WILL-AM

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. 

News Local/State

Congressman Rodney Davis says President Donald Trump needs congressional approval for any larger-scale military action in Syria. But the 13th District Republican from Taylorville says he stands behind Trump’s decision last week to launch air strikes on a Syrian air base, without a vote in Congress.

News Local/State

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner is launching the first official campaign tour of his re-election bid on Tuesday, as Democrats line up to unseat him in 2018 and the Republican tries to turn around his sagging approval ratings.

News Local/State

The Urbana City Council voted unanimously Monday night to continue talks towards a possible redevelopment agreement for a 94-year old downtown hotel. The latest revisions to the draft agreement for the Urbana Landmark Hotel include reducing the city’s post-construction bonds to help the project from $9.5 million down to $7 million.

News Local/State

Might pot and ditch weed help ease the state's financial crisis and boost its farm economy? Sponsors of legislation to legalize recreational marijuana and to clear the way for large-scale production of industrial hemp are hoping to convince their colleagues that's the case.

News Local/State

On Tuesday evening, the Champaign County Board starts a discussion of what to do next with the county nursing home, now that voters have rejected a tax hike but approved the possibility of selling it. Meanwhile, the nursing home advisory board will explore another proposal — running the facility as a non-profit institution with help from local healthcare institutions.