Illinois Public Media News

Former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar has some advice for the man currently in the job. Governor Bruce Rauner's fellow Republican says it's time to back down and compromise.

As if Abraham Lincoln wasn’t enough, a small central Illinois town can lay claim to a visit from Marilyn Monroe. The actress visited the community of Bement in Piatt County 60 years ago this week.  It's known for being the site where Lincoln and Stephen Douglas met to plan their famous debates.  But on a day in the summer of 1955, it was Marilyn’s town.

In a statement, Wise said 'external issues have arisen over the past year that have distracted us from the important tasks at hand.'  She will return to faculty.  U of I President Timothy Killeen said he's in the process of selecting an interm chancellor.

Rantoul and Champaign Police officials say armed robbery suspect Darius Graves was shot by a Champaign SWAT teamleader, because he appeared to be holding a gun as he ran from his motel room after a standoff. The gun turned out to be a steel pipe wrapped in cloth, but the Champaign County State's Attorney says the shooting was "legally appropriate".

A federal judge has rejected a request by the U of I to dismiss Steven Salaita's lawsuit against the university, but dismissed four of the nine counts. Salaita is suing the university, for withdrawing his faculty appointment after he sent out a series of sometimes profane Twitter messages critical of Israel.