Emily Hays

Reporter

About Emily

             Emily Hays started at WILL in October 2021 after three-plus years in local newsrooms in Virginia and Connecticut. She has won state awards for her housing coverage at Charlottesville Tomorrow and her education reporting at the New Haven Independent. Emily graduated from Yale University where she majored in History and South Asian Studies.

Urbana teachers to receive annual 5% raise under new contract

August 14, 2026 No Comments

Under the new contract, teachers in Urbana will get 5% raises each year for the next 3 years.

This group of Philo students are sharing their love for Ukraine at the Illinois State Fair

August 14, 2026 No Comments

Two sisters and their friend won an award at the Champaign County Fair for their presentation on Ukrainian culture.

Urbana District 116 superintendent plans to say good-bye after this school year

August 13, 2026 No Comments

Jennifer Ivory-Tatum has led the district for seven years.

Few parents in Illinois opting kids out of required vaccines, data shows

August 10, 2026 No Comments

Most Illinois counties have a non-medical exemption rate under one percent. Six counties in northern and southern Illinois have a two percent exemption rate.

Five tips for applying to jobs, according to Champaign high schoolers in Unit 4’s Youth Employment Services program

July 23, 2026 No Comments

About 200 Champaign students are wrapping up jobs they found through Champaign Unit 4 School District’s Youth Employment Services.

Top Veterans Affairs official says ‘latest technology’ in health care records coming to Danville

July 17, 2026 No Comments

Deputy Secretary Paul R. Lawrence said the Federal Electronic Health Record system will go live in Danville next March.