News Local/State
Voters in two Vermilion County school districts will vote on April 4th on whether they want to create a cooperative high school. If approved by majorities in both districts, the Rossville-Alvin school board would have a hand in governing Bismarck-Henning High School.
News Local/State
Illinois lawmakers are preparing legislation to ensure state employees continue receiving paychecks if a judge agrees with the attorney general's argument to halt paychecks during the budget impasse. Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Raymond) and Rep. Sue Scherer (D-Decatur) introduced similar measures on Wednesday to keep paychecks flowing in response to a motion filed by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan last week.
News Local/State
Last week, President Trump signed an executive order suspending new-refugee admissions for 120 days and blocking travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries — Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia — for 90 days. Syrian refugees are banned indefinitely. NPR and dozens of member stations wanted to help the public understand where its lawmakers stand on the issue.
News Local/State
Inspectors with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency were in Champaign recently, testing homes in one neighborhood for toxic vapors. But they say even if those substances are found, it’s far too early to know whether they’re tied to a nearby site where a manufactured gas plant once operated.
News Local/State
A group of lawmakers has agreed on a framework for making the way Illinois funds its schools more equitable. But whether it will lead to a long-elusive legislative fix remains to be seen. That bipartisan commission produced a “framework” Wednesday, but no actual legislation. It would create funding targets for each district based on student population needs. It's estimated to cost an additional $3.5 billion to $6 billion.
News Local/State
What's the best time for students to have recess? Before lunch, or after? What happens if it rains? If students are misbehaving, is it a good idea to punish them by making them sit out recess?
Those are just a few of the issues addressed in new guidelines designed to help schools have good recess.
News Local/State
President Donald Trump is making an unannounced trip to honor the returning remains of a U.S. Navy SEAL from Peoria killed during a weekend raid on an al-Qaida base in Yemen. Trump was to arrive Wednesday afternoon at Delaware's Dover Air Force Base. William "Ryan" Owens, 36, was the first known U.S. combat casualty since Trump took office.
News Local/State
Upcoming concerts have been cancelled -- including one at the University of Illinois Krannert Center for the Performing Arts -- because of one artist’s protest of the president’s order barring refugees and citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S.
Violinist Aisha Orazbeyeva is refusing to perform in the U-S, to show solidarity with those affected by the travel ban.
News Local/State
The 10th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers jumped out to a 16-2 lead last night in cruising to a 57-43 victory over the Illini men in Champaign. The Badgers had an off-night shooting, but the Illini were worse. Illinois shot just 28-percent from the field, and 24-percent from behind the three-point arc.
News Local/State
President Trump has nominated conservative favorite Judge Neil Gorsuch to succeed the late Justice Antonin Scalia on the Supreme Court.
"Judge Gorsuch has a superb intellect, an unparalleled legal education, and a commitment to interpreting the Constitution according to its text. He will make an incredible Justice as soon as the Senate confirms him," Trump said in announcing his pick.
