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18+ hour, 41+ min ago (1339+ words) Unseeded Illinois State takes on 12-seed Villanova in the culminations of two of the more miraculous runs the FCS playoffs have seen in quite some time. The Redbirds have gone three for three on the ... Date: Saturday December 20, 2025 Time: 7:30 PM (ET) To call this semifinal a matchup of Cinderellas might be an understatement. Unseeded Illinois State takes on 12-seed Villanova in the culminations of two of the more miraculous runs the FCS playoffs have seen in quite some time. The Redbirds have gone three for three on the road during this postseason, most notably slaying the boogeyman that is North Dakota State two weeks ago in Fargo. Last week they strung together another impressive upset, downing UC Davis in its building and suddenly ISU finds itself one win away from reaching the national championship for the first time in over…...

19+ hour, 41+ min ago (1137+ words) As a senior at Normal Community High School, Tye Niekamp's goal was "finding someone who was going to coach me hard" on the college level. He didn't have to look far. The man for the job lived in the same house. Travis Niekamp is Illinois State's defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach. As a parent, he is "extremely proud" of sons Tye, the Redbirds' All-American junior middle linebacker, and Dexter, a redshirt freshman linebacker. "Not just for the success they've had on the field, but off the field," he said. "It's been a lot of fun watching them get better week by week." The Niekamps have helped ISU advance to the semifinals of the FCS playoffs. Next up is Villanova at 6:30 p.m. Saturday in Philadelphia. One day, this inspired run will be a treasured family memory. Not yet. With a berth…...

22+ hour, 22+ min ago (128+ words) Led by Ty Pence's 22 points, the Illinois State Redbirds defeated the Southern Illinois Salukis 75-68 on Thursday ... Pence shot 9 of 13 from the field, including 3 for 5 from 3-point range, for the Redbirds (9-3, 1-0 Missouri Valley Conference). Chase Walker scored 15 points and added seven rebounds and five assists. Boden Skunberg had 10 points. The Salukis (6-6, 0-1) were led by Quel'Ron House, who finished with 22 points and two steals. Drew Steffe added 17 points and three steals for Southern Illinois. Rolyns Aligbe also had eight points, eight rebounds and two steals. Walker scored 11 points in the first half and Illinois State went into halftime trailing 35-30. Pence scored 15 points in the second half....

1+ day, 14+ min ago (566+ words) After the Chicago Bears CEO drafted a letter to fans announcing the team is considering Northwest Indiana for a potential stadium site, NBC Chicago's Charlie Wojciechowski takes a look at what it would take to keep the team in Illinois. Only days before what could be the team's biggest game of the year, the Chicago Bears are sparking controversy by telling fans they may be considering a move to Northwest Indiana. "The stakes for Illinois are significant: thousands of union jobs, year-round attractions and global events made possible by a fixed roof stadium that would provide long-term revenue for the State," President and CEO Kevin Williams said in an open letter to fans. "We have been told directly by State leadership, our project will not be a priority in 2026, despite the benefits it will bring to Illinois," Warren added. Warren…...

1+ day, 10+ hour ago (814+ words) NASDAQ | TSX: ACB Daily Special" launch expands Aurora's leading portfolio of medical cannabis products available in the company's fastest growing market EDMONTON, AB, Dec. 18, 2025 /CNW/ Aurora Launches Daily Special" in Germany, Delivering High-Quality, Affordable Medical Cannabis to Patients NASDAQ | TSX: ACB Daily Special" launch expands Aurora's leading portfolio of medical cannabis products available in the company's fastest growing market EDMONTON, AB, Dec. 18, 2025 /CNW/ " Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NASDAQ: ACB) (TSX: ACB), the Canadian-based leading global medical cannabis company, announces the launch of Daily Special", a new medical cannabis brand for the German market. Designed to offer reliable, high-quality flower at an accessible price point, the Daily Special brand is an exciting addition to Germany's rapidly growing medical cannabis sector, following record performance for the company. With this launch, Aurora strengthens its commitment to expanding patient choice, improving affordability, and delivering consistent,…...

1+ day, 12+ hour ago (659+ words) When it comes to high school football talent in the Midwest, Illinois always packs a punch. That's the case when looking at the 2026 cycle. According to the'Rivals Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all major recruiting media companies, there are 11 blue-chip prospects from Illinois. They are all headed to notable Power Four programs, too. Below is a look at the top Illinois recruits in the 2026 cycle and where they're headed to play their college football next season: School: DunlapRivals Industry Ranking: No. 110 NATL. (No. 5 TE) Sutter on Alabama:First time I stepped on campus it felt so electric and awesome and all the people there. I love Coach DeBoer. He's down to earth. Kind of like a Midwestern guy. Big-time family guy too " Going there it's a great place. I see myself there and the overall fit. Last year…...

1+ day, 16+ hour ago (647+ words) Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza says Chicago is chasing job creators away with crippling policies. Citadel moved 900 workers from Chicago to Miami in 2022, and the financial firm is now expected to leave its former Citadel Center headquarters in a downtown skyscraper for a smaller space outside the Loop. Chicago's downtown office vacancy rate has surged in recent years and reached a record-high of 28% last month. Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza says the city's most crippling policies are the ones that chase job creators away. "I think that rather than punish our business community for creating jobs which are necessary for people's quality of life, we should be partnering with our business community and not creating policies that, frankly, chase them away pretty quickly," Mendoza told The Center Square. Peak6 Investments moved its corporate headquarters from Chicago to Austin, TX in January 2025. Boeing, Caterpillar,…...

2+ day, 26+ min ago (122+ words) Football playoff expansion was among 12 new changes to the IHSA's [Illinois High School Association] bylaws approved Monday. "We are hopeful that this football playoff expansion will provide intended relief to our schools by stabilizing conference movement and eliminating the difficulty of scheduling football games that many of our schools face each year," said Craig Anderson, executive director of the IHSA, in a written statement. "It may create some short-term complications for some schools, conferences and coaches, but we remain optimistic it will create long-term stability in football and beyond." An effort to end the practice of improving playoff odds by playing in conferences mostly made up of further-away schools failed in 2023. Some other changes approved included:...

2+ day, 2+ hour ago (673+ words) A massive new transit bill signed into law by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritkzer Tuesday is set to modernize public transit in Chicago and across the state, according to officials But it's also set to increase sales taxes in some counties and create higher Illinois Tollway fees for drivers. "This is a once in a lifetime investment that will benefit everyone, especially the overall Illinois economy," Prizker said during a press conference Tuesday. The bill, which passed in a marathon session in October with mostly Democratic support, would replace the Regional Transportation Authority with a new body called the Northern Illinois Transit Authority. The NITA, which calls for $1.5 billion in annual funding, would have expanded authority over the CTA, Metra and Pace. According to the legislation, the new annual transit funding will come, in part, from redirecting the state fuel sales tax…...

2+ day, 3+ hour ago (75+ words) CHICAGO (WLS) -- There's still time to get a gift under the tree that is made in Illinois. The Illinois Office of Tourism is out with its "Illinois-Made Holiday Gift Guide." Seventeen small businesses from across the state are featured. From soap, to popcorn, to fudge and coffee, there are some great ideas. Kribi Coffee Air Roastery, Garrett Popcorn Shops, The Fudge Pot and Soapy Roads are some of the brands featured in the list....