WILL-AM

News Local/State

Democratic state Sen. Andy Manar says he will remain in the Illinois Senate rather than run for governor in 2018.

News Local/State

Richland Community College in Decatur is laying off 18 more staff members due to declining enrollment and a lack of state funding.  

News Local/State

For decades, the chimes at the University of Illinois’ Altgeld Tower were open for tours and featured in daily noon hour concerts. But that’s all over for the foreseeable future until safety repairs can be made to the tower. Meanwhile, some of the volunteers who have been giving the concerts question why it’s taken administrators so long to make a decision. The Altgeld Tower bells were dedicated in 1920.

News Local/State

Voters in the Champaign County village of Rantoul have three candidates from which to choose for mayor in Tuesday’s municipal elections.  Chuck Smith is the first-term incumbent. He’s opposed by the man he defeated for the office four years ago -- former mayor Neal Williams -- and current village board member Gary Wilson.

News Local/State

The local history museum in Douglas County is asking voters to approve a tax referendum to fund the museum’s future.

News Local/State

Yesterday’s “I voted” sticker is today’s ballot selfie. But some voters last fall found out Illinois makes it illegal to take a selfie with your ballot. Lawmakers are trying to change that, inspired by the young people who simply wanted to share their fulfillment of their civic duty on social media.

News Local/State

The Illinois General Assembly is considering legislation meant to expand privacy rights on the Internet. Two of the bills cleared procedural hurdles Thursday in the House, but they both have powerful opponents. Democrats say it’s a needed corrective to what’s happening in Washington. President Trump is expected to undo privacy rules put in place at the end of the Obama administration.

News Local/State

Voters in Champaign County are considering two different referenda affecting the Champaign County Nursing  Home. One is to raise a special property tax that funds the facility, while the other would allow the county board to consider its sale or disposal. 

News Local/State

Decatur’s ability to attract business has become one of the main issues of debate before next week’s mayoral election. Challenger and longtime businessman John Phillips also contends recent hikes in property taxes and water and sewer fees are creating a burden for residents. Incumbent Julie Moore-Wolfe, a former city council member, has been in office since 2015, appointed after the passing of former mayor Mike McElroy.

News Local/State

It’s been two years since Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner unveiled his Republican “Turnaround Agenda.” On Wednesday, a group of rank-and-file Democratic legislators responded with their own “Comeback Agenda.”