Author Archives: WUIS - Your Source for News
Illinois State Police Report 1
ISP Report Part 1 The first installment of several reports on the investigation on Springfield Police Officers Graham and Carpenter.
Harvest Desk: Studying Effects Of Ag Runoff
Midwest waterways are getting lots of attention this summer. Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey and the Environmental Protection Agency have immersed themselves in the ecology of 100 streams from Ohio to Nebraska. It’s a first-of-its kind effort to understand … Continue reading
Lawmaker Says Pension Deal Could Happen Soon
An Illinois House and Senate conference committee will meet tomorrow in Chicago as members try to work out a compromise on the state’s pension problem. Ten lawmakers, six of them Democrats, make up the panel. It was formed after a … Continue reading
Weekly Business Report: Illinois Wineries Grow Like Grapes On The Vine
Amanda Vinicky talks with Tim Landis, Business Editor for the State Journal Register. We’ll talk about Illinois’ growing, and spreading, wine industry. And what to do about high-accident intersections. That and more in this week’s Business Report. You can read … Continue reading
Retired Ill. Supreme Court Justice Dead At 82
Retired Illinois Supreme Court Justice John Nickels, who worked to increase the legal access of low-income people, has died after a long illness at age 82. Illinois Supreme Court spokesman Joe Tybor says Nickels died Monday at his home in Maple Park. … Continue reading
Hy-Vee Breaks Ground, Open Set For Spring ’14
Springfield residents living near South MacArthur Boulevard could have a new grocery store in the neighborhood by this time next year. Iowa-based chain Hy-Vee held a groundbreaking ceremony Monday morning in the parking lot of the old Kmart store and … Continue reading
Bullying Of LGB Youth: Does It Get Better?
The common refrain to bullied teens is that “it gets better.” A new study finds in most cases, it does decline as teens progress through high school and into adult life. But for some, especially boys identified as gay or … Continue reading
Ford Edsel Devotees Bring Unique Cars To Springfield
The Ford Edsel is widely known for being one of the greatest marketing flops in history. It had a brief run from 1958 to 1960. But not everyone gave up on the Edsel, as Rachel Otwell explains: Photos by Rachel … Continue reading
My Farm Roots: Jackie Dougan Jackson
Jackie Dougan Jackson grew up like many farm kids. She spent sunbaked summer hours detasseling corn, tending the crops so it can be pollinated. For farm kids, detasseling is one of the ultimate chores. For the 85-year-old Jackson, those memories … Continue reading
Pension Committee Will Hold First Meeting Next Week
The bipartisan committee of lawmakers tasked with fixing Illinois’ $97 billion pension crisis will hold its first meeting next week. The committee has scheduled a public hearing for Thursday morning downtown Chicago. Gov. Pat Quinn called lawmakers back to Springfield … Continue reading
Senate Dems Press Quinn For Concealed-Carry Stance
A group of Illinois senators is urging Gov. Pat Quinn to reveal his stance on the carrying of concealed guns to avert a “public safety and constitutional crisis.” A letter signed by 23 Democrats – including Senate President John Cullerton … Continue reading
U.S. House Rejects Farm Bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has rejected a five year, half-trillion-dollar farm bill that would have cut $2 billion annually from food stamps and let states impose broad new work requirements on those who receive them. Those cuts weren’t deep enough … Continue reading
Sangamon Co. Regional Supt. Jeff Vose Interview
Regional Offices of Education have often been an overlooked area of government. But the elected positions have unwillingly been in the spotlight over the last couple of years when Governor Pat Quinn tried to eliminate them. A compromise with the … Continue reading
The Muni’s Les Miserables Showcases Local Talent
Springfield’s Muni out-door theater is putting on its largest production yet. With a cast of just about fifty actors, plus chorus singers, Les Miserables cost 50 percent more than the average Muni show. When Les Mis recently became available to … Continue reading
Montgomery Co. GOP Official Steps Down Over Remarks
The chairman of the Republican Party in Montgomery County has resigned after writing what’s been called a racist and sexist email about U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis’ primary challenger. Illinois Republican Party chairman Jack Dorgan says he accepted Jim Allen’s resignation … Continue reading
Davis Spokesman Calls Montgomery Co. Man’s Remarks “Misguided”
U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis is distancing himself from a GOP supporter who made harsh remarks about a Davis challenger. An email from Montgomery County GOP Chairman Jim Allen called Erika Harold of Urbana a “street walker” and “love child” of … Continue reading
Legislature Forms Group Tasked With Finding Pension Fix
Governor Pat Quinn is giving legislators less than three weeks to come together on a pension overhaul. So far the formation of a rare “conference committee” is the only result of the special legislative session Quinn called to deal with … Continue reading
University Presidents Rally Behind Exclusive Pension Plan
The presidents of Illinois’ public universities are rallying behind a plan intended to bolster the pension system for their employees. The proposal was the subject of a state Senate hearing Tuesday in Springfield. But as Brian Mackey reports, its future … Continue reading
Technology In The Classroom Pt. II: iPads Used Daily
Paper notebooks are still a requirement in schools. But devices like iPads are becoming increasingly more popular in classrooms. In the second half of the WUIS series on technology and teaching, Rachel Otwell visits elementary schools in Springfield’s District 186 … Continue reading
Pension Special Session Set To Create Conference Committee
Members of Illinois’ General Assembly return to the capitol Wednesday for a special session on pensions, where they’re expected to pass off the problem to a yet another legislative committee. What to do about Illinois’ $100 billion pension debt has … Continue reading
Downtown Springfield Murals Get TIF Support
Springfield aldermen have agreed to subsidize a project to adorn downtown buildings with large painted murals. Following a 10-0 vote Tuesday, the city will set aside $50,000 from the central area tax increment finance district. Mayor Houston didn’t want TIF … Continue reading
Thomas Jefferson And The Monticello Gardens
Thomas Jefferson was more than a founding father. He was an avid gardener. We’ve learned more about Jefferson’s passion for gardening thanks to Peter Hatch and the various books he has written. Hatch is the retired Director of Gardens and … Continue reading
Court Gives Extension To Decide Concealed Carry Appeal
The U.S. Supreme Court is granting the Illinois attorney general more time to decide on an appeal over the carrying of concealed weapons. A spokeswoman for Attorney General Lisa Madigan says the court decided Tuesday to extend the deadline to … Continue reading
WUIS / SJ-R Business Report: June 18, 2013
Tim Landis of the State Journal-Register tells us about the new home for Robert’s Automotive, what’s next in the long awaited Stanford Avenue extension project and who purchased the St. George Building in downtown Springfield: Play mp3
186 School Brd. Discusses Residency Requirement – Reappoints Leming
The Springfield school board continues to discuss a rule on the books that requires administrators to live within district 186 boundaries. Vice president Adam Lopez has adopted the cause, saying the policy should either be enforced, or removed from regulations. … Continue reading
CWLP Announces New Bill Pay Website, Some Fees Still Apply
From the City of Springfield Tuesday morning. See below for more information on applicable fees: City Water, Light and Power has launched a new, updated website that includes the ability for customers not only to pay their bills electronically but … Continue reading
Technology In The Classroom Pt. I: Interest In Computer Science Increases
While most high schools teach an assortment of foreign languages: Spanish, French, German – other types of languages are finding their way into classrooms. Like Java. Never heard of it? It’s basically a language computers speak. At one time, this … Continue reading
Series: Environmentalists’ Long Fight Against Western Ill. Coal
The Illinois Pollution Control Board found a coal mine in McDonough County violated water quality regulations more than 600 times. Scott Stuntz begins a three-part series on the state’s regulation of the coal industry with a visit to the mine … Continue reading
Quinn Signs Fracking Regulations Into Law
Governor Pat Quinn has signed into law what’s touted as the nation’s toughest regulations on “fracking.” High-volume hydraulic fracturing is a controversial process used to reach oil and natural gas deep underground. The director of the Illinois Environmental Council, Jen … Continue reading
Springfield’s Artist Co-Op Offers Art Classes For Kids
The Pharmacy is an artist cooperative in Springfield with studio and gallery space. It’s based in what used to be the Watts Brothers Pharmacy. The group also holds open-mic nights, provides song-writer workshops, and more. And now, it’s inviting kids … Continue reading
Equality Illinois Gears Up For 2014 Election Fight
Advocacy group Equality Illinois says it’s getting ready to launch a $500,000 effort to promote gay marriage ahead of the 2014 election. The civil rights group says half the money will go toward voter education efforts, while the remainder will … Continue reading
Geocaching In Springfield Parks: 39N, 89W Mark The Spot
Geocaching in Springfield’s parks starts this week. As Ray Carter explains, it’s a type of scavenger hunt using electronic devices. .mp3 – :57 Geocaching requires players to use coordinates on G-P-S devices to locate hidden objects, known as caches. The … Continue reading
Arrest Made In Decatur Tot Hit-And-Run Death
Decatur Police have arrested the man they believe to be responsible for a hit-and-run accident last week that claimed the life of a 17-month-old boy. The Decatur Herald & Review reports a 24-year-old man was taken into custody at 7:30 … Continue reading
Bill Daley To Propose Plan To End Pension Deadlock
Former White House chief of staff Bill Daley plans to lay out a three-step plan to end the deadlock on pension reform in Illinois. The Chicago Democrat announced last week he’s forming a committee to explore running for governor in … Continue reading
Concealed Carry Permit Board Not Subject To FOIA, Open Meetings Act
Governor Pat Quinn says he’s reviewing a measure that would lift Illinois’ long-standing concealed carry ban. It took legislators months to reach a compromise, and still gun control and gun rights activists both say they’re not happy. Other critics say … Continue reading
WUIS - My Source for News 