Illinois Public Media News

Minor league baseball players are suing Major League Baseball, claiming unfair pay. But a new proposal in Illinois would protect independent leagues from a similar lawsuit. 

Oklahoma State coach Brad Underwood is leaving Stillwater for Illinois after just one season, calling the chance to lead the Fighting Illini a "once in a lifetime opportunity." Underwood spent three successful seasons at Stephen F. Austin before signing on to coach Oklahoma State for 2016-17. "We were looking for a proven winner who would build upon our proud tradition while developing an unmistakable identity for Illinois basketball," Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman said in a statement. "Brad's teams play a fast, aggressive style and show unyielding toughness."

Gov. Bruce Rauner has taken his confrontation with the state's largest public-employee union to the Supreme Court. The Republican announced Friday that his office has asked the high court to uphold a labor board ruling in his favor. That ruling last fall allowed Rauner to impose his preferred contract conditions on 38,000 members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31.

On the 21st: We continued our series on news fatigue with a conversation about the TV shows that people are tuning into to escape - or better understand - current events. We also explored how the changing modern family has more dads taking kids to museums, and we spoke with two experts on how to make your own maple syrup.

Producer Norman Lear, who rose to prominence with programs like "All in The Family", and "The Jeffersons" has been announced as a guest at the 19th Annual Roger Ebert's Film Festival, scheduled for April 19-23 at Champaign's Virginia Theatre, accompanying the 2016 documentary "Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You." Also announced Friday as a guest is actress Isabelle Huppert, accompaying the 2016 thriller "Elle" for which she received an Oscar nomination.