Illinois quick hits: Universities report increased enrollment; man sentenced for pipe bombs

Illinois quick hits: Universities report increased enrollment; man sentenced for pipe bombs

September 10, 2025/
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By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Universities report increased enrollment

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a total enrollment of more than 60,000 students for the first time in school history with a freshman enrollment of 9,207 for the fall semester.

Northern Illinois University reported a 4.3% increase enrollment for the fall, with a freshmen class that is 22% larger than last year.

Illinois State University’s enrollment is up 2%, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is up 7.7%.

Food borne illness reports

Despite reports of food borne illness declining in Illinois over several years, a new analysis of CDC data by Trace One found the state still had the 3rd highest count in the country.

Other takeaways from the analysis include nationwide, restaurants were the primary exposure setting and shellfish and poultry are often to blame.

Man sentenced for pipe bombs

A Collinsville man has been sentenced to almost four years in federal prison for making pipe bombs.

Jeremy Barr, 49, pleaded guilty in May to possessing a destructive device.

Prosecutors say Barr threatened lives near a Southern Illinois school with a device that could have caused serious injury or death.

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