Central Illinois Headlines – April 17, 2024

University of Illinois police investigate sexual assault

URBANA – The University of Illinois police department reports it is investigating a sexual assault and an attempted assault. In a campus safety alert, the department said a person was sexually assaulted in the early morning hours Tuesday at an on-campus apartment. In a separate safety alert, UIPD says there was an attempted sexual assault at a fraternity house around midnight last Saturday. The name of the fraternity was not provided to the police. No other information was released to protect the identity of the victims. No arrests have been made. – Reginald Hardwick/IPM News

Congresswoman Budzinski honors William Patterson on the House Floor

Congress took time to honor Urbana native and educator William Patterson. After a short stint in prison, Patterson earned a Ph.D. and created initiatives for Black middle, high school, and college students like a rehabilitated school bus filled with STEM activities and a studio. On Tuesday, Representative Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) recognized Patterson on the House Floor.

“As we mourn his loss, we also celebrate Dr. Patterson and his work— work that we must honor by continuing to follow his example of leadership and excellence. May his legacy live on to empower and inspire young people to blossom into bright, civic-minded leaders for generations to come,” announced Rep. Budzinski.

The 58-year-old died unexpectedly earlier this month. On Sunday, Patterson was remembered in a 4-hour memorial service at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. – Reginald Hardwick, IPM News

United Airlines reports $124 million loss in a quarter marred by grounding of some Boeing planes

CHICAGO – United Airlines says it lost $124 million in the first quarter, and it’s blaming Boeing. United said Tuesday that the grounding of its Boeing Max 9 jetliners after a panel blew out of an Alaska Airlines Max cost it $200 million. That turned a small profit into a loss. Still, the loss was not as bad as Wall Street expected. United expects to feel the pain from production problems at Boeing for quite some time. United is getting far fewer new planes this year than it expected. The airline says it will lease 35 Airbus jets beginning in 2026. – David Koenig/AP Airlines Writer

IPM News

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