Illinois Public Media News

The chair of a committee set up to deal with Unofficial Saint Patrick’s Day at the University of Illinois Urbana campus says he cannot be certain that the death of a student was definitely due to the unsanctioned event. Dean of Students Kenneth Ballom says the very nature of 'Unofficial' as a de-centralized, unorganized event makes it hard to be sure that the fatal fall of Jonathan Morales from a Champaign apartment balcony was truly a part of it.

On the 21st: What are the legal obligations Washington lawmakers have to their constituents? Plus, with all the discussion about repealing the Affordable Care Act, we discuss what this would mean for people in Illinois. We also check in with Peoria Journal Star’s Chris Kaergard and the AP’s John O’Connor for the latest in Illinois politics, and discuss recent changes to major league baseball with WBEZ sports reporter Cheryl Raye Stout.

It’s Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Illinois.  The state saw its first round of severe weather last week when tornadoes killed three people.  The National Weather Service is looking for severe weather spotters to help give people advance warning of severe weather.

President Donald Trump has signed a revised travel ban that temporarily halts entry to the U.S. for people from six Muslim-majority nations who are seeking new visas. It also suspends the country's refugee program. That's according to White House spokesman Michael Short, who says the signing was done privately. The new directive aims to address legal issues with the original order, which caused confusion at airports, sparked protests around the country and was ultimately blocked by federal courts.

Another section of Olympian Drive along the north edge of Champaign-Urbana was set to open for traffic on Monday, March 6th. Meanwhile, a section of North Lincoln Avenue that connects to Olympian is closed for an upgrade.