WILL-AM

News Local/State

Deane Geiken, of Champaign, was only a year old when the original Star Trek debuted. He, like so many other fans, discovered the show in reruns. Now, he's celebrating the cultural phenomena with his teenage daughter, a third-generation Trekkie. 

News Local/State

University of Illinois trustees have approved a contract with football coach Lovie Smith that will pay him at least $21 million over six years. At their meeting Thursday, trustees also signed off on a $100,000 performance bonus for President Tim Killeen. Under his contract, the bonus was the maximum Killeen could have received for reaching performance goals.

News Local/State

Enrollment figures released Thursday show U of I enrollment from a year ago went up 1.2 percent from last fall, enrolling 77,073. That figure is expected to top 81,000 when factoring in online students. Figures in Urbana show the number of new students went up 1.8 percent, including the largest freshman class in campus history, at just under 7,600.

News Local/State

The Champaign-based sandwich chain has announced it's sold a majority stake in the company to Atlanta-based private equity firm Roark Capital Group. There will be no changes to management, as founder Jimmy John Liataud will continue to remain as chairman of the company's board and the largest individual shareholder. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. 

News Local/State

We’re hearing more and more about how the food we eat affects our health.  So, it only makes sense that a foodbank would partner with a healthcare provider to give healthy food to those who need it.  Brian Moline spoke with Eastern Illinois Foodbank President & CEO Jim Hires about the program.

News Local/State

Champaign Federation of Teachers President Jennifer White says a large crowd turned out at Centennial High School's auditorium Wednesday to approve a strike authorization vote. The soonest a strike could happen is mid-to-late October, but White says the union remains optimistic heading into its ninth bargaining session with Unit 4 adminstrators on September 20.

News Local/State

The state of Illinois is investing $26 million in the completion of the University of Illinois’ new Integrated Bioprocessing Research Lab.

News Local/State

In observance of National Suicide Prevention Week, counselors at the University of Illinois’ Urbana campus have new tools to connect those in need with help. Those on campus are encouraged to try out Kognito At-Risk, a on-line simulation program. The U of I’s Counseling Center says there are more than 1,000 suicides on college campuses each year.

News Local/State

The president of the Champaign Federation of Teachers Local 1925 says a few sticking points remain as talks with Unit 4 administrators continue with a federal mediator. A strike authorization vote is planned for Wednesday, but it doesn't necessarily mean a strike would take place. If no progress is made after negotiations on September 20, proposals from both sides will be on public display for a week, as required by law before a strike can happen.

News Local/State

Fire damaged the meat processing plant run by Chinese-owned Smithfield Foods in Monmouth Monday evening. Crews from nine fire departments were called in to fight the fire.