Illinoisans can submit design ideas for new state flag
The commission will select 10 designs based on how they reflect the identity of Illinois and will host an online public survey for the public to vote on their favorites.
Tag: Illinois
Before killing Sonya Massey, Sean Grayson had a case thrown out after bringing charges with no evidence. Departments kept hiring him
Sean Grayson had a history of credibility issues. It didn’t stop him from being hired at police departments in Central Illinois.
Pritzker signs law allowing digital driver’s licenses among hundreds of other bills
Gov. JB Pritzker on Monday signed a measure designating the “giant puffball” as the state’s mushroom after signing hundreds of bills on Friday, completing action on legislation sent to him by lawmakers this spring. Pritzker has now signed more than 460 bills without issuing any vetoes. Below is a recap of some of the more
High schoolers in rural, western Illinois learn the history of why their town is white
“My students want to ask about lynchings in the area,” said Cuba High School history teacher Joe Brewer. “It’s difficult for folks to talk about still, but those are the exact questions my students want to address.”
Black ministers and scholars discuss the state of the Black Church in Central Illinois
More than 200 people came to The Virginia Theatre to learn the history and current role of the Black Church in Central Illinois. The event showcased a panel of Black church and community leaders discussing the evolving role of pastors, the diminishing influence of predominantly Black churches, and the overall journey and significance of the Black Church through the years.
Champaign Police investigate ‘agency culture’ of not following domestic violence reporting laws
This story is part of a partnership focusing on police misconduct in Champaign County between the Champaign-Urbana Civic Police Data Project of the Invisible Institute, a Chicago-based nonprofit public accountability journalism organization, and IPM Newsroom, which provides news about Illinois & in-depth reporting on Agriculture, Education, the Environment, Health, and Politics, powered by Illinois Public
The region is in the thick of “a synthetic drug crisis”
More than 100,000 people died of an opioid overdose nationwide in 2022 and more than two-thirds of those deaths involved synthetic opioids. Synthetic opioids are substances that are synthesized in a laboratory and act on the same targets in the brain as natural opioids to reduce pain. In contrast, natural opioids — including heroin, morphine,
Gov. Pritzker stopped in Champaign to promote his budget, especially its spending for early childhood programs
Governor J-B Pritzker and other state officials visited Champaign’s International Prep Academy Wednesday, part of the governor’s tour of the state to promote education spending in the new state budget.
Statewide task force aims to decrease barriers for immigrants in Illinois
These are a few of the recommendations in a new report by the state’s Immigrant Impact Task Force, a group created by the General Assembly in 2021 to help immigrant communities.
Danville’s new abortion restriction could trigger a legal showdown
The vote for abortion access restrictions in Danville was tied by city council 7 to 7. Mayor Rickey Williams, Jr. broke the tie by voting for restrictions.
Tornadoes strike Arkansas, Illinois; 4 dead, dozens injured
Authorities said a theater roof collapsed during a tornado in Belvidere, Illinois, killing one person and injuring 28.
Danville could soon have an abortion provider, but opponents are pushing back
DANVILLE – Abortion rights opponents are pushing back against a proposed clinic in the Vermilion County city. It’s been decades since Danville had an abortion provider, Deb Brinegar, a Danville resident, said. She argues that should not changed. “Abortion disappeared from our community about 30 years ago,” Brinegar said. “So this is really heartbreaking that it’s
No longer ancient history: Woolly mammoth returns to University of Illinois for the first time in over 10,000 years
CHAMPAIGN – After an over 10,000-year absence, the woolly mammoth is finally back on the University of Illinois campus. A 16-foot-tall sculpture of a mammoth was installed last week in between the Illini Union and the Natural History Building. The sculpture could serve as a reminder that mammoths lived in Champaign-Urbana, University of Illinois professor
It’s not Madigan’s trial, but the feds’ big upcoming case is all about the former speaker
Michael J. Madigan will likely never step foot in the federal courtroom where four former political power players are about to face trial, accused of trying to bribe the longtime Illinois House speaker to benefit ComEd. But the case starting Tuesday is all about Madigan. And once it’s underway, it is expected to finally pull
After a lawsuit and a no-show game, Vermilion County’s professional hockey team ceases operations
DANVILLE – The Vermilion County Bobcats made national headlines after failing to show at a game against the Quad City Storm on Feb. 5. Just days later, the Bobcats released a statement on Twitter announcing the team was ceasing operations effective immediately. The team did not respond to requests for comment. Jamie Gooch, who was