Illinois Public Media News

The Champaign City Council has taken the initial step towards providing police body cameras for all city officers.  Members unanimously endorsed providing the cameras for 125 officers in Tuesday’s study session, with a final contract expected in 4 to 6 weeks. Police Chief Anthony Cobb says the cameras increase accountability, and make things safer for both the officer and the public.

Chris Kennedy’s introduction to the media as a potential candidate for Illinois governor in 2018 got off to a rocky start at the Democratic National Convention. After a speech in which he criticized Governor Bruce Rauner, the former chairman of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees attempted to rush past reporters, and would not answer questions about possibly running for governor himself in 2018.

Harness racing --- horses racing at a trot or gait while pulling a driver in a two-wheeled cart --- is a longtime feature of the Champaign County Fair in Urbana. But races that were held every weekday at the fair a decade ago are now reduced to a single session set for Tuesday evening at 7 PM.

On the 21st: We continued our conversation on race, policing and violence. We also talked to an Illinois Democratic candidate who spoke at the Convention in Philadelphia yesterday, and learned about a special program that allows children to spend time with their mothers, who are also inmates.

Jonathan Mills, a member of the 2016 team from Chicago, died Monday afternoon after being shot outside a store on the city's west side.  A Chicago Sun-Times report indicates Mills was shot multiple times in the 4100 block of West Roosevelt, and was pronounced dead at the scene. He was also a standout player for North Lawndale High School and Southern Miss.