a unit of Asian…

U Of I Issues COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement For Fall Students
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U Of I Issues COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement For Fall Students

URBANA – The University of Illinois plans a return to near normal class schedules in the fall, and campus life free of face masks, social distancing and regular testing for the coronavirus. But university officials say that’s only possible with COVID-19 vaccinations for everybody. U of I President Tim Killeen announced the vaccination requirement for…

New U Of I Class Aims To Dispel Myths About Cannabis
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New U Of I Class Aims To Dispel Myths About Cannabis

URBANA — When people think cannabis, they often think marijuana. But the cannabis plant takes many different forms, from medicinal cannabidiol (CBD) to industrial hemp. A new class at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign aims to break down all the different uses of the crop and provide a foundation for students interested in entering the…

How A Hospital And A School District Teamed Up To Help Kids In Emotional Crisis
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How A Hospital And A School District Teamed Up To Help Kids In Emotional Crisis

Updated June 11, 2021 at 11:30 PM ET In 2019, the Rockville Centre school district in Long Island, N.Y., was shaken by a string of student deaths, including the suicides of a recent graduate and a current student. “When you get these losses, one after the other, you almost can’t get traction on normalcy,” says…