Enjoyed the wide-ranging, LIVE radio conversation this past week with @brianmackey.com for @ilpublicmedia.bsky.social @21st.show. Give it a listen.

The County Board voted unanimously Thursday night to create a data center task force. In parallel, Champaign County is working to implement a 12-month ban on the construction of new large-scale facilities.

University Professionals of Illinois President John Miller said Pritzker “should be embarrassed” at the proposal, given the rate of inflation.

From Champaign County Executive to U.S. Senate and House seats, several local and statewide races are on the ballot in Illinois’ March 17 primary election. IPM has been covering those races to give voters accurate information and context before heading to the polls. Here is what you need to know:

R. Cary Capparelli is seeking the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate race in Illinois. He works in marketing, teaches geography, and is the son of a longtime Illinois Democratic state legislator.

Severe thunderstorms remain on track for today, mainly from the afternoon to early evening. Read more:

If immigration agents do have a warrant, the order requires them to take off any face coverings and display their official badges. Matt Sullard said that was a commonsense requirement to ensure they can be held accountable if they do not follow the law.

As Illinois awaits federal court decisions about federal funding and braces for more federal cuts and rising costs, Gov. JB Pritzker is proposing limited new spending. The budget proposed by Pritzker on Wednesday largely maintains the status quo, and forgoes significant broad-based tax increases.

At a press conference in Champaign, State Representative Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) joined the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition, a group of environmental advocacy organizations, to sound the alarm on data centers.

IPM will provide a livestream video of the speech at 12 PM. @21st.show will have a preview and live coverage of the address.

In a digital world designed to maximize "watch time" at any cost, Sara DeWitt sees PBS Kids as the essential alternative for parents navigating a chaotic media landscape.

Primaries are just around the corner! 🗳️ Ahead of the March 17 primary, the two Democrats running for Champaign County Executive shared their views on federal immigration enforcement and whether the position of county executive should be appointed or elected at a candidate forum hosted by IPM News.

At the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, visitors can shop for sweatshirts, pillows, jewelry and chocolates using coins bearing the face of perhaps the most-famous Illinoisian, Abraham Lincoln. But even here, pennies are growing scarce at the cash register.

Maddie Stover and Andrew Pritchard talk about the impact of the Trump Administration’s proposed cuts to federal climate research funding and how it has targeted the National Center for Atmospheric Research, which aims to improve weather forecasting, safety, agriculture and disaster preparedness.

Building on the foundation of the popular Teen Summit of the 1990's, @ilpublicmedia.bsky.social and assistant professor Malaika McKee are creating a new version for today's teens. The initiative is backed by BET co-founder and Illinois alum Sheila Johnson.

After back-to-back losses, the Illinois men’s basketball team (21-5, 12–3) bounced back with a win against the University of Indiana (17-9, 8-7). The Illini beat the Hoosiers 71-51 in the Sunday afternoon matchup.

Performance venues and cultural organizations are seeing a spike in artists from abroad canceling performances and demonstrations — and rethinking U.S. tours.

Steve Cortes supported President Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns. He has friends who went to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign whose kids, he said, were qualified but did not get admitted. In his documentary, Cortes argues Chinese international students took their place.

Members of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression visited the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s campus on Tuesday. Their visit followed a statement from the U of I announcing it would review Title VI reports of a controversial social media post made by the Illini Republicans.

The Urbana Park District is planning to build a wide variety of new amenities in Prairie Park and Weaver Park as part of a master plan for the area’s greenspace. The facilities will include a skate park, a water-based recreation area, a new playground and soccer fields.

Based on past reporting, approvals and denials do seem to fall along political lines. Last year, Vermont, Maryland and Colorado also were denied major disaster declarations. On Feb. 6, Tennessee and Mississippi were granted major disaster declarations for winter storms.

The No. 8 University of Illinois men’s basketball team (20-5, 11-3) lost against the University of Wisconsin (17-7, 9-4) 92-90 in overtime after leading by 12 points in the second half.

Fighting Illini coach Bret Bielema announced the hiring Monday to replace Aaron Henry, who left to be co-defensive coordinator at Notre Dame.

Champaign Unit 4 is scooping its next superintendent from a school district in the suburbs of Washington, DC. Geovanny Ponce is a top administrator in Fairfax County Public Schools. He grew up in Honduras and began his career as a bilingual teacher.

“At about 2 a.m., most people feel like they thought they were prepared, and they kind of have this moment where they start thinking, ‘What if this was every night for me? What if I didn’t have a home to go to in the morning?’ and that’s really where the empathy comes from.”

You may be familiar with Mike Pierce, a Master’s student at @ciatillinois.bsky.social and the first @ejpatil.bsky.social student admitted to Illinois. He’s now been accepted into a Doctoral program in the College of Education. He talked with @ilpublicmedia.bsky.social about his path and what's next.

An Instagram post made by the Illini Republicans depicting the recent federal agent shooting and killing of Alex Pretti has garnered negative feedback towards the group. U of I officials say the post has been reported to the Title VI Office.

“In this generation, my niece included, all say the same thing: They don’t feel safe,” said Danville Alderwoman Tricia Teague (Ward 4) during her speech. “They don’t feel safe doing normal, young adult activities, things that we took for granted when we were their age.”

MAYSA is helping Illinois Soul celebrate two years of bringing R&B, jazz, soul music and Black stories, news, and culture to the Central Illinois area with a performance at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m.

“If you must mail the ballot back to us, then I strongly encourage you to mail your ballot at least one week before Election Day,” Ammons said. “Seven days is plenty of time for the mail to travel to the closest processing center and guarantee your vote is counted.”

U of I Educational Psychology Department Chair Helen Neville is part of a group with a solution: create a Promise Zone focused on Black children and historically Black neighborhoods, where each child gets a plan that spells out their needs and how the schools and community will fulfill those needs.

Nearly 15,000 Illinoisans are facing homelessness on any given day, according to a report released by @illinoisdhr.bsky.social.

We have some exciting news here at IPM! 🎉 Illinois Public Media and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are looking for teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 residing in East Central Illinois to participate in a new program promoting civic engagement and dialogue. Learn more:

“People suggested, ‘Why don’t you? Why don’t you do it?,’” he said. “‘You have a new building, 20 years of Jewish life. Let’s celebrate that.’”

A very cold morning in IL. Wind chills < -30 for several ICN stations at 7am. Stay WARM everyone. #ilwx

Rideshare drivers rallied at the Illinois State Capitol Wednesday to ask legislators to support their effort to unionize. The legislation would grant rideshare drivers the right to unionize and to collectively bargain with transportation network companies.

Between Tremont and Eureka streets in Champaign, Fifth Street is now Honorary Walter Smith Way, recognizing a man who devoted his life to supporting young people in the Champaign-Urbana area. This piece is part of "Champaign’s Honorary Streets: the Stories Behind the Signs."

Rubel opened Pogo Studio on Taylor Street in 1980 and recorded over a thousand albums. He worked with a wide variety of artists including Alison Krauss, Fall Out Boy, Adrian Belew, and Ludacris.

“At my school, so many of the people are from Latin America, and people have been being pulled out of my high school because their parents are scared for them and they don’t want to be sent away,” she said. “It’s heartbreaking to see my friends being terrified for their lives.”

“It absolutely was… a hub of information for the African-American community in Champaign and in central Illinois.” This piece is part of the Illinois Student Newsroom’s series: "Champaign’s Honorary Streets: the Stories Behind the Signs."

A multibillion-dollar budget crisis will hit the state’s Medicaid program in the next few years unless state lawmakers and Gov. JB Pritzker act to prevent it, budget analysts both inside and outside state government warn.

The Urbana Free Library is hosting a new traveling exhibit highlighting people around Illinois who were involved with the Underground Railroad. Journey to Freedom: Illinois’ Underground Railroad runs through March 31 and is presented by the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area. Learn more ⬇️

The Illinois State Board of Education voted Wednesday to approve a budget request for the upcoming fiscal year that calls for only a minimal increase in K-12 education spending, a reflection of the state’s tightening fiscal condition. Read more about the details in the story below.

Today: -Flu, COVID, RSV, and the Trump administration's changing vaccine schedules. We'll talk with @idph.bsky.social. -President Trump wants to allow a class of tiny Japanese vehicles to be built and sold in the U-S. We’ll talk about the proposal. It's all at 11: will.illinois.edu/am/willplayer

This student journalist story is part of the Illinois Student Newsroom’s series: "Champaign’s Honorary Streets: the Stories Behind the Signs." Abram Sachar was a part of Hillel from 1929 to 1955 and is credited with growing it from the world’s first Hillel into a global movement.

The bitter cold is making its way back to Central Illinois this weekend.

“I think this is part of an attempted federal takeover, federal incursion into the running of our elections,” Eileen O'Connor said.

It's Public Radio Broadcasting Day! 🎙️📻✨ In honor of Public Radio Broadcasting Day today, we are jumping into the archives and revisiting a piece of history from our WILL 100 celebration in 2022! Story here: will.illinois.edu/will100/stor...

State and city leaders want to end the feds’ “roving patrol” policy of interrogating people they encounter on the street about their citizenship and immigration status without any probable cause.

Champaign-Urbana residents joined a nationwide movement on Sunday to call out recent shootings by federal immigration officers. Drivers parked outside the Lincoln Square Mall and decorated around 200 cars. The group formed a caravan as the vehicles snaked from Urbana to Champaign.