Illinois Public Media News

Students across the state participated in a national school walk-out on Wednesday. A sophomore at the University of Illinois Laboratory High School, Salma El-Naggar, said she helped organize a demonstration at the Urbana school to memorialize the 17 people who were murdered by a gunman last month during a school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Florida. The demonstration was also intended, she said, to spotlight the need for more gun control measures.

On the 21st: Governor Rauner has vetoed a bill that would have required gun dealers to get a license from the state. Also, anti-semitism incidents increased last year, what's behind this trend. And, on national Pi Day, should we be feasting on sweet or savory? But first, students across Illinois walked out of schools this morning to demand better gun control. We talk to two high schoolers and organizers about what's next.  

Cynthia “Cindy” Cunningham is one of the two Democrats (the other is the Rev. Frank McCullough, Jr. of Danville) competing in the March 20 primary to be their party’s nominee in the 104th Illinois House District, which includes Danville and Rantoul.

Three Ford County men have been charged with arson in the bombing last year of a mosque in suburban Minneapolis.

Apart from the gubernatorial campaigns, the big question nationally is whether Republicans can hold on to Congress. Here in Illinois, several districts are up for grabs. We checked in with reporters from all over the state to give us the rundown of what's going on in their local communities.