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Alma Mater Statue
University of Illinois Public Affairs

U Of I To Freeze In-State Tuition For Third Straight Year

University of Illinois leaders are recommending no increase in tuition for in-state students for the third straight year. If approved by university Trustees at their meeting in Chicago next week, this proposal would mark the 3-campus system’s longest rate freeze in 40 years. Tuition would go up 1.8 percent for graduate students, and out-of-state and international students.

Champaign County Nursing Home.
Champaign County Nursing Home

Champaign County Board To Consider Choices For Nursing Home’s Future

The Champaign County Board will discuss three possible referendum questions concerning its financially strapped county nursing home at a special meeting Tuesday evening.  The choices are --- help the nursing home with a special sales tax or a property tax increase ….  or give the county permission to sell or close the facility. One of the three proposals could wind up on the ballot in the April 4th local elections.

Sears store
Flickr/jeepersmedia

Sears Closing 150 Stores; Hog Facility Controversy; Sexual Assault Awareness Training For Stylists

On the 21st: Sears is one of Illinois’ most iconic brands, but is the end near for one of our oldest companies? We also got the latest on the revolt against a proposed 20,000-hog facility in western Illinois, and learned about a new state law that requires salon professionals to receive training to recognize signs of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Video monitors show the Illinois Education Funding Reform Commission meets via speakerphone linking conference rooms in Springfield and Chicago.
Dusty Rhodes / WUIS

Manar Loses Patience With School Funding Commission

 A group of lawmakers charged with revamping Illinois' property-tax-reliant school funding formula has been meeting since summer, facing a deadline of February 1 to come up with an alternative. But the group isn’t moving fast enough for State Senator Andy Manar of Bunker Hill in Macoupin County. He’s the leading Democrat on the commission. He’s also considering running for governor.

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