WILL-AM

News Local/State

Actor and University of Illinois alumnus Nick Offerman encouraged graduates on the Urbana campus to keep the attitude of a student throughout their lives during his commencement address on Saturday.

News Local/State

With Illinois lawmakers struggling to agree on a state budget, the Illinois Senate unanimously passed a contingency plan, for dentists. Many dentists who treat state employees have not been getting paid for their work.

News Local/State

The "Parks and Recreation" actor remembers fondly his time on the University of Illinois Urbana campus. He will speak to 2017 graduates Saturday at Memorial Stadium on the Urbana-Champaign campus.

News Local/State

The executive director of Champaign County Health Care Consumers is challenging Congressman Rodney Davis to a debate about health care issues.

Lennhoff is unhappy with Davis’ support for the American Health Care Act, the Republican replacement for Obamacare, which passed the house last week.

News Local/State

Enrollment at many Illinois public universities has declined in the past decade. This coincides with the state approaching two years without a full spending plan. As a result, college-bound students have tough decisions to make.

News Local/State

There was another setback Wednesday for efforts to end Illinois' budget stalemate. Senate Democrats attempted a series of test votes on items in the so-called “grand bargain.” But Republicans refused to go along, saying more negotiation is needed to reach a deal they can support.

News Local/State

A controversial abortion measure was approved Wednesday in the Illinois Senate. It would expand government funding of the procedure. House Bill 40 passed the Senate on a vote of 33-22, and now goes to Gov. Bruce Rauner.

News Local/State

Police arrested University of Illinois football players Darta Lee, Zarrian Holcombe, and Howard Watkins on preliminary charges of armed robbery and home invasion Wednesday morning. They are scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday.

News Local/State

Comptroller Susana Mendoza says she’s not sure when school districts will receive state money owed to them for the rest of this school year. The state of Illinois still owes local school districts nearly $1 billion to cover the current school year. But Mendoza, a Democrat, says she’s not sure when they’ll actually get the money.

News Local/State

A nonpartisan research group says Illinois’ desperate financial condition is getting even worse. The Civic Federation of Chicago says unless something is done soon, by next year the state’s pile of unpaid bills could consume half of all new tax revenue.