Tuesday was the first day colleges and universities can make direct payments to student-athletes. This stems from a settlement in a landmark case involving student compensation. Illinois State University Athletics Director Jeri Beggs called it the most dramatic change ever seen in college sports.

LeRoy's T-ball Spectacular was the biggest and last event of the 2025 season. The event drew a large crowd to the town of around 3,500 southeast of Bloomington-Normal.

Bloomington High School played host for what's believed to be the first international soccer match between FIFA member clubs in the Twin Cities — Peoria City versus Atlas from Guadalajara, Mexico.

Shriners Children's hosted a "Hospital Experience" event ahead of a football game benefiting the children's hospital with locations in St. Louis and Chicago.

Bloomington city leaders plan to implement a multi-faceted strategy aimed at addressing vacant properties throughout the city over the next several years.

The Ironmen finished with a record 37 wins with just five defeats and the program's first third-place finish at state.

The Titans play their home games on Inspiration Field at Carol Willis Park, a facility that has had numerous upgrades in recent years, funded largely by Willis. Without her generosity, IWU would not be hosting the NCAA Division III World Series starting next week.

The Heartland Community College baseball team is returning to the World Series for a fourth straight season, on a quest for the program’s second national championship during that span.

Bob Conkling announced his retirement after a season in which ISU won its second Midwest Independent Conference championship in three years and third overall under Conkling. He was named the league’s Coach of the Year for the third time. He leaves the program better than he found it.

Republican state lawmakers have signaled they want to ban transgender girls from competing on girls school sports teams in Illinois.

Ryan Pedon led the Redbirds to their winningest season in eight years, and the team won the College Basketball Invitational title last season.

Kingdom City Boxing hosted the Battle of the Midwest boxing tournament at the Boys and Girls Club. Watch our video recap or view the photo gallery.