Demolition for new apartment complex, church not result of fire, but simulated training

Test scores slightly improve for Unit 4 school district, but lag behind rest of Illinois

Urbana record store celebrates tenth anniversary

About Us

CU-CitizenAccess is an online newsroom devoted to community and watchdog reporting by journalism students at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.

The newsroom focuses mostly on Champaign County and central Illinois, but produces occasional regional, national and international stories.

NEW TOOL: Click here to search Champaign County property by owner name — a feature removed by county officials

Neighborhoods

Demolition for new apartment complex, church not result of fire, but simulated training

Toward the end of January last year, gas could be smelled and smoke seen billowing from the windows of an apartment building located at 608 E. Chalmers St. All signs pointed to...

Test scores slightly improve for Unit 4 school district, but lag behind rest of Illinois

Across grades three through eight in the Champaign Unit 4 School District, 70.7% of students did not meet state standards under a standardized assessment and “accountability measure” for students enrolled in a...

Urbana record store celebrates tenth anniversary

According to the World Economic Forum in 2020, 34% of small businesses across the United States closed because of the effects of the pandemic. However, a small business in downtown Urbana met...

Neighborhoods

Demolition for new apartment complex, church not result of fire, but simulated training

Toward the end of January last year, gas could be smelled and smoke seen billowing from the windows of an apartment building located at 608 E. Chalmers St. All signs pointed to...

Test scores slightly improve for Unit 4 school district, but lag behind rest of Illinois

Across grades three through eight in the Champaign Unit 4 School District, 70.7% of students did not meet state standards under a standardized assessment and “accountability measure” for students enrolled in a...

Urbana record store celebrates tenth anniversary

According to the World Economic Forum in 2020, 34% of small businesses across the United States closed because of the effects of the pandemic. However, a small business in downtown Urbana met...

Recent News

Drainage districts in Champaign County collected over $1.7 million in 2022 but receive little attention

There are about 80 active drainage districts located within Champaign County, which can levy taxes on property owners. In addition, there are hundreds of subdistricts. The districts are...

E-bikes pose danger across college campuses, risk of insurance loss

“Those things are going to kill me one day,” Adam Peck said to his wife, Michele, after narrowly avoiding an e-bike rider on the sidewalk next to them. ...

ADM’s well leak draws allegations of environmental violations

Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) was the first company in the nation to operate a permitted commercial carbon sequestration facility at its Decatur location. But earlier this year, the...

Emulsicoat asphalt plant moves to new location following decades of neighborhood complaints

Emulsicoat’s asphalt plant located in the Historic East Urbana neighborhood is now operating at a new site 15 minutes away. The long-criticized plant is now mostly operational at...

Green Street Realty receives over 50 housing complaints in past four years in Champaign

One of the largest property management groups in Central Illinois had over 50 housing complaints filed against it in the past four years in Champaign.  Green Street Realty...

Seven intentional fires set in residence halls in past three school years

A melted toilet seat in Oglesby Hall.  A smoldered cork board in Allen Hall.  A burnt carpet in Wassaja Hall.  These are just some of the consequences of...

Justice

Archer Daniels Midland fined almost $52 million in past decade for 90 violations of federal, state laws

In the last 11 years, Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) has racked up at least $51.9 million in fines for 90 federal- and state-level offenses and violations in the United States. ...

Champaign’s lawsuits against Champaign Park Apartments seek new remedies

In the ongoing legal battle between the City of Champaign and the troubled Champaign Park Apartments, the court recently ordered inspection of heating systems and that the owners pay utility...

Central Illinois county jails continue to lack respiratory illness isolation cells, but Champaign jail renovations add two

Six of nine central Illinois county jails fail to meet state standards for a respiratory illness isolation cell, state records show.  A review of 2023 inspection reports for Illinois county...

Racial disparities persist in Champaign County jail bookings

From 2012 to 2023, for every 10 white people booked at the Champaign County jail, 17 nonwhite people were booked.   CU-CitizenAccess.org obtained years of jail booking data from the Champaign...