June 17, 2017

Sen. Barickman On School Funding ‘Compromise’

Earlier this week, a group of Illinois Republicans announced a series of compromise measures they said could lead to a state budget. It includes a revised school funding plan, sponsored by State Senator Jason Barickman, of Bloomington.

Barickman calls his latest plan quote a huge step forward. It omits controversial language about collective bargaining, and on some areas, it duplicates the Democrats' plan, known as Senate Bill 1. But like Gov. Bruce Rauner and his education czar, Beth Purvis, Barickman still isn't happy with that plan.

June 16, 2017

Champaign’s Courage Connection Turns To Donations To Keep Doors Open

A Champaign social service agency has turned to the community to keep it open while it waits for an end to the state budget crisis. Courage Connection works with domestic violence victims and the homeless. As part of its ongoing series on the effects of the budget situation, Illinois Public Media talked to Courage Connection’s Megan Wolf.

June 16, 2017

Illinois Senate Leader To House: You Don’t Need Governor To Make Budget Deal

Days away from a special session called by Gov. Bruce Rauner, Illinois Senate Pres. John Cullerton says the legislature "doesn't need the governor" to enact an elusive budget deal to end a two-year impasse.

June 16, 2017

Governor Rauner Calls Special Sessions To Work On Budget

Governor Bruce Rauner has called ten “special sessions” for the end of the month. He wants lawmakers to vote on the Republican budget plan unveiled Wednesday — a plan that also includes items on his political and economic wish list.

June 16, 2017

NIU President Doug Baker Will Leave Office June 30

Northern Illinois University President Doug Baker will step down on June 30, the end of the current academic year. He made the announcement at the beginning of the NIU Board of Trustees meeting, which had scheduled a closed session on its agenda to review “Presidential Employment.”

June 15, 2017

Welch Will Retire As Champaign County Treasurer At Year’s End

After a career spent with the Champaign County Treasurer’s office, county Treasurer Dan Welch says he’ll be retiring at year’s end.

June 15, 2017

Senator Rose Says Budget Pieces In Place, If Madigan Willing To act

State Senator Chapin Rose of Mahomet believes the pieces could be in place for an end to the long state budget impasse _ provided powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan is willing to act.

June 15, 2017

Social Service Agencies Demand Payment In Court — ‘This Is Not Charity’

Dozens of Illinois’ social service providers were back in court Wednesday in downstate Belleville. Many have gone nearly a year without funding during the budget stalemate. They’re asking a St. Clair County judge to force Illinois to pay.

June 15, 2017

What We Know About The Suspect In GOP Baseball Practice Shooting

The FBI says the man who opened fire on a group of Republican members of Congress on Wednesday is 66-year-old James T. Hodgkinson of Belleville, Ill., who was shot by police and later died at a hospital.

June 15, 2017

Authorities Continue Search For Missing U Of I Scholar

26-year-old Yingying Zhang, a visiting scholar at the University of Illinois, was last seen Friday afternoon getting into a black Saturn Astra on North Goodwin Ave. in Urbana.