IDOC Director On Book Removal: Lack Of Policy, Oversight At State Prisons
The new director of the Illinois Department of Corrections said during a legislative hearing in Chicago on Monday that the agency plans to revise its…
Lawmakers To Question Officials About Removing Hundreds of Books From A Prison Library
Illinois lawmakers plan to ask state prison officials why more than 200 books were removed from a college in prison program’s library at the Danville…
One Town’s Hope Rests On Money and The Mighty Mississippi
The Mississippi River system is both an artery and a vein. It pumps ag products out of the heartland and into the world while bringing back fertilizer…
Want To Prevent Gun Violence? Some States Turn To ‘Red Flag’ Laws
Earlier this year, police dispatchers in Evansville, Indiana, received a chilling call. A man said he was holding his wife at knifepoint, and he warned…
Illinois Doesn’t Track Electronic Monitoring Data, But New Legislation Would Require It
Augie Torres said he missed between seven and 10 job interviews when he was released from prison in October 2014 because he was on an electronic monitor…
How A Community Helps People Suffering After Gun Violence
Losing a loved one to gun violence can cause anxiety, stress and other mental health symptoms . So can simply living in an environment where violence is…
‘It’s Heartbreaking’ Authors Criticize The Removal Of 200 Books From An Illinois Prison Library
Last week, Illinois Newsroom reported on the removal of more than 200 books from the shelves of a college in prison program’s library inside the…
Illinois Prison Removes More Than 200 Books From Prison Library
When she found out that staff at the Danville Correctional Center had removed more than 200 books from a library inside the prison’s education wing,…
Illinois’ Budget Is Last Chance To Fund 2020 Census
The U.S. Census count is less than a year away, and the group tasked with making sure everyone is counted is asking state lawmakers for millions to help…
With Crime-Free Rules, Tenants Evicted After Overdose Calls
In one town in the Metro East, across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, police are forcing landlords to evict tenants who have called for help…
Better Jobs in Small Cities, More Investment In Higher Ed Could Stem Illinois’ Population Loss
Illinois continues to lose residents, according to estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau released in April. Overall, around 45,000 fewer people lived in…
The Fight Over What It Means To Be Homeless — And How That Could Affect Illinois
Just because someone has four walls around them every night, that doesn’t mean they’re housed. That’s what Paul Hamann believes. He’s the president and…
Ask the Newsroom: What Are Champaign And Urbana Doing To Create More Affordable Housing
Illinois Newsroom has been covering the struggle to find affordable housing around the state. The lack of funding to build housing for people with low-incomes is one challenge. But city governments can influence where and how housing is built through their zoning rules. Allowing more multi-family structures opens neighborhoods up to people who cannot afford…
Why Does Affordable Housing Matter?
News & Brews: Why does affordable housing matter? event on Tuesday, March 26 at Riggs Beer Company in Urbana.
Ask The Newsroom: Section 8 Housing
In Illinois, there are only 35 affordable housing units for every 100 families considered extremely low-income, according to Housing Action Illinois, a…