News Local/State
Lawmakers got a look at Governor Bruce Rauner's school funding proposal Tuesday. Rep. Christian Mitchell (D-Chicago) and Forrest Claypool, the head of Chicago Public Schools says the plan is a continuation of a "reverse Robin Hood'' education policy where rich districts get more and poor districts get less.
News Local/State
Prosecutors say after University of Illinois sophomore Lindsay Johnson initially tried to hide having given birth in a dorm room bathroom, she suffocated her newborn son. Champaign County State's Attorney Julia Rietz says the 20-year old sophmore faces counts of first-degree murder, child endangerment, and concealment of a homicidal death.
News Local/State
The University of Illinois says seven former women’s basketball players who claimed in a lawsuit over an alleged “racially hostile environment” will share a $375,000 settlement. Meanwhile, a $250,000 negotiated settlement has been announced for former football coach Tim Beckman, who was fired by the university last year over the handling of athletes’ injuries.
News Local/State
Proposals to place advisory referenda calling for the legalization of marijuana statewide are on the agenda at annual town meetings in Champaign and Urbana --- two of the 1,431 such meetings being held across Illinois on Tuesday evening.
News Local/State
The Democratic House Speaker's legislation states that education is a fundamental "right'' - as opposed to "goal'' - and that the state has the "preponderant financial responsibility'' for funding schools. If approved, the amendment would appear on ballots in November.
News Local/State
Rank-and-file Illinois lawmakers frustrated by the 10-month state budget impasse are meeting on their own in bipartisan groups to discuss potential solutions. Some met Monday at a forum in Chicago hosted by The Illinois Campaign for Political Reform.
News Local/State
Staff cutbacks and emergency fundraising have enbabled Rape Advocacy, Counseling & Education Services --- RACES, for short --- to stay open, despite the loss of state funding due to the state budget impasse.
News Local/State
Deb Busey is stepping down this week as Champaign County Administrator, wrapping up 40 years of work in Champaign County government.
News Local/State
It’s been one year since a deadly tornado struck Fairdale, in northern DeKalb County, killing two women and wreaking havoc in the small unincorporated community.
News Local/State
Gov. Bruce Rauner is appealing the federal government's decision to deny funding to help Illinois residents, businesses and local governments pay for damage caused by December and January floods. Counties impacted by the flooding in December and January include Vermilion and Moultrie.
