WILL-AM

News Local/State

A look back at the fatal plane crash 35 years ago this fall that marked the beginning of the end for Air Illinois, Carbondale-based commuter airline.

News Local/State

The economy is booming and unemployment is below five percent. And employers now find that they have difficulty in finding people to fill job openings. That was the message two Illinois Congressmen heard Friday at a meeting in Champaign on workforce development issues.

News Local/State

Farm towns in Illinois could get access to high-speed internet with the help of new federal funding.

News Local/State

The late Sen. John McCain will lie in state at the U.S. Capitol today. Vice President Mike Pence, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer are all set to deliver remarks honoring the Arizona Republican.

News Local/State

Detroit will celebrate the life of Aretha Franklin on Friday, August 31st at 10 a.m. EST. Over two dozen people -- including heads of state, a record mogul, and music legends of nearly every description -- will take the stage of the Greater Grace Temple to speak, sing and pray in honor of the gift that Franklin so readily shared with the world.

News Local/State

Getting off drugs is a challenge, and what comes after detox can be just as difficult. With the state’s growing opioid epidemic, many areas don’t have enough long-term treatment centers to meet the demand, but community groups in some parts of Illinois are stepping in to fill the gaps.

News Local/State

Buprenorphine is one of just three federally approved medications to treat opioid addiction. It’s possible to misuse it because it’s an opioid itself — people snort or inject the medication to get high. And patients with prescriptions can sell or give it away, which is known as diversion. But addiction treatment professionals argue the problem of buprenorphine diversion is often misunderstood. The black market exists, in part, because addiction treatment can be hard to find, and the availability of the drug on the street can be helpful, they say.

News Local/State

Contract negotiations between the Champaign Unit 4 school district and its teachers union have stalled. The Champaign Federation of Teachers requested a federal mediator to intervene in the bargaining process, and the district has agreed.

News Local/State

The Illinois Department of Public Health announced a change this week that will enable children to get help sooner after being exposed to lead, which should mitigate the negative health effects.

News Local/State

Former President Barack Obama will visit the University of Illinois Urbana campus on Friday, Sept. 7, to receive the Paul H. Douglas Award for Ethics in Government. The annual award from the U of I's Institute of Government and Public Affairs recognizes public officials who promote the highest standards of public service.