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

Summer electricity bills to rise 20% in C-U area; Champaign plans to reinstate utility assistance program after one year suspension

Residential energy bills this summer are expected to increase about 20% beginning in June.  On April 28, the grid operator in central and southern Illinois, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), released...

Protesters say ‘Hands Off’ federal support, services in response to looming funding cuts

“Hands off” was the message shared by hundreds in Champaign calling on the federal government to halt funding cuts to essential services across the U.S.  Hundreds of people protested at West Side...

Thousands wait for housing assistance in Champaign County while federal cuts loom

Nearly 4,000 applications for tenant-based housing vouchers have been filed in Champaign County over the last seven months, but none have been processed and no one has received a voucher yet, housing...

Neighborhoods

Summer electricity bills to rise 20% in C-U area; Champaign plans to reinstate utility assistance program after one year suspension

Residential energy bills this summer are expected to increase about 20% beginning in June.  On April 28, the grid operator in central and southern Illinois, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), released...

Protesters say ‘Hands Off’ federal support, services in response to looming funding cuts

“Hands off” was the message shared by hundreds in Champaign calling on the federal government to halt funding cuts to essential services across the U.S.  Hundreds of people protested at West Side...

Thousands wait for housing assistance in Champaign County while federal cuts loom

Nearly 4,000 applications for tenant-based housing vouchers have been filed in Champaign County over the last seven months, but none have been processed and no one has received a voucher yet, housing...

Recent News

Champaign County energy assistance program faces uncertain future amid federal cuts

An energy assistance program for low-income residents in Champaign County is bracing for future funding shortfalls after federal budget cuts halted new applications and left staff uncertain about...

Efforts continue to keep Illinois’ aging nuclear power reactors operating

The Clinton Power Station nuclear reactor, about 34 miles from Champaign, generates enough energy to provide heating and electricity for over 800,000 of Illinois’ almost 13 million homes...

Champaign trampoline park found with broken equipment, missing padding in first few safety inspections 

Seven attractions at Elevate Trampoline Park in Champaign were cited for safety improvements during one inspection from the Illinois Department of Labor in December last year.  State inspectors...

Midwest universities seldom name fraternities involved in sexual assault reports

Police at Midwest public universities seldom disclose the name of a fraternity where an alleged sexual assault is reported. Abbigail Kepp, communications director for the University of Illinois...

Summer electricity bills to rise 20% in C-U area; Champaign plans to reinstate utility assistance program after one year suspension

Residential energy bills this summer are expected to increase about 20% beginning in June.  On April 28, the grid operator in central and southern Illinois, the Midcontinent Independent...

Insect flight research at the University of Illinois among 32 targeted grants labeled DEI by Sen. Ted Cruz

$66 million in 32 grants.  This is the amount of federal grant funding the University of Illinois receives that was targeted as diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in...

Justice

Black and Asian drivers make up nearly half of traffic stops by university police even when number of stops drop

In 2023, the University of Illinois Police Department conducted 2,526 traffic stops — 19% lower than traffic stops made five years ago and nearly half of the 4,701 traffic stops...

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...