Local News
Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Robert F. Kennedy, died at 96, grandson Joe Kennedy confirmed
Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Robert F. Kennedy and a prominent human rights activist, died on Wednesday, October 9th, at the age of 96.
She suffered a stroke in her sleep on October 3rd, as confirmed by her grandson, Joe Kennedy, on social media. Despite receiving the best possible care and being surrounded by her family, she was unable to recover.
Ethel Kennedy was a matriarch of the Kennedy political dynasty, giving birth to eleven children, including Rory, who was born six months after her husband’s assassination in 1968.
In the aftermath of her husband’s death, she founded the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights foundation in October 1968. The organization continues to promote human rights and public service worldwide.
Her daughter, Kerry, praised her mother for her unwavering commitment to justice and her work with human rights defenders around the globe.
Born in Chicago in 1928, Ethel Kennedy grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut. She met her future husband, Bobby Kennedy, when she was just 17 years old. The couple married in 1950 and actively campaigned for John F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign in 1960.
After Bobby Kennedy’s assassination in 1968, Ethel continued her involvement in human rights activism. She co-chaired the Coalition of Gun Control and participated in numerous other organizations dedicated to social justice.
President Obama honored Ethel Kennedy with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014, recognizing her extraordinary contributions to human rights and her perseverance in the face of tragedy.
The Kennedy family has endured several personal losses over the years, including the deaths of two of Ethel’s children and her nephew, John F. Kennedy Jr.
Ethel Kennedy is survived by nine of her children and a large extended family, many of whom are also involved in public service. Her eldest son, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., ran for president in 2024 but ultimately dropped out to support former President Donald Trump.
Local News
29-Year-Old Alex Rodriguez Found Dead on University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, No Foul Play Suspected
URBANA, Ill. — A 29-year-old Champaign man found dead on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus Monday morning has been identified as Alex C. Rodriguez, according to the Champaign County Coroner’s Office.
The University of Illinois Police Department (UIPD) responded to the area of Green and Wright streets at approximately 6:42 a.m. after receiving a report of an unresponsive person near the Alma Mater statue.
Officers arrived and found Rodriguez on a concrete bench. Emergency medical assistance was requested at the scene.
The Champaign County Coroner’s Office responded, and Rodriguez was pronounced dead at approximately 7:16 a.m., according to Coroner Laurie Brauer.
Authorities said Rodriguez was not affiliated with the University of Illinois.
UIPD provided an update Monday afternoon, saying preliminary observations at the scene revealed no signs of foul play.
Police also said there was no evidence of an ongoing threat to the university campus or surrounding community based on the information available when officers responded.
Because investigators did not identify an active threat, the university did not issue an Illini-Alert emergency notification.
The circumstances surrounding Rodriguez’s death have not been determined.
An autopsy has been scheduled, and the death remains under investigation by the University of Illinois Police Department.
Authorities have not released additional information about the circumstances leading to Rodriguez’s death.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details are expected as investigators receive further information from the autopsy and other evidence.
No foul play has been indicated based on the preliminary investigation.