DOJ: Ray LaHood Took Undisclosed Foreign Money While Serving in Obama Cabinet
The U.S. Department of Justice says former Congressman and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood took undisclosed foreign money while serving in…
Rantoul Tries Electing Its Village Trustees From Districts
RANTOUL – There’s a three-way race for mayor in the village of Rantoul in northern Champaign County. But that’s not the only contest on the April 6 ballot for Rantoul voters. They will also be voting for candidates to fill every seat on the Rantoul Village Board. And for the first time, they will choose…
Savoy’s Home Rule Referendum Attracts Supporters & Opponents
SAVOY – Larger towns in Illinois with more than 25,000 people have home rule powers automatically granted to them under the state constitution. Smaller towns have to ask voters for permission. And that’s what’s happening with the April 6 election in Savoy, just south of Champaign. Home rule powers allow a city or village…
Champaign County Voters Will Decide Future Of Recorder’s Office On April 6
URBANA – The fate of the Champaign County Recorder’s office is up to the voters. If they approve a referendum on the April 6 ballot, the work of the recorder of deeds will be merged into the county clerk’s office The referendum, which the county board voted in January to place on the ballot, asks:…
‘Black Lives Matter’ Honorary Street Signs Approved In Champaign
UPDATE: Champaign city officials say the Black Lives Matter honorary street signs were installed on Wednesday, Mary 13, eight days after their approval by the city council. The signs are on Chester Street, where it meets Neil Street and Walnut Street, on either side of the City Building. – Jim Meadows, March 24 2021. CHAMPAIGN…
Davis Criticizes Pritzker’s Handling Of Unemployment Benefits During Champaign Stop
CHAMPAIGN – Illinois Congressman Rodney Davis hasn’t said he’s running for governor. But the 13th District U.S. representative sounded like someone who might, during a meeting with farmers in Champaign on Monday. Listen to this story here. At a meeting of his Agriculture Advisory Coalition, Davis blamed Governor J.B. Pritzker for problems in the state’s…
Can A High School Class Help Heal The Political Divide?
NORMAL – Tracy Freeman heard from a former student earlier this year. Freeman, who teaches social studies at Normal West Community High School in central Illinois, says the student had traveled to Washington D.C. to participate in the Trump rally on January 6. The former student said they didn’t go into the U. S. Capitol…
U Of I Researcher: State & Local Governments Need Relief
CHICAGO — The U.S. Senate is considering the latest COVID-19 relief bill, which has already passed in the House. One of the larger portions of the package is $350 billion that would be allocated to state and local governments. Most congressional Republicans argue this money is unnecessary — that it’s a bailout for states and…
Illinois Lawmakers Vote For LGBTQ Equality Along Party Lines
WASHINGTON — Illinois lawmakers voted along party lines Thursday, as the House of Representatives voted 224-206 to pass H.R. 5, titled the Equality Act, a bill to protect LGBTQ Americans from discrimination. Listen to this story here. An earlier version of the bill passed the House once before in 2019, with the support of eight…
Urbana Mayor Marlin Headed To 2nd Term After Winning Primary
URBANA – Urbana Mayor Diane Marlin easily defeated two challengers in Tuesday’s Democratic local election primary. Listen to this story here. Mayor Marlin won 1,845 votes, or 72.3% of the total, well ahead of Alderman Dennis Roberts, the 2nd-place finisher with 440 votes or 17.24%, and recent U of I graduate Andy Ma with 267…
Illinois’ Hospitality Industry Seeks Help From State
Leaders of Illinois’ hospitality sector are asking the state to work with them on a plan to help them recover from 2020’s pandemic shutdown. Representatives of Illinois’ hotel, restaurant and convention industry testified Thursday at a hearing before the state Senate Tourism and Hospitality Committee, asking for relief from state coronavirus restrictions. “We need to…
Restaurants, religious organizations among top local industries that received PPP loans
Following successful lawsuits in the fall by national news organizations, the Small Business Administration revealed more detailed information on the Paycheck Protection Program. The new information included the names of businesses receiving loans under $150,000 and the specific loan amounts for businesses that received $150,000 or more. The loans were granted beginning in April 2020,…
Police Reform A Major Issue In Urbana Mayoral Race
URBANA – Racial justice and police reform have been on the minds of Americans across the nation. And they’re a major issue in the race for mayor of Urbana. The three candidates running for the post in the Feb. 23 Democratic primary in Urbana all say they would make change in the city’s police policies….
Pritzker Protects K-12 Spending From Cuts, But Advocates Say More Investment Is Needed
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker outlined a proposed budget for the next fiscal year this week that keeps state spending on both K-12 and higher education mostly flat. If approved by state lawmakers, this would be the second year in a row that Illinois hasn’t invested in its school funding formula. The formula, passed…
WATCH LIVE: Pritzker Press Conference For Criminal Justice Bill HB 3653
WATCH LIVE: At 2 p.m. today the Pritzker administration delivers a virtual State of the State and budget address. Tune in live below. The questions we receive from you directly inform the stories we tell and what we investigate. Let us know what you need to know!