News Local/State
Drinking water has been part of the national conversation since the discovery of lead in Flint, Michigan’s water supply last year. That’s one reason the Prairie Rivers Network has invited George Hawkins to speak at their annual dinner Friday in Champaign. Hawkins is the General Manager and CEO of DC Water, one of the largest municipal water companies in the country.
News Local/State
For the first time, Champaign County is holding a public meeting to help some people with criminal records remove those records from public access to help them move on with their lives.
Circuit Clerk Katie Blakeman says those with old convictions, particularly juvenile records, have trouble getting a job, and have few financial resources.
News Local/State
Because Illinois is a northern state and the former home of Abraham Lincoln, it isn’t typically associated with slavery. But there was slavery in Illinois for more than 100 years.
Even after Illinois entered the Union, loopholes in its laws allowed the practice to continue, making the future Land of Lincoln a quasi-slave state.
News Local/State
The latest data shows the number of unemployed Illinois residents is at its lowest since September of 2007. But officials with Governor Bruce Rauner's administration say Illinois is still lagging when it comes to job growth.
News Local/State
As he seeks a second term in the Illinois House, 110th District St. Representative Reggie Phillips says he hopes Republicans can gain enough seats to bring about a budget agreement that incorporates some of Gov. Bruce Rauner's "Turnaround Agenda" reforms, such as changes to workers' compensation laws. Phillips talked with Illinois Public Media's Jim Meadows.
News Local/State
General Electric Lighting says its plant in Mattoon will close in August 2017, finalizing plans it announced in August.
At that time, the company said the Mattoon plant would close unless employees could come up with an acceptable alternative use.
News Local/State
Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton face off in the final presidential debate Wednesday night at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
NPR's politics team, with help from reporters and editors who cover national security, immigration, business, foreign policy and more, is live annotating the debate.
News Local/State
A key source of funding for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources could be blocked. Or maybe not. Brian Mackey looks into whether a proposed constitutional amendment to safeguard road construction money could block a key funding source for Illinois state parks.
News Local/State
Statistics are playing a larger role in election coverage than ever before. Websites like Five Thirty Eight and Upshot from the New York Times analyze opinion polls to predict the winner in the race for the White House, as well as US Senate races. Those websites have a strong track record of predicting winners, but there’s a site on the University of Illinois Urbana campus that’s done even better.
News Local/State
Residents living near a former manufactured gas plant in Champaign say utility company Ameren "won't lift a finger" to address concerns about toxic vapors in the neighborhood. So those in the 5th and Hill neighborhood have called upon the U.S. EPA, which is offering free inspections to those living in the area. The agency is hosting a public meeting Thursday to sign up those residents.
