Illinois leaders ‘won’t back down’ following Trump’s order limiting AI regulation
Trump’s order targets state regulations, including several in Illinois, that he said are inconsistent with national policy on AI. Critics said Illinois will not be swayed by the influence of “Big Tech.”
With a federal tax credit ending early, installing home solar is about to get more expensive
The massive tax and spending law signed in July halts a federal incentive for residential solar, and homeowners and installers are hurrying to complete projects before the end of the year. Industry experts say there are other ways to cut costs like “group buys.”
Mike White, former Cal, Illinois and Raiders coach, dies at 89
White had a successful career coaching the Illini to the Rose Bowl following the 1983 season.
Declining attendance and rising maintenance costs bring an end to a historic church building in Champaign
With churches no longer playing as central a role in many people’s lives, more congregations are faced with hard decisions regarding their historic buildings.
Hollywood pays tribute to Rob Reiner; son Nick Reiner arrested
Beyond entertainment, Reiner was also active in politics, frequently supporting liberal causes and speaking out on social issues. President Donald Trump disparaged Reiner in a post on Truth Social on Monday morning.
Gunman remains at large two days after deadly shooting at Brown University
The outbreak of violence at the Ivy League school shocked the community, just days before students and faculty were preparing to leave for winter break.
Weather related closings, delays and e-learning days for Monday, December 15
Dangerous cold persists through Sunday night across central IL, with wind chills as cold as 12 to 22 degrees below zero at times north of I-70.
Dangerous cold continues in east central Illinois, Blowing snow is expected on Monday
Areas of blowing and drifting snow are possible late tonight into early Monday afternoon.
Affable comedy acting legend Dick Van Dyke turns 100 years old
Van Dyke was born in West Plains, Missouri, in 1925, and grew up “the class clown” in Danville, Illinois, while admiring and imitating the silent film comedians.
Jamarques Lawrence’s buzzer-beater gives No. 23 Nebraska an 83-80 win over No. 13 Illinois
CHAMPAIGN — Jamarques Lawrence hit a 3-point shot with less than a second remaining Saturday to give No. 23 Nebraska an 83-80 win over No.
At least 2 killed and 8 hurt in shooting at Brown University in Rhode Island
The Ivy League school in Providence, Rhode Island, issued an active shooter alert and urged students and staff to take shelter Saturday, the second day of final exams.
Weather related closings for Saturday, December 13
The National Weather Service forecasted 2 to 6 inches of snow north of I-70 in central Illinois.
New laws: Gun storage, police background check changes take effect in 2026
Gun owners in Illinois must take new steps in 2026 to secure their firearms in their homes, particularly when children are present.
Advocates for Aging Care pushes for solutions as Champaign County faces skilled nursing bed shortage
Champaign County has one of the worst skilled nursing care shortages in the state. It means people often have to drive hours to see their loved ones. A local advocacy group is working to address the shortage.
Competing health care plans fail in the Senate as ACA premium hikes loom
Both bills needed 60 votes to advance, but neither succeeded.
Panel looking at murder of Sonya Massey by sheriff’s deputy recommends police reforms
Sontae Massey, Sonya’s cousin, served on the commission and told the Sangamon County Board this week that the steps laid out in their report aren’t just recommendations.
Petition objection derails campaign for Rep. Eric Sorensen’s primary opponent
Democrat Montez Soliz of Rockford posted on social media that he has been removed from the ballot in the Illinois’ 17th Congressional District race following an objection to his petitions.
Youth substance abuse prevention program looks to athletes to spread the word
A youth substance misuse prevention program from the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health [IABH] has partnered with the Illinois High School Association [IHSA] and IESA to expand outreach efforts.
Improved natural gas storage fields will save customers money, Ameren Illinois says
Buried in the rate request that Illinois regulators cut last month from nearly $129 million to $73 million is the final phase of Ameren’s modernization efforts for its natural gas storage field just south of Freeburg.
University of Illinois student officials worry about losing self-governing power
Student officials at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign say administrators have changed their election rules without their input.
Strong winds expected today in Central Illinois, snow to return later in the week
Gusts of 40-50 mph can be expected through midday, according to the National Weather Service.
WILL CALL: What’s Happening in Central Illinois Dec. 11 – Dec. 14
Plays, book signings with authors, winter lights and more are all happening in Central Illinois this week.
Pritzker signs bill enacting immigrant protections in courthouses
The law allows residents to sue immigration agents for violating constitutional rights.
Illinois Supreme Court in ‘wait and see’ posture as new public defense policy takes shape
During a recent visit to McLean County, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary K. O’Brien said there are geographic disparities in public defense, in addition to equity gaps between prosecutors and public defenders.
Urbana City Council appoints interim fire chief
Tal Prendergast has served the Urbana Fire Department for 17 years and the Danville Fire Department for five years.
Illinois Farm Bureau delegates reject president’s bid for 2nd term
At the IFB annual meeting in Chicago, nearly 57% of the delegates chose Philip Nelson from Seneca, a former IFB president and state agriculture director, as the organization’s 17th president.
Cottonseeds are loaded with protein. Could these seeds become a new food source?
Cottonseeds could help reduce hunger and add new revenue for farmers. One researcher has been working for decades to make edible seeds a reality.
Trump administration will send $12 billion in bailout money to farmers hurt by trade war
Most of the package is earmarked for row-crop producers. It aims to help farmers – especially those who grow soybeans – balance out losses from high costs and a trade war with China.
How Illinois’ Democratic U.S. Senate candidates plan to address economic issues
How Illinois’ Democratic U.S. Senate candidates plan to address economic issues
Illinois educators hope to tackle thorny issue of math competence
Each year, the Illinois State Board of Education releases an annual report card with data showing how students are doing in the basic subjects of reading, writing and math.
Champaign’s only low-barrier shelter is at risk of closing. Some guests are worried
Strides first opened in 2022, with funding from the American Rescue Plan, a federal COVID-19 relief fund. But funding is set to run out as early as February.
Republican Senate Candidate Don Tracy on Israel, ICE, and the future of MAGA and the GOP
This episode of “Dialogue” features Republican Senate Candidate Don Tracy who is a candidate for the Illinois Senate race in 2026 on the 21st Show.
Illinois Senate Candidates Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton and Congresswoman Robin Kelly discuss policies
This episode of “Dialogue” features a round-up of stories from candidates for the Illinois Senate race in 2026 who spoke on the 21st Show of the issues they aim to tackle if they get elected.
No. 14 Illinois beats No. 13 Tennessee 75-62 in Music City Madness
Illinois snapped a five-game skid on neutral courts against ranked opponents and also gave coach Brad Underwood his first win in three tries against Tennessee.
3I/ATLAS is not alien spacecraft. But here’s how scientists actually look for aliens
3I/ATLAS, the third known interstellar object to pass through our solar system, is on its way out, yet speculation that it is alien technology persists.
Holiday cards to those in prison will be digitized this year. A local group points out the importance of physical copies
RIPPLE Effect brings together about two dozen strangers every holiday to write cards to incarcerated people from Champaign County.
Winter Weather Advisory for Champaign County now-Sunday 6am: winter mix possible
New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch celebrates 30 years and represents Illinois on Good Morning America
Hardy’s Reindeer Ranch in Rantoul, recently featured on Good Morning America, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
Rep. Sorensen calls for Defense Secretary Hegseth to resign after Pentagon watchdog report
A summary of the inspector general’s report provided to NPR finds that had a foreign adversary intercepted the intelligence discussed in the chat, it would have endangered both U.S. servicemembers and the mission at large.
Massey Commission releases its final report
The report summarizes the Commission’s public hearings, listening sessions, and research.
Transgender people are looking for safer places to live. Some have found a home in central Illinois
Amid increasingly hostile laws and rhetoric targeting transgender people in the United States, many of them seek to move to places they feel safer. Aaron Slayton is one of many who have made a new home in central Illinois.
Illinois unveils plans to celebrate 250 years of American independence
The programs will seek to highlight local histories and celebrate Illinois’s achievements.
Champaign City Council rejects public encampment ban
The measure would’ve prohibited people from camping on public and city property while requiring city staff to make an effort to connect people with social services.
Freezing temperatures continue until end of the week
Meteorologists said wind chills will range from zero to as low as 15 degrees below zero on Wednesday and Thursday nights.
Unit 4 parents, students looking for ‘strong communicator’ in next superintendent
Those who want to be Champaign Unit 4’s next superintendent can apply now. The job description is based on the input parents, teachers and students.
Sean Grayson’s attorneys seek new trial after murder conviction
Defense says judge should have barred video of minutes following Sonya Massey’s shooting.
Pritzker signs bill allowing Illinois to issue state-specific vaccine guidelines
The new law will allow the state to publish guidelines that differ from the CDC.
WILL CALL: What’s Happening in Central Illinois Dec. 4 – Dec. 7
The Nutcracker ballet, a holiday parade, community dances, and more are all happening in Central Illinois this week.
Nonpartisan think tank identifies Illinois’ most effective state legislators
Because of their legislative supermajorities, Democrats in the Illinois House and Senate ranked the highest on the researchers’ list of legislators’ deemed to be the most effective.
Illinois prison artist wowed that her artwork reached Pope Leo XIV
When Gov. JB Pritzker and First Lady MK Pritzker visited the pope in Rome on Nov. 19, they gave the pontiff a gift: a hand-drawn self-portrait by Yesenia Diaz, who’s incarcerated downstate.
A native prairie bird lost federal protection. People are still trying to save it on private land
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates millions of lesser prairie chickens may have once scurried across a range of almost 100 million acres across the Great Plains. Today, scientists estimate there are only about 27,000 left in five states – Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado.
Snow ends in central Illinois, prepare now for dangerous cold
From IPM meteorologist Andrew Pritchard: Another, weaker storm system will bring another coating of light, powdery snow to central Illinois on Monday.
School closings/delays/e-learning days for December 2, 2025
Tolono Unit 7 Schools will hold an e-learning day on Tuesday, December 2.
Crisis Nursery offers holiday shopping for kids
The Holiday Shop is open this weekend to all children who want to find gifts for family, friends, and loved ones.
National Guard member shot in DC has shown positive signs, West Virginia governor says
Beckstrom and Wolfe were shot Wednesday just blocks from the White House while deployed as part of President Donald Trump’s crime-fighting plan that federalized D.C. police.
Floating wetlands in Lake Decatur aim to improve water quality while providing wildlife habitats
As winter approaches, the durability of two new floating wetlands in Lake Decatur will be tested. These man-made structures were installed on the lake this summer with the goal of improving water quality and creating a habitat for wildlife.
Trump cuts could shrink Illinois economy by $10B: report
The report offers a detailed looked at the effects of cuts enacted by Trump through executive order or legislation, directives by federal agency leaders or through Elon Musk’s so-called “Department of Government Efficiency.”
Ebertfest and beyond: How the C-U film sphere moves forward after the loss of a giant
CHAMPAIGN — Ebertfest began in 1999 as a star-studded, red-carpet affair showcasing the overlooked indie film darlings in Hollywood at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign.
Miles Scott’s 2 late interceptions secure Illinois’ 20-13 win over Northwestern
Luke Altmyer, one of the nation’s top quarterbacks, was 10-of-15 passing for 136 yards in his final regular-season home game for Illinois.
Rhythm and roots: The restorative power of Black holiday music
From the tone and tenor of Black holiday music, what brings the spirit more than sounds that bring a community together?