Christine Hatfield
ReporterChristine Hatfield, a graduate student in University of Illinois Springfield's Public Affairs Reporting program, is WGLT and WCBU's PAR intern for the first half of 2021.
Previously, she graduated from Ball State University with a degree in journalism and telecommunications in May 2020, and during her undergraduate experience, she reported for WNIJ in DeKalb and Ball State's own Indiana Public Radio.
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The new redistricting maps for state House and Senate seats in Illinois make some significant changes to the boundaries of some legislative districts. Bloomington-Normal and Peoria have not been spared. -
Most states don't allow transgender people to correct their names on marriage certificates, even after going through a legal name change. Legislators and advocates hope to make Illinois the second state to permit marriage certificate name changes. -
Gov. JB Pritzker has signed off on new redistricting boundaries for state legislators. Those maps mean some Bloomington-Normal and Peoria residents will see changes in who represents them in state government. -
A bill to allow special education students who turn 22 to continue with their classwork until the end of the school year has passed unanimously through the State Senate. -
Peoria Mayor Rita Ali said Wednesday she's Bloomington-Normal and Peoria being drawn into the same State Senate district in the Illinois redistricting maps proposed by Democrats would be good for both areas. -
Teachers and other school workers would receive 30 days of paid sick leave after becoming parents under legislation that passed the Illinois Senate on Wednesday. The bill follows an Illinois Supreme Court ruling last year that limited how new mothers can use maternal leave. -
Republican leaders in the Illinois House say the new district maps released by Democrats Friday evening disenfranchise voters as the end of the legislative session draws closer. -
A bill updating Illinois sex education standards passed through the Illinois Senate Thursday after a contentious debate. -
The Illinois State Board of Education is supporting a full return to in-person learning in K-12 schools starting this fall, even as members of the board are concerned the resolution leaves certain students behind. -
State legislators are working to extend a tax credit program meant to help develop and revitalize Peoria and other cities across the state.
