WILL-AM

News Local/State

Democrats in the Illinois House of Representatives Thursday passed a plan to send more than $800 million to human services and universities. They call it a “lifeline” for programs facing catastrophe.

News Local/State

Updated 8:37pm: President Trump has launched airstrikes in Syria in response to deadly chemical attacks allegedly ordered by the country's president, Bashar Assad, against his own people.

"Tonight I ordered a targeted military strike on the airfield in Syria from where the chemical attack was launched," the president announced from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla, where he is meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. "It is in this vital national security interest of the United States to prevent and deter the spread and use of deadly chemical weapons."

News Local/State

“I don’t like to sling mud,” a young Urbana city council member named Lloyd Carter, jr. told the Champaign-Urbana Courier in 1971. “I think we could get more done if we work together”.

Carter, one of Champaign-Urbana’s first African-American elected officials, died Wednesday at the age of 86, one year after leaving public office.

News Local/State

Billionaire businessman J.B. Pritzker has made official his bid for Illinois governor. The Chicago Democrat tweeted Thursday that he was readying for "the big announcement" above a picture with his son holding a sign reading "J.B. for Governor." Pritzker's campaign confirmed the tweet ahead of a Thursday afternoon event in Chicago.

News Local/State

The countywide Boneyard Arts Festival is now in its 15th year. Illinois Public Media's Brian Moline previewed this year's event, presented by 40 North/88 West, with Smile Politely arts and culture writer Sarah Keim.

News Local/State

A Chicago law firm representing a group of mostly rural school superintendents sued the state of Illinois Wednesday. They're asking Gov. Bruce Rauner and the state board of education to come up with a funding formula that would help schools meet the state's learning standards.

News Local/State

A newcomer to the Champaign City Council hopes to see the city offer the same protections for those living in the country illegally that Urbana officials have provided. Alicia Beck topped 32-year incumbent Michael LaDue Tuesday to win the District 2 council seat, 63 to 37 percent. Beck says some of her backers want Champaign to explore the idea of becoming a sanctuary city, which Urbana reaffirmed in late 2016.

News Local/State

As Illinois enters its 22nd month without a real budget, the state services most affected by the political fight include those that help victims of domestic violence.

News Local/State

Akron has hired former Illinois coach John Groce to take over its program. Groce replaces Keith Dambrot, who surprisingly left his alma mater last week after a successful run to coach at Duquesne. Groce is familiar with the Mid-American Conference after spending four seasons at Ohio. He went 85-56 at the school and twice led the Bobcats to the NCAA Tournament.

News Local/State

Sam Werkmeister, a father of two, nearly died six times last year. He started taking pain pills to get through shifts at a restaurant. That led him to a full-blown addiction to opioids. After a relapse last summer, it took Werkmeister six months to gather the courage to go back into treatment.