A powerful teachers' union and Illinois law put up many barriers to firing tenured teachers, even ones with documented patterns of alleged misconduct.

Unit 5 said it does not know the purpose of a FOIA request from the state's attorney's office for its emails, text messages and public records requests between WGLT and the district. It came after WGLT asked about the state's attorney's information sharing with Unit 5.

A review of dozens of emails and other documents revealed siloed information sharing which kept Unit 5 from knowing what law enforcement and child welfare officials knew about its employees, even when it involved students in their care.

As the world grapples with the growth of artificial intelligence and changes to work in many fields, it may seem odd that we are only about a half century into the digital era. The first electronic library card catalogs were developing back then. Coincidentally, Milner Library at Illinois State University is 50 years old this month.

The Humane Society of Central Illinois' new executive director is focused on a continued mission to serve the shelter and its animals, starting with a major renovation.

U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen has been tabbed to lead a new legislative panel on weather preparedness.

The celebration featured food, activities, free items and musical and dancing performances. Donations were encouraged during the free event.

To create enough adequate space for continued growth would take "tens of millions of dollars," according to city staff who operate the only public ice rink the Twin Cities. The space crunch has meant getting creative with less-than-ideal facilities, but that's not kept people from coming.

The chair of the McLean County Board said she is not yet satisfied with the solution of a loan to the village of Hudson to make up for an error in tax collection.

The more than 28-acre site at G.E. Road is ready for students to arrive for classes by the start of the 2026 fall semester.