Watch live: Biden takes reporters’ questions abroad as his agenda stalls at home

Watch live: Biden takes reporters’ questions abroad as his agenda stalls at home

Updated November 2, 2021 at 3:14 PM ET President Biden has promised delegates at the U.N. climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, that the U.S. is prepared to spend billions on measures to address climate change, but that legislation remains mired in intra-party squabbling by Democrats back in Washington. Biden is expected to be pressed on…

EIU professor and Baptist pastor discusses COVID misinformation among white evangelicals
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EIU professor and Baptist pastor discusses COVID misinformation among white evangelicals

CHARLESTON — One of the things we’ve been looking at during our look at “Who’s in Charge of the News” is how information and misinformation spread,  including on the COVID-19 pandemic. When the COVID-19 vaccine first began rolling out, white evangelicals — and Republicans — were among the groups most likely to say they were…

U of I team investigates spread of rural misinformation
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U of I team investigates spread of rural misinformation

Editor’s note: At the request of Nikki Usher, we have removed the photo posted earlier. Also, Nikki asked that we change the pronouns in this article that pertain to Usher from ‘she/her’ to ‘they/their.’ – Reginald Hardwick, News Director, March 26, 2024   URBANA – In some rural Illinois ZIP codes, only one in five…

Lawmakers release revised congressional redistricting map

Lawmakers release revised congressional redistricting map

SPRINGFIELD – Democratic leaders in the Illinois General Assembly released a new proposed congressional redistricting map on Saturday. Leaders claim it better reflects representation of Latino voters in Illinois.  According to USA Today, U.S. Census data released in 2021 showed that the number of Hispanics in Illinois rose by 309,832 people, or 15.3% between 2010…

Newstown is coming to WILL-TV Thursday, Oct 28, at 8pm

Newstown is coming to WILL-TV Thursday, Oct 28, at 8pm

When Northwestern University professor and video journalist Craig Duff heard that the 150-year-old Youngstown Vindicator was closing, he resolved to go back to the area where he grew up in northeast Ohio and document how the community was coping with the loss of its newspaper. What the veteran of CNN, Time.com and The New York…

UPDATE: Champaign County Board approves a new district map — again.

UPDATE: Champaign County Board approves a new district map — again.

UPDATE: The Champaign County Board approved a revised district map Thursday night. County board members voted along party lines to approve a map submitted by the board’s Democratic majority. It uses newly released Census data to revise a map approved last May. Republican Jim Goss criticized Democrats for calling their proposal an “equity” map —…

Illinois professor maps how to limit misinformation on Facebook
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Illinois professor maps how to limit misinformation on Facebook

Editor’s note: At the request of Nikki Usher, we changed the pronouns in this article that pertain to Usher from ‘she/her’ to ‘they/their.’  – Reginald Hardwick, News Director, March 26, 2024 URBANA – Lawmakers can’t effectively control misinformation on Facebook. What they can do is limit the reach of the social media giant. That’s the…

Champaign Fire Chief Remembers 9/11 And How It Changed Firefighting
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Champaign Fire Chief Remembers 9/11 And How It Changed Firefighting

CHAMPAIGN – Saturday, September 11, 2021 marks 20 years since one of America’s most tragic days. The Champaign Fire Department will hold a 9/11 Memorial Ceremony, Saturday at 8:46 a.m. on the northeast corner of West Side Park in Champaign. Illinois Newsroom’s Reginald Hardwick talked with Champaign fire chief Gary Ludwig about that terrible day, how…

Rotunda of Illinois State Capitol

Ethics Bill Clears House On Second Try, Will Head Back To Governor

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois House on Thursday voted to accept changes to an ethics bill that Gov. JB Pritzker had requested, paving the way for it to become law once the governor signs it. Thursday’s vote came a little more than a week after an earlier attempt fell short in the House. That happened during…

De-Escalation Techniques Are Part Of New Urbana Police Use Of Force Policy
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De-Escalation Techniques Are Part Of New Urbana Police Use Of Force Policy

URBANA – A revised use of force policy for Urbana Police covers 14 pages, instead of the eight pages covered by the old one. And it puts a new emphasis on de-escalating potentially violent situations.   Urbana City Council members heard a presentation on the new policy at their Monday night meeting on August 23….

Urbana’s Emergency Housing Program Finds A New Home
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Urbana’s Emergency Housing Program Finds A New Home

URBANA – Urbana’s emergency housing program is about to move from rented hotel rooms to its own apartment buildings. The program gives shelter to homeless families and people with disabilities for just a few weeks, while helping them arrange for more permanent shelter. Cunningham Township, which covers the same territory as Urbana, launched the program…

Democrat David Palmer Seeks To Challenge Rodney Davis For Congressional Seat

Democrat David Palmer Seeks To Challenge Rodney Davis For Congressional Seat

CHAMPAIGN — At least one Democrat is throwing his hat in the ring to run for the congressional seat currently held by Republican Rodney Davis, even before he knows exactly what the district will look like. Illinois’ congressional districts have yet to be redrawn after the 2020 U.S. Census. Thirty-nine-year-old David Palmer of Champaign is…

A New Committee Will Look For Champaign County Jail Solutions
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A New Committee Will Look For Champaign County Jail Solutions

URBANA – A special Champaign County Board committee has three months to come up with a plan to resolve the county’s jail issues. Meanwhile, the sheriff plans to send some inmates to jails in other counties, due to a shortage of correctional officers. County board members meeting as a Committee Of The Whole Tuesday night…

Gov. Pritzker Announces Re-Election Campaign; Faces Many GOP Opponents

Gov. Pritzker Announces Re-Election Campaign; Faces Many GOP Opponents

URBANA – J.B. Pritzker announced Monday he will seek a second term as governor of Illinois. The politician will face a Democratic primary challenger and at least three Republican opponents who have already announced their intentions to run for his seat.  Lt. Gov. Julianna Stratton will also seek re-election. In 2018, Pritzker defeated incumbent Republican…

Frerichs Talks State Budget, Grant Program, During Champaign Visit
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Frerichs Talks State Budget, Grant Program, During Champaign Visit

CHAMPAIGN – State Treasurer Mike Frerichs says Illinois is balancing its budget, even without a graduated state income tax that voters rejected last year. And he says the governor and legislators have to continue doing so. Frerichs, a Democrat, made his remarks Tuesday, during a visit to the Champaign Farmers’ Market, held every Tuesday in…