Tuskegee Airman honored in new Decatur public school
Born in Decatur, Dansby served in World War II as the master sergeant for the Tuskegee Airmen, the first African American division of the U.S. Army Air Corps. The airmen first formed at Chanute Airfield Base in Rantoul.
“This is not an isolated incident.” Decatur school closure exposes gaps in state-required inspections
Decatur Public Schools District 61 only found out it had problems in the two century-old buildings when they brought in a structural engineer in May to look at ceiling leaks and other issues raised by teachers.
Decatur Public Schools increases literacy and school attendance with extended day program
The pre-K through 8 students in the DPS 61 Extended Day program had higher attendance, higher reading scores and fewer disciplinary issues than their peers, according to the district.
Illinois experts testify against book bans before Congress
WASHINGTON – Book bans have been growing in many states and some Illinois experts on the subject brought the matter before the US Congress. US Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) is the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. “Let’s be clear. Efforts to ban books are wrong whether they come from the right or the left,” […]
The newest Decatur Public Schools teaching assistants and security guards make about $19 an hour. Tuesday, they rallied for higher wages.
Teaching assistants and security officers rallied Tuesday in front of the Decatur Public Schools Board of Education meeting.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth visits Champaign in quest to require school bus seat belts
Sen. Tammy Duckworth has been introducing her School Bus Safety Act since 2018. It would require all school buses be equipped with seat belts, automatic breaks and other safety features.
Education secretary praises Springfield after-school program during visit
U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona met Gov. J.B. Pritzker and state school Superintendent Tony Sanders Wednesday at Fairview Elementary School to promote the Education Department’s “Raise the Bar: Lead the World” agenda.
COVID-19 on the rise at University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign
Students and staff can still access free, take-home, COVID tests on campus. Two weeks in, those tests are in high demand.
Update: Emergency ends at U of I Engineering Sciences building after hazardous materials release
This is a developing story. It will be updated as new details emerge. 6:40 p.m. Update University of Illinois officials have sounded the “All-Clear” at the Engineering Sciences Building at Springfield and Goodwin on campus after a release of hazardous chemicals prompted an evacuation. Urbana Fire Battalion Chief Clint Weidert says firefighters were called to […]
Mexico, Illinois research exchange blooms at the University of Illinois
“We have common problems, so we need to find common solutions. And there are very, very talented researchers and scholars,” Elvira de Mejia said.
Some Central Illinois schools will close Friday due to heat
URBANA – Due to forecasted high temperatures on Friday, August 25, some central Illinois schools will be closed. The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued an Extreme Heat Warning. Combined heat and humidity will make it feel like 110-115 degrees. Here are the August 25 school closures or advisories: Danville School District 118 All […]
Champaign, Danville and Urbana Schools close Thursday due to heat
URBANA – Due to forecasted high temperatures on August 24, some central Illinois school districts will be closed. The National Weather Service in Lincoln has issued an Extreme Heat Warning. Combined heat and humidity will make it feel like 110-115 degrees. Here are the August 24 school closures: Champaign Unit 4 Schools Danville School District […]
Pritzker promotes higher ed funding, calls for nuclear plant bill to be amended
Governor J-B Pritzker hopes lawmakers will come up with an amended version of SB76, a bill he vetoed on August 11 that would have ended Illinois’ moratorium on building nuclear power plants.
After Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign plans to use socioeconomics, geography instead of race in admissions
“We’ve had a holistic review process that considers all sorts of factors and that [race] has been one of them,” said U of I spokesperson Robin Kaler. That will not be true next year, she said.
Urbana Public Schools hold two ribbon cuttings to unveil renovations
Renovations at Thomas Paine elementary school and Urbana High School were celebrated.