December 30, 2016

Report: Auction Preceded Move To Group Homes In Illinois

A published report details problems during former Gov. Pat Quinn's administration as Illinois closed an institution for adults withdevelopmental disabilities. The Chicago Tribune reports state officials required
group home operators to promise not to undermine the closure plans - or risk getting no referrals to fill beds. The Tribune reports 67 businesses signed a loyalty pledge to avoid being shut out of referrals in what amounted to an auction.

December 30, 2016

Putin Says Russia Won’t Expel Diplomats In Response To U.S. Sanctions

Russian President Vladimir Putin says Russia won't be expelling U.S. diplomats in a tit-for-tat response to U.S. sanctions, as his foreign minister had suggested earlier Friday. Instead, he says he will decide how to move forward depending on the actions of President-elect Donald Trump's administration.

December 30, 2016

More Illinois Voters Took A Pass On Presidential Race

While Hillary Clinton won the presidential race in the State of Illinois, a lot of voters chose "none of the above."  Nearly 130-thousand voters skipped the presidential category on the ballot, leaving that blank.  That's more than three times the number who sat out the presidential race 4 years earlier.  

December 30, 2016

Voices In the News 2016

As we get ready to welcome 2017, we thought we’d take a few minutes to listen back to another tough year in Illinois government and politics. We heard Republicans struggling to reckon with Donald Trump’s presidential candidacy, Democrats and Republicans engaging in another year of war over the soul of Illinois policy, and a growing list of everyday people being crushed by the budget standoff. Here now are some of the voices that made news in 2016.

December 29, 2016

Obama Announces Sanctions Against Russia In Response To Cyberattacks

President Obama has imposed sanctions on Russian officials and intelligence services in retaliation for Russia's interference in the U.S. presidential election by hacking American political sites and email accounts. The State Department also has kicked out 35 Russian diplomats from its embassy in Washington and consulate in San Francisco, giving them and their families 72 hours to leave the U.S.

December 29, 2016

Rosecrance Prepares For More State Funding Cuts

Rosecrance executive director Sheila Ferguson remains hopeful that the agency can partner with other local agencies to weather any further state cuts in 2017.

December 29, 2016

Libraries Struggle To Reach Entire Champaign-Urbana Community

Since 2011, the Champaign Public Library has lost more than 8,000 cardholders, dropping 21 percent from 37,710 to 29,657, according to library data. The Urbana Free Library has lost about 1,100 cardholders in the same time period. It had 13,880 cardholders in 2011 and now has 12,762 cardholders, a decrease of 8.1 percent.

December 29, 2016

Frerichs End-Of-Year Part Two: Budget Impasse, Combining Offices, What’s Next

We continue our conversation with Illinois treasurer Michael Frerichs.  Today we focus on the budget impasse and other issues facing the state of Illinois.  The Champaign Democrat says that right now both sides need to do more listening.

December 28, 2016

Champaign Churches Join Forces To Help Homeless During Winter

Champaign’s faith-based community has a short-term plan for two churches to provide overnight shelter to homeless men during the winter months. Two churches, First Presbyterian and Faith United Methodist, will be taking in up 30 men from the second week of January through March. Another site, New Covenant Fellowship Church, could be serving as a shelter soon, after some fire safety code updates. But conversations for a permanent site are ongoing.

December 28, 2016

Actress Debbie Reynolds Dies A Day After Daughter Carrie Fisher’s Death

Actress Debbie Reynolds has died, just one day after the death of her daughter, actress Carrie Fisher, NPR has confirmed. Hours before reports of her death, The Los Angeles Fire Department confirmed to NPR that an elderly female was transported to Cedar Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. Reynolds, 84, has had a long and celebrated career as a film actress — she was in the classic "Singing' in the Rain" — a TV star — "The Debbie Reynolds Show" — and a Broadway and Las Vegas star.