HIGHER EDUCATION UPDATE: Relatives of lobbyists, campaign donors got lawmakers’ help to enter Univ. of Illinois. “Politicians exerted their influence at the University of Illinois to boost admissions prospects for the relatives of lobbyists, fundraisers, a union leader and other connected applicants, a Tribune investigation has found. . . . Family members of at least three lawmakers also were part of the now-abandoned secret system, known as Category I, a separate admissions track that allowed some subpar students to get admitted to the state’s flagship university.”