University of Illinois students voted by more than a 2-1 margin to keep Chief Illiniwek as the symbol of the university after a two-day online referendum. Unofficial vote totals show 9,161 in favor of keeping the Chief to 4,027 against, or 69.5 percent to 30.5 percent.

Student Election Commission co-chairwoman Kristin Keaty said more than one appeal to the vote has been filed. She declined to elaborate on how many. The appeals will be heard by the 11-member commission at 11 a.m. today in Illini Union Room 314 A.

MATTOON – Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Coles County has asked the state's Health Facilities Planning Board to call a public hearing on the proposed outpatient surgery and recovery center Carle Foundation Hospital wants to build in Charleston.

Sarah Bush Lincoln's President and Chief Executive Officer Gary Barnett said the application Carle submitted to the state for a Certificate of Need has "serious flaws."

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A year ago, Brian Randle was watching the NCAA tournament at home in Peoria. On Thursday, he got his first look at the "big show" up close.

Randle and fellow Illinois freshmen Rich McBride and Warren Carter are making their NCAA tournament debut. Randle began soaking it all in as media crammed Illinois'' locker room at Nationwide Arena.

URBANA – A bitterly disputed plan to dredge and clear trees along the Salt Fork between Rantoul and St. Joseph will be allowed to proceed, likely this fall, Champaign County Circuit Judge Michael Jones ruled Thursday.

The ruling is a victory for the Upper Salt Fork Drainage District, which initially sought the $335,000 assessment for the work last summer. The project has been held up in a series of disputes with conservation groups over the environmental impact and necessity for the project.