Ebertfest's star will be absent tonight

CHAMPAIGN – The 10th annual Roger Ebert's Film Festival opens this evening at the Virginia Theatre without the main man.

In his blog today, the Chicago Sun-Times movie reviewer and Urbana native wrote: "After consulting with my doctors, I have decided it may not be prudent to try to make the journey today with a fractured hip."

Also on this date

• Lipscomb released from jail after judge denies state petition
• Budget director decries costs of health care in visit to UI
• Champaign church plans to remember slain student
• Sobering lesson given on drinking, driving
• Teacher Resource Fair slated for Aug. 7
• Preservationists want restoration of original courthouse exterior
• Power restored after area outage
• DACC trustees honor scholastic award-winners
• Farmer City voters to weigh in on park issue
• Obituaries

» More