WILL-AM

News Local/State

The Illinois Supreme Court considered a case Thursday that asks whether not-for-profit hospitals have to pay property taxes. The case involves Urbana-based Carle hospital and clinics — though it could affect health systems across Illinois. At issue is the constitutionality of a state law that exempts not-for-profit hospitals from paying property tax.

News Local/State

Bryton Mellott, who was arrested last July for burning an American flag and posting pictures of it on Facebook, has filed a federal lawsuit against four Urbana police officers. He wants to see Illinois' flag descreation law officially declared unconstitutional. The 22-year old Urbana resident says he burned the flag in response to the current political climate, and mass shootings, including the incident that claimed 49 lives at a gay nightclub in Orlando last summer.

News Local/State

Two men, each of them suspects in a separate murder case in Champaign-Urbana, were found and arrested at an apartment in Urbana Wednesday. The suspects were wanted in connection with the deaths of Rakim Vineyard in Champaign and Robert Lee Brown in Urbana.

News Local/State

Among the unusual elements of President-elect Donald Trump's Wednesday news conference was a 15-minute interlude in which an attorney took the podium and described Trump's plan to address potential conflicts of interest between his businesses and the responsibilities of his office.

News Local/State

Michael Madigan was re-elected speaker of the Illinois House for the 17th time Wednesday as the 100 Illinois General Assembly got under way. Madigan's election came despite a Republican Party campaign to pressure Democrats into dropping him. The Chicago Democrat used the occasion to call for a focus on economic growth.

News Local/State

Test your knowledge on the Affordable Care Act, and compare it to respondants in a new NPR/Ipsos poll. Only 14% of those polled want to repeal the ACA without a replacement.

News Local/State

Illinois state legislators opened a new two-year session of the Illinois General Assembly Wednesday. Amid the ceremonies and celebrations, the focus remains on the political stalemate that's left Illinois without a budget for more than 18 months.

News Local/State

The Illinois Supreme Court will hear arguments today in a case on the constitutionality of hospital tax exemptions involving Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana. In this encore conversation, University of Illinois Law Professor John Colombo spoke about the arguments both sides are making in the case.

News Local/State

Newcomers Kipper Nichols and Te'Jon Lucas led the way as the Illini men plowed past MIchigan 85-69 last night in Champaign. Illinois evened its Big Ten record at 2-2, while improving to 12-5 overall. Michigan drops to 11-6, 1-3 in the conference.

News Local/State

A new emergency shelter program for homeless men in Champaign-Urbana opened on January 6th during the recent cold snap. Two local churches are  hosting the shelter program, to replaces others that closed down last year.

Meanwhile in Danville, a men’s emergency shelter program has been running for years --- with an emphasis on getting participants into jobs and their own housing.