Illinois

Kentucky baseball vs Illinois score updates in NCAA regional bracket

Published

2 years ago

June 1, 2024

Kentucky baseball vs Illinois score updates in NCAA regional bracket

LEXINGTON — Kentucky baseball’s NCAA Tournament opener went its way Friday, as it topped Western Michigan, 10-8.

A far bigger challenge awaits Saturday: Illinois, which has won 30 of its past 39 games and captured the Big Ten’s regular-season title.

The Wildcats, league champions themselves after earning a share of the SEC’s regular-season title for the first time since 2006, will try to do what they couldn’t do last year: beat a Big Ten squad in the second game of a regional. After shutting out Ball State in its first outing, UK fell to Indiana in Game 2. Kentucky then had to win three consecutive games to clinch only its second Super Regional appearance ever.

And Saturday, the Wildcats and Fighting Illini will have to get their bodies ready earlier than anticipated: The contest was originally slated to start at 6 p.m., but potential inclement weather in the Lexington area moved up first pitch to 55 minutes after the conclusion of the Western Michigan/Indiana State game.

Now, the UK/Illinois matchup is scheduled to begin at approximately 4 p.m.

Get to the game: Want to buy Kentucky baseball tickets for the Lexington Regional? Here are your best options for 2024 NCAA Tournament

More: Watch Kentucky baseball vs. Illinois and the NCAA Lexington Regional on ESPN+

The Courier Journal’s Ryan Black is at Kentucky Proud Park and will have live updates throughout the game — here and on X, formerly known as Twitter — and complete coverage after. You can follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

What channel is Kentucky vs Illinois on today?

Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament regional game against Illinois will stream at approximately 4 p.m. Saturday on ESPN+.

You can watch the game on WatchESPN.com, the WatchESPN app or ESPN+. Authenticated subscribers can access ESPN+ via TV-connected devices. Those without access to ESPN+ can access the game via a subscription to ESPN+. (To sign up for ESPN+, click here.)

Kentucky vs Illinois start time

First pitch for Saturday’s game in Lexington is set for approximately 4 p.m. It will start 55 minutes after the completion of Saturday’s first game between Indiana State and Western Michigan.

Kentucky vs Illinois prediction

Kentucky 5, Illinois 4: On paper, this matchup is like splitting hairs. Illinois averages 8.2 runs per game; Kentucky is at 8.1. The expected starting pitchers, UK’s Trey Pooser and Illinois’ Cooper Omans, have nearly identical rates in hits allowed per nine innings (7.01 for Omans, 7.14 for Pooser) and walks + hits per innings pitched — better known by its acronym WHIP — that has Pooser (1.18) slightly ahead of Omans (1.24). When teams are this evenly matched, give the most infinitesimal of edges to the squad playing in its home venue. In this case, that’s the Wildcats, who escape with a one-run victory to improve to 2-0 at the regional.

Kentucky vs Illinois location

All games in the NCAA Tournament’s Lexington Regional will be held at UK’s home stadium, Kentucky Proud Park.

Kentucky baseball schedule 2024

Kentucky is 41-14 in 2024, including 22-8 in SEC play during the regular season. The Wildcats claimed a share of the league’s regular-season title for only the second time in school history.

Click here to see the Wildcats’ full 2024 schedule.

Illinois baseball schedule 2024

Illnois is 35-19, going 18-6 in the Big Ten during the regular season. The Fighting Illini won the Big Ten’s regular-season championship for the first time since 2015.

Click here to see the Fighting Illini’s full 2024 schedule.

Kentucky baseball roster

Interested in seeing the Wildcats’ entire roster?

Click here to meet the 2024 UK baseball team.

Illinois baseball roster

Want to learn Fighting Illini’s roster?

Click here for player bios and more.

NCAA Lexington regionals schedule

Here’s the slate for Saturday’s two games in the NCAA Lexington Regional:

Western Michigan vs. Indiana State, noon; Live stream: ESPN+; Stream: ESPN+
Kentucky vs. Illinois, approx. 4 p.m.; Live stream: ESPN+; Stream: ESPN+

NCAA Lexington regionals bracket

Here’s a look at every game set to take place during the Lexington Regional at Kentucky Proud Park:

Friday, May 31

Saturday, June 1

Game 3: Western Michigan vs. Indiana State, noon; Live stream: ESPN+; Stream: ESPN+
Game 4: Kentucky vs. Illinois, approx. 4 p.m.; Live stream: ESPN+; Stream: ESPN+

Sunday, June 2

Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, noon; TV: TBD
Game 6: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 4, 6 p.m.; TV: TBD

Monday, June 3 (if necessary)

Game 7: Same teams as Game 6, Time TBD; TV: TBD

2024 College World Series bracket

Interested in seeing the 64-team bracket for this year’s NCAA Tournament?

Click here to view it on the NCAA’s official website.

2024 NCAA baseball tournament odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM.

Kentucky has the fifth-best odds, at +1000, to win the College World Series, per BetMGM.

The four favorites to capture the title are four other SEC squads: Tennessee (+500), Texas A&M (+550), Arkansas (+900) and defending national champion LSU (+900).

Reach Kentucky men’s basketball and football reporter Ryan Black at rblack@gannett.com and follow him on X at @RyanABlack.

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Illinois

Police investigating shooting near gas station in Oak Forest, officials say

Published

11 hours ago

April 12, 2026

Press Room

Sunday, April 12, 2026 3:26AM

Police investigating shooting near gas station in south suburbs

OAK FOREST, Ill. (WLS) — Police were investigating a shooting Saturday near a gas station in the south suburbs.

The shooting happened near 167th and Cicero streets in Oak Forest, officials said.

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At least one person may have been hurt, ABC7 was told.

Police said the suspect fled eastbound on 167th Street toward I-57.

The intersection at 167th and Cicero remained closed as police investigated.

There was no further threat to the community, police said.

No further information was available as police continue to investigate.

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Illinois

Illinois Secretary of State Warns Residents of Toll Scam Texts and Calls

Published

23 hours ago

April 11, 2026

Press Room

Illinois Secretary of State Warns Residents of Toll Scam Texts and Calls

Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is alerting motorists across the state to a surge in scam texts and phone calls impersonating the Secretary of State’s office, in an effort to steal money and sensitive personal information. This week, scammers have introduced new tactics, sending text messages and making phone calls that falsely claim to be from the Secretary of State’s office. The fraudulent messages allege that Illinois residents are behind on toll payments and threaten penalties ranging from fines and suspension of driving privileges to vehicle registration blocks and legal action.

In response, Secretary Giannoulias has launched a statewide consumer protection campaign, “Don’t Click. It’s a Trick,” to warn Illinoisans not to click on suspicious links. He emphasized that the Secretary of State’s office and the DMV never send texts requesting payment or threatening penalties.

“Scammers are using every tool they can—texts, phone calls, and fake websites—to pressure people into handing over money and personal information,” Giannoulias said. “They want to create fear, confusion, and urgency so Illinoisans act before they think. Don’t fall for it. If you get a text or call claiming to be from the DMV and demanding payment or threatening consequences, it’s a scam.”

To help combat the fraud, Giannoulias’ office has set up a dedicated email address—scamalert@ilsos.gov—for reporting scam texts. Residents are encouraged to take a screenshot of the suspicious message and send it to the Secretary of State’s office, which is working with law enforcement to identify and shut down scammer websites.

What To Do If You Receive a Suspicious Text:

Never click links in unsolicited DMV texts.

Never send money or personal information.

Report the message to scamalert@ilsos.gov.

Delete the message immediately.

The Secretary of State’s office reminds residents that it only sends text message reminders for scheduled DMV appointments. It does not send texts or make calls about driver’s license status, vehicle registration issues, or enforcement actions.

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Illinois

Chicago school board votes against helping thousands of Chicago students

Published

1 day ago

April 11, 2026

Press Room

Chicago school board votes against helping thousands of Chicago students

The Chicago Board of Education wants Gov. J.B. Pritzker to reject a federal program offering donated money to students.

A new Chicago Board of Education resolution urges Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Illinois lawmakers to reject a federal program that will provide donor money for students’ academic needs.

The measure passed 15-0 with three members abstaining.

Many on the board appeared to rely on the inaccurate claim that public money will be diverted for private education. But some seemed wary of blindly following the Chicago Teachers Union, which is less popular than ever.

Board member Jennifer Custer indicated she has seen a lot of community interest and that the feedback she’s heard is “50-50 for and against” the federal program.

Before the vote, board member Ellen Rosenfeld motioned to table the resolution indefinitely. While her motion was unsuccessful, Rosenfeld made clear she believed the issue belongs instead on the board’s legislative agenda.

If the state opts into the program, thousands of K-12 Chicago Public School students could receive donor money for tutoring, test fees, career coaching, books and more.

The money would be donated by taxpayers, who would get a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit up to $1,700 each year. Any taxpayer can get the credit for a qualified contribution to a tax-exempt scholarship-granting organization.

That means the only cost to the federal government is minimal foregone income tax revenue. There is no cost to states, only the benefit of more help flowing directly to students.

If Pritzker does not opt Illinois into the program, residents will watch the money flow to other states.

Pritzker has until Jan. 1, 2027, to decide if over a million Illinois families and students will be able to access donated education money for their academic needs.

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