Illinois Public Media News

A federal judge in Chicago has imposed the same 14-year prison term for Rod Blagojevich at the former Illinois governor’s resentencing hearing in his corruption case. He may again appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Last week, Illinois Public Media reported on how PACE, an Urbana-based agency for people with disabilities, was protesting the loss of state funding for one of its programs. Now, state officials say the program was the unfortunate casualty of new rules for judging funding applications.

An Urbana man who set out to cycle across the country last year after being diagnosed with ALS has died. Ray Spooner was injured on that ride, but was determined to finish. Last November, he dipped the front wheel of his bicycle into the Atlantic Ocean and crossed one more item off his bucket list.

Voters in Champaign County could be asked this fall to support a 1/4-cent sales tax to address facilities needs. County Board Chair Rick Snider says priorities include closing the downtown Urbana jail, and expansion of the satellite site, as well closing the Brookens Administrative Center to move county government to downtown Urbana. The county board would have to approve the plan by August 18 for the question to appear on the November ballot.

On the 21st: We talked with evangelical pastor Jim Wallis about why he says racism is America's "original sin." Plus, Dave Isay on his book "Callings: The Purpose and Passion of Work" and his own calling as founder of StoryCorps.