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University of Illinois students living in the US without legal authorization talked about how their status keeps them from reaching their full potential at a campus rally Friday. I-CAUSE, or the Illinois Coalition Assisting Undocumented Students' Education, held the second annual 'Coming Out of the Shadows' event on the U of I campus quad. The group also provides training to other students and faculty on how to become advocates.

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Judge Neil Gorsuch was confirmed Friday as the 113th justice to serve on the nation's highest court. In a largely party-line vote, Gorsuch received the support of 54 senators.

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More than 2.5 million Americans who would have been covered by Medicaid expansion were left uninsured in the 19 mostly-Republican states that rejected it. Now, following the GOP’s failure to repeal the Affordable Care Act, some of those states are revisiting the decision.

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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.

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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."

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“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.

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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.

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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.