Champaign County | featured news

Richard Powers, who earned two English degrees from the UI, received one of writing's highest honors for his 2018 novel, 'The Overstory.'

It had been 60 years since a University of Illinois alum was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction — Robert Lewis Taylor, from the Class of 1933.

Grainger College of Engineering honors Illinois alum William Wallace Grainger, whose comapny has donated more than $300 million to the college.

URBANA — The highly ranked engineering school at the University of Illinois will become the Grainger College of Engineering following another $100 million gift from The Grainger Foundation.

CS_4-15-19.mp4

Today is Monday, April 15, the 105th day of 2019. There are 260 days left in the year.
Today's highlight in history:
On April 15, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln died nine hours after being shot the night before by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater in Washington; Andrew Johnson became the nation's 17th president.
On this date:
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Today is Monday, April 15, 2019. Here are local news reports from 100, 50 and 15 years ago:
In 1919, Douglas County Sheriff Earl Parker recovered an automobile that had been stolen in Decatur. It had been abandoned in a farm near Tuscola.
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Thousands of runners — including several from the area — prepared to take part in the 123rd running of the world's oldest and most prestigious annual marathon huddled under tents, though the rain was expected to taper off before the first race of the day began.

HOPKINTON, Mass. — Runners were focused on staying dry Monday morning as they awaited the start of the 2019 Boston Marathon.

News-Gazette Media reporter Ben Zigterman does much more than just cover local businesses. He's also our go-to source when it comes to reporting on agriculture in East Central Illinois.

News-Gazette Media reporter Ben Zigterman does much more than just cover local businesses. He's also our go-to source when it comes to reporting on agriculture in East Central Illinois.

Brisa McGrath is one of two area students named to the IHSA's 2018-19 All-State Academic Team.

MAHOMET — At Mahomet-Seymour High School, Brisa McGrath is more than one of the fastest girls on the cross-country course.
The 18-year-old senior is also one of the top academic performers in the classroom.

Frank Pieper shares his thoughts at conclusion of this year's festival.

— A cute touch late in the festival's final day Saturday was Chaz Ebert inviting her daughter, Sonia Evans, and public relations handler Lee Meltzer onstage to have the audience sing not one, but two versions of "Happy Birthday" to them.

Chaz Ebert closed celebration with invite to 22nd — to be held April 15-18, 2020

CHAMPAIGN — "I've heard some rumors going around town, and on TV, and in print," Chaz Ebert told the Virginia Theatre audience before introducing Ebertfest's final film on Saturday night.
"And I just want to tell you, I want you to join me back here next year, April 15th through 18th, for Ebertfest!"