In Wednesday's News-Gazette, we'll have stories about a UI labor dispute, a possible significant change for MTD passengers and a look at a top Illini track athlete.

CU Mass Transit District officials are considering some “relatively small changes” in their routes and schedules, but a more significant change — limiting the locations where passengers can board and depart buses — may be a year away, Tom Kacich reports.

Christine des Garennes has more details on the hiring of longtime University of Illinois police officer Jeff Christensen as the next police chief and director of public safety for the Urbana campus.

Julie Wurth reports that visiting academic professionals at the University of Illinois, who have worked without a contract since August, have formally rejected the UI’s last contract offer.

And columnist Tom Kacich writes that even though House Speaker Michael Madigan is being blamed by many for the failure of a pension-cutting plan to clear the Legislature last week, there was little unanimity even among Republicans.

In Sports, Illini hurdler Andrew Riley heads to the NCAA track and field championships that start in Des Moines Wednesday with a chance to become one of the top Illini track athletes in history. Jeff Huth talks to Riley and his coach as a preview to the meet.

In Food, our super-couponer, Jill Cataldo, writes about what you can safely stockpile when those coupon deals come around.