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‘Slap in the face’: Decatur Public Schools custodians say they were offered lower raises than other employees

SEIU Local 73 members rally in Decatur in September 2023 during previous contract negotiations. Photo: Emily Hays/IPM News DECATUR— Decatur Public Schools offered custodians a raise of 60 cents per ...
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U of I’s historic round barns set for renovations following $10M alum gift

From left to right, Barbara Clark, College of Veterinary Medicine Associate Dean for Advancement Christine Dietrich, Provost John Coleman, College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Peter Constable and ...
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Data center development is paused in Champaign County. That’s not curbing interest from developers though

Mika Raviv, right, leads data center protesters towards Alma Mater on Friday, Sept. 25. Raviv is action coordinator for the Students for Environmental Concerns. Photo: Olivia Taylor/Illinois Student ...
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Republican Congressman Mike Bost on Medicaid, Iran war, and why he won’t debate his opponent

Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill., attends a House GOP news conference calling for the reopening of the Department of Homeland Security during the partial shutdown, Thursday, March 5, 2026, in Washington. Photo: ...
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C-U Reparations Coalition receives $1M to help repair harms caused by slavery, systemic racism

Mikiya Thomas and Sharon Irish hold up a ceremonial $1 million check at the Champaign-Urbana Reparations Coalition meeting on Oct. 15, 2026. A large part of the money, which comes from an anonymous ...
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Champaign County Board passes resolution prohibiting tax breaks for data centers

Champaign County Board member John Farney speaks during the board’s meeting in Urbana on Oct. 13., 2026. The board unanimously passed a resolution prohibiting tax abatements for hyperscale data center ...
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Two years after Illinois Answers exposed restraint-chair abuse, jails are doing better

At least ten Illinois county jails that weren’t reporting their use of restraint chairs to a state monitoring unit began doing so after an Illinois Answers Project investigation revealed jails were ...
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Natural American cheese? A Midwest company has revamped the ooey gooey classic

A grilled cheese sandwich made with Sargento natural American cheese is grilled at Sargento Foods Inc. in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Photo: Angela Major/Wisconsin Public Radio Rudy’s Drive-In in La ...
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Champaign County officials vote down Mahomet-led effort to ban leaf burning

Michelle Luksander, who lives in unincorporated Champaign County, speaks in opposition of a proposed leaf burning ban on Oct. 8, 2026. Photo: YouTube URBANA – Champaign County officials unanimously ...
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Youth speak out against violence in C-U neighborhoods

Tyshawn Clark, center, speaks at the gun violence response meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the YMCA’s “Y on the Fly” location on Springfield Avenue in Champaign. CHAMPAIGN – Recent shootings in ...
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WILL CALL: What’s Happening in Central Illinois October 15-18

Seasonal activities, jazz performances, a flea market and more are coming to central Illinois this weekend. Listen to Sam Rink and Lyric Roy talk about weekend events on IPM News AM 580 and FM 90.9 – ...
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WILL CALL: What’s Happening in Central Illinois October 8-11

Details: From Thursday through Saturday, hear from folk, bluegrass, world and traditional artists and participate in family friendly activities in the oldest folk music festival in central Illinois.