WILL-AM

News Local/State

The Illinois Economy ended 2017 on a familiar note of slow and steady growth.

News Local/State

Laws about divorce, pets and traveling elephants took effect January 1.

News Local/State

The snow that fell on Friday is beginning to blow and drift in rural areas, making things difficult for road crews trying to remove snow.

News Local/State

The nighttime sub-zero temperatures that central Illinois is currently experiencing is particularly bad news for the area’s homeless population. Rob Dalhaus says he’s seeing an increase in people coming to the Phoenix Daytime Drop-In Center in Champaign during the day.

News Local/State

As we get ready to welcome 2018, let's take time to review another wild year in Illinois government and politics. We heard state Senators trying to craft a “grand bargain” to end the budget impasse — and 16 Republicans breaking with the governor to do just that. It was also the start of campaign season, and a time of increasing anger by and about politicians. Here now are some of the voices that made news in 2017.

News Local/State

2017 was the year that Champaign County voters did not come to the aid of the county nursing home. Voters last April rejected a tax increase to help pay for the facility, and gave the county board permission to consider selling it. But the battle over the nursing home’s future continues.

News Local/State

A new law allowing public funding of abortion in Illinois will take effect as scheduled on January 1. That’s after a judge on Thursday ruled against anti-abortion groups who’d sued to block it.

News Local/State

When a police officer is injured, getting them medical help is expected.  But what about when that officer is a K-9?  A new Illinois law allows E-M-T's to transport the dog to a veterinarian for treatment. 

News Local/State

Syringe exchange programs are one of the most visible forms of harm reduction — an approach that strives to minimize drug use’s negative effects rather than punish people for using. But the philosophy isn’t without its critics, and an Indiana law means advocates need to debate harm reduction’s merits every year.

News Local/State

A law taking effect January first is meant to force Illinois government to be more honest about its money problems.