WILL-AM

News Local/State

GOP leaders in the Illinois General Assembly are proposing $1.3 billion in spending for human services. They say most of the money would come from state funds set up for special purposes.

News Local/State

It was a year ago Thursday that a Cessna plane crash claimed the lives of two members of Illinois State University's athletic staff, as well as five community members.  The group was on their way back from the NCAA men's basketball championship. 

News Local/State

Chalk messages supporting presidential candidate Donald Trump and criticizing undocumented immigrants raised concerns when they were found on sidewalks outside the building housing the Dept. of Latina/Latino Studies on the University of Illinois Urbana campus.

News Local/State

The annual arts festival features hundreds of artists at more than 90 venues throughout Champaign County.

News Local/State

Utlity company Ameren has filed a request with the Illinois Commerce Commission for an electric delivery rate decrease.  If approved, it's not known how much the change will impact bills, but it wouldn't go into effect until January 2017.  Ameren gas customers are also expected to see a reduction now in their bills due to a drop in the cost of natural gas.

News Local/State

Illinois has more than $100 billion in pension debt. So far, attempts to fix it have been mostly illegal.

News Local/State

It's been nearly a week since Decatur's 5-cent a gallon motor fuel tax, for street repairs, took effect.  The city is also is charging a extra penny for diesel fuel.  Jay Billingsley, a third-generation gas station owner, calls it a "tough pill to swallow," but says he also has many loyal customers.  Public Works Director Rick Marley says the tax is needed for "hundreds" of projects.

News Local/State

Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert is asking for probation in his hush-money case. His lawyers cite the former Illinois congressman's health and say in a new court filing that he's already paid a high price. They note Hastert's "fall from grace has been swift and devastating."  The Chicago Tribune Thursday cited unidentified law enforcement sources as saying at least four people have made "credible allegations of sexual abuse.'

News Local/State

High School social studies teacher Greg Stock was sworn in Tuesday night, after the Champaign City Council chose him from a field of ten applicants to take the District Four council seat left vacant by the departure of Marci Dodds.

News Local/State

Bees are essential to our lives, yet they are dying by the thousands. Experts say there's no one solution for protecting them.