Illinois Public Media News

Dr. Ronald Lynch runs a family dentistry in Jacksonville. He says approximately 20 percent of his patients are state workers. Because Illinois is still running with no budget, the state has not been paying its employees’ health bills on time — and the delays are growing.

Some of the candidates seeking seats on the Parkland College Board of Trustees admit further budget cuts may have to be considered amid a nearly two-year state budget impasse. Tuition hikes, the future of Parkland's sports programs, and the viability of having some four-year degree programs were also among the topics discussed among the community college's ten Board of Trustees candidates Monday night. 

The chair of a committee set up to deal with Unofficial Saint Patrick’s Day at the University of Illinois Urbana campus says he cannot be certain that the death of a student was definitely due to the unsanctioned event. Dean of Students Kenneth Ballom says the very nature of 'Unofficial' as a de-centralized, unorganized event makes it hard to be sure that the fatal fall of Jonathan Morales from a Champaign apartment balcony was truly a part of it.

On the 21st: What are the legal obligations Washington lawmakers have to their constituents? Plus, with all the discussion about repealing the Affordable Care Act, we discuss what this would mean for people in Illinois. We also check in with Peoria Journal Star’s Chris Kaergard and the AP’s John O’Connor for the latest in Illinois politics, and discuss recent changes to major league baseball with WBEZ sports reporter Cheryl Raye Stout.

It’s Severe Weather Preparedness Week in Illinois.  The state saw its first round of severe weather last week when tornadoes killed three people.  The National Weather Service is looking for severe weather spotters to help give people advance warning of severe weather.