Illinois Public Media News

The city of Granite City in the Metro East is facing a lawsuit claiming its crime-free housing rules are unconstitutional.

University of Illinois officials say they will take extra steps to vet financial aid applications from students involved in guardianship cases. The decision comes after university officials identified 14 instances in which parents had a student put under the guardianship of a friend or relative, so they could qualify for more financial aid. 

Unlike other rural towns in central Illinois, officials in Beardstown say their population is growing. And they want to make sure everyone is counted in the 2020 census. 

For this week’s Illinois Issues, we look at the challenges to an accurate count and what’s at risk if not everyone participates.

We revisit a conversation with Chicago author Kelly O’Connor McNees. Her novel, "Undiscovered Country," is a work of historical fiction about first Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and her relationship with journalist Lorena Hickok. And, Gary Mills joins us to talk about the art of communication.

Because her body has never been found, there has never been a funeral held for Yingying Zhang. But a memorial service for the visiting scholar from China has being planned, and will involve her family.  The service is planned for Friday, August 9 at 1 PM at First Baptist Church at Savoy, 1602 S. Prospect Avenue in Savoy.