Springfield, IL – Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) Director Jerry Costello II, along with key stakeholders representing farmers, research institutions, and food banks, appeared before the General Assembly's House Agriculture & Conservation Committee hearing to discuss federal funding cuts and tariffs – which amount to taxes on working farmers.

SPRINGFIELD – The 2025 Illinois spring trout fishing season will open Saturday, April 5 at 58 ponds, lakes, and streams throughout the state.

With Spring weather encouraging homeowners to start outdoor projects, Ameren warns consumers to be aware of potential electric hazards they may encounter.

The use of artificial intelligence in hospitals in the United States is wide ranging, with roughly two thirds of U.S. hospitals using these predictive algorithms. But only about 60% are testing these algorithms for accuracy, and less than half are testing them for bias. So, The Checkup’s question is: How can hospitals’ use of AI affect patients?

President Trump is moving to cut the staff by half and dismantle the department. He’s also going after DEI in higher education and funding for research.

‘Poor Working Conditions’ also cited as deterring new hires: 2024-25 teacher shortage report

In his state of the state address in February, Governor JB Pritzker called for a law banning cell phones in classrooms during his state of the state address last month. WSIU is exploring what area school districts are doing with cellphones in the classroom and how they think this law will impact their students.

Snoop Dogg will join the Grandstand entertainment lineup at the Illinois State Fair.

Ornithologist and ecologist Mike Baltz is back with his monthly essay on the natural history of southern Illinois.

Amtrak confirms the incident occurred Tuesday night in Centralia.

Authorities are looking for a suspect who allegedly shot another driver during a road rage incident that began on Interstate 55 northeast of Bloomington-Normal.

In a recent speech on the senate floor, Senator Dick Durbin said the Trump Administration is engaging in quote, "troubling conduct" and posing a threat to the role of the judicial branch in the US government.

Tesla has joined the ranks of U.S. companies concerned that Trump's aggressive tariff policies may negatively affect global sales.

The rare speech at the Justice Department comes as the Trump administration has spent the last several weeks trying to reconfigure the agency, including demoting attorneys who worked on cases related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and firing officials who investigated the president himself.

NWSL's Jessica Berman says the league is adopting a tool to monitor and protect players from online abuse. The NWSL was scrutinized for not doing more to protect player Barbra Banda from harassment.

Ukraine's president said he hopes the U.S. applies "maximum additional sanctions" on Russia if it refuses to accept a 30-day ceasefire, describing the Russian leader's "bravado" as a stalling tactic.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, D-N.Y., has tried to walk a fine political line in dealing with the Trump administration -- choosing her battles, with immigration possibly emerging as the big one to come.

Team officials are accused of altering athletes' suits to enhance their aerodynamics. The suspension by International Ski and Snowboard Federation (IFS) follows last week's FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.

The Senate voted 54 to 46 to approve a spending bill to fund the government through the end of September.

The schools under scrutiny include dozens of state schools and two Ivy Leagues. A number of private schools are also being targeted, including Georgetown, Rice, Vanderbilt, and New York University.

The head of the U.S. Postal Service has agreed to allow Elon Musk's DOGE team to help find "further efficiencies" at the mail agency. But the agreement limits DOGE's access to USPS employee records.

The arrival of the new crew will pave the way for the return of two astronauts who have been "stuck" on the station since June of last year.

Outdoor enthusiast Sam Jones left Australia after posting a video of herself separating a baby wombat from its mom on a dark road. Australians are cheering her departure and worrying about the animal.

Five years after the World Health Organization declared a global pandemic, there has been progress — and backsliding in the way the world responds to infectious disease.