IJR News

Ohio State Beats Illinois 42-19 — Sep 24, 2026Ohio State opens Big Ten play against Illinois as a heavy favorite, but the Fighting Illini pose a threat in receiver Collin Dixon, who leads the nation with seven touchdown catches in three games. The Buckeyes will look to keep the Illibuck Trophy in Columbus and contain Dixon as conference play begins.

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Duke Rallies Past Illinois 31-27 — Sep 12, 2026Duke rallied from an early deficit to beat Illinois 31-27 on the road, powered by Nate Sheppard’s 147 rushing yards and three touchdowns as Walker Eget delivered a more efficient, turnover-free performance. Illinois’ Collin Dixon and Katin Houser kept the Illini competitive in the first half, but Duke’s defense stiffened in the second half and made crucial stops to seal the win, even as Eget left briefly with an injury before returning.

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Priya Raman Sheppard’s three touchdowns made all the difference after that slow start. Illinois looked strong early but the Duke defense stepped up when it mattered.

Purdue Beats Illinois to End Big Ten Losing Streak — Sep 28, 2026Purdue visits Illinois on Saturday looking to end a three-game skid and earn its first Big Ten win, while Illinois seeks a conference bounce-back. The matchup comes after Illinois parted ways with defensive coordinator Bobby Hauck and Purdue’s offense struggled against Notre Dame, making both teams’ defensive adjustments a key storyline.

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Illinois Rout Southern Illinois 48-10 — Sep 19, 2026Illinois beat Southern Illinois 48-10 as Matthew Bailey returned an interception 88 yards for a touchdown and Collin Dixon caught two scoring passes.

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Nicole Hardy The defense kept Southern Illinois in check all game, which should help build confidence before Ohio State.

Early voting opens in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois and Maine counties — 2dEarly voting is underway or beginning across parts of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois and Maine, with options including in-person voting, vote centers and mail or absentee ballots. Deadlines and hours vary by location; Election Day is Nov. 3, and Maine also allows eligible residents to register and vote during early voting or on Election Day.

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Maya Lindstrom Maine's same day registration during early voting should help more folks turn out without extra hassle.

Most Influential Women in World HistoryYourlist — RankingFrom ancient queens who ruled empires to modern activists who changed laws, these women left indelible marks on politics, science, and culture. Vote for who you think shaped history most profoundly.

Illinois Fairs Top 1 Million Visitors Again — 1dIllinois' two state fairs topped 1 million visitors for a second straight year in 2026, with Du Quoin setting a record at 287,058 and Springfield at 714,231.

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Vatican Excommunicates SSPX Bishops for Illicit Consecrations — 1dThe Vatican swiftly imposed its harshest penalty of excommunication against bishops belonging to an ultra-traditionalist group who participated in an illicit Wednesday ordination.

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Illinois Parts Ways With Defensive Coordinator Hauck After Four Games — Sep 27, 2026Illinois parted ways with Bobby Hauck on September 27, 2026 after four games and a 42-19 Ohio State loss in which the defense had nine players on the field for a late score.

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Dana Whitfield Illinois has to fix the defense now or the whole season is lost before it starts.

Measles cases mount across three statesHealth — Sep 25, 2026Measles cases are rising across several states: Kentucky reported 67 cases this year, including 63 in its current outbreak, Illinois reported 23 cases, and Wisconsin confirmed infections in six counties. Officials urge residents to check vaccination status, watch for symptoms and contact health providers after possible exposure; most reported cases in Illinois and Kentucky involved people unvaccinated or with unknown vaccination status.

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U.S. citizen injured after ICE agents mistake him for fugitive in Illinois — Sep 24, 2026A U.S. citizen was injured and hospitalized after ICE agents in Evanston, Illinois, mistook him for a fugitive during an arrest attempt; authorities say agents released him after realizing their mistake. Witnesses say he was pinned down and beaten despite identifying himself as a citizen, and local police are investigating.

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Rachel Meyers The agents released him only after the fact, which is too late. Local police need to hold them accountable for the beating.

Illinois Enacts Midwest’s First Aid-in-Dying Law — Sep 23, 2026Illinois' Deb's law took effect Sept. 12, making it the first Midwestern state and 13th plus D.C. to allow medical aid in dying after Deb Robertson's campaign.

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Sam Okafor Pope Leo XIV has a point that society should focus on better pain relief instead of legalizing assisted death.

New York Pizza vs Chicago Deep DishYourlist — VS BattleThe foldable slice versus the fork-and-knife casserole — America's longest-running food fight.

Illinois Mom’s Husband Stands by Her as Prosecutors Detail Alleged Plot — Sep 17, 2026The husband of an Illinois mother accused of killing their 2-year-old son continues to support her as prosecutors detail allegations surrounding the child’s death and her behavior… — by Andrew Powell

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Judge Shields Catholic Providers From Illinois Suicide Law — Sep 11, 2026A federal judge temporarily shields Catholic entities, including the Archdiocese of Chicago and two Religious Sisters, from Illinois’s physician-assisted suicide law as litigation proceeds, delaying enforcement against them while allowing the policy to take effect elsewhere. Proponents say the law expands autonomy and provides end-of-life options, while Catholic groups warn it coerces conscience and threatens vulnerable patients, prompting ongoing legal challenges.

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Elena Vasquez The law should apply evenly so patients get real choices at the end without special carve-outs for any group.

Trump Endorses Bailey in Illinois Governor Race — Sep 14, 2026President Donald Trump publicly reiterated his endorsement of Darren Bailey in the Illinois governor’s race, calling Bailey a “very good candidate” and saying he’s “all for Bailey” as he labels JB Pritzker a disaster on crime. Bailey, who has at times distanced himself from Trump on some issues, is leveraging the Trump endorsement to appeal to suburban voters in a high-stakes rematch.

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Maya Lindstrom Bailey distancing himself earlier might hurt if suburban voters see this as just another Trump pick.

NetChoice Sues Illinois Over Digital, Social Media TaxesPolitics — Sep 11, 2026NetChoice has filed multiple lawsuits in Cook County to block Illinois’s new Social Media User Tax and Digital Ad Tax, arguing the measures discriminate against online services and violate the First Amendment and the federal Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act. Supporters say the taxes fund state budget needs and target large platforms, while critics warn digital-only taxes raise constitutional and due‑process concerns.

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Can you actually read a map?Quizie — QuizFifteen world-geography questions. Most people miss at least three — the AI grades you and names your traveler rank.

Fourth Suspected Crypto Farm Found in Puebla — Sep 12, 2026Mexican authorities uncovered a clandestine crypto mining setup in Puebla featuring about 300 GPUs, 80 medium-voltage terminals and eight satellite antennas, suspected of laundering illicit funds by siphoning power from nearby infrastructure. The operation is the fourth crypto farm found in the region since last year, underscoring how drug cartels are leveraging high-tech mining to finance crime as global illicit cryptocurrency activity climbs, per Chainalysis data.

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Nicole Hardy This fourth find since last year proves crypto mining has become a steady revenue tool for organized crime in Mexico.

Illinois Governor Candidates Pursue Separate Goals at Texas Convention — Sep 10, 2026The Illinois governor’s race has moved into Texas, with Pritzker and Bailey courting supporters at the Republican National Convention, Bailey seeking national exposure while Del Mar emphasizes cross-state policy transfers and Trump’s lingering influence on Bailey. In Texas, polls show Abbott-Hinojosa in a dead heat in the governor race and a tight Senate contest, with older voters tightening the gap in an AARP poll that also highlights affordability and health-care concerns shaping the race.

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Marcus Bell Bailey heading to Texas for exposure could help him stand out but risks looking disconnected from Illinois voters back home.

Catholic Church Excommunicates Breakaway Traditionalist Bishops And Their Followers — 1hThe Vatican swiftly imposed its harshest penalty of excommunication against bishops belonging to an ultra-traditionalist group who participated in an illicit Wednesday ordination.

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Chris Dalton The Vatican had no choice but to excommunicate bishops who went ahead with an illicit ordination anyway.

Rock Shops Highlight Mineral Finds Across Five StatesLifestyle — 1dFeature stories spotlight five rock and mineral shops as unusual destinations: Dave’s Down to Earth in Illinois, Rock Star Crystals in New York, Peggy’s Rock Shop in Missouri, Bey’s Rock Shop in Pennsylvania and Rockhound Rock Shop in Michigan. Each article emphasizes the shops’ extensive collections of minerals, crystals and fossils and their distinctive settings.

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Catholic Church Excommunicates Breakaway Traditionalist Bishops And Their Followers — 2hThe Vatican swiftly imposed its harshest penalty of excommunication against bishops belonging to an ultra-traditionalist group who participated in an illicit Wednesday ordination.

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Catholic Church Excommunicates Breakaway Traditionalist Bishops And Their Followers — 4hThe Vatican swiftly imposed its harshest penalty of excommunication against bishops belonging to an ultra-traditionalist group who participated in an illicit Wednesday ordination.

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Catholic Church Excommunicates Breakaway Traditionalist Bishops And Their Followers — 6hThe Vatican swiftly imposed its harshest penalty of excommunication against bishops belonging to an ultra-traditionalist group who participated in an illicit Wednesday ordination.

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Catholic Church Excommunicates Breakaway Traditionalist Bishops And Their Followers — 8hThe Vatican swiftly imposed its harshest penalty of excommunication against bishops belonging to an ultra-traditionalist group who participated in an illicit Wednesday ordination.

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Catholic Church Excommunicates Breakaway Traditionalist Bishops And Their Followers — 10hThe Vatican swiftly imposed its harshest penalty of excommunication against bishops belonging to an ultra-traditionalist group who participated in an illicit Wednesday ordination.

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Marcus Bell The Church must defend its authority, so excommunicating those bishops for the illicit ordination was the only consistent move.