More than an afterschool program, DREAAM provides mentorship and lasting relationships
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More than an afterschool program, DREAAM provides mentorship and lasting relationships

When Carolyn Johnson was raising her twins, one of her biggest challenges was helping them get to know people who are different from them. She said back then, Zaire and Kailah, now 15, tended to keep to themselves. That changed after the kids got involved with DREAAM, or Driven to Reach Excellence and Academic Achievement for…

UNFILTERED: Local diverse opinions on a ceasefire for Gaza
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UNFILTERED: Local diverse opinions on a ceasefire for Gaza

The call for a ceasefire in Gaza is growing louder both internationally and locally in Champaign-Urbana. This past Monday, the Urbana city council saw a large turnout of residents looking to discuss a proposed resolution to end the conflict in Gaza. The move comes after local representative Budzinski met with Palestinian community members, subsequently advocating…

Biden uses feisty State of the Union to contrast with Trump, sell voters on a second term

Biden uses feisty State of the Union to contrast with Trump, sell voters on a second term

The scrappy tone from Biden was a sharp break from his often humdrum daily appearances and was designed to banish doubts about whether the 81-year-old is still up to the job. For 68 minutes, Biden goaded Republicans over their policies, invited call-and-response banter with fellow Democrats on economic issues, taxes and healthcare and seemed to relish the fight.

Who is Sen. Katie Britt, who will deliver the Republican State of the Union response?

Who is Sen. Katie Britt, who will deliver the Republican State of the Union response?

Katie Britt, a first-term Republican senator from Alabama, has been selected by party leadership to deliver the GOP response to President Biden’s State of the Union address Thursday. “Americans are struggling amid a border catastrophe, crushing inflation, an increasingly dangerous world, and fears about a President not up to the task. Against this backdrop, Senator…

WATCH LIVE: 2024 State of the Union with NPR and PBS

WATCH LIVE: 2024 State of the Union with NPR and PBS

March 5th, 2024; Washington D.C. – For President Biden’s upcoming State of the Union address, NPR News will offer special multimedia coverage including streaming video which will be available at NPR.org, participating NPR Member station radio broadcasts and websites, (www.npr.org/stations), the NPR app, NPR Facebook and the NPR YouTube Channel. Hosted by Morning Edition’s Steve Inskeep, coverage will…

State Rep. Carol Ammons wants descendants of slaves in Illinois to have access to free DNA testing
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State Rep. Carol Ammons wants descendants of slaves in Illinois to have access to free DNA testing

Black residents in Illinois who are descendants of slaves may soon have access to free DNA testing. Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) proposed a House Resolution urging support for the Family Roots Genealogy Program pilot, which aims to reconnect African Americans to their ancestral roots. The program is in partnership with the Department of Anthropology at University of…

Trump-backed U.S. Rep. Bost touts experience amid challenge from ‘outsider’ Darren Bailey

Trump-backed U.S. Rep. Bost touts experience amid challenge from ‘outsider’ Darren Bailey

CASEY, Ill. — In a southern Illinois town described by a local librarian as “Mayberry-esque,” a deep red community of about 2,400 people is deciding whether the support of former President Donald Trump is enough to send U.S. Rep. Mike Bost back to Congress instead of his grassroots challenger, Darren Bailey. Bost was endorsed by…

Pritzker to call for health insurance reforms in State of the State address

Pritzker to call for health insurance reforms in State of the State address

SPRINGFIELD – Gov. JB Pritzker plans to take on the state’s health insurance industry this year by calling for legislation to curb many of the standard practices they use to hold down costs and boost profits. He plans to outline those reforms in his State of the State and budget address Wednesday, according to an…