July 5, 2023 Today’s headlines: Former Illinois State Senator and Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey is running for Congress. Champaign-Urbana residents lined Lincoln Avenue to watch floats and classic cars in Fourth of July parade. Illinois is helping low-income people recover their groceries after power outages caused food to spoil. State lawmakers have more gun control bills…
July 3, 2023 Today’s headlines: Four days after a derecho blew through Central Illinois, some neighborhoods are still waiting for power to be restored. A year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Illinois will release less data about who gets an abortion around the state. The openly-queer members of the Illinois legislature…
Friday, June 30, 2023 Today’s headlines: Widespread damage is reported after severe storms blew across Central Illinois on Thursday. Illinois officials reacted to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling Thursday striking down affirmative action in college admissions. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration says the amount of money being spent to staff migrant shelters is “unjustifiable.” Facebook…
RANTOUL – On Wednesday, Republican and Democratic state lawmakers met with constituents at Rantoul Township High School to bridge political divides. The Bipartisan Constituent Conversation was hosted by Braver Angels Illinois. It was the first time public officials in Illinois attended one of the nonprofit’s events. “Our goal is to facilitate the conversation because so…
Thursday, June 29, 2023 Today’s headlines: Wildfire smoke from Canada continues to worsen Illinois’ air quality. A panel of Cook County commissioners green-lit a proposal Wednesday to provide fully paid parental leave for up to 12 weeks for their nearly 20,000 employees. Braver Angels Illinois brought Democrats and Republicans together last night for a bipartisan…
June 28, 2023 Today’s headlines: The federal government is awarding Illinois more than $1 billion to start expanding broadband access to homes and businesses that don’t have it. The Chicago Bears’ CEO said he is exploring options outside Arlington Heights for a new stadium complex. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker signed a bill creating a state-based marketplace for health…
June 27, 2023 Today’s headlines: The Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District will receive $6.6 million to buy new hybrid buses. For the first time, the group Braver Angels Illinois is bringing together a state Democrat and a Republican to talk with their constituents. A new city council member in southern Illinois says she went through a painful…
June 26, 2023 Today’s headlines: Emergency dispatchers in McLean County say they’ve seen a significant spike in accidental 911 calls in recent weeks — and they suspect the Android mobile operating system is to blame. Across the nation, Starbucks workers have gone on strike to protest the company’s policy on pride decorations. A state lawmaker…
Friday, June 23, 2023 Today’s headlines: As pandemic-era policies around Medicaid renewals end, Illinois providers are working to make sure no one gets left behind. A state audit shows a healthcare coverage program for Illinois kids has, again, lost millions in federal matching dollars due to clerical errors. Illinois Senate President Don Harmon says the…
Thursday, June 22, 2023 Today’s headlines: Advocates are taking to the streets, urging Illinois officials not to freeze enrollment in a healthcare coverage program for undocumented immigrants. Some Midwestern cities are putting conservation measures in place to keep their water supplies from drying up as the drought rages on. The National Guard in Illinois say…
June 21, 2023 Today’s headlines: One U of I grad was attacked and another was killed in Germany last week. The congressional debt ceiling agreement capped federal housing assistance program spending for the new fiscal year. Latino lawmakers in Illinois are encouraging undocumented immigrants to sign up for state-supported healthcare coverage before it’s too late. Urbana students report…
June 20, 2023 Today’s headlines: A Democratic Illinois Congressman says lawmakers need to do more to prevent mass shootings. Illinois police departments can now use drones to patrol parades and other special events. An Illinois prison watchdog is calling on the state to act faster to meet its own goal of closing all youth prisons….
Friday, June 16, 2023 Today’s headlines: Governor J.B. Pritzker has signed a law limiting constitutional challenges to Cook or Sangamon County. Indigenous farmers in the Midwest are sharing their knowledge about regenerative agriculture. After shootings and car crashes at a pop-up party on Sunday left 9 injured, Champaign considers how to prevent future violence. Some in the…
Thursday, June 15, 2023 Today’s headlines: An Illinois lawmaker wants to tax and regulate a popular hemp derivative that’s already widely sold in stores. The Illinois state capitol building is in the midst of a $300 million makeover. The first ever Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District Juneteenth Block Party will be held this Friday at the…
June 14, 2023 Today’s headlines: A new report from the University of Illinois suggests the state is failing to accurately track and help its homeless populations. A newly appointed board member of the Urbana School District hopes to use her life-long experience to better address current issues. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has signed a pair…