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September 25, 20230

Champaign and Urbana shootings fall since 2021 peak; cities pondering what preventive programs worked

September 13, 20230

Champaign gunshot detection tech not meeting expectations

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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.

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Champaign and Urbana shootings fall since 2021 peak; cities pondering what preventive programs worked

Champaign gunshot detection tech not meeting expectations

Residents complain about continuing early morning garbage pick-ups, but cities fail to find remedies

Citations for unlawful ID use by minors soars in Champaign after pandemic; underage drinking citations plummet

Rising Champaign housing complaints detail violations; Champaign Park Apartments received most in past two years

Concerns of stalking at University of Illinois increase as it appears many incidents go unreported

Number of surveillance cameras continue to increase on University of Illinois campus; has surged to nearly 2,400

Hospital cost disclosures under transparency law inconsistent and hard to compare without third parties

Pritzker, lawyers and insurers helped finance Illinois Supreme Court elections, but transparency lacking for many other donors

Trains often carry hazardous materials through Champaign County, but public kept in dark because of security concerns

Security footage across the street from an incident on Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 1:47 a.m. at Red Lion at 211 E Green St in Champaign. A video of the aftermath was uploaded by Harley Coleman: https://youtube.com/watch?v=8g0V2…

Police said no charges were filed, but bar owner Scott Cochrane said there would be more training for bouncers and security. 

There has been a resurgence of Covid 19 cases in Champaign County and at the University of Illinois. The county reported 849 active cases as of Aug. 31, but said case numbers are underestimated because of unreported home tests. The county also reported 13 hospitalizations. Reported total deaths rose to 304 from 295 in April. Campus cases at the University of Illinois totaled 1,105 over the last seven days, with 326 of those cases reported on Aug. 30. With reduced testing, the positivity rate is above 20 percent on campus.

Business

August 23, 20230

Citations for unlawful ID use by minors soars in Champaign after pandemic; underage drinking citations plummet

April 12, 20230

State data gives early warning of layoffs from larger companies, but lost jobs from small businesses go uncounted

March 6, 20230

Downtown for sale: Vacant and derelict buildings wait for new owners and development plans

December 20, 20220

Some Champaign landlords limit use of vouchers as income, meaning it’s harder for low-income families to rent; But Urbana landlords accept vouchers

June 24, 20220

Champaign-Urbana businesses varied in reasons to take — or not to take — federal loans

May 4, 20220

As national labor shortage drags on, local businesses and workers suffer consequences of the “Great Resignation”

February 16, 20221

Latest hospital safety grades released, area hospital withholds data from national survey

Government

Neighborhoods Champaign and Urbana shootings fall since 2021 peak; cities pondering what preventive programs worked
Technology Champaign gunshot detection tech not meeting expectations
Government Residents complain about continuing early morning garbage pick-ups, but cities fail to find remedies
Business Citations for unlawful ID use by minors soars in Champaign after pandemic; underage drinking citations plummet
Housing Rising Champaign housing complaints detail violations; Champaign Park Apartments received most in past two years

Justice

Business Citations for unlawful ID use by minors soars in Champaign after pandemic; underage drinking citations plummet
Education Number of surveillance cameras continue to increase on University of Illinois campus; has surged to nearly 2,400
Government Pritzker, lawyers and insurers helped finance Illinois Supreme Court elections, but transparency lacking for many other donors

Health Care

Health Care Hospital cost disclosures under transparency law inconsistent and hard to compare without third parties
Business Latest hospital safety grades released, area hospital withholds data from national survey
Public Health Champaign-Urbana Nursing and Rehab site of most staff, resident COVID-19 cases in county
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