There are many ways to track the toll of the state’s nearly two-year-old budget standoff. On the campuses of Illinois' public universities, one is the number of jobs cut.

There are 9,469 students enrolled at Western Illinois University at Macomb this spring semester. It's the first time this century Western's student body has dropped below 10,000.

About 50 faculty, staff and students from Western Illinois University gathered with community members Monday in Macomb for a demonstration to call for full state funding of higher education.

Members of the University Professionals of Illinois chapter at Western Illinois University voted overwhelmingly to defer 3% of their compensation for the next two years. They also agreed to pass up a negotiated 1% salary increase.

On the 21st: There are more than 175,000 Illinois kids with a parent in prison - we spoke with some of these families and the organizations that help them stay in touch. Also, a fusion energy testing facility is starting operations in Illinois. And $600 million will soon start flowing to Illinois colleges and universities. We spoke with the president of Western Illinois University about what this means for his campus.