
‘If All The Sky Were Paper,’ a play about veterans, is brought to life on stage in Urbana
Andrew Carroll traveled across the globe collecting wartime letters. He visited almost 40 countries, including Iraq and Afghanistan, and from the artifacts he found, crafted a story about the war letters.
Now, his nonfiction book, “If All the Sky Were Paper,” will be brought to life on stage.

‘Our strength lies in letting many identities thrive’: U of I celebrates South Asian cultures
The hypnotic tunes of South Asian music merged with the sound of ghungroo bells, as dozens of audience members clapped and moved along with dancers Thursday night, many joining in to sing familiar South Asian tunes.

Remembering Latrelle Bright: a pillar in the Champaign-Urbana theater community
Latrelle Bright was one of Champaign-Urbana’s influential artistic leaders: a director, mentor, teaching professor and friend. The local community remembers her widespread impact.

SNAP funds are delayed and reduced for 2M Illinoisans due to the shutdown. Here’s how C-U is affected
Nearly 2 million Illinois residents lost access to SNAP benefits on Saturday, leaving many struggling to afford groceries. While Gov. JB Pritzker has directed $20 million in state funds to food banks, it’s still uncertain when federal aid will resume for the millions of Americans affected.

‘Word is Seed’ brings poetry and songs in a variety of languages to Spurlock Museum in Urbana
The eighth annual “Word is Seed” event at the Spurlock Museum in Urbana highlighted the beauty of language, featuring speakers presenting their poems or songs in their own language.

Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee sparks anxiety among international students and economists
A new federal policy requiring companies to pay $100,000 for each H-1B visa application has sparked concern among international students. Critics say the change could make it harder for skilled foreign workers to stay in the U.S., threatening innovation and widening talent gaps in key industries.

Health insurance costs are rising as financial assistance declines. Here’s how C-U could be affected
With open enrollment on the Affordable Care Act Marketplace starting on Nov. 1, local health advocates are warning that premiums for 2026 plans could more than double unless Congress extends subsidies that reduce those costs.

Interstellar insight: What astronomers hope to learn from 3I/ATLAS
An interstellar comet is currently traveling through our solar system at 200 times the speed of sound. Astronomers around the world, including in Champaign-Urbana, are eager to see what the fast-moving space rock can teach us about the universe — and ourselves.

ICE activity not confirmed by C-U officials, but immigrant rights groups report verified sightings
Local officials say there’s been no confirmed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in Champaign-Urbana this week — but immigrant advocacy groups say their rapid response teams have verified sightings.

The Virginia Theatre celebrates 50 years of ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ with new shadow cast
CHAMPAIGN — The Virginia Theatre in Champaign will host its annual showing of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” on Oct. 25. This year’s showing will

Second ‘No Kings’ protest draws thousands to the streets in Urbana
Thousands of people gathered in downtown Urbana for the second “No Kings” protest of the year. The causes represented varied, but those in attendance had one thing in common: They aren’t happy with President Donald Trump.

New Illinois law looks to put guardrails on AI in mental health as researchers push for innovation
As the use of artificial intelligence continues to grow, the technology is increasingly being considered for use in mental health settings. Lawmakers, however, are concerned this could cause patients to receive underqualified mental health care in the place of support from licensed therapists.

