News
Fire hits 2 Texas churches in spate of arsons
TYLER, Texas (AP) – State and federal law enforcement agencies were vigorously working Tuesday to try to find out who has been setting fire to churches in eastern Texas.
Fire broke out at two churches about 3 miles apart Monday night in a rural area northwest of Tyler, which is about 85 miles southeast of Dallas. Investigators have not confirmed them as arson, but they were reported within an hour of one another and eight other churches have been intentionally torched in the state since the start of the year.
Champaign city council meeting canceled
The Champaign city council meeting scheduled for Tuesday night has been canceled.
A release from the city says the cancellation is due to the weather predicted for tonight, which includes more snow and blowing and drifting.
The consultant on the proposed intergovernmental Big Broadband project is unable to attend because he's ill, and other agenda items are "no urgent," council member Tom Bruno said on Twitter.
University leaders ask state for reliable payment schedule for overdue money
UPDATED 11 a.m. -- The state’s public university presidents and chancellors released a joint letter today asking state leaders to commit to a reliable payment schedule for the schools’ past-due appropriations.
The letter calls on Gov. Pat Quinn and Comptroller Dan Hynes to provide a payment plan for fiscal 2010 appropriations. It also asks elected leaders to work together to develop long-term financial solutions to the state’s budget crisis.
Updated: Weather causing trouble on area interstates
Updated: 11:45 a.m. CHAMPAIGN — Illinois State Police and other emergency responders are on the scene of several different accidents on interstates near Champaign and Danville.
Sgt. Bill Emery said Interstate 74 a mile east of the Martin Luther King Drive exit near Danville, reopened after being closed in both directions for accidents.
"There (were) multiple crashes; one with a minor injury on the eastbound side and several on the westbound, all property damage," he said.
Twitter users share road conditions
Here are reports on area roads and streets from Twitter followers of The News-Gazette.
Champaign County
