Illinois Sees First Legal Sales Of Recreational Cannabis The sale of cannabis for recreational purposes is now legal in Illinois. The change took effect with the new year, to the delight of pot fans. Many began lining up hours early at dispensaries. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that about 500 people were outside Dispensary 33 in…
Students Serve Ex-Prof With Sexual Assault Suit Via Email URBANA – The alleged victims of a former University of Illinois associate professor turned to email to finally serve him with their federal lawsuit accusing him of sexually and emotionally exploiting them. The civil lawsuit filed by some of Gary Xu’s former students had been held…
Illinois Boy Charged In Fatal Fire To Be Evaluated By Expert EUREKA — A 9-year-old boy charged in a central Illinois fire that killed five people will be evaluated by a child trauma expert to determine if he’s fit to stand trial. The Chicago Tribune reports that the boy’s attorney, Peter Dluski, said in a…
Rantoul Votes To Acquire Land For Sports Complex RANTOUL – An agreement for the village of Rantoul to acquire 65-acres of land from the Warner farming family for use as a new sports complex won unanimous approval from village trustees Monday night. The resolution calls for the village to lease the land south of the…
Rantoul To Vote Monday Night On Sports Complex RANTOUL – The Rantoul Village Board is holding a special meeting Monday night, where they’ll vote on an agreement to acquire land for a 65-acre outdoor sports complex. The resolution calls for the village to lease the site south of the Rantoul Walmart for the first six…
Knott Named University of Illinois Secretary URBANA – Gregory Knott has been named the new secretary of the University of Illinois. Beginning next month, he’ll take on a wide-range of duties, from setting agendas and maintaining records for the board of trustees … to advising and assisting administrators, including President Tim Killeen. Knott has been with…
Teen Charged In Fiery Crash That Killed Woman In Home DECATUR – A teenager accused of crashing a car into a house while drunk has been charged in the death of an 87-year-old Decatur woman. A Macon County coroner’s jury ruled Wednesday that Mary Hinton’s death inside her home was caused by the actions of…
Boiler Work Will Close Dr. Howard School On Wednesday CHAMPAIGN – Dr. Howard School in Champaign is closed Wednesday to allow for repair of the building’s boiler. Unit 4 officials say Dr. Howard students will not be penalized for staying home from school on Wednesday. But families with no other options on that day may…
[icon name=”volume-up” class=”” unprefixed_class=””] Champaign Council Will Vote To Welcome Refugees
WIU Board Opts for Presidential Search Rather Than Appointment MACOMB – The Western Illinois University Board of Trustees deadlocked on appointing Dr. Martin Abraham as the university’s 12th president. The vote came after the board held a five hour executive session Thursday night and met behind closed doors for more than an hour Friday morning. Chairperson Polly…
Central Illinois Man Arrested On Charges Of Threatening US Rep. Rodney Davis ROCHESTER – A man has been charged with threatening to shoot central Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis. 64-year-old Randall Tarr lives in the town of Rochester, just outside Springfield. Federal prosecutors say late last month, he saw a TV ad about Davis, called a…
Many Farmers Celebrate New Trade Agreement URBANA – Illinois farmers are celebrating a new trade agreement between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. The USMCA – which was finalized Tuesday — essentially updates the North American Free Trade Agreement and maintains trade relationships with two of Illinois’ main trading partners. Marty Marr is a farmer in New Berlin and…
Champaign ACLU, NAACP Call Out Lack Of Progress On Racial Equity In Unit 4 Schools CHAMPAIGN – The Champaign County chapters of both the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) jointly sent a letter to the Champaign Community Unit School District 4 Board of Education…
Groups Pushing For Accurate Census Count In Rural Illinois SPRINGFIELD – Illinois is in a precarious position when it comes to the 2020 census. Nearly 12 percent of Illinois residents live in small towns or sparsely populated areas. Anita Banerji is with Forefront Illinois, a civic engagement non-profit. She says a lack of awareness, access to…
Survey Collects Travelers’ Opinions On Illinois Highways SPRINGFIELD – Illinois officials want travelers’ opinions on the state’s transportation systems. An online survey that opened this week and runs through Dec. 31 asks travelers to weigh in on everything from cleanliness of Illinois roads to other drivers’ behavior. The Illinois Department of Transportation says the annual…