Dear Editor,
Let’s talk about this fun-police-mandated word “allowed.” Allowed by whom? By the same paragons of virtue crowd that burned women alive for being “too smart”? By the ones who outlawed women from reading, voting, and owning property because it threatened, bruised, and fractured their fragile egos? The same people who still panic and experience a total neurological meltdown when a woman dares to sit at the head of a boardroom table? Oh, yes—thank you, mighty overlords, for your generous crumbs of liberty.
But here’s the delightful irony: women were ruling empires from golden thrones and commanding vast armies while men were still drawing stick figures in caves. Women birthed nations—literally—while men wrote laws deciding if those same women could even own their own bodies. Women ran revolutions, resisted oppression, and rebuilt entire societies while men stood around acting like referees of existence, blowing their whistle: “Okay, fine, you’re allowed now. Don’t get too cocky.”
Too cocky? Sweetheart, women don’t need cocky—they’ve got capable. And capable terrifies you. Let’s correct the narrative, shall we? Women have been running kingdoms, civilizations, households, revolutions, and movements long before anyone scribbled the word “allowed” onto their lips. Cleopatra didn’t wait for a consent slip or a committee’s approval. Joan of Arc didn’t ask if it was “okay” to lead an army. Rosa Parks didn’t sit on that bus thinking, “Gee, I hope the men let me do this.”
Hatshepsut declared herself Pharaoh and ruled Egypt with unparalleled prosperity. Boudicca led a massive rebellion against the Roman Empire. Tomoe Gozen was a legendary samurai warrior, respected for her skill and ferocity long before any man dared to diminish her glory.
Artemisia I of Caria, the brilliant naval commander who fought for Xerxes at Salamis, whose strategic advice was so valued by the Persian king that he reportedly said, “My men have become women, and my women, men.”
Yet somehow, today, in the year where we pretend to be “progressive,” the phrase “women are allowed” still gets thrown around like a consolation prize. Allowed to work. Allowed to inherit. Allowed to drive. Allowed to speak. Do you hear the ridiculousness? It’s like saying, “You’re allowed to eat, but only if we feel generous.”
The next time “allowed” is uttered, remember: women decide. They don’t negotiate for power. They take it.
Yumna Zahid Ali Karachi, Pakistan
TAGS: Women empowerment, feminism, gender equality, social commentary, Yumna Zahid Ali
McCaskill’s hat trick and strong defense fuel Unity soccer’s first victory, setting up conference play next week.
TOLONO - After six heart-breaking attempts, the Unity High School soccer team finally broke through Monday night, securing their first win of the season with a 4-1 home victory over Hoopeston.
The Rockets, who had struggled to find the back of the net all season, relied on a blend of veteran poise and youthful energy to finally get over the hump, improving to 1-4-2.
Unity struck first at the end of the opening half, with seasoned forward Caden McCaskill converting a precise pass into the goal. Hoopeston answered in the second half when Beckett Moran found the net, briefly tying the match at 1-1. But the Rockets refused to let momentum slip away. McCaskill, feeding off another well-placed setup from teammates, scored again to put Unity ahead 2-1, then completed his first hat trick of the season for a 3-1 lead. Logan Wells added the finishing touch late in the game, pushing the final tally to 4-1.
Goalkeeper Carter Cromwell was a key factor in the win, turning away 14 Hoopeston shots and keeping the Rockets in control throughout.
Next up, Unity heads into conference play, beginning with a Thursday matchup against undefeated St. Joseph-Ogden (16-0) at Dick Duval Field. Following that, the Rockets travel to Rantoul (4-7, IPC 0-1) and conclude the week at home against Illinois Valley Central (7-6-2, IPC 0-2).
TAGS: Unity High School soccer first win, Caden McCaskill hat trick, Hoopeston vs Unity soccer, Carter Cromwell 14 saves, Unity soccer 2025 season recap
Illinois and national policies sending minors to adult court do not improve safety, according to a new report.
Photo: Emma Ou/Unsplash
by Judith Ruiz-Branch Public News ServiceCHICAGO - A new report highlighted how trying juveniles in adult court, in Illinois and across the country, does not make the public any safer and can even lead to more repeat offenses.
The report is part of a series by the Juvenile Justice Initiative of Illinois, which pointed to profound racial bias in prosecuting children in adult court.
Elizabeth Clarke, director of the initiative, said laws permitting the automatic transfer of kids to adult court, and others allowing kids over age 15 to be interrogated without legal counsel, all contribute to what she calls a "failed policy" of trying juveniles in adult court. Clarke noted most kids waive their Miranda Rights during custodial interrogation.
Every state in the U.S. and almost every nation has a separate court for children because not only are children's brains not fully developed but children are more capable of change
"Then unfortunately, based upon a statement, where they've never consulted with a lawyer, they can be charged in the adult court," Clarke explained. "They simply can't understand the ramifications of what they are signing."
Clark emphasized juvenile courts are more effective at reducing repeat offenses, addressing individual needs and holding children accountable. She argued the juvenile justice system has become incredibly complex, with multiple pathways for trying minors in adult court. Her organization advocates for simplifying the system.
Illinois established the first juvenile court more than 100 years ago but Clarke said in the 1990s, the state began implementing tougher policies to bypass juvenile court and automatically transfer certain minors to adult court. Clarke noted Illinois has been gradually dismantling these transfer provisions. The report mentioned a reform in 2015 which examined about 200 children’s cases in adult court and determined 90% should be in juvenile court.
"Every state in the U.S. and almost every nation has a separate court for children because not only are children's brains not fully developed but children are more capable of change," Clarke stressed.
The report recommended ending automatic transfer entirely, and requiring an attorney be present throughout interrogations in cases when a child could be transferred to adult court or receive an adult sentence. It also pinpointed the need for better data collection to understand where the practices are most common and where alternative resources might be more effective.
A bill which would have required legal representation for all Illinois children during interrogations failed in the Legislature last year.
More stories ~
After sweeping four sectional matches, Champaign-Urbana mixed doubles squad will represent Illinois at the USTA Nationals in Florida.
by Clark Brooks
Sentinel Sports
INDIANAPOLIS - Kai Wang’s 18-and-over 7.0 mixed doubles tennis team is headed to Orlando after a commanding performance at the Midwest USTA sectional tournament in Indianapolis. The Champaign-Urbana squad swept through four matches over the weekend, dropping only five sets out of 26 played, to punch its ticket to the national championships set for Oct. 31–Nov. 2 at the USTA National Campus.
Mixed doubles competition pairs one male and one female player, combining their strengths on the court. The combined rating of both partners can’t exceed 7.0, and their individual numbers usually can’t differ by more than one point. Common pairings include a 3.5 player with another 3.5, or a 4.0 with a 3.0.
"Everyone is super excited about going to nationals," Wang said. A three-year veteran USTA team captain, he has led three other teams to sectional competition this year. In addition to his four team, a software developer by day, also plays on two other tennis teams. "It has always been challenging for a Champaign team to get out of sectionals. This year's sectional was very strange."
Wang said the top perrenial top team from Michigan did make it out of the state this year and the Wisconsin team was without some of their best female players due the timing of the sectional championship on the calendar.
Teams typically compete on three doubles courts, with the strongest pairing on Court 1 and the weakest on Court 3. Captains sometimes shift strategy, placing stronger teams on the No. 2 or No. 3 court. To win a team match, a squad must secure victories on at least two courts.
The victory is a glowing mark for the twin-city tennis community. Wang’s team is the first Champaign-Urbana squad to reach a national USTA event since 2014, when Dee Deschler guided a women’s 55-and-over team to Nationals. This year’s group qualified for sectionals after capturing the Illinois state crown on Sept. 13 with a hard-fought 2-1 decision.
Competing at the West Indy Racquet Club, the Champaign-Urbana squad opened with a 2-1 victory Friday against Wisconsin’s state champions, Team Putti. Saturday brought back-to-back sweeps as Wang’s side rolled past Indiana’s Team Inselberg and Michigan’s Team Armante, both by 3-0 margins. On Sunday, with a trip to Florida at stake, they sealed the deal in a 2-1 triumph over Ohio’s state titleholders, Team Ung.
Strong performances carried the weekend, including undefeated 3-0 runs by doubles pairs Chris Sarol and Kyo Nakanishi, and Minsun Kim and Angad Mehta. Their consistency proved to be a key factor in the team’s sectional success.
Wang said Nakanishi was a great addition to the team this year. The Japan native has won nine of her 12 matches since starting USTA competition this summer.
"Chris has really improved this year," he added. Sarol, a former Champaign Centennial standout, is one of the top 4.0-rated USTA players in the Mid-South Illinois region. Having played 36 matches this year, he secured victories in 31 of them. "They are really good together."
Wang highlighted Mehta and Kim as his top doubles pairing.
"Angad and M.K. are our strongest team," he said. "Angad is one of the strongest 3.5 players in our area. M.K. will probably get bumped up [to the next USTA level] next year."
Mehta, an assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Illinois, said he was proud of the team’s accomplishment and grateful for the opportunity to be part of this season’s journey.
"I can’t stop thinking about this - our little team from rural Illinois, based in the middle of cornfields, becomes a state champion, then goes on to beat every other state champion at sectionals, and is now on our way to nationals," he said. Thanking his teammates, he added, "What an incredible story this is. To assemble a group like this is quite incredible."
Mehta said he is looking forward to competing on the nation’s biggest stage against teams and players from across the country.
"It should be really cool."
The roster of the advancing Champaign-Urbana team includes: Kym Man, Angad Mehta, Su A Lee, Kai Wang, Kyo Nakanishi, Jooyen Kim, Paul Cheung, Chris Sarol, Lisa Ainsworth, Ben Lee, Minsun Kim, Sung Min Moon, Teri Scaggs, Noel Castro, Patrick Hammie, and Karolyn Smith.
Box Scores:
Team Wang vs Putti, Wisconsin FINAL: 2-1
#1 - Prathap Palaniswamy/Megan Prahl def Jooyen Kim/Kai Wang - 6-3, 6-2
#2 - Kyo Nakanishi/Chris Sarol def Abtin Molavi/Molly Moritz - 6-4, 6-1
#3 - Paul Cheung/Minsun Kim def Amberlee Baugus/Hung Mahn Nguyen - 6-3, 6-3 Team Wang vs Inselberg, Indiana FINAL: 3-0
#1 - Sarol/Nakanishi def Shelby Ackerman/Alex Aukerman - 6-3, 4-6, 1-0
#2 - Angad Mehta/Minsun Kim def Ashley DeMello/Jacob Lewis - 6-2, 6-1
#3 - Noel Castro/Kym Man def Mallory Inselberg/Damon Grothe - 6-1, 6-1 Team Wang vs Amante, Michigan FINAL: 3-0
#1 - Mehta/Kim def Yvonne Boucher/Patrick van Tuinen - 6-1, 6-3
#2 - Castro/Man def Gary Arp/Pam Kloet - 6-0, 6-2
#3 - Teri Scaggs/Sung Min Moon def Joe Morris/Nicole Morris - 6-2, 6-1 Team Wang vs Ung, Ohio FINAL: 2-1
#1 - Denise Hwang/Phong Nguyen def Castro/Man - 6-3, 3-6, 1-0
#2 - Sarol/Nakanishi def Eileen Connell/Craig Nine - 6-1, 6-2
#3 - Mehta/Kim def David Blond/Marybeth Esposito - 6-2, 6-3 More stories ~
The First Amendment ensures speech, not paychecks. From TV hosts to pastors, free expression at work often collides with financial realities.
The first amendment protects our free speech but employers will protect their bottom line.
However, to some extent, there are some limitations and barriers for all of us. When he began his career, national radio personality Howard Stern couldn’t keep a job. His content was so raw and shocking that station owners and managers couldn’t afford to keep him on because advertisers couldn’t afford to risk supporting him. Things changed. He eventually became acceptable to enough listeners that he was hugely profitable. A massive contract with Sirius XM radio gave him a huge audience, allowed him to say whatever he wanted and paid him handsomely. Since 2004, they have paid him hundreds of millions of dollars. His employer found him to be profitable and accepted by many.
Stearns’ contract recently expired and his deal hasn’t been renewed. The renewal won’t be based on Stearns’ freedom of speech but it will be based on whether he will be profitable for Sirius XM radio which means he probably won’t be returning.
Glenn Mollette
Jimmy Kimmel is off the air, for now. He has been making a nice $15M a year salary from the Disney corporation who owns ABC and the ESPN network as well. He has had a nice job with them for 20 years and come out five nights a week saying whatever he wanted to say. After some recent comments made about Charlie Kirk that have been replayed numerous times on national TV, Disney decided to take his show down for a while, possibly forever.
Stations across the country let it be known to Disney they weren’t going to air Kimmel’s show after his remarks about Kirk and Disney listened. It was about money. Disney is in the business to make money, big money. The Stephen Colbert show was losing $40M a year and Colbert’s show had better ratings than Kimmel. The idea of losing millions of dollars on Kimmel was unacceptable to Disney. If TV station chains, cable companies and local stations around the country had applauded Kimmel, if ratings and profitability had soared, Disney would have kept Kimmel on.
No employer is going to keep you on the payroll if your mouth is bankrupting the business. You may have the right to speak but you may be speaking on the street corner somewhere without a paycheck if the employer doesn’t like what you are saying.
The minister of your local church may have the freedom to preach the Bible. Yet, he or she could find themselves unemployed if they ruffle enough feathers of the congregation’s leadership. A politician may speak freely but only has a job if he or she can sway enough voters. You can walk into wherever you work and say whatever you want about the company or your boss. Most likely, you’ll end up in the unemployment line. Plus, you will not be able to obtain a reference or recommendation for your next interview.
Yes, we have freedom of speech but it has limitations and consequences. Charlie Kirk was his own employer. That seems to be about the only way you can really pull off free speech. He said just about whatever he wanted and there wasn’t anyone to fire him, so someone killed him. Sadly, Charlie Kirk’s free speech cost him his life.
There is almost always a price to be paid for freedom of speech. It is important and it is American, but your employer doesn’t have to agree with you or keep you on the payroll.
About the author ~
Glen Mollett is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states.
The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.
Charlie Kirk assassination legacy, history of assassinated American leaders, free speech and violence in America, political debate versus violence, legacy of voices after tragedy
Florida’s education commissioner seeks to revoke a teacher’s license over a social media post about Charlie Kirk’s death, citing gross immorality.
TALLAHASSEE, FL - Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas has found probable cause that a Clay County teacher displayed “gross immorality” in posting about Charlie Kirk’s death, he announced Monday as Attorney General James Uthmeier launched a tip line to report “violent extremism.”
The teacher, left nameless by Kamoutsas, could lose her teaching license after she posted to social media, “This may not be the obituary. [sic] We were all hoping to wake up to, but this is a close second for me,” News 4 Jax reported. Kamoutsas said the post included an article about Kirk’s assassination, which occurred at a college in Utah.
Photo: Anthony Roberts/Unsplash
In keeping with his promise two weeks ago to investigate teachers making “despicable comments” about Kirk’s death, Kamoutsas said he found probable cause on four Education Code violations. Either the teacher can forfeit her license, or she can be tried in front of department’s Education Practices Commission or the Department of Administrative Hearings.
The commissioner is seeking the revocation of the teacher’s license.
“As these posts continue to circulate, more and more students are exposed to the dangerous and false idea that violence is an acceptable response to differing beliefs, an idea that has no place and will have no place here in Florida schools,” Kamoutsas said.
The four standards Kamoutsas alleges the teacher breached are gross immorality, failure to protect the health, safety and welfare of students, reduced effectiveness as an educator, and failing to distinguish her personal views from the school’s.
“Holding educators accountable for speech that celebrates violence in schools is not a violation of free speech, it is a necessary step to uphold the standards of the teaching profession and the safety of our schools,” Kamoutsas said.
Last week, Florida Education Association President Andrew Spar told the Phoenix that the commissioner’s letter to superintendents vowing investigations sends a “chilling effect throughout the profession.”
“For the commissioner to say there’s no longer a second-chance mentality in education and that he’s going to personally investigate and essentially be the investigator, the prosecutor, and the judge and jury in all of these cases is quite concerning,” Spar said.
New portal for complaints
On a broader scope, Uthmeier’s office opened the “Combatting Violent Extremism Portal” “where people will be able to report anything they observe or hear that is a call for violence or a threat for violence against other individuals,” he said.
“Let me be clear, we respect the First Amendment more than anybody. We’re not going to be the cancel culture that we’ve seen from so long from the Left. We’re not going to believe in silencing individuals. But there’s a big difference when it comes to a threat of violence, a call for violence. That is not protected by the First Amendment,” Uthmeier said.
Since Kirk’s death, people nationwide have lost jobs for speaking about Kirk’s death in a manner their employer views as disfavored, such as late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel.
Teachers are held to higher standards than many other professions, the state officials said.
“It’s never been more important for people to speak up, for us to have safe academic environments where people feel confident to engage in discussion, free from attack, free from violence,” Uthmeier said.
The portal, not exclusive to education settings, allows people to submit screenshots, videos, or other evidence of threatened violence to Uthmeier’s office, anonymously if they want to.
“We must protect before people are shot, before explosives go off,” Uthmeier said.
Warning against abusing the portal, Uthmeier said, “We’re going to take everything seriously and, if you abuse this, if you provide something in a dishonest fashion to law enforcement, we’ll hold you accountable as well.”
The campaign in-part mimics the Office of Parental Rights Uthmeier added to his office earlier this year to field complaints alleging violation of parental-rights laws.
“The First Amendment does not protect speech that is likely and intended to provoke immediate acts of violence, or speech that expresses a serious intent to commit a specific act of violence, but it does protect robust free expression, which includes criticism of the past words and actions of prominent public figures,” the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida said in an online statement last week following the state’s announcement it would investigate teachers.
“Dissent, disagreement, and counterspeech that criticizes political views should not be confused with condoning or encouraging violence,” the ACLU said, and retaliation for such speech “feeds hostility and division.”
After Kirk was killed, the ACLU continued, “Most people likely encountered speech they found despicable no matter where they fall on the political spectrum — that is the nature of a democracy where free speech is protected. While calling for further violence or condoning what happened to Charlie Kirk is wrong, many of the posts being cited for retaliation constitute core protected speech.”
Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Michael Moline for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com.
Florida teacher license revocation case, Charlie Kirk death social media reaction, Florida extremism reporting portal, free speech in Florida schools, ACLU response to Florida teacher discipline
Clark: Kankakee .::. 42-21 Alan: Normal Community .::. 27-21
Champaign Central vs Urbana
Clark: Champaign Central .::. 36-14 Alan: Champaign Central .::. 30-6
With Week 4 voting closed, check back Monday to see how accurate this week's guesses were to the real thing. Whether you’re a die-hard fan, a proud alum, or just love the spirit of high school football, Friday Night Forecast brings the fun of the season straight to area prep football fans.
Below are the Week 3 standings.
Week 3 Results
Rank
Name
Record
Notes
1
Clark
4-1
Winner via tie-breaker
2
Alan
4-1
Cumulative Standings
Rank
Name
Total Record
Wins
Notes
1
Alan
17-2
2
Two-week streak broken
2
Clark
13-6
1
Big Twelve football predictions 2025, Central Illinois high school football picks, Friday Night Forecast Sentinel, Week 4 Illinois prep football forecasts, predictions
It is time for another week of IPC football predictions in The Sentinel’s weekly Friday Night Forecast.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
St. Joseph-Ogden's Cameron Wagner provides pass protection during a play in last year's home game against Unity. The Rockets are back at Dick Duval Field for this year's Illini Prairie Conference regular season football game. URBANA - Each week, we invite Illini Prairie Conference fans to predict the winners from conference matchups. New experts are welcome every week. Here what the team of experts say this week.
Week 4 predictions
Illini Prairie Game of the Week
Prairie Central (2-1) vs Paxton-Buckley-Loda (1-2)
Sara: Paxton-Buckley-Loda .::. 24-21 Alan: Paxton-Buckley-Loda .::. 24-21 J: Paxton-Buckley-Loda .::. 35-14 Lyman: Paxton-Buckley-Loda .::. 34-27 Denise: Prairie Central .::. 27-14 Brooks Look: Last week, Prairie Central proved it could contain St. Teresa's balance attack when it needed it most. Despite allowing 407 yards, the Hawks walked away with a 14-13 win in the non-conference game last Saturday. Meanwhile, PBL quarterback Sam Hall threw 11 passes for 265 yards and six - yes, six TD passes in last week's game against Pontiac. The Panthers' star running back Mason Vaughan average 6.9 yards a carry for 125 yards. If the Paxton-Buckley-Loda's defense can bring their A-game this week, they'll have have win #2 in their back pocket.
Paxton-Buckley-Loda 27, Prairie Central 14
Monticello (2-1) @ St. Teresa (1-2)
Sara: St. Teresa .::. 27-24 Alan: Monticello .::. 28-14 J: Monticello .::. 35-14 Lyman: Monticello .::. 21-7 Denise: Monticello .::. 24-10 Brooks Look: This is an exciting football match-up that will be worth twice the price of admission. The question: Can the Sages shutdown the Bulldogs' offense on their home field? This has all the markings of an overtime win for St. T in Monticello.
St. Teresa 28, Monticello 21
Pontiac (0-3) vs Illinois Valley Central (0-3)
Sara: Illinois Valley Central .::. 32-13 Alan: Illinois Valley Central .::. 35-13 J: Pontiac .::. 22-12 Lyman: Pontiac .::. 7-0 Denise: Pontiac .::. 14-6 Brooks Look: Easy choice here. After putting up a season-high 22 points on PBL last week, Pontiac comes out on top in this pairing with their first win of the season.
Pontiac 24, Illinois Valley Central 13
Rantoul (0-3) @ Central Catholic (3-0)
Sara: Central Catholic .::. 50-6 Alan: Central Catholic .::. 42-6 J: Central Catholic .::. 41-0 Lyman: Central Catholic .::. 56-0 Denise: Central Catholic .::. 21-0 Brooks Look: Central Catholic is one of three IPC teams in the top ten of the AP Class 3A polls. With the speed, size, and athleticism this team brings to gridiron, it will be hard for them to lose this one.
Central Catholic 56, Rantoul 6
Unity (2-1) @ St. Joseph-Ogden (3-0)
Sara: St. Joseph-Ogden .::. 36-27 Alan: St. Joseph-Ogden .::. 31-28 J: Unity .::. 27-20 Lyman: St. Joseph-Ogden .::. 31-24 Denise: St. Joseph-Ogden .::. 24-17 Brooks Look: There has never been a boring St. Joseph-Ogden - Unity game. Last year, the Spartans came out on top thanks to kicker Charlie Schmitz booting the game-winning field goal from 31 yards out with 1.2 seconds left on the clock to seal a 24-21 victory at Dick Duval Field. The Rockets extracted revenge with a 35-7 second-round playoff victory eliminating SJO. This year, the game comes down to which team has the better defense. The Spartans will come close to making it three-consecutive regular season wins against the Rockets but won't be able to finish the job in overtime.
Unity 28, St. Joseph-Ogden 21
Week 3 Scores
Central Catholic 34, Unity 27
St. Joseph-Ogden 51, Illinois Valley Central 16
Prairie Central 14, St. Teresa 13
Monticello 36, Rantoul 14
Paxton-Buckley-Loda 48, Pontiac 22
The Mariachi Tigres will host a garage sale fundraiser Saturday at Urbana Middle School, complete with music and food trucks, to raise money for new Mariachi uniforms.
URBANA - Outside Urbana Middle School this Saturday, music, community spirit and a whole lot of treasure hunting will come together for a good cause. The students of Mariachi Tigres, the joint Mariachi group of Urbana High School and Urbana Middle School, are hosting a garage sale to raise money for new uniforms — the traditional Trajes de Charro that complete the classic Mariachi look.
Founded in 2023, Mariachi Tigres quickly became a beloved part of the Urbana school music family. In just over a year, the group has performed at local events and celebrations, sharing their joy and culture through music that gets toes tapping and hearts lifting.
The garage sale kicks off at 8 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, outside Urbana Middle School. Early birds with donations in hand can drop items off between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m., where volunteers will be ready to sort and price everything. And while bargain hunters browse, they can also indulge in something sweet — OMS Cravings, one of Urbana’s newest food trucks, will be on site serving churros, flan and tres leches cake, with proceeds also benefiting the Mariachi fund.
Organizers say the group still needs more items for the sale and encourage community members to donate gently used goods. For questions or to arrange an early donation, email lmaldonado@usd116.org or tgingold@usd116.org.
So, whether you’re looking for a good deal, a sweet treat or just a way to support local students, Saturday morning outside UMS might be the perfect stop. Every purchase helps bring the Tigres one step closer to proudly wearing their new uniforms on stage.
Urbana High School Mariachi fundraiser, Mariachi Tigres garage sale Urbana, OMS Cravings food truck fundraiser, Urbana Middle School events September 2025, Mariachi uniforms fundraising Illinois
Federal agents expand immigration raids in Chicago. Hands Off Chicago poll shows majority of residents oppose federal immigration enforcement in the city.
by Ben Szalinski Capitol News Illinois
SPRINGFIELD - The federal government is significantly ramping up immigration enforcement in the Chicago area as a specialized federal law enforcement team arrived in Chicago on Tuesday.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commander Gregory Bovino posted a video on social media announcing his specialized team has arrived in Chicago to “continue the mission we started in Los Angeles.”
Photo: Capitol News Illinois/Jade Aubrey
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem speaks with one of two men being processed by Homeland Security officials during a visit to Springfield on May 7, 2025.
At the same time, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shared a video of herself participating in an early morning immigration raid reportedly at a house in Elgin , where the Chicago Tribune reported an American citizen was briefly detained.
“President Trump has been clear: if politicians will not put the safety of their citizens first, this administration will,” Noem said in a statement. “I was on the ground in Chicago today to make clear we are not backing down.”
The enhanced immigration enforcement began earlier this month and has been dubbed “Operation Midway Blitz” by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, while Bovino said he is leading a separate CBP plan called “Operation At Large.” It’s not clear what, if any, difference there is between the operations.
The operations have not been strictly limited to Chicago. Residents have reported seeing federal agents in several suburbs. How long the operations will last also remains unclear. Illinois officials say they have been left almost entirely in the dark about federal agents’ work.
Gov. JB Pritzker said federal officials are not communicating with Illinois law enforcement groups, which he argued is making their work more dangerous.
“When they (local law enforcement) see skirmishes going on, they don't know if those are real ICE officials, especially if they're wearing masks and in unmarked cars and aren't carrying or showing their identification,” Pritzker said Tuesday.
Illinois law prohibits law enforcement from participating in civil immigration enforcement, but it does not outright ban communication between state and federal agencies.
Tense encounters
DHS’ work has already turned deadly after an ICE agent shot and killed a man last week in Franklin Park. The undocumented man, who CBS News reported has no criminal history beyond traffic violations, allegedly tried to flee from ICE agents during a traffic stop and struck and dragged an agent in the process, causing serious injury, according to DHS. Federal authorities said that prompted an agent to shoot and kill the man.
DHS has released little information about the shooting, prompting calls for answers by state leaders. Pritzker pointed out Monday that Illinois law enforcement agencies would have already released substantial information and began investigations had the incident been an officer-involved shooting.
“This is the most unusual situation I’ve seen in my entire lifetime where we have no transparency and the federal government is not policing itself,” Pritzker said Monday.
Trump had previously backed off sending the Guard to Chicago because Pritzker refused to ask the president for a deployment.
Some public officials have directly confronted DHS agents. State Sen. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, posted a video Monday showing her approaching masked federal agents in SUVs in a West Chicago neighborhood. Villa, a candidate for comptroller, was seen running down the street telling people to hide in their homes.
Crowds have also gathered in protest outside a Broadview detention facility where ICE is holding people in custody. The protests have occasionally devolved into skirmishes with ICE tactical teams as protesters have blocked entries and exits into the facility.
The Hands Off Chicago coalition of groups opposing ICE and National Guard soldiers in Chicago released a poll Wednesday showing Chicagoans largely oppose the Trump administration’s immigration tactics. The poll conductedlast week by Public Policy Polling of 582 registered Chicago voters found 66% oppose federal immigration enforcement and 73% believe President Donald Trump is threatening to send the National Guard to Chicago for political reasons.
Trump reconsidering National Guard
After initially backing off sending the National Guard to Chicago in favor of an apparent crime-focused mission in Memphis, Trump has again pledged that Chicago will be the next city to see a National Guard deployment.
Trump had previously backed off sending the Guard to Chicago because Pritzker refused to ask the president for a deployment, but Trump now says he will do it anyway. The Constitution places significant limits on the federal government to send the U.S. military into a city for police action without a request by the governor or mayor.
State leaders have encouraged people protesting immigration enforcement to remain peaceful ...
Pritzker told reporters Tuesday he is done trying to guess what Trump will do as the pair continues to exchange barbs through TV cameras.
“I think he might be suffering from some dementia,” Pritzker said. “You know, the next day he'll wake up on the other side of the bed and stop talking about Chicago. So I've never really counted on anything that he said as real.”
State leaders have encouraged people protesting immigration enforcement to remain peaceful as they fear Trump will use any skirmishes with law enforcement as justification to deploy the National Guard.
Meanwhile, immigration advocacy groups are encouraging residents to know their rights, such as what types of warrants require them to open the door to police, and their right to an attorney if detained.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
TAGGED: Chicago immigration raids, ICE operations Chicago, Trump immigration Chicago, DHS enforcement Chicago, National Guard Chicago deployment
Urbana hosted Champaign Central in a historic girls flag football season opener, with the Maroons earning the program’s first win on the road.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Urbana's Just'Us Jones tries to throw a pass over Central's Juliana Balogh. The Tigers fell in their season opener 30-6 to the visiting Maroons. Jones, a sophomore, completed two passes for 17 yards and carried the ball five times for 41 yards.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Londyn Grant runs the ball for the Maroons.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Central's Sarah Donahoe grabs the flag of Tigers' Just'Us Jones during first-half action.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Tigers' Honor Dillon tries to haul in a pass between Maroons' Shanley Davis and Halle Youse.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Central junior Molly Kloeppel throws a pass during the first half of the Maroons' first flag football game in school history.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Urbana's Baylee Russell and Azaiah Braxton celebrate a big play in the second half.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Just'Us Jones tries to unload a pass before Samara McArthur can get in for the sack.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Under heavy pressure from the Maroons' defense, Just'Us Jones looks to throw before Kara Ficek and Juliana Balogh close in.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Urbana's Honor Dillon runs the ball between Central's Rita Grant and Halle Youse in the second half.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Central junior Haley Helm concentrates on unloading a pass to move the ball downfield.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Tiger's Honor Dillon leaps past a Central defender in the fourth quarter. Dillon carried 11 times for 117 yards.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Urbana's Honor Dillon races downfield untouched for a first down on a 37-yard run.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Central freshman Serenity Moore runs the ball in the fourth quarter.
Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks
Maroon players celebrate the program's first flag football victory after defeating Urbana 30-6.
Taking on one of personal care's least-talked-about problems
(PRNewswire) Chicago -- There are products for sweaty armpits, sweaty feet and sweaty faces. But when sweat shows up somewhere a little less comfortable to talk about, the options get limited fast.
Chicago-based Cheek Sheets is looking to change that.
Cheek Sheets today announced the launch of its namesake absorbent sheets, an ultra-thin, dry and discreet personal-care product designed to help absorb sweat and manage unwanted moisture between the cheeks before it becomes uncomfortable, embarrassing or funky.
Discover the headlines published on each of these days from our news and sports coverage from Champaign‑Urbana and the wider community. From local news and sports to community events, politics, and opinion pieces, The Sentinel archives capture the stories that shaped life in Champaign County year after year.
URBANA - This week's prediction poll for the Friday Night Forecast is closed. Here are this week's picks from area Big Twelve fans.
