Three State Universities Get Emergency Payments

State universities are picking up a few extra dollars before the end of the year.

The Illinois Board of Higher Education approved the spending of $17 million in emergency funding to prop up the financial picture of Western Illinois, Eastern Illinois and Chicago State Universities. The funds are only to be used to pay down current year costs and can't be rolled into 2017.

Western received $8.4 million, Eastern $5.6 million, and Chicago State $3 million.