On campus: Illinois loses Final Four game to UConn
No. 3 Illinois’ historic run came to an end Saturday as it lost to No. 2 UConn in the Final Four matchup. Illinois had not reached the Final Four since 2005.
Illinois fans filled Lucas Oil Stadium with orange and blue, but despite a hard-fought game against UConn, the team lost 71-62, bringing its March Madness berth to a close.
The Illini struggled to make their typical shots and were just 23.1% from the 3-point line. Freshman guard Keaton Wagler ended the night with 20 points, but that wasn’t enough to close the gap with UConn.
Some students gathered at Alma Mater despite the loss, reminiscing and recognizing the incredible March Madness run and the end of the season.
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In CU: Second arrest made in shooting at Market Place Shopping Center
A press release from the Champaign Police Department announced Thursday the second arrest of a 15-year-old in connection with a fatal shooting at Market Place Shopping Center on March 21.
Lt. Aaron Lack wrote in the release that the teenager was arrested on a Warrant of Apprehension for Aggravated Battery with a Firearm. The CPD previously announced on March 24 the arrest of another 15-year-old suspect on the same charge.
The shooting, which resulted in the death of a 16-year-old from gunshot wounds, is still under active investigation by the CPD.
The release urged anyone who may have witnessed or recorded the fight to call 217-351-4545. Community members who wish to remain anonymous can also submit tips to Crime Stoppers by phone at 217-373-8477, at 373tips.com or through the “P3 Tips” app.
In CU: United Airlines delays service start date from Willard Airport
On Thursday, the University of Illinois Willard Airport announced in a social media post that the launch of United Airlines’ flight services between Willard Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport — slated to start April 30 — has been delayed to June 1.
The post cited “ongoing regulatory uncertainty regarding airspace capacity at Chicago O’Hare International Airport,” as the reason behind the postponement.
As part of a goal to reach 750 daily flights from O’Hare in the summer, United announced in January that it would begin operating four flights per day between Champaign-Urbana and Chicago.
Escalating flight numbers through O’Hare from both United and American Airlines prompted concerns from the Federal Aviation Administration regarding exceeding airport capacity. In February, the FAA asked airlines to reduce flights through O’Hare, capping total takeoffs and landings at 2,800 per day.
Willard Airport encouraged customers impacted by the delay of service to reach out to United with any concerns regarding bookings at United.com or by calling 1-800-825-9925.
In Illinois: Illinois sues federal administration over mail-in ballot executive order
Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, alongside 23 other states, filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s recent executive order, which seeks to create a list of U.S. citizens who are eligible to vote by state and limit mail-in ballots only to those voters.
“Despite the president’s ill-conceived executive order, the fact remains that states have authority to regulate the time, place and manner of federal elections,” Raoul said in an announcement of the lawsuit. “The Constitution grants states that authority unless Congress provides otherwise.”
There were more than 1 million mail ballots in Illinois for the 2024 general election, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Trump threatens election officials and states with criminal prosecution and the loss of federal funding if they fail to comply with the order.
Despite his pushback against the method, Trump used mail-in voting in a Florida special election for state legislative seats in late March.
“There is no demonstrated fraud activity of any significance that would cause them to do something like this,” said Kathy Cortez, director of partnerships for the League of Women Voters of Illinois, to ABC7. “It’s just more false information and an unnecessary action.”
In the US: US military rescues missing airman after fighter jet downed in Iran
The U.S. military rescued a missing airman from the Iranian mountains Sunday morning local time, a day after his fighter jet was shot down.
The F-15E jet was shot down by Iranian forces Friday. One crew member was ejected in the strike and intercepted by U.S. military helicopters, but the second remained missing for more than 24 hours.
Trump confirmed the rescue in a Truth Social post Saturday night.
“At my direction, the U.S. Military sent dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the World, to retrieve him,” the post read. “He sustained injuries, but he will be just fine.”
Trump’s threats to Iran seemed to escalate Sunday as the war prepares to enter its sixth week.
In the world: Deadly earthquakes, floods tear across Afghanistan
A 5.8 magnitude earthquake shook northern and eastern Afghanistan on Friday, worsening the impact of widespread flooding, landslides and lightning strikes that have damaged the nation over the past two weeks.
Set off by heavy storms and rainfall, the floods and landslides have killed at least 77 people and injured 137 others. The extreme weather has damaged or destroyed more than 3,000 homes and about 210 miles of roads across the country.
The floods and landslides also killed some livestock and ruined irrigation canals, water wells and farmland.
There is more rain forecast for the next few days, according to the Associated Press.
The nation is highly vulnerable to extreme weather events. In January, the country had a long dry spell followed by severe flooding that killed at least 17 people and affected 1,800 families.
