NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) - The Children's Discovery Museum in Normal celebrated the opening of their new exhibit, "From Farm to a Healthy Me," with a ribbon-cutting Thursday afternoon. "Kids are going to come and enjoy a brand new experience at the Children's Discovery Museum," said Beth Whisman, executi...

By BEN SZALINSKI, BRENDEN MOORE, NIKOEL HYTREK, & JENNA SCHWEIKERT Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD - For the second time in three years, the Illinois House voted to ban hidden "junk fees" that are often added to the total cost of ticketed events, hotel rooms and other good...

By WMBD TV NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) - McLean County Unit School District 5 held a virtual enrollment plan presentation for families on Thursday. Superintendent Kristen Weikle presented the plan. The recommendation includes reassigning students to different schools. The proposed plan keeps Carlock and Glenn Elementary School...

By PETER HANCOCK Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com Story Summary The Illinois State Board of Education presented its budget request for $10.9 billion to fund public schools in the upcoming fiscal year. The request includes $300 million in new spending for schools, plus $50 million for property tax ...

By HANNAH MEISEL Capitol News Illinois hmeisel@capitolnewsillinois.com Article Summary An attorney for ex-Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan argued to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday that the former Democratic power broker's conviction on bribery and other corruption charges should be overturned. The...

By JENNA SCHWEIKERT, BRENDEN MOORE & BEN SZALINSKI Capitol News Illinois news@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois House on Wednesday approved legislation that would prohibit the federal government from operating a new immigration detention center within 1,500 feet of any home, school, day care cent...

PEKIN, Ill. (WMBD) - When he ran away from home and skipped school in November 2016, Robert "Bonzai" Bee, Jr. went to the home of the man who would kill him. That's the allegations against Keith A. Brackett, 46, who was arrested Wednesday morning and charged with strangling and then hiding the 13-year-old's b...

By NIKOEL HYTREK CAPITOL NEWS ILLINOIS nhytrek@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD -Illinois lawmakers are digging deep on data centers, with a House committee hearing from mayors, labor groups, and agriculture representatives about the facilities' local impacts in the first of three planned meetings. Rep. Ann William...