Illinoisans prepare to celebrate Hannukah and Christmas on the same date
Rabbi Alan Cook of Sinai Temple in Champaign explains why this holy week means so much to so many.
Community honors 170th anniversary of Lincoln’s Urbana anti-slavery speech
Before he was elected president, Abraham Lincoln spoke in Urbana on Oct. 24, 1854, to denounce a law that allowed for the expansion of slavery. On Thursday, one hundred and seventy years later, a commemoration was held at the Champaign County Courthouse. Around 50 community members gathered to hear the history behind those remarks….
Looking back at 1968 DNC: How is the history relevant to 2024 DNC?
As the DNC heads into its third day in Chicago, thousands of people continued to protest U.S. support for Israel as it wages war against the militant group, Hamas. Hamas executed an attack on October 7 that killed some 1,200 Israelis and roughly 200 Israeli hostages were taken as well. However, Israel’s retaliatory military offensive…
Rural student “didn’t see any changes” after Illinois LGBTQ+ history law passed
Common textbooks from companies like McGraw Hill have long included information on Asian American, African American and Native American history — but not LGBTQ+ history. That can make it challenging for teachers to comply with Illinois inclusive history requirements.
High schoolers in rural, western Illinois learn the history of why their town is white
“My students want to ask about lynchings in the area,” said Cuba High School history teacher Joe Brewer. “It’s difficult for folks to talk about still, but those are the exact questions my students want to address.”
Marian Robinson, the mother of Michelle Obama who lived in the White House, dies at 86
Her children and their families said in a statement that “there was and will be only one Marian Robinson. In our sadness, we are lifted up by the extraordinary gift of her life.”
Student filmmaker sheds light on influential Illinois politician in new documentary
DANVILLE — “Uncle Joe Cannon” is a student-produced documentary that revisits the life of a prominent 19th-century Illinois politician. Joseph Cannon spent 46 years in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Illinois — including eight years as Speaker of the House. Even when he led the Republican Party for years, he made it a point…
Illinois teachers start I3 training on new social studies curriculum
University of Illinois hosts inclusive, inquiry-based training for Illinois social studies teachers.
‘Fractured’ and ‘disconnected,’ CU queer community seeks specific spaces
‘Support groups are not enough’: CU’s queer community works for more cohesion CHAMPAIGN — Despite feeling like “there’s no shortage of queer people in Champaign,” finding the LGBTQ community in Champaign-Urbana wasn’t easy for 21-year-old Arden Hatch when she moved here in 2020 and came out as a trans woman. “I think the community feels…
Pritzker signs bills expanding protections for Native Americans
Signing ceremony takes place on land that could return to tribal hands
Central Illinois commemorates Juneteenth with Block Parties, History Bus, Bike Ride
MTD will hold its first Juneteeth Block party on Friday, June 16 in downtown Champaign.
The story behind Juneteenth and how it became a federal holiday
June 19th was the day in 1865 when a Union officer reached Galveston, Texas and announced their liberation. It would take another century and a half and lots of rallying for the U.S. government to recognize Juneteenth as a federal holiday.