Illinois Public Media News

Dr. Jennifer Ivory-Tatum, the school administrator whose planned demotion caused controversy in the Urbana school district, is taking a job with the Champaign school district.

On the 21st: Why hundreds of families in the southern Illinois town of Cairo are being forced to move. Plus, lawawmakers scramble to make progress on the budget as the end of the legislative session nears. And, a new study has surprising results about who eats the most fast food.

The spring legislative session has been overshadowed by a 22-month stretch without a budget. Nevertheless, meaty legislation is being weighed. Those issues include abortion, wage theft, animal research and criminal justice.

Former governor Pat Quinn was back in the Illinois Statehouse Monday. The Democrat was there for a ceremony to unveil his official portrait in the Capitol’s Hall of Governors.   The 68-year-old Democrat who stepped into the job when his predecessor was ousted donated the first "interactive" portrait. It depicts Quinn in his "lucky" purple-striped tie. He stands in front of a background of 44 instances of people, issues and events from more than four decades in public service.

Some Champaign-Urbana churches are installing solar panels with help from a new state law promoting carbon-free electricity. A ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday celebrated the installation of solar energy panels at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Urbana. The 81 panels are expected to provide nearly 70 percent of the church’s electricity needs.