News feature reports from WILL-AM 580 News, the top radio news team in Central Illinois http://will.illinois.edu/news en-us Copyright 2009 University of Illinois 2009-11-19T15:41:03+00:00 jackb@uiuc.edu Jack Brighton no http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/ccaapp1199/ http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/ccaapp1199/#When:15:41:03Z A committee working for better relations between the Champaign police and the African-American community is scheduled to meet Thursday (November 19th) at 3 PM, at the Douglass Community Center. After a decade of regular meetings, the Champaign Community and Police Partnership is getting more attention, following last month’s shooting death of 15 year old Kiwane Carrington during a police confrontation. AM 580’s Jim Meadows reports on the group, known as “C-Cap” for short: Podcasts 2009-11-19T15:41:03+00:00 http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/reality102309/ http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/reality102309/#When:11:41:00Z Sunday night, America will see the fantasy that Philo residents Nathan and Jenny Montgomery and their family have been living since last August. The ABC reality show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” destroyed the family’s dilapidated home and built them a new one, filled with new furnishings. Nathan Montgomery’s creation of the Salt and Light food bank helped get them selected. “Extreme Makeover” belongs to a TV genre that’s often pummeled by critics for hype, over-commercialization and lowest-common-denominator values. But University of Illinois media observer James Hay says reality TV has real roots. He tells AM 580’s Tom Rogers the shows grew out of an ethic that took hold as the century changed and Americans chose a conservative government. Podcasts 2009-10-23T11:41:00+00:00 http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/tweet102209/ http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/tweet102209/#When:17:34:01Z The University of Illinois Fighting Illini basketball team is nearing the start of a new season. But because of a new edict from the coach, you shouldn't expect to get any practice updates from players who use the social networking site Twitter. Rob McColley of the Champaign-Urbana website Smile Politely reports for AM 580. Podcasts 2009-10-22T17:34:01+00:00 http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/carrington102109/ http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/carrington102109/#When:11:46:52Z It wasn’t on the agenda, but the October 9th shooting death of Kiwane Carrington in a confrontation with police was the major topic at Tuesday night’s Champaign City Council meeting. Council members heard some three hours of comments from a skeptical and sometimes angry public. AM 580’s Jim Meadows reports. Podcasts 2009-10-21T11:46:52+00:00 http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/stoddard93009/ http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/stoddard93009/#When:04:55:27Z Joseph White’s announcement last week that he would resign as President of the University of Illinois is not the only time a president at the university was forced out of office. 56 years ago… the Board of Trustees pressured George Stoddard into stepping down as President after a 7-year tenure marked by controversy. AM 580’s Jeff Bossert spoke with Professor Emeritus of History Winton Solberg on both the good and bad of Stoddard’s tenure: Podcasts 2009-09-30T04:55:27+00:00 http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/genius092209/ http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/genius092209/#When:20:15:00Z If you hear about someone pursuing their wildest dreams with a monetary windfall, the first thing to come to mind might be a lottery winner. But as AM 580’s Tom Rogers reports, the latest half-millionaire in Illinois has worked hard for the reward. Podcasts 2009-09-22T20:15:00+00:00 http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/trustees91109/ http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/trustees91109/#When:15:32:02Z Six people with diverse backgrounds came together for the first time at the University of Illinois’ Urbana campus Thursday, and left their meeting as members of the school’s Board of Trustees. The goal for them and their fellow members… reforming admissions and deciding if the current University leadership can guide that process. AM 580’s Jeff Bossert reports: Podcasts 2009-09-11T15:32:02+00:00 http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/retraining082709/ http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/retraining082709/#When:11:16:10Z In central Illinois, many employers large and small have downsized or closed altogether, forcing thousands of laid-off workers to consider new options. In our latest report as part of our outreach project “WILL Connect: The Economy”, AM 580’s Jeff Bossert looks at the retraining of workers. Ingenuity and government-funded training are giving many of them a jump on a new career, or a better shot at an old one: Podcasts 2009-08-27T11:16:10+00:00 http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/willconnect082609/ http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/willconnect082609/#When:12:44:09Z Organizations that help the poor in east-central Illinois are giving out more and more assistance. But there may be many people who for some reason or another have not made that call for help. In the latest of our series of stories in connection with the outreach project “WILL Connect: The Economy,” AM 580’s Tom Rogers introduces us to people who decided to make the leap and reach out for aid, and people who encourage others to do so. Podcasts 2009-08-26T12:44:09+00:00 http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/foodbank082509/ http://will.illinois.edu/news/story/foodbank082509/#When:11:44:14Z With the economy shaky and unemployment up, more people are turning to food pantries for help in getting enough to eat. In east-central Illinois, food pantries -- and the regional food bank that supplies them -- say more people are coming to them for help, some of them for the first time. AM 580’s Jim Meadows reports. Podcasts 2009-08-25T11:44:14+00:00