Illinois Public Media News

Illinois public school students officially return from winter break this week. But some students, many of them Mexican-American, are still south of the border for the holidays. 

A task force that Gov. Bruce Rauner appointed to find ways to shrink Illinois government is recommending several changes that mirror the Republican's anti-union agenda. 

Phoenix Farms expects to open its location, called Phoenix Botanicals, at 1704 S. Neil Street sometime in March.  It's also hired Medical Cannabis Research, which will conduct a series of free seminars in the area to help patients understand the medical marijuana program. They're scheduled for late January and early February.

Awais Vaid, Director of Research and Planning with the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District, says the county went from 24 mumps cases in early December to just four since.  But he says each case needs to go through two incubation periods before being sure the illness has left the area.

Gov. Rauner's staff would not disclose details about his travels after leaving the country the weekend before Christmas. But Monday, the governor confirmed that he had been to Spain and Morocco.  A day earlier, on a visit to survey flood damage in Douglas County, the governor some information, saying two of his children are currently living overseas.