Illinois Head Start Association seeks to add new Trump immigration rules to its ongoing lawsuit
Federal officials have yet to issue guidance for Head Start providers on the new rules, which take effect immediately. They also skipped a 30-day review policy, the lawsuit alleges.
Champaign-Urbana experts advise caution as ER visits from tick bites increase nationwide
Experts in Champaign-Urbana recommend residents take steps to protect themselves and their pets from tick exposure as emergency room visits related to tick bites increase nationwide.
Illinois bet on solar to meet its climate goals. Trump has the industry in his crosshairs.
President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans earlier this month curtailed federal tax incentives for the solar energy industry and for individuals and companies that purchase solar panels.
WILL Call: What’s Happening in Champaign – Urbana Jul. 17 – Jul. 20
Listen to Kimberly Schofield and Patricia Bradford talk about weekend events on IPM News AM 580 and FM 90.9 – Wednesdays at 6:45 and 8:45
Global AIDS program PEPFAR saved from congressional funding cuts
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting remains part of the package and stands to lose about $1.1 billion in funding.
Mahomet library seeks public support for expansion through referendum
The Mahomet Public Library is asking voters to support a construction project that would make the building double in size in a referendum.
Urbana Free Library hours change during welcome desk, play area renovation
The library will renovate the welcome desk on its first floor as well as the Megan’s Room play area on the ground floor.
Illinois among 24 states suing Trump administration over frozen education funding
The suit, announced Monday, seeks to release state education funds that pay for after-school and summer programming at Boys & Girls Clubs, the YMCA or public schools attended by 1.4 million children and teenagers nationwide.
Former ComEd lobbyist John Hooker gets 18-month prison sentence for Madigan conspiracy
Hooker and three others were convicted in May 2023 of a conspiracy to illegally sway former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan.
Rep. LaHood supports Medicaid cuts and SNAP reductions in the GOP megabill
Many of the provisions in the new bill make the first cuts permanent. Some fiscal conservatives have said there are not enough new pro-growth provisions in the big bill to pay for the tax cuts. LaHood disagreed.
Pritzker signs executive order responding to impact of tariffs on Illinois
The order requires seven state agencies to “consider the specific impacts that the U.S. tariffs have had on Illinois and provide draft recommendations of measures to mitigate the impact of these tariffs” within the next 100 days,
Economic mobility top priority of Krishnamoorthi’s Senate campaign
The 51-year-old Schaumburg Democrat, who represents Illinois’ 8th Congressional District across the northwest suburbs and was born in India, didn’t always have a middle-class life.
SNAP will soon cost states millions of dollars more. What does that mean for food access?
Lawmakers and officials in support of the new measure say it will cut down on waste and fraud, but food advocates warn it could mean fewer people receiving the benefit.
Some farmers are using this new, experimental practice to help prevent flooding
Across much of the Midwest, the atmosphere is becoming warmer and retaining more water, leading to heavier downpours. A two-crop system called relay intercropping could help farmers buffer weather whiplash and boost profits.
The Hidden Spectrum: Uncovering autism in Black and Brown Communities
In this episode, we explore autism spectrum disorder (ASD) within Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. We ask how culture, access to care and community support affect how BIPOC families navigate autism.
A Dialogue on strategies for Democrats to win voters back
This segment revisits a conversation from “The 21st Show.” IPM’s Brian Mackey spoke with Stacey Abrams in May on the current state of the democratic party.
Champaign-Urbana residents unite for ‘Be the Light’ protest
People lined the streets of Champaign and Urbana Thursday night to show support for those hurt by federal policies under the Trump administration.
Carbon sequestration and the Mahomet Aquifer: scientists break down what you need to know
Carbon sequestration’s use is expanding on a large, commercial scale. Here’s what experts say people need to know about the controversial technology.
Illinois hospitals fear massive cuts under Trump domestic policy law
Medicaid cuts are expected to hit rural hospitals the hardest.
Path to affordable home ownership available through Habitat for Humanity of Champaign County program
The program offers a zero mortgage rate, making repayment affordable for selected applicants.
Danville theater looking to raise $30,000 for fundraising campaign, launching new film festival this summer
The Fischer Theatre, which was reopened in 2019 following renovations, has undergone organizational changes to keep the historic building operating amid financial struggles.
New Hampshire judge to pause Trump’s birthright citizenship order
Judge Joseph LaPlante announced his decision after an hour-long hearing and said a written order will follow. The order will include a seven-day stay to allow for appeal.
‘The stress starts to leave the body.’ Meet Galesburg’s roving therapy dogs
They provide companionship and emotional support to people of all ages and backgrounds who are dealing with anxiety, depression, stressful life situations, health crises, and loneliness.
What is going wrong – and what can improve for students with disabilities in Champaign public schools?
Public schools in Champaign are using a new report to change their approach to teaching students with disabilities.
Champaign County reaches a deal with employees on a new contract, averting a strike
Workers called off a strike for Wednesday after reaching a tentative contract agreement that includes salary increases as well as reductions in healthcare costs and other benefits.
WILL Call: What’s Happening in Champaign – Urbana Jul. 10 – Jul. 13
Listen to Kimberly Schofield and Patricia Bradford talk about weekend events on IPM News AM 580 and FM 90.9 – Wednesdays at 6:45 and 8:45
Large number of people missing in Texas floods clouds the full toll of the catastrophe
Crews used backhoes and their bare hands Wednesday to dig through piles of debris that stretched for miles in the search for more than 160 people believed to be missing in the flash floods that laid waste to the Hill Country region of Texas.
Supreme Court allows Trump to resume mass federal layoffs for now
In a statement, Harrison Fields, a White House spokesman, called the court’s decision “another definitive victory for the President and his administration.”
Federal food assistance changes threaten benefits for thousands of Illinoisans
The bill institutes new work requirements for many people to remain eligible for benefits and shifts some costs for the program to the states.
Champaign County workers threaten to strike Wednesday if no deal is reached
A work stoppage on Wednesday could bring county operations to a halt and cause delays for people who have business with Champaign County.
Death toll from catastrophic flooding in Texas over the July Fourth weekend surpasses 100
Authorities overseeing the search for flood victims said they will wait to address questions about weather warnings and why some summer camps did not evacuate ahead of the flooding that killed at least 104.
HIV community faces a double whammy: Medicaid reductions and CDC funding cuts
Public health workers, advocates and patients are bracing for what they describe as a perfect storm, which may undo years of progress in HIV treatment and prevention efforts.
The killing of Sonya Massey – one year later
Friends, family and members of the community gathered in Springfield Sunday to remember Sonya Massey, who was shot and killed by a Sangamon County deputy in her unincorporated Springfield home a year ago.
‘We think about the state in the same way’: Mitchell ready to back up Pritzker
At 38 years old, Christian Mitchell has been inside most corners of state government as a top advisor on political campaigns, state legislator, deputy governor and civic engagement leader at a major university.
The Latest: Massive search for survivors underway after deadly Texas floods
A July Fourth weekend deluge in Texas caused catastrophic flash flooding that has killed at least 89 people.
America depends on hydroelectric power, but regulatory hurdles could take plants offline
Hydropower accounts for nearly 30% of utility-scale renewable energy in the U.S., but federal hurdles may prevent older hydroelectric plants from staying online and new projects from getting off the ground.
Students in Illinois will be automatically admitted to colleges under a new law. Eastern Illinois University is already trying the strategy out
For the past three years, Eastern Illinois University has been sending offer letters to juniors in neighboring counties – before the students start their applications.
PHOTOS: Champaign County Freedom Celebration parade draws crowd despite later start time
Even with the summer heat in the afternoon, many families from around East Central Illinois came out to celebrate Independence Day.
Trump on Fourth of July signs ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ to implement his agenda
President Trump signed a massive tax and spending bill to implement much of his domestic agenda during a celebration for the Fourth of July.
Illinois environmental advocates aim to strengthen ties with lawmakers, increase outreach amid federal policy changes
Illinois environmental advocates are working to strengthen their connections with lawmakers and communities across the state while the legislature is in recess.
The House gives final approval to Trump’s big tax bill and sends it to him to sign
The tight roll call, 218-214, came at a potentially high political cost, with two Republicans joining all Democrats opposed.
Central Illinois to see another extreme heat wave during holiday weekend
Starting on Independence Day, the National Weather Service predicts temperatures to reach a peak of 94 degrees with increased humidity.
U.S. ginseng growers and animal breeders rely on exports to China. Now they wait on a trade deal
Specialty producers exporting to China have been hit just as hard as soybeans and beef. But they often have fewer alternative markets for their crops, worsening the impact of retaliatory tariffs.
Pritzker signs health care legislation
The bills aim to rein in pharmacy benefit managers and expand insurance coverage.
What to know about cycling-related bills Illinois lawmakers considered during spring session
Here’s a rundown of the cycling-related measures that passed and the ones that did not.
Champaign County employees send notice of intent to strike over stalled contract negotiations
Champaign County employees are threatening to call a strike as soon as next Tuesday. The union says county management is not offering a contract with “fair wages” or affordable health insurance.
Midwest states east of ‘tornado alley’ are bearing the brunt of severe storm season. Here’s why
Tornadoes have killed 68 people in the U.S. in 2025, with the majority of those deaths in Kentucky and Missouri.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs acquitted of most serious charges, convicted of a prostitution-related offense
Combs was convicted of flying people around the country, including his girlfriends and paid male sex workers, to engage in sexual encounters, a felony violation of the federal Mann Act.
‘A story that’s not told’: couple hopes to raise awareness about autism through musical
The plot focuses on Sam, a nonverbal autistic child, who learns to communicate and connect with the world through an augmentative adaptive communication device.
College students hacked into tractors. Manufacturers wanted them to do it
The CyberTractor Challenge is a weeklong event for university students to learn about cybersecurity for agricultural equipment.
Illinois immigrant advocate responds to birthright citizenship ruling and increased immigration enforcement around the state
IPM’s Stephanie Mosqueda spoke with Fred Tsao, policy director for the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Services.
Senate GOP passes Trump’s sweeping policy bill, setting up decisive vote in the House
The bill now heads to the House, where some GOP lawmakers are already signaling major objections.
Gov. JB Pritzker taps Christian Mitchell as lieutenant governor pick in campaign for third term
Mitchell is a former Hyde Park state representative who also served as Pritzker’s deputy governor.
WILL Call: What’s Happening in Champaign – Urbana Jul. 03 – Jul. 06
Listen to Kimberly Schofield and Patricia Bradford talk about weekend events on IPM News AM 580 and FM 90.9 – Wednesdays at 6:45 and 8:45
‘Hidden gem’: Growing number of visitors discovering southern Illinois as travel destination
Inside the state’s push to boost tourism across its inspirational southernmost region
Champaign substitute teacher among those to return from ‘March to Gaza’ protest in Egypt
Central Illinoisans are among the over 4,000 people from the United States heading to Egypt as part of a peaceful march to the border with Gaza.
Immigration advocates in Central Illinois face uncertainty, chaos following birthright citizenship ruling
A nonprofit that supports immigrant rights in Central Illinois is urging immigrant families not to panic following Friday‘s U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
A Dialogue on a new Ella Jenkins biography and memoir from Carol Moseley Braun
What do a children’s musician and a U.S. senator have in common? Two new books explore the lives of Ella Jenkins and Carol Moseley Braun, taking a look at their work, public service and their long-lasting contributions.
Funk, flow and freedom: How the legacy of Black music continues
From gospel to house, jazz to rhythm and blues, Black music has helped shape the foundation of American music, but where did it all start?
Pandamonium Doughnuts fries its last dough
After serving Champaign for 12 years, Pandamonium Doughnuts is closing its doors for good.