SPlog

Like last year’s Sam, 6’8″ Coastal Carolina transfer McLaurin will be a fifth year graduate student with one year of eligibility remaining, available immediately.

We have just a couple today, but they’re good ones. Police Chief Pledges to Make Changes to Citizen Complaint Review Process (CI) Officers’ actions in pepper-spray incident being reviewed for discipline (N-G)     Update, …

The U of I Department of Theatre’s Summer Studio Theatre returns to Krannert Center for its 21st season. Under the direction of U of I Department of Theatre Interim Head Tom Mitchell, Summer Studio Theatre …

The Living Letter Press of Champaign has two upcoming workshops; Letterpress 101 (Mondays May 7 and 14) and an Open Print (Saturday, June 2). You can sign up here: http://bookwhen.com/livingletterpress All levels of experience are welcome. …

Former University of Illinois Chancellor (and current Chancellor of Syracuse University) Nancy Cantor is named among 28 college presidents and leaders who have pledged to donate a portion of their salary to fight global poverty. …

Time: Friday, May 4, 12:45 Location: Champaign Country Club You’ve, no doubt, heard of the Smithsonian’s censorship of David Wojnarowicz’s video A Fire in My Belly. But how many of us are familiar with Wojnarowicz’s …

So, the last 24 hours have brought a lot of news our way, from storms to hotels to bikes to balanced budgets. Oh, and ectasy is still a thing? “Tornado Rips Through Champaign County Causing …

The Celebration Company at The Station Theater has announced the run of shows they will be hosting this summer in celebration of their 40th year in business. The Game of Love: June 7 – 16 music …

The fearless Jason Berg risked his life today to snap this bad ass photo of the Twister that just passed through C-U. Follow him here: https://twitter.com/#!/jason_berg

A student organization at the University of Illinois called Space for All has joined forces with a California entrepreneur to do something not at all predictable and send a high-altitude weather balloon to space manned …

I went to the wrong college, at least when it comes to free food. The Illini Union Board is offering students a free late night breakfast this Thursday at 10:00 p.m. to help them take …

Glancing around on a gray morning: “May 11: Stop the County Board from Spending $20 Million on a New Jail!” (UCIMC) “University employees protest lack of pay-raises” (DI) “Downtown Hotel Renderings Released” (WICD) “Cobb Talks …

From the SID: LaTulip Joins Illini Prospect’s all-time leading scorer to walk on at Illinois Champaign, Ill.­–Illinois head coach John Groce announced on Monday that Mike LaTulip will join the FightingIllini program as a preferred …

Triple S Farms, regular participant at the Urbana Farmer’s Market, paired with Chef Jason Vincent of Nightwood in Chicago for a snout-to-tail cooking competition hosted by Cochon555, an organization promoting heritage breed pigs. Vincent and …

A quick tour of the top stories around Champaign-Urbana: “Local Schools See Deep Drop in White Students” (WILL)  “Chemical Drift Threatening Nature in Central Illinois” (WCIA) “Exam canceled after students distribute information online” (DI) “Champaign …

As a talking point, Mitt Romney — the Republican Presidential candidate (c’mon, who’s thinking otherwise by now) — who has been supported by our very own Jimmy John Liataud for years, used the Sandwich King …

Today on SP Radio we’ll be talking with Lisa Bralts, Director of Urbana’s Market at the Square. The Market kicks off the season next weekend, and this year promises to be even bigger. We’ll chat …

And it’s about damned time. Expect a full review of Urbana’s newest coffee shop (serving Intelligentsia!) coming soon to SP.com.

Illini national champion gymnasts Austin Phillips and Kyle Moe (from Champaign Central) are the glue.

From a GEO press release:  ADDENDUM: Rally to be held today at 12 noon, outside Huff Hall  ——————————————————————————————————- Flex-N-Gate Workers to Speak at Rally Urging UIUC Alumnus Shahid Khan to Improve Health and Environmental Conditions at …

Patton Oswalt says he won’t make it for either of the Ebertfest events he is scheduled to attend tomorrow, due to scheduling conflicts with a film he is shooting. The screening for Kind Hearts and …

Tomorrow marks the beginning of the construction period expected to last 15 months on Parkland College’s campus. Construction is being done on the student services center and pedestrians and vehicles will be affected, including bus …

The Illinois Marathon is being held this Saturday, April 28. The marathon helps to generate funds for a small list of charitable organizations. Champaign-based Prairie Rivers Network, a clean water and river conservation organization, is …

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/25/us/politics/hello-illinois-rep-tim-johnson-is-on-the-line.html?_r=1&hp

When movie theaters make the transition to digital, officially in 2013, there stands to be a drop off in classic cinemas that simply can’t afford to buy the new required equipment. Drive-in theaters will likely …

Looking for something to do tomorrow night? I recommend walking the red carpet at the Annual Feminist Film Festival at the Art Theater. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The screening begins at 7:00, and a …

Rev. Michael McMahon, Headmaster of the Notre Dame de La Salette Boys Academy in Georgetown, is alleging that he was defamed by the Paxton Record when they associated him with a letter to the editor …

On May 1, 2012 from 2-7 p.m., Urbana Acupuncture will celebrate May Day by offering free acupuncture treatments to all. Acupuncture has been providing relief from pain and stress for centuries – it’s great for …

Tonight on Smile Politely Radio, we’re joined by Sharon Lilly from the International Society of Arboriculture. ISA is a professional organization promoting urban tree care worldwide, which is headquartered in Champaign. We will discuss what …

At 4:30 p.m. on April 20, the New Art Film Festival (NAFF) will kick off its third annual local film showcase with a brand-new talk about Joseph Tykocinski-Tykociner and various aspects of media preservation. Tykociner …

From the Office of the Chancellor’s campuswide email: The ‘Right to Work won’t work in Illinois’ rally on Thursday, April 19, will cause street closures in the campus area that will affect employees traveling on …

  In what is the first installment of many more to come, we present to you our Smile Politely Show Series kickoff. Featuring a touring act familiar to C-U, the series begins with Saturday Looks …

Lt. Governor Sheila Simon will mark Sexual Assault Awareness Month in Urbana on Thursday afternoon with a visit to Rape, Advocacy, Counseling & Education Services (RACES). Simon will join RACES staff members to advocate for …

On Friday, April 20, the Parkland Art Gallery will feature a special exhibit, observed in support of the Boneyard Arts Festival. “Standing Room Only,” a temporary exhibit featuring an installation of chair sculptures by Parkland …

Jim Wallis, author of Rediscovering Values: A Guide for Economic and Moral Recovery, is speaking at the Illinois Conference on Interfaith Collaboration in Champaign, IL. On Friday, April 20, Jim Wallis will lead the summit’s …

From the SID: Chew Added to Illini Staff Chicago Native Returns to Home State Champaign, Ill.–University of Illinois head coach John Groce announced Friday the hiring of Isaac Chew as an assistant coach. Chew joins …

Tonight on Smile Politely Radio we’re joined by the folks from The Champaign-Urbana Design Organization. Started with the goal of fostering the creative and graphic design community within Champaign and Urbana, CUDO hosts regular events and …

Common Loon, Elsinore, and Grandkids make national headlines today when Paste Magazine reports what we already know about our local bands…they’re fantastic.      

Zorba’s is set to reopen its doors sometime today, reports The News-Gazette. The restaurant has been closed since a fire caused extensive damage in March 2011.

If you can’t find anything to do on the weekend of Record Store Day, then you should be ashamed of yourself. Boneyard Arts Festival 2012 just added to the excitement going on Downtown at Exile on …

‘Persephone’s Treasures’ Don’t miss spring DIY bazaar April 20-21 This year, Persephone, the Greek goddess of spring, has returned to Central Illinois earlier than ever – dotting the landscape with a lovely and welcome abundance …

The news follows Groce’s remarks regarding Meyers Leonard’s departure for the NBA:  

Tuesday morning, men’s basketball administrative assistant Julie Pioletti opened the Ubben office to discover Jerrance Howard’s office cleaned-out. This was the nameplate on his door.

Illini blogger Robert on A Lion Eye posted an insightful article yesterday, taking Bruce Weber (and his apologists in the coaching and media community) to task for comments in an article in the Manhattan Mercury. The …

Yep, it’s almost May, which means spring is in full swing and summer is on the way. The City of Urbana’s Market at the Square opens their new season May 5, which is just a …

Boneyard Creek Community Day organizers are seeking volunteers to help clean-up the waterway. Clean-up day is scheduled for Saturday, April 14, from 9 a.m. – noon. Join hundreds of volunteers working to protect local creeks …