WILL-AM

News Local/State

The Illini men's basketball team dispatched Boise State 71-56 Monday night in an NIT second-round game in Champaign. But the Illini will not compete in a much anticipated intra-state rivalry game Wednesday.

The Illinois State Redbirds lost a heartbreaker in Normal to the University of Central Florida. Consequently, the Illini will travel to Orlando on Tuesday and play UCF on Wednesday.

News Local/State

Urbana Police Chief Pat Connolly has resigned, effective April 14. Connolly made the announcement at Monday night's city council meeting. In an emotional statement, he thanked city officials for their support and said the city is in good hands under the remaining police leadership. 

News Local/State

The spring legislative session is in full swing under the shadow of a failed Grand Bargain, which aimed to end a 20-month stretch without a budget. Bills proposed are diverse, including lobbyist ethics, an Obama holiday, wage theft and animal welfare.

News Local/State

An Illinois watchdog group takes a case against the Illinois High School Association to the state's highest court Tuesday. That’s regarding whether IHSA is subject to the state’s Freedom of Information Act.

News Local/State

New University of Illinois men’s basketball coach Brad Underwood says he’s honored to be taking over a program in a city he’s visited many times before. The former Oklahoma State coach and 18th coach in Illini history met with reporters for the first time Monday in Champaign. Illinois Athletic Director Josh Whitman says the two of them hit it off instantly in their first face to face meeting Saturday.

News Local/State

Democratic state Sen. Daniel Biss says he's running for Illinois governor in 2018. Biss on Monday became the latest Democrat to announce he's seeking the nomination to challenge Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner.

News Local/State

The NPR Two-Way blog will provide live coverage of the House Intelligence Committee’s public hearing on the investigations into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. Presidential election. The live blog will include streaming video of the proceedings, with posts featuring highlights, context and analysis from NPR reporters and correspondents.

News Local/State

Minor league baseball players are suing Major League Baseball, claiming unfair pay. But a new proposal in Illinois would protect independent leagues from a similar lawsuit. 

News Local/State

Oklahoma State coach Brad Underwood is leaving Stillwater for Illinois after just one season, calling the chance to lead the Fighting Illini a "once in a lifetime opportunity." Underwood spent three successful seasons at Stephen F. Austin before signing on to coach Oklahoma State for 2016-17. "We were looking for a proven winner who would build upon our proud tradition while developing an unmistakable identity for Illinois basketball," Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman said in a statement. "Brad's teams play a fast, aggressive style and show unyielding toughness."

News Local/State

Gov. Bruce Rauner has taken his confrontation with the state's largest public-employee union to the Supreme Court. The Republican announced Friday that his office has asked the high court to uphold a labor board ruling in his favor. That ruling last fall allowed Rauner to impose his preferred contract conditions on 38,000 members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31.