WILL-AM

News Local/State

December 19, 2016

At Least 12 Dead After Truck Driven Into Berlin Christmas Market, Police Say

German police said at least 12 people were killed and at least 48 people were injured after a truck barreled into a packed Christmas market in Berlin. The truck was driven into the crowd on a sidewalk, bringing down Christmas lights and smashing stalls at the festive market near the Gedaechtniskirche, or Memorial Church, in western Berlin. The black truck had Polish license plates. Dozens of ambulances and hundreds of rescue workers were on the scene, NPR's Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson reported.

News Local/State

December 19, 2016

As Budget Impasse Continues, Some Illinois Colleges Dipping Into Students MAP Grant Money

A recent survey from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission shows that colleges and universities are handling the state budget impasse in a confusing variety of ways. The commission is the state agency that administers the Monetary Award Program, known as the MAP grant, designed to help pay tuition for low-income students.

News Local/State

December 19, 2016

The Great Lakes Basin Railroad From Start To Nowhere Near Finish

In part one of this five-part in-depth series, Susan Stephens and Jenna Dooley introduce us to the Great Lakes Basin Railroad project, the players, and the 260-mile route.

News Local/State

December 19, 2016

Severe Weather Closings & Cancellations For Monday, Dec. 19, 2016

Here's a list of school and other closings, cancellations and decalys, due to cold temperatures & slippery conditions on Monday, Dec. 19, 2016:

News Local/State

December 18, 2016

Abrams scores 15 to lead Illinois in 75-73 win over BYU

Reserve center Maverick Morgan had 14 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season and forward Michael Finke added 10 points off the bench as the Illini edged the Cougars 75-73 on Saturday night.

News Local/State

December 17, 2016

Feds Pump $10 Million Into Carbon Storage Research In Illinois

Two new federal grants worth more than $10 million will give researchers in Illinois money to investigate carbon storage in the state.

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin visited Richland Community College in Decatur on Friday to announce details about the U.S. Department of Energy grants headed to the Illinois State Geological Survey.

News Local/State

December 16, 2016

State Budget Impasse Just One Factor In Loss Of Homeless Beds

An Urbana woman has started an online petition asking local government officials to reopen the emergency shelter beds at the TIMES Center, citing the tax dollars used to build the center for that purpose. But the executive director of Rosecrance Champaign-Urbana, the non-profit that owns and operates the facility, says that's no longer a possibility.

News Local/State

December 16, 2016

Majority Of Crime Victims Support Rehabilitation Over Punishment For Criminals: Study

A new survey argues criminals should get rehabilitation rather than punishment. The recommendation comes straight from crime victims themselves.

The study commissioned by the Alliance for Safety and Justice says one in three Illinoisans have been a victim of crime in the last decade. More likely to be victimized are people who are younger and lower-income, as well as blacks, Latinos and residents of Chicago.

News Local/State

December 16, 2016

Impact Of Fed Rate Hike Blunted In Illinois, Says Busey Funds Manager

The Federal Reserve Board’s move this week to increase the benchmark federal funds interest rate for the first time in a year may be good news for a recovering national economy --- but the impact may not be so useful for Illinois’ economy.

News Local/State

December 15, 2016

Emergency Beds For Homeless Men In C-U Expected By January

The community has lost 95 emergency beds for homeless men since the start of 2016 because of budget cuts.  There is a plan in the works to replace 30 of those beds in January through March of 2017.