Illinois Public Media News

The annual arts festival features hundreds of artists at more than 90 venues throughout Champaign County.

Utlity company Ameren has filed a request with the Illinois Commerce Commission for an electric delivery rate decrease.  If approved, it's not known how much the change will impact bills, but it wouldn't go into effect until January 2017.  Ameren gas customers are also expected to see a reduction now in their bills due to a drop in the cost of natural gas.

Illinois has more than $100 billion in pension debt. So far, attempts to fix it have been mostly illegal.

It's been nearly a week since Decatur's 5-cent a gallon motor fuel tax, for street repairs, took effect.  The city is also is charging a extra penny for diesel fuel.  Jay Billingsley, a third-generation gas station owner, calls it a "tough pill to swallow," but says he also has many loyal customers.  Public Works Director Rick Marley says the tax is needed for "hundreds" of projects.

Former House Speaker Dennis Hastert is asking for probation in his hush-money case. His lawyers cite the former Illinois congressman's health and say in a new court filing that he's already paid a high price. They note Hastert's "fall from grace has been swift and devastating."  The Chicago Tribune Thursday cited unidentified law enforcement sources as saying at least four people have made "credible allegations of sexual abuse.'