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As national labor shortage drags on, local businesses and workers suffer consequences of the “Great Resignation”
Running a business is never easy, but it’s gotten a lot harder during what’s been dubbed the “Great Resignation” – the nationwide pandemic-induced labor shortage. Locally, many business owners aren’t sure that they’ll ever be able to bounce back.
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Champaign, Urbana intervening to combat American Water’s request to raise rates for residential customers
The mayors of the cities of Champaign and Urbana say the cities are filing documents to intervene in the efforts of Illinois American Water to increase water rates up to 32% next year. Illinois American Water filed a request in...
Read MoreSecurity footage across the street from an incident on Saturday, 3/5/2022 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://home/citizenaccess/public_html.youtube.com/watch?v=8g0V2…
Documents obtained in a Freedom of Information Act request submitted to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Police Department show there were nine officers at the incident. The police description of the incident is as follows: “Female punched a male who was working security at a campus bar. Male sustained lacerations to his lip and then took the female to the ground, creating lacerations to the female’s head. The female was transported to a local hospital for treatment.” Woman was 22 and hospitalized and treated by Carle Foundation Hospital. Bouncer details not taken down but he was treated by AMT.
Police said no charges were filed, but bar owner Scott Cochrane said there would be more training for bouncers and security.
As national labor shortage drags on, local businesses and workers suffer consequences of the “Great Resignation”
Two years later, COVID breaks death records in Champaign County
Out of town business receives millions in PPP relief money from local bank
County COVID breakthrough cases undercounted, but university offers more accurate numbers
The story behind the race to test for COVID-19 at the University of Illinois
City of Champaign no longer enforcing underage drinking laws at Campustown bars during pandemic
Neighborhood News
Champaign, Urbana intervening to combat American Water’s request to raise rates for residential customers
The mayors of the cities of Champaign and Urbana say the cities are filing documents to intervene in the efforts of Illinois American Water to increase water rates up to 32% next year. Illinois American Water filed a request in February with the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to make the increase water and wastewater rates. […]
West Urbana residents criticize safety, impact of University’s plans to install novel nuclear reactor system
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s proposal for deploying a micro nuclear reactor in west Urbana has sparked concern among local residents, who are worried about how safe it is to have the reactor near their neighborhood. “This project is really frustrating on several levels,” David Dorman, resident of West Urbana and one of the […]
East Urbana residents worried about emissions from local asphalt plant
Members of the Historic East Urbana neighborhood association said they are suffering through recurrent odors and potential pollution issues because of the emissions from Emulsicoat, a local asphalt plant.
The most recent complaint, filed to the IEPA in early May 2021, stated “the stench in the East Urbana neighborhood was overwhelming” and that people noted physical problems tied to it. The investigation by Michael Haggitt and Mark Schleuter from that same month had limitations from the lack of hard evidence linking the odor to the suspected Emulsicoat source and recommended no further action beyond the community meeting they held a month prior to that in April.
Local Canada geese causing issues, spreading into more human-populated areas across Champaign-Urbana
Geese invading grassy and populated areas are causing residents to ask both the Champaign and Urbana Park Districts to manage the geese population better. However, others in the area are trying to get rid of the geese humanely.
Domestic violence exacerbated by pandemic, leaving marginalized communities especially vulnerable
Domestic violence in the city of Champaign rose by 13% last year, surging from 871 incidents in 2019 to 982 incidents in 2020, a review of the last full-year data available from the Champaign Police Department shows. Domestic violence incidents in Champaign represented 4% of total crimes in 2016 but increased to 8% in 2020 […]
Results of defunct Urbana Community Alternative Policing program a mystery; racial disparity reports no longer accessible
UCAP was intended to be a catalyst for the community policing program. It no longer exists and there doesn’t seem to be a community policing program for northern Urbana, north of W. University Avenue and west of N. Broadway Avenue, or any other part of Urbana.
Inconsistent garbage pickup angers Champaign residents
The inconsistent pick up by some commercial garbage-hauling companies has been sharply criticized residents in the Champaign area. Despite an increase in complaints, no companies have received a fine from the city. The city also has no employee in the city’s public works department who is dedicated to dealing with complaints about waste haulers.
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