Illinois Public Media News

Janet Reno, the first woman to serve as attorney general of the United States, died early Monday from complications of Parkinson's disease. Reno's goddaughter Gabrielle D'Alemberte and sister Margaret Hurchalla confirmed her passing to NPR.

The Mahomet-Seymour School Board is expected to approve a new school superintendent at a special meeting Monday night. A district news release says the candidate to be voted on is Lindsey Hall, the current superintendent of the Morton school district in Tazewell County.

University of Illinois graduate Tatyana McFadden has swept the four major marathons for the fourth straight year by winning the New York City Marathon women's wheelchair race. The 2014 University of Illinois graduate finished Sunday with an unofficial time of 1 hour, 47 minutes, 43 seconds. The U of I's Josh George finished third in the men's wheelchair division. 

There wasn't supposed to be an election for a statewide constitutional officer this year, but Democrats essentially foisted one, following the sudden death of Republican Judy Baar Topinka. That's led to an expensive, competitive race for comptroller this year --- a race that could show who's winning the war of public opinion in Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan's battle for Illinois' future.

Who knows what would have happened had Democrats held onto the governor's office in 2014?

Jeff George Jr. threw for 140 yards and two touchdowns Saturday, the second a 16-yard strike to Sam Mays that gave Illinois a 31-27 win over Michigan State.
 
The win broke a two-game losing streak for the Illini (3-6, 2-4 Big Ten). It also extended the Spartans' misery. Michigan State (2-7, 0-6) has lost seven in a row.