Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022 Today’s headlines: Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker vetoed a bill that would have required school districts to give paid time off for COVID-related absences. But, the governor has agreed with teachers unions to introduce similar legislation. More than 350 Champaign teachers rallied Monday over contract negotiations, and they’ll vote Wednesday about authorizing…
Monday, Jan. 24, 2022 Today’s headlines: Two abortion clinics in the St. Louis Metro East have launched a regional logistics center to increase access and will offer travel and financial assistance to any patient that needs it. Illinois Secretary of State offices, including driver services facilities, will resume in-person services this week. Billions of dollars…
Friday, Jan. 21, 2022 Today’s headlines: Some Illinois sheriffs are struggling as the state’s Department of Corrections continues its pause on inmate intakes from county jails due to the latest COVID surge. A Republican is entering the race for the newly drawn 13th Congressional District in Illinois. Attorney Jesse Reising announced his candidacy with a YouTube…
Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022 Today’s headlines: Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker’s campaign is taking in more money than the entire Republican field of candidates combined. Both hospitalizations and the number of people requiring intensive care after being infected with COVID-19 have fallen daily over the last week. Now, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is cautiously optimistic the…
Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022 Today’s headlines: Most school districts in Illinois say they don’t have enough teachers, according to a new survey. A Department of Children and Family Services supervisor said employees need more training on how to deal with difficult situations after a case worker was killed last month during a home visit near Springfield. Environmental…
Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022 Today’s headlines: The COVID-19 death rate is 22 times higher for the unvaccinated across Illinois, according to a WBEZ analysis. A group of moderate GOP candidates running as a slate hope to make 2022 a Republican wave year in Illinois. Catalytic converters keep disappearing from Champaign-Urbana cars, but because many scrap metal…
Friday, Jan. 14, 2022 Today’s headlines: Candidates for county and state offices and judge seats in Illinois can start collecting signatures for the June primary. The state shortened the time to circulate petitions from 90 to 60 days because of the delay in approving new legislative maps. Tens of thousands of Illinoisans are eligible for…
Thursday, Jan. 13, 2022 Today’s headlines: Illinois’ record-breaking COVID-19 surge is showing no signs of easing. The University of Illinois is expecting another surge of COVID-19 cases as students return to Champaign-Urbana. Police in Urbana say two teenagers are under arrest in the killing of a ride-share driver. In today’s deep dive, we’ll learn more about…
Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022 Today’s headlines: The latest COVID-19 surge caused by omicron is due, in part, to people following outdated advice on rapid testing and large gatherings over the holidays, according to medical expert Dr. Sadiya Khan. Urbana Middle School will stay remote for the rest of this week. Illinois Democrats are predicting action…
Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2022 Today’s headlines: A judge in Cook County Juvenile Court has found Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Director Marc Smith in contempt for delays in placing two children in new homes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new quarantine recommendations make sense, according to a University of Illinois virologist….
Monday, Jan. 10, 2022 Today’s headlines: Public Health officials reported nearly 1600 new COVID-19 cases in Champaign County over the weekend. The number of active cases has topped 7000 for the first time. Cannabis sales in Illinois doubled in 2021 – the second year since cannabis became recreationally legal. New data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture…
Friday, Jan. 7, 2022 Today’s headlines: It’s been one year since the attack on the U.S. Capitol building. Illinois U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth said she still remembers the events of that day vividly. Illinois Republicans are blaming Democrats in Springfield for not replacing a departing legislative watchdog. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has…
Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022 Today’s headlines: Illinois lawmakers won’t be coming back to Springfield next week because of spiking COVID-19 cases amid the spread of the Omicron variant. People should look into swapping their cloth masks for surgical masks or N95 masks, according to Illinois State Medical Society President-Elect Clarence Brown. Illinois likely just experienced its…
Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022 Today’s headlines: Illinois lawmakers are scheduled to return to Springfield Wednesday for an abbreviated start to the session. Leaders canceled two days of session this week because of concerns over rising COVID-19 cases. A northern Illinois health expert says most individuals forget about their mental health when making resolutions for the new…
Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2021 Today’s headlines: Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said he’s deeply concerned by the record number of COVID-19 patients in the state’s hospitals at a COVID-19 news conference in Chicago Monday. State officials say there now are more people hospitalized by the coronavirus than at any stage in the pandemic. Those walking around Urbana are more…