Report pushes for greater focus on teacher recruitment and retention amid shortages
State board data shows unfilled classroom positions reached a five-year high in 2022
Plans for a CO2 pipeline in Illinois are on hold
CHAMPAIGN – Plans for a carbon dioxide pipeline in Illinois have been temporarily halted. Navigator Heartland Greenway LLC has voluntarily withdrawn its Application for a Certificate of Authority to construct the pipeline that would cross through 13 Illinois counties. Navigator said it plans to refile a new application with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) next…
Sheriffs say they want no role in enforcing state’s assault weapon registry
Approximately 80 top law enforcement officials issue warning.
Freshman lawmaker Nikki Budzinski begins work representing Illinois’ 13th Congressional District.
Nikki Budzinski is starting her first term in Congress as a member of the minority party. But, despite that, and despite qualms about expected changes to House rules, the Springfield Democrat says she still hopes to work with Republicans on legislation that helps working people.
End of Roe v. Wade increases out-of-state abortion patients in Illinois
CHAMPAIGN — December 24 will mark half a year since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortions. The June 24 decision to overturn Roe and the related 1992 ruling in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, individual states could suddenly regulate abortion in their jurisdictions. Bans and restrictions spread throughout the country….
With a 16-6 Democratic majority, the Champaign County Board reelects Kyle Patterson as their chair.
Newly elected Champaign County Board members held their organizational meeting Monday night. The meeting opened with Champaign County Clerk Aaron Ammons swearing in the assembled board members, which include six new Democrats replacing four Democrats and two Republicans. After losing two seats in the November election, Republicans have just six of their own on the…
2 Dead, 3 Injured After Weekend Gun Violence in Champaign and Danville
URBANA – Multiple reports of gun violence kept Central Illinois police busy over the weekend. Friday 11:00 p.m. It started late Friday night in the 2000 block of Cynthia Drive. Champaign police say a 23-year-old man was taken to the hospital after being shot in the arm during a large fight. The victim was transported to…
When Artemis 1 finally lifts off, manikins and Snoopy will make up the crew
UPDATE: Monday’s scheduled launch of the Artemis 1 test flight to the moon was scrubbed, after engineers were unable to resolve an engine problem. One of the four Space Launch System (SLS) core-stage engines failed to reach the proper temperature for launch, prompting the Artemis I mission’s launch director to scrub the planned Monday morning…
As Evidence Based Funding formula turns 5, lawmakers reflect on historic legislation
SPRINGFIELD – Five years ago this month, Illinois lawmakers passed legislation that overhauled the way public schools in the state are funded. The so-called Evidence Based Funding formula, or EBF, was designed to calculate the actual cost for each district to provide the kind of education the state expects, and then gradually increase the share…
Concerts with Sinfonia da Camera mark the return of the U of I’s Summer Piano Institute
After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Summer Piano Institute has returned to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The institute concludes with two concerts featuring piano concertos performed with Sinfonia da Camera. Institute faculty Timothy Ehlen and Hie-Yon Choi will perform piano concertos by Florence Price and Brahms, in addition to the…
Students protest University of Illinois fossil fuel investments
When the push for the University of Illinois to divest from fossil fuels began thirteen years ago, many students said they were hopeful that administrators would listen to their concerns. But students who gathered at the Alma Mater statue on Friday for an Earth Day climate strike on April 22 said they’re still fighting for…
Illini women top Butler 78-66; men lose Hutcherson for season
CHAMPAIGN — The Fighting Illini women’s basketball team evened their record at 5-5 this season with a 78-66 win over Butler at State Farm Center Sunday afternoon. First-year guard Adalia McKenzie scored a career-high 23 points on 9-15 shooting. She also grabbed four rebounds and a steal, and dished out two assists. She credited her…
Illini women fall to #25 Florida State 67-58
CHAMPAIGN — The Fighting Illini women’s basketball team lost 67-58 to No. 25 Florida State Thursday night in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge. Cold shooting, turnovers and bench scoring hurt Illinois throughout. Head coach Nancy Fahey says the team was competitive until the Lady Seminoles turned up the defensive pressure. “We did a great job on…
U of I chancellor offers optimism as pandemic continues
URBANA – Coronavirus transmission remains high. Gun violence is up. Despite these worrying indicators, University of Illinois Urbana Chancellor Robert Jones said on Thursday he sees causes for optimism. “I know there are a few of you asking, ‘Jones, did you once again accidentally put your rose-colored glasses this morning?’” Jones joked. Thursday marked the…
WATCH Newstown: Medill Professor’s Documentary on the Closing of the Youngstown Vindicator
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…