WILL-AM

News Local/State

September 07, 2016

Champaign Teachers Union Plans Strike Vote

The president of the Champaign Federation of Teachers Local 1925 says a few sticking points remain as talks with Unit 4 administrators continue with a federal mediator. A strike authorization vote is planned for Wednesday, but it doesn't necessarily mean a strike would take place. If no progress is made after negotiations on September 20, proposals from both sides will be on public display for a week, as required by law before a strike can happen.

News Local/State

September 06, 2016

Fire Damages Smithfield Foods Plant In Monmouth

Fire damaged the meat processing plant run by Chinese-owned Smithfield Foods in Monmouth Monday evening. Crews from nine fire departments were called in to fight the fire.

News Local/State

September 06, 2016

Illinois Issues: What’s Up With The Judicial ‘Smackdown’ Of Remap Referendums?

The most recent attempt at changing the way legislative districts are drawn might have had a shot — had only the proposal left the auditor general out of the equation. 

News Local/State

September 05, 2016

Illinois Above Average In Accommodating Working Families

Illinois is doing a better job than most other states when it comes to protecting and accommodating working families. That’s the conclusion of national study.

News Local/State

September 03, 2016

Illinois Opens Smith Era With 52-3 Win Over Murray State

Wes Lunt threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns and Kendrick Foster ran for a pair of 56-yard touchdowns to give new Illinois coach Lovie Smith his first win, 52-3 over Murray State.

News Local/State

September 03, 2016

Earthquake Rattles Plains States

An earthquake centered in Oklahoma has rattled a swath of the Great Plains.

News Local/State

September 02, 2016

Zika Virus Confirmed In Champaign County

The county's first case of Zika virus was confirmed Friday by Champaign-Urbana Public Health Administrator Julie Pryde. But she could not confirm whether that case involved a female University of Illinois student that reportedly sought treatment at McKinley Health Center after returning from a Zika-infected area.

News Local/State

September 02, 2016

Judge: State, AFSCME Should Continue Talks Over Wages, Health Benefits

A judge is encouraging Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner’s administration to keep bargaining its contract with AFSCME, the state’s largest government union. Rauner's attorneys have been asking the state’s labor board to declare negotiations at an impasse, which could potentially lead to a strike of state workers.

News Local/State

September 02, 2016

After Politician’s ‘Soft On Crime’ Attack, Advocates Fight Back

In an era of political gridlock, one of the few topics on which there's been hope of bipartisan cooperation is on the issues of crime and punishment. Politicians have traditionally been averse to doing anything that could get them painted as being "soft on crime." It's an easy attack, and one that's been frequently deployed in the past. But this year, criminal justice reform advocates are fighting back, as in the case of an Illinois Democrat facing scare-mongering ads about criminal justice reform. 

News Local/State

September 02, 2016

Bandwagon Bits: Janet Rayfield

Illinois Soccer Coach Janet Rayfield joined Brian Moline, Lisa Bralts, and John Steinbacher in this week's episode of The Bandwagon sports podcast.  Rayfield shared her thoughts on the problems with youth sports and player development in the United States.