Illinois Public Media News

Champaign Police are waiting for an autopsy to tell them whether human remains recovered Sunday from Clinton Lake are that of Ashley Chemere Gibson.

FEMA has denied the state's appeal for federal assistance to help local governments in Vermilion, Moultrie and 15 other counties that suffered storm damage in December and January.

The Illinois House and Senate both voted Friday morning to approve a $600 million short-term funding fix for financially struggling colleges and universities that have been without funding during the state budget stalemate.

A judge has dismissed criminal charges against Jack McCullough, but is making no immediate decision on a request to appoint a special prosecutor in the case of the 76-year-old man who a state's attorney says was wrongly convicted in a 1957 killing.  

On The 21st: Thursday night, Illinois university presidents awaited news of a funding measure that would’ve provided them with the first state funds in almost a year - until it fell through. We spoke with an statehouse reporter in Springfield who filled us in on Friday's activities, including the eventual passage of a bill that would enable funding for state universities. Plus, we spoke with choreographer Endalyn Taylor about the musical, Kiss Me, Kate, and her dance career; the Midwest and Jewish origins of one of America's most popular cookbooks; and we honor Prince with a song.