News Local/State
Madigan Cancels IL House Session, Wants Budget Talks To Go On
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan has canceled Wednesday's scheduled Illinois House session so budget talks can continue.
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News Local/State
The Fight For School Funding
The Illinois legislature adjourned last week with no budget in place --- not even a plan to fund public schools. Illinois Public Radio Education Desk reporter Dusty Rhodes takes a look at what issues kept the lawmakers squabbling over school funding until it was too late.
News Local/State
Illinois Issues: Chicago Mayors Have History Of Axing Top Cops Instead Of Cleaning Up System
After video of a white Chicago police officer shooting a black teenager 16 times was released to the public, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel became the focus of intense backlash. He responded by firing Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy. In many ways this was history repeating in a city that has had twice as many police chiefs than it’s had mayors in the past six decades — and more than its share of police scandals.
News Local/State
Without Budget, Eastern Illinois May Need Short-Term Layoffs
EIU President David Glassman sent out a mass e-mail Monday to students and staff, saying there were no longer any plans at the school for additional large-scale layoffs, but said those lasting up to 29 days may be needed. Glassman said more cost-cutting measures may be needed to bridge the school in Charleston through the summer.
News Local/State
Illinois Facing Most Severe Erosion In Two Decades
Illinois is losing topsoil – the layer of surface dirt that’s rich with nutrients and vital for food production. And the problem of erosion on Illinois farms is serious: In 2015, roughly one-fifth of Illinois’s farmland lost more soil than it made. Austin Keating has more.
News Local/State
Who’s Really Holding Illinois Hostage?
Gov. Bruce Rauner says Democrats are holding the Illinois budget "hostage" in order to get their way --- taking advantage of rhetoric that Democrats have used on him.
News Local/State
Unit 4’s Wiegand Discusses Facilities, Funding, & More
The Champaign Unit 4 superintendent says the district has enough funding reserves to make it through the school year without any state funding, but says that is a last resort in a conversation with Illinois Public Media's Brian Moline.
News Local/State
Boxer Muhammad Ali, ‘The Greatest Of All Time,’ Dies At 74
Muhammad Ali, the man considered the greatest boxer of all time, died late Friday at a hospital in Phoenix at age 74. He was battling respiratory problems.
News Local/State
State Budget Forces More Cutback In Community Elements Homeless Programs
The state budget impasse is forcing Champaign’s Community Elements to make another round of cutbacks in its programs for the homeless this month.
News Local/State
‘Wear Orange’ Group Spreads Message In Champaign
Champaign was one of nearly 200 US cities that took part in National Gun Violence Awareness Day Thursday, wearing orange - and trying to bring attention to the gun violence that some in the area say is at a ‘crisis level.’ Organized by Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense in America, about 50 attended a rally in Champaign's Westside Park.
