Illinois Public Media News

Analysis: University of Illinois Springfield Distinguished Public Finance Professor Kenneth Kriz co-edited a book that documents the evolution of tax increment financing, an economic and community development method widely used across the country, including in Illinois, which has more than 1,400 TIF districts in over 500 municipalities. Tax Increment Financing and Economic Development: Uses, Structures, and Impacts was recently published by SUNY Press.

State and national lawmakers, victims’ rights advocates and students called for a review of sexual harassment policies at the University of Illinois following an investigation by NPR Illinois and ProPublica that found gaps in the way sexual misconduct allegations were handled at the system’s flagship campus.

A group of middle schoolers in Kewanee have made a claymation film for their art class. It follows 10-year-old asylum seeker Estrella on her way from El Salvador to the U.S. Plus, beginning this school year, Illinois students will be required to participate in active shooter drills. But some parents worry the drills may do more harm than good. And, last month, Weight Watchers released a weight loss app targeted at kids as young as eight years old. It caused a public outcry. We’ll discuss how we should talk about health and food with kids. 

Across the United States, there’s a push to give new doctors cultural training to work with refugees and other immigrants. And some say it’s the difference between healthy and sick patients.

The student accused of hanging a noose in an elevator at a University of Illinois residence hall in Urbana is no longer enrolled on campus. A U of I spokesperson would not comment on whether 19-year-old Andrew Smith had been expelled, saying federal privacy laws prevent the release of any additional information.