WILL-AM

News Local/State

Fresh from a trade trip to Havana, US. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-13) says he has hopes that a group formed to promote trade between Illinois and Cuba will be able to open an office in the island nation.

News Local/State

GOP Congressman John Shimkus says there's no one else of Paul Ryan's stature that can take on the job and work with members of the Tea Party. And Republican colleague Rodney Davis believes Ryan, who is currently weighing family considerations, will eventually be named House Speaker. 

News Local/State

An attorney for the Illinois Republican says a written plea agreement in Hastert's hush-money case is expected by Monday.  A plea deal would avert a trial and help keep any potentially embarrassing secrets quiet.

News Local/State

Urbana’s Ray Spooner is planning to ride his bicycle all the way across the country.  He and his group are setting out from San Diego, California this weekend.  But as Illinois Public Media's Brian Moline learned, what Ray is calling his “little ride,” is anything but little.

News Local/State

The task force would investigate racial disparity in jails and the criminal justice system, trying to figure out why African-Americans are over-represented in jails. It would then go to the board with proposed solutions.

News Local/State

A bigger portion of older people's income could be going to healthcare costs next year. As Hannah Meisel reports, this change is based on something seemingly unrelated: Low gas prices.

News Local/State

Illinois won't make its next pension payment. Comptroller Leslie Munger announced Wednesday she can't, because the state doesn't have the cash. That'll require Illinois to tap into its pension accounts which could further exacerbate the impact on the funds.

News Local/State

Salaita, whose faculty appointment was withdrawn after a series of controversial tweets criticizing Israel, spoke with Illinois Public Media's Jim Meadows, during a visit to Champaign-Urbana Tuesday. He was in town to talk about his new book, "Uncivil Rites: Palestine and the Limits of Academic Freedom".

News Local/State

Alderwoman Diane Marlin says the ordinance enables the city to commit its full $95,000 payment for 911 service, but Mayor Laurel Prussing still has the final say.  Marlin says it's just one area where local governments are suffering because of inaction by state lawmakers.

News Local/State

Calling it a "very inefficient use of space", Gov. Bruce Rauner says he wants to hold a public auction to sell the Thompson Center, which houses state govt. offices in downtown Chicago.