WILL-AM

News Local/State

President Obama has imposed sanctions on Russian officials and intelligence services in retaliation for Russia's interference in the U.S. presidential election by hacking American political sites and email accounts. The State Department also has kicked out 35 Russian diplomats from its embassy in Washington and consulate in San Francisco, giving them and their families 72 hours to leave the U.S.

News Local/State

Rosecrance executive director Sheila Ferguson remains hopeful that the agency can partner with other local agencies to weather any further state cuts in 2017.

News Local/State

Since 2011, the Champaign Public Library has lost more than 8,000 cardholders, dropping 21 percent from 37,710 to 29,657, according to library data. The Urbana Free Library has lost about 1,100 cardholders in the same time period. It had 13,880 cardholders in 2011 and now has 12,762 cardholders, a decrease of 8.1 percent.

News Local/State

We continue our conversation with Illinois treasurer Michael Frerichs.  Today we focus on the budget impasse and other issues facing the state of Illinois.  The Champaign Democrat says that right now both sides need to do more listening.

News Local/State

Champaign’s faith-based community has a short-term plan for two churches to provide overnight shelter to homeless men during the winter months. Two churches, First Presbyterian and Faith United Methodist, will be taking in up 30 men from the second week of January through March. Another site, New Covenant Fellowship Church, could be serving as a shelter soon, after some fire safety code updates. But conversations for a permanent site are ongoing.

News Local/State

Actress Debbie Reynolds has died, just one day after the death of her daughter, actress Carrie Fisher, NPR has confirmed. Hours before reports of her death, The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed to NPR that an elderly female was transported to Cedar Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. Reynolds, 84, has had a long and celebrated career as a film actress — she was in the classic "Singing' in the Rain" — a TV star — "The Debbie Reynolds Show" — and a Broadway and Las Vegas star.

News Local/State

There’s still no budget for Illinois, but some big changes to education policy kicked in this year. As the contentious presidential election played out, several national issues affected the lives of citizens here.

News Local/State

The Illinois state treasurer discusses his office's decisions in 2016 on college savings programs, suspending investment activity with Wells Fargo, and pushing legislation to require insurance companies to pay benefits.

News Local/State

Melo Trimble scored 20 points and Jaylen Brantley added 13 as Maryland routed Illinois 84-59 on Tuesday in the Big Ten opener for both teams. Malcolm Hill had 21 points for the Illini (10-4), who saw their six-game winning streak come to an end.

News Local/State

Actress Carrie Fisher, who found enduring fame as Princess Leia in the original "Star Wars,'' has died. She was 60. Fisher's daughter, Billie Lourd, released a statement through her spokesman saying
Fisher died Tuesday just before 9 a.m PST. Lourd said her mother was "loved by the word and she will be missed profoundly.''