The number of vacant homes in McLean County was more than 540 in the third quarter of 2018, a 19-unit increase over what it was a year ago, according to real estate numbers reported by ATTOM Data Solutions.

In-state tuition and book costs for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will continue to be among the highest for schools in the Big 10 conference, despite the UI Board of Trustees' vote on Thursday to extend an in-state tuition freeze for the fifth-straight year.

Westminster Village, a 78-bed skilled care center in Bloomington, was cited by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) for violations of the Nursing Home Care Act in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Evenglow Lodge, a 214-bed skilled and shelter care center in Pontiac, was cited by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) for violations of the Nursing Home Care Act in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Illinois State University sports programs brought in $62,188 per athlete in revenue in 2016, meaning its athletes on average generated the fifth highest sports revenue of any school in Illinois that year, according to a McLean County Times analysis of U.S. Department of Education data.

Illinois State University ranked No. 19 for student athletic participation in the state, according to a McLean County Tmes analysis of college sports participation.

In a list of the 30 most populous counties in Illinois, McLean County ranked No. 5 for the rate of abortions performed there in 2017, according to an Illinois Department of Public Health report issued in December, which tracks abortions performed on an annual basis

McLean County accounted for 317 of the 39,329 abortions performed statewide in 2017, according to an Illinois Department of Public Health report issued in December, which tracks abortions performed on an annual basis.

Men’s head coach salaries at Illinois State University outpace women’s team coaches by 105 percent, according to a McLean County Times analysis of recent U.S. Department of Education data.

Illinois State University volleyball brought in $58,182 per athlete in revenue in 2016, making it among the highest-grossing volleyball programs in Illinois that year, according to a McLean County Times analysis of U.S. Department of Education data.

Illinois received a score of 72 on making key financial information accessible and understandable to the public, according to a new report from Truth in Accounting (TIA), a Chicago-based policy institute.

The number of competitive Illinois state legislative races in the Nov. 6 midterm elections will be 18 more than what it was four years ago as more major-party candidates go head-to-head is districts across the state.

Unlike the dynamic four years ago, a majority of the Illinois House races – 56 percent – will be competitive contests pitting major party candidates during the Nov. 6 midterm election.

An annual Illinois assessment of student, school and school district performance labels more than 77 percent of K-12 schools as exemplary or commendable, even though students' academic test results appear static and sub-par in many instances

The number of Illinois House races being contested by major-party candidates on Nov. 6 is up 13.6 percent over the last midterm election in 2014, according to a Prairie State Wire analysis.

Head coaches of Illinois State University women’s teams earn an average of $96,034 annually – the fourth highest average salary in the state – according to a McLean County Times analysis of federal education data.

Head coaches of Illinois State University women’s teams earn an average of $96,034 annually – the 194th highest average salary in the nation – according to a McLean County Times analysis of federal education data.

Ottawa State House candidate Lance Yednock received another $96,468 from Illinois House Speaker and Democrat Party Chief Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) between Sept. 6 and Sept. 30, state filings show.

McHenry County College is among two-year universities in Illinois that reported borrowers defaulting on school loans they started repaying in 2014, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of federal data.

Heartland Community College is among two-year universities in Illinois that reported borrowers defaulting on school loans they started repaying in 2014, according to a Higher Education Tribune analysis of federal data.