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Friday, June 7, 2024 Today’s headlines: The long overdue Farm Bill is finally making its way through Congress after the House Agriculture Committee recently advanced a proposal. Green Party presidential hopeful Jill Stein visited Champaign-Urbana to stump with a local Congressional candidate. One effort to change how the Illinois Prisoner Review Board handles medical release hearings made…

Thursday, June 6, 2024 Today’s headlines: Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker eliminated the statewide, 1% grocery tax when he signed off on the state budget. The Illinois Maternal Health Task Force met to reflect on four years of efforts to reduce maternal health inequities in Illinois. Western Illinois University is in the market for a new president….

Wednesday, June 5, 2024 Today’s headlines: The University of Illinois Flash Index of the state’s economy fell slightly from April to May, to 102.6. 2022 statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation have shown a decrease in crime across Illinois, but the Chief of Police says that is not the case for Urbana anymore. The…

Tuesday, June 4, 2024 Today’s headlines: A popular state tax credit used by millions of Illinoisans will be going up for the 2024 tax year. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker joined Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey for a press conference yesterday to express their support for the Right to Contraception Act. A Sangamon County judge heard arguments Monday…

Monday, June 3, 2024 Today’s headlines: A meeting between veterans and representative Nikki Budzinski turned from public to private over the weekend after demonstrators made an appearance.  U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson says he’s not concerned about the impact on the November election of the guilty verdict in former President Donald Trump’s trial….

Friday, May 31, 2024 Today’s headlines: In Central Illinois, there are mixed reactions to former President Donald Trump’s guilty verdict. Governor J.B. Pritzker says justice has been served by the guilty verdict on all counts in Donald Trump’s hush money criminal trial. Illinois missed its chance to regulate delta-8 this spring. Earlier this week the…

Thursday, May 30, 2024 Today’s headlines: Illinois lawmakers have ended their legislative session – though one proposed reform remains in limbo. The University of Illinois will host a new national center of research on railroads. Illinois lawmakers failed to advance a measure that would have strictly regulated the state’s hemp industry. Protesters from the Champaign-Urbana…

Wednesday, May 29, 2024 Today’s headlines: The Illinois House approved a $53 billion state budget early this morning – but passing the revenue package to help pay for it was difficult. Urbana is considering whether to expand its police force, based on a public safety study it commissioned. State lawmakers have approved a measure to pause the…

Tuesday, May 28, 2024 Today’s headlines: Local pro-Palestinian activists are demanding action from politicians after Israeli airstrikes killed dozens in a refugee camp in Rafah. The Illinois House heads back to Springfield today to put the finishing touches on the next fiscal year’s state budget. The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation is one step closer to reclaiming…

Friday, May 24, 2024 Today’s headlines: The Champaign County Board voted to censure County Auditor George Danos on Thursday for unprofessional conduct and failure to do his job as a watchdog.   Democratic lawmakers in Springfield are hoping to expand protections for patients seeking abortion services in Illinois. Public special education day schools in Illinois could…

Thursday, May 23, 2024 Today’s headlines: There have been several measures aimed at protecting workers’ rights that have come before Illinois state lawmakers this Spring. The Champaign County Board may censure its own county auditor tonight. Former Texas Longhorn Defensive Back Terrance Brooks joined the Illinois football team earlier this week. In today’s deep dive,…

Wednesday, May 22, 2024 Today’s headlines: State police closed some interstate highways in central Illinois on Tuesday as gusty winds and dry soil combined to create dust storms. About 25 people came to Champaign’s city council meeting last night to urge city council members to divest from institutions involved in the war in Gaza. Some employees…

Monday, May 20, 2024 Today’s headlines: Credit monitoring agencies wouldn’t have access to some medical debt information under a bill Illinois lawmakers just approved. Illinois Republicans in Springfield are urging the state Senate to pass legislation aimed at authority figures in schools who sexually abuse students. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker says while people should expect…

Friday, May 17, 2024 Today’s headlines: The public can now view and comment on three proposed boundary maps for Urbana’s seven City Council wards at the city’s website. Illinois’ rules against hazing could get a little stronger. State lawmakers across the U.S. including Illinois gathered this week to advocate for work permits for all immigrants….

Thursday, May 16, 2024 Today’s headlines: Illinois families living under the federal poverty line can get extra help feeding their kids during summer vacation. Planned Parenthood wants to expand access to abortion in Illinois by not requiring patients to see a doctor. Downstate Illinois lawmakers are furious after Chicago-area House Democrats passed a measure banning…