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Will Leitch appearing in a video for Bloomberg
Will Leitch

News Local/State

U Of I Alum Leitch Wants New Mascot

The University of Illinois Urbana campus is exploring the idea of a mascot for its athletic teams nearly a decade after retiring Chief Illiniwek as the campus symbol.  Alumnus Will Leitch, a writer for Bloomberg and several other publications, explains why he's in favor of this idea in an interview with Illinois Public Media's Brian Moline.

Illinois' Jaylon Tate brings the ball down the court during the first half of a game against Missouri Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015, in St. Louis.
Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

News Local/State

Prosecutor: Case Against Illinois’ Tate Dropped

Prosecutors have dropped a misdemeanor domestic battery charge against Illinois basketball player Jaylon Tate after concluding there was not enough evidence to convict him.  Tate, a 21-year-old junior, was was suspended from the team after his arrest.  UPDATE: He was reinstated to the team by Athletic Director Josh Whitman Friday

Brian Moline/Illinois Public Media

News Local/State

Academy High Makes Its Case To Parents

A standing-room-only crowd of more than 150 people attended a meeting at the I-Hotel in Champaign to learn more about a possible new private high school.  Organizers say that Academy High would hold classes in the University of Illinois Research Park starting with the 2017-18 school year.

U of I faculty member John Bambenek, a former Illinois Senate candidate and Champaign School Board member
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News Local/State

U Of I Professors Protest Gov. Rauner’s IBHE Nomination

Some faculty aren't happy with the appointment of former Republican Senate candidate and Champaign Unit 4 School Board member John Bambenek to the Illinois Board of Higher Education.  Members of the Urbana campus Senate Executive Committee are drafting a letter protesting the nomination to the Rauner administration.