University of Illinois Springfield has enjoyed a long history of helping transfer students find pathways to degree completion. These pathways have led many students across central Illinois and beyond to meet career goals, improve quality of life, and increase educational attainment. Setting a New Year’s resolution to consider a degree completion opportunity is a great way to usher in 2022.

A shortage of teachers and substitutes is nothing new for Illinois classrooms, but top officials say the pandemic has made it a crisis.

The Illinois State Board of Education now looking for creative solutions to get more bodies into schools.

Dr. Meghan Kessler, who teaches future teachers at the University of Illinois Springfield, says working on teacher retention is another way to lessen the crisis.

The Sangamon County Department of Public Health reported four COVID-19 related deaths Wednesday, putting the total at 20 for January. Later Wednesday, Gov. JB Pritzker he was "cautiously optimistic" that the most recent COVID surge has peaked.

A 22-year veteran of the University of Illinois Springfield Police Department will continue to lead the force without an “interim” tag.

The school this week said interim police chief Ross Owens will be the next permanent chief. The move is pending approval from the U of I Board of Trustees, although those appointments typically go through without any trouble.

This story aired on WCIA on Jan. 19, 2022.

A Department of Children and Family Services caseworker was attacked and killed while on a welfare check this month. It's happened before and that's making state lawmakers take notice of the dangers with the job. We talk with a former investigator who now trains those entering a career in child protection.