News Local/State
Details of a massive, bipartisan compromise meant to end Illinois' budget stalemate emerged Monday in the Illinois Senate. But the plan has been put on hold until the new General Assembly is seated later this month.
News Local/State
Over the summer, Hannah Meisel took a look at how the lack of a full state budget was affecting businesses in university towns. This week, Illinois Issues is revisiting that story because as the budget impasse drags on, several universities could face fiscal crisis and college-town economies continue to suffer.
News Local/State
A business that works to connect those who qualify for medical marijuana to the product, and proper use of it, will open its first downstate clinic in less than a month. Caprice Sweatt, the founder and CEO of Medical Cannabis Outreach says its Shelbyville location will help those whose doctors still don’t approve of using the drug.
News Local/State
New Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb says the state can't become complacent in spurring economic growth.
News Local/State
University of Illinois leaders are recommending no increase in tuition for in-state students for the third straight year. If approved by university Trustees at their meeting in Chicago next week, this proposal would mark the 3-campus system’s longest rate freeze in 40 years. Tuition would go up 1.8 percent for graduate students, and out-of-state and international students.
News Local/State
The Champaign County Board will discuss three possible referendum questions concerning its financially strapped county nursing home at a special meeting Tuesday evening. The choices are --- help the nursing home with a special sales tax or a property tax increase …. or give the county permission to sell or close the facility. One of the three proposals could wind up on the ballot in the April 4th local elections.
News Local/State
Edward Feser had been the interim provost for the University's Urbana campus since September 2015. He will serve as provost and executive vice president at Oregon State University in Corvalis.
News Local/State
A group of lawmakers charged with revamping Illinois' property-tax-reliant school funding formula has been meeting since summer, facing a deadline of February 1 to come up with an alternative. But the group isn’t moving fast enough for State Senator Andy Manar of Bunker Hill in Macoupin County. He’s the leading Democrat on the commission. He’s also considering running for governor.
News Local/State
Illinois legislators return to Springfield Monday. Disagreements between Democrats and Republicans have left state government without a full budget for more than 18 months — though Senate leaders are now said be trying to hammer out a compromise.
News Local/State
A resolution on Monday night's Urbana City Council agenda, suggested by Mayor Laurel Prussing, calls for keeping the Police Training Institute at its current site in Champaign. The measure comes as Decatur philanthropist Howard Buffett has announced plans to build a new training facility in his city. Prussing was among those who worked to save PTI at the university a few years ago.
