News

2 hours ago in National

Trump executive order tries to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Friday aiming to rebrand the Department of Defense as the Department of War — a long-telegraphed move aimed at projecting American military toughness around the globe.

2 hours ago in Sports

MLB’s regular season enters its final 3 weeks. Here’s a look at the playoff picture and awards races

The 2025 season has produced a surprising show of parity through the first five months of the regular season. While most of the league's big spenders — teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees and New York Mets — are in good position to make the playoffs and do damage in October, they haven't been as dominant as many expected.

2 hours ago in Entertainment, Music

This year’s song of the summer is a ballad, not a banger. Here’s what that says about us

For the past 14 weeks and counting, the top Billboard spot has been held by a love ballad: Alex Warren's "Ordinary." As Berklee College of Music professor and forensic musicologist Joe Bennett notes, the February release is "a fair bit slower than the mean average for the Hot 100, or for a historical song of the summer."

6 hours ago in

Champaign man arrested after knife attack injures three first responders

Champaign Police officers arrived within minutes and found two firefighters and one paramedic suffering from serious stab wounds.

9 hours ago in Sports

Defending champion Eagles edge Cowboys 24-20 in wild, lightning-delayed NFL season opener

Through spit and rain, a ceremony and a setback, Jalen Hurts and the Super Bowl champion Eagles weathered the storm and showed why they're again a favorite to hoist a second straight Lombardi Trophy.

9 hours ago in Sports

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka will face Amanda Anisimova in the U.S. Open women’s final

On Saturday, when she faces No. 8 Amanda Anisimova in the final, the No. 1-seeded Sabalenka will be trying to become the first woman to claim consecutive championships at Flushing Meadows since Serena Williams got three in a row from 2012 to 2014.

9 hours ago in Entertainment

Julia Roberts, Anna Wintour, Ralph Lauren and more pay tribute to Giorgio Armani

Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani's work spanned the worlds of celebrity, fashion and power. His death announced Thursday at age 91 has elicited an outpouring of tributes.

9 hours ago in Entertainment

Al Roker lends his voice and meteorology skills to the new PBS Kids animated show ‘Weather Hunters’

This fall, everyone's favorite weatherman is getting a kick out of launching his own educational cartoon TV show — "Weather Hunters," which premieres Monday on PBS Kids.

8 hours ago in

Illinois State Police report 49 citations during Occupant Restraint Patrols in Champaign County

The specialized enforcement campaign aimed to increase seat belt compliance and raise awareness about the importance of occupant safety.

12 hours ago in

Pet of the Week: Meet Sweetie, who lives up to her name with dogs, kids, and adults

Check-out Duane Shannon and the WIXY Facebook feed every Thursday morning for the latest video.

1 day ago in Entertainment, Music

Justin Bieber announces ‘Swag ll’ will arrive Friday

Never say never... again? In July, Justin Bieber surprised fans by releasing his seventh studio album, "Swag," hours after he teased it on billboards and social media posts. It turns out, he wasn't done yet. On Thursday morning, Bieber shared that "Swag II" will arrive on Friday.

1 day ago in Entertainment, Trending

Giorgio Armani, who dressed the powerful and famous from boardroom to Hollywood, dies at 91

Giorgio Armani, the iconic Italian designer who turned the concept of understated elegance into a multibillion-dollar fashion empire, died Thursday, his fashion house confirmed. He was 91.

1 day ago in

ELLNORA Guitar Festival returns to Krannert Center with free opening night and prestigious lineup

“It’s not just about big names—it’s about the idea that music and performance matter, and that they belong to the public."

1 day ago in , Insurance Expert

Insurance expert warns local businesses: “know what your policy really covers”

Too often, companies carry the state minimum or lowest-cost options, not realizing how quickly legal and medical costs can add up.

1 day ago in

Pixo moves Headquarters to UIUC Research Park, reinforces commitment to hybrid work

Founded in 1998 as On the Job Consulting, Pixo previously operated above Urbana’s West Main Street.

1 day ago in

Powerball jackpot soars to $1.7 billion as Illinois players win big

In last night’s drawing, an Illinois Lottery player from Aurora claimed a $1 million prize after matching five numbers.

1 day ago in

Toyota and Lexus fans rev up for specialized car culture meet in Urbana

Hosted by Specialized Automotive Auto Repair, the meet is dedicated to showcasing Toyota and Lexus vehicles.

1 day ago in

CUPHD offers free car seat inspection event to boost child passenger safety

Organizers say it’s a timely opportunity to reduce risks for young passengers.

1 day ago in Sports

For decades, US Open women’s champs got a smaller replica trophy than the men. Now they’re equal

Coco Gauff was surprised at how much tinier the replica trophy she got to keep after winning this year's French Open was than the trophy she posed with on court at Roland-Garros for all the world to see. She even did a TikTok about the discrepancy, drawing more than 2 million views.

1 day ago in National

Trump will host top tech CEOs except Musk at a White House dinner

President Donald Trump will host a high-powered list of tech CEOs for a dinner at the White House on Thursday night. The guest list is set to include Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and a dozen other executives from the biggest artificial intelligence and tech firms, according to the White House.

Recent Headlines

2 hours ago in Entertainment, Music

This year’s song of the summer is a ballad, not a banger. Here’s what that says about us

For the past 14 weeks and counting, the top Billboard spot has been held by a love ballad: Alex Warren's "Ordinary." As Berklee College of Music professor and forensic musicologist Joe Bennett notes, the February release is "a fair bit slower than the mean average for the Hot 100, or for a historical song of the summer."

9 hours ago in Entertainment

Julia Roberts, Anna Wintour, Ralph Lauren and more pay tribute to Giorgio Armani

Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani's work spanned the worlds of celebrity, fashion and power. His death announced Thursday at age 91 has elicited an outpouring of tributes.

9 hours ago in Entertainment

Al Roker lends his voice and meteorology skills to the new PBS Kids animated show ‘Weather Hunters’

This fall, everyone's favorite weatherman is getting a kick out of launching his own educational cartoon TV show — "Weather Hunters," which premieres Monday on PBS Kids.