Western Illinois University history Prof. Lee Brice will pack his bags for a yearlong research project in Athens for the 2017-18 academic year, fully funded with a living allowance and stipend, the university announced recently.

Even as Gov. Bruce Rauner continues to strive toward a potential state budget solution, House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) “delays and offers nothing,” the Chicago Tribune recently reported while continuing its coverage of Illinois’ hemorrhaging finances.

John Kraft has a simple answer to his group's conflict with Carlinville: Send us your credit card statement.

Illinois lawmakers are using a seemingly surreptitious way to give themselves pay raises: creating new and useless committees for which they are automatically paid an extra $10,326 as chairmen, a Chicago-based think tank is arguing.

LaHarpe Mayor Ryan Kienast, 39, faces misconduct charges and possible incarceration after allegedly borrowing a backhoe — along with staffers — belonging to the city of LaHarpe last fall, the Edgar County Watchdogs recently announced via its website.

Officially expressing staunch support for all student body members following November’s election, University of Illinois leaders recently issued a statement to reassure illegal immigrant student body members of their secure position on the system’s three campuses.

'Kujichagulia' translates to self-determination — the second principle of the Kwanzaa holiday — and also serves as the title for this year’s February commemoration of Black History Month, sponsored by Western Illinois University’s (WIU) Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center.

There’s still time for students and professionals to sign up for Western Illinois University’s (WIU) upcoming Assistive Technology Conference — scheduled 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 17 in room 1 of WIU’s Horrabin Hall.

With the unexpected recent closing of ITT Technical Institute, two state agencies in Springfield have stepped in to assist affected Illinois veterans whose educational plans were disrupted just days before classes were scheduled to begin.

To support incarcerated individuals battling mental illness, two state agencies recently collaborated to improve services for Illinois offenders by leveraging a Chicago-area facility for treatment purposes, simultaneously satisfying the terms of an outstanding class action.

Experienced civic employee Brittany Ladd recently agreed to become assistant director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, appointed by Gov. Bruce Rauner and replacing Andria Winters, who accepted a position with Intersect Illinois.

Volunteering, vegetables and visits comprise just some of the advice outlined by Illinois’ Department of Aging in its recipe for aging as it promotes September as healthy aging month and informs senior citizens year-round.

John Wood Community College in Quincy was recently downgraded by Moody’s Investors Service -- along with 14 other Illinois institutions of higher learning -- slipping from an Aa3 to an A1 ranking by the standard-bearing credit agency.

Gov. Bruce Rauner registered a good impression of Illinois’ correctional system this week as he visited the Department of Corrections (DOC) headquarters, meeting with staff at the Springfield facility and hearing updates on safety and efficiency. 

From adopting a puppy to partaking in two taco fundraisers, planting corn and advocating for motorcyclist safety, it proved to be one busy week recently for Daniel Swanson, running for State House from District 74/Galesburg.