WILL-AM

News Local/State

Ahead of President Donald Trump’s first meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin is urging the president to take a tough stance on Russia’s meddling in US elections. Durbin is one of five Democratic senators to sign a letter to the president asking him to address findings of U.S intelligence that Russia attempted to interfere in the 2016 elections.

News Local/State

The Illinois House has voted to override Gov. Bruce Rauner's vetoes of a budget package. The action Thursday gives Illinois its first annual spending plan since 2015.

The House voted to override the Republican governor's veto of a $5 billion increase in income taxes and a $36 billion spending plan.

News Local/State

An Illinois House vote to overrride the governor's budget veto was delayed Thursday afternoon, when the state Capitol Building was placed on lockdown, due to a reported "hazmat" situation.

News Local/State

US Senator Dick Durbin wants to see the United States eventually implement a “Medicare for all” type health care program. The Illinois Democrat acknowledges that isn't likely with Republicans in control of both houses of Congress and the White House, but says a "public option" on current health insurance exchanges could be an interim step.

News Local/State

Brian O'Keefe spoke with Illinois political historian Kent Redfield about what led to the recent budget agreement, and the potential political fallout from it.

News Local/State

More than a dozen school leaders from across Illinois gathered at the state capitol Wednesday to thank lawmakers who went out on a limb to raise taxes and send more money to schools.

News Local/State

Brendt Christensen, the man charged in the kidnapping of Yingying Zhang, was ordered held without bond Wednesday until his trial.

News Local/State

Sometime later this summer the first part of the Kickapoo Rail Trail is expected to open. The bike and running path along an old rail bed east of Urbana has been years in the making. 

News Local/State

The Illinois Senate took action Tuesday meant to end a two-year budget stalemate. They voted to approve a budget plan and tax increase, then overrode Governor Bruce Rauner's veto later in the day.

News Local/State

It cost Western Illinois University $7.3 million to build Higgins Hall, a residence hall that opened in the fall of 1967.  The university said it would cost around $48 million today to renovate it into a "like-new" facility, so instead the building was imploded Saturday morning during an event that drew hundreds of people to the Macomb campus.