Illinois Public Media News

As President Donald Trump continues to wage a multi-front trade war with some of the U.S.’ biggest economic partners, farmers have borne some of the heaviest financial burden.

Champaign County will lose two of its weekly newspapers at the end of this month, when the Leader and the County Star put out their final editions. Both papers announced in their August 16 issues that they would be ending publication.

On August 10, a San Francisco court ordered the agribusiness company Monsanto to pay nearly $290 million in damages to a California man who alleges his cancer was caused by Roundup, the company’s most widely used herbicide. The Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting reached out to Charles Benbrook, one expert for the plaintiff, to learn more about the trial and what it could mean for the future of glyphosate. 

Governor Bruce Rauner defended his amendatory veto of the Illinois Secure Choice retirement savings plan, during a visit to the University of Illinois to sign legislation on Thursday.

For nearly half a century, the Taste of Champaign-Urbana festival has showcased local art, music and food. The event will take place this weekend at West Side Park in Champaign, and organizers say this year will be one of the busiest yet.