Illinois Public Media News

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.

Public health agencies in Illinois are starting to incorporate climate change into what they do. Plus, what happens when police confiscate your property, even if you weren't ever charged with a crime. We'll also learn why Rep. John Shimkus is retiring after more than 20 years in Congress, and talk about whether location-sharing apps like Find My Friends can be creepy, useful, or both.

Illinois State University freshman enrollment jumped nearly 5% this fall—its largest freshman class in 33 years.

While most of a turbine can be recycled or find a second life on another wind farm, researchers estimate the U.S. will have more than 720,000 tons of blade material to dispose of over the next 20 years, a figure that doesn’t include newer, taller, higher-capacity versions.

State Representative Mike Marron says he’s formed an exploratory committee for a possible run to succeed U.S. Rep. John Shimkus in Congress.