The family of a young woman killed in a hit-and-run crash in Urbana was in the courtroom hearing of 29-year-old Julio Bol. Bol is accused of killing their daughter, 20-year-old Katie Abraham, in a crash after consuming a large amount of alcohol, and then fleeing the scene. Joe and Michelle Abraham arrived in Urbana on Wednesday, marking exactly one month since the tragic accident that also claimed the life of their daughter, along with 21-year-old Chloe Polzin.
The Danville District 118 School Board voted on Wednesday night to appoint Assistant Superintendent John Hart as the district’s interim superintendent. Hart will step into the role while the Illinois Association of School Boards conducts a search for a permanent superintendent.
Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced a significant increase in the state’s investment earnings, up more than 11%, providing a crucial boost to Illinois’ finances amid ongoing budget challenges. The investment earnings for the first six months of Fiscal Year 2025 totaled $803.8 billion, an increase of $80.65 million from $723.2 billion during the same period in Fiscal Year 2024.
As Governon JB Pritzker prepares to deliver his annual budget address, Senate Republicans are pushing for greater transparency in state spending, specifically related to programs for asylum seekers and undocumented residents. With Illinois facing a projected $3.2 billion budget deficit in fiscal year 2026, GOP lawmakers are advocating for budget cuts rather than tax increases to address the shortfall.
As Illinois faces increasing energy demands alongside its renewable energy goals, state regulators and lawmakers are grappling with how to address key challenges. A recent hearing brought attention to the issues surrounding energy generation, efficiency programs, and data centers’ growing electricity usage.
Illinois suffered a 95-74 defeat at the hands of #11 Wisconsin on Sunday, ending their nine-game win streak over the Badgers and a four-game winning streak in Madison that dates back to 2019.
In a heartbreaking case out of Rantoul, a 54-year-old woman has been sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to child endangerment resulting in death. Rachelle Brown was initially facing charges of both child endangerment and involuntary manslaughter, but as part of a negotiated plea deal, the manslaughter charge was dropped, and she pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of child endangerment.
The Urbana Police Department, in partnership with the Illinois Liquor Commission, recently completed two alcohol compliance operations aimed at ensuring local businesses adhere to regulations prohibiting the sale of alcohol to minors.
The Eastern Illinois Foodbank is gearing up for its 2025 Prom Benefit for Hunger Relief, presented by Martinelli’s Market, on March 1 at the I Hotel & Conference Center in Champaign. The event aims to raise $125,000, which will help provide 375,000 meals for neighbors facing food insecurity in the region.
A lucky Illinois Lottery player turned a cold winter day into a $1 million payday after purchasing a Lotto ticket online instead of braving the freezing temperatures. The player matched all six numbers in the Lotto Million 1 drawing on Monday, February 17, winning the $1 million prize. The winning numbers were 8-16-20-25-42-46.