WILL-AM

News Local/State

Illinois’ population losses have become a source of concern among state policymakers. But as Brian Mackey explains — a change in federal policy could make things much worse.

News Local/State

U.S. Representative Rodney Davis’ decision not to hold public meetings with constituents has drawn protests from liberal activist groups. One of those groups is holding its own meetings and inviting the Taylorville Republican to attend.

News Local/State

The Champaign-Urbana community is speaking out against reported Immigration raids in the past couple of weeks. Members of the CU Immigration Forum says Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, have targeted unspecified locations in the area at least twice this month. About 40 people rallied outside the federal courthouse in Urbana Friday.

News Local/State

Former University of Illinois women’s basketball coach Matt Bollant will take the same job at Eastern Illinois University. The university in Charleston announced Friday that they were hiring Bollant to replace Debbie Black, who was let go last month after four seasons.

News Local/State

Professors at the University of Illinois Springfield could go on strike. That’s the result of a vote this week by United Faculty, a chapter of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. Back when it was called Sangamon State University, the Springfield campus had a faculty union. But since joining the University of Illinois system, professors have been without a bargaining unit.

News Local/State

A life-size statue of Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth, shown lounging at the entrance to the White House, has been removed from the Lincoln Presidential Museum's main plaza.

News Local/State

Gov. Bruce Rauner wrapped a 10-city tour with a visit to a Champaign manufacturer Wednesday. As his call for budget reforms wrapped at HL Precision Manufacturing on the city's west side, about 25 members of state government unions called on the Republican governor to 'do your job', saying Rauner should come to the table to negotiate with AFSCME. A Rauner spokesperson says the trek around the state, which was not on the governor's official schedule, was not about his re-election campaign, although it was paid for with political funds.

News Local/State

A proposal in the Trump administration’s budget plan would eliminate funding for passenger service at rural and small-town airports --- including the one in Decatur.

News Local/State

The Illinois criminal justice system has become increasingly reliant on fees. People convicted of crimes have become money makers for state and local government — paying for everything from prosecutors' offices to new police cars.

News Local/State

The Champaign County Board discussed the future of its financially troubled county nursing home Tuesday night, one week after voters rejected a county tax hike for the facility, but gave permission for its possible sale.