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Illinois continues to struggle to fill vacancies on public boards, state audit shows
State boards and commissions tasked with solving some of Illinois’ biggest problems have been left with hundreds of vacancies for appointed positions and often didn’t have enough members to conduct business, a report released last month from the state auditor general found. The report covered a two-year period ending in 2022, but many of the issues in filling seats on boards and commissions ...
Raoul says Illinois gun ban should remain in place
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said the attempted assassination of former President Trump demonstrates why the state’s gun ban should remain in place. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that Illinois’ ban is ‘highly suspect because it broadly prohibits common semiautomatic firearms used for lawful purposes.”
ILLINOIS STATE NEWS BRIEF (07/22/2024)
(SPRINGFIELD) Governor J.B. Pritzker signed 68 more bills into law this past Friday. One of the four measures that take effect January 1st, 2025, is House Bill 5457 prevents professional license denial or disciplinary action against someone based solely on immigration status or an immigration violation. House Bill 5465 allows human trafficking victims, who were children at the time of the crime, to have their juvenile records expunged or sealed of any criminal acts they were forced to take part in while being abused. House Bill 5370 expands the state’s “Move Over Law” requiring drivers to reduce their speed in & around emergency crash scenes. House Bill 5238 requires newly built manufactured homes to have weather radios installed, plus also promotes regular maintenance of safety devices in mobile home communities. To look over the list of new laws, go to gov-pritzker-newsroom.prezly.com.
Big Changes Coming to Olive Garden and Illinois Isn’t Happy
In a time when wallets are tightening and restaurants across the nation are feeling the heat, Olive Garden’s parent company, Darden Restaurants, is taking a daring stand that’s leaving many customers dissatisfied. Olive Garden's Bold Move Leaves Customers with a Bitter Taste. As inflation drives up operational costs...
Madigan confidant asks for severance from upcoming corruption trial, claiming ex-speaker’s legal team could ‘ambush’ him
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s relationship with Michael McClain was perhaps best described by McClain himself, who wrote a personal note to the speaker when he retired from lobbying in 2016, saying he’d still be at the ready for special “assignments” whenever Madigan beckoned. “I am at the bridge with my musket standing with and for the Madigan family,” McClain wrote at the ...
Illinois teen Isabella Coleman-Sullivan looks to shine at Miss Amazing Summit
ROSEMONT, Ill. - In this morning’s Good News Guarantee, the Miss Amazing National Summit is taking place this weekend in Rosemont. The program shines a spotlight on women with disabilities who go tot extraordinary lengths to help their communities. Isabella Coleman-Sullivan is the Illinois Miss Teen Amazing. She uses...
Paxton Aquatic Wildcats win home meet over Gibson Area Swim Team
PAXTON – The Paxton Aquatic Wildcats defeated the Gibson Area Swim Team 259-171 on Monday. The Paxton girls won 175-68 while the GAST boys won 103-84. In the girls’ age 8-and-under 100-meter medley relay, Paxton’s Emma Doolen, Kinley Garrell, Reagan Loschen and Maci Stafford finished first with a time of 2:27.
Rural student “didn’t see any changes” after Illinois LGBTQ+ history law passed
CUBA — Amber Cannon came out as nonbinary in fifth grade in rural, western Illinois. Around that time, in 2019, a new Illinois law also came out requiring public schools to teach LGBTQ+ history every year. Cannon followed the news of the law and saw little change in Cuba’s...
Jordan Chapman hired as Paxton Park District’s recreation director
PAXTON – The Paxton Park Board approved the hiring of Jordan Chapman as the Paxton Park District’s recreation director during a special meeting held Monday. The St. Anne resident replaces Kayden Snelling, who resigned last May. Since Snelling’s resignation, the park board received 27 applications for the recreation director position.
U of I Archives detail story of Illini Olympian 100 years after gold medal wins
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The 2024 Summer Olympics kick off this week in Paris, exactly 100 years after the city last hosted the games. The United States won 45 gold medals in 1924, and two of them were won by a Fighting Illini. Harold Osborn was a member of the Illinois track and field team […]
Two new Illinois staffers announced before Big Ten Football Media Day
(WCIA) — Illinois football announced two additions to the coaching staff before heading to Indianapolis for Big Ten Media Day. Myers Henrickson will join the staff as a senior analyst, coming off two seasons at the helm of Western Illinois, his alma mater. Dana Dimel, who spent the last six seasons with the UTEP Miners, […]
Field Representatives wanted for Urbana Special Census
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — If you’re looking for a part-time job in Urbana, there may be an opportunity for you. The City asked the Census Bureau for a recount. Mayor Diane Marlin said getting help to make that happen is more important now than ever before. The city is losing about $750,000 each year for […]
UI team creating VR training on cultural sensitivity for physicians
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — A team at the University of Illinois is developing a series of virtual reality training modules to help improve cultural competency between patients and doctors. The three modules aim to help health care professionals be more mindful of how they communicate with a wide array of patients, particularly people of color. […]
Krannert Art Museum’s opening night celebration is August 31st
July is just about to turn into August, and before we know it, the fall semester will be at our doorstep. Krannert Art Museum has announced their opening night celebration will take place on Saturday, August 31st with a reception in the East Gallery and Link Gallery on the Main Level from 5 to 7 p.m.
Speech Experts Really Don’t Like How You’re Saying ‘Illinois’
There are rebels in our midst that are saying what should be an obvious word incorrectly. It's such a problem that the speech experts have issued a warning to everyone that has managed to say "Illinois" incorrectly. I'm a live and let live kind of person. If you want to...
Student STEAM showcase at Lincoln Square Mall
You know I get psyched about all things students and STEAM. Head over to Lincoln Square Mall tomorrow (Tuesday, July 23rd) at 10 a.m. for a glimpse of the 2024 Street College and Ghetto Genius Universe programming funded through the State of Illinois and by the cities of Champaign and Urbana. The showcase, which includes a not-to-be-missed fashion show and displays and demos of STEM and STEAM projects, will be inside Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana on Tuesday, July 23 from 10 a.m. to noon.
Two more pro-Palestine activists charged with Mob Action from U of I protest
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — Two more people were recently charged for incidents that took place at April’s pro-Palestine protests on the University of Illinois campus. 35-year-old Elizabeth Sotiropoulos of Champaign and 25-year-old Joseph Kleckner of Savanna were each charged with mob action and obstructing a peace officer, Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz confirmed. They […]
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